Rob Jetten, a 38-year-old former junior athlete who has been running past the Dutch prime ministerial office in The Hague, is poised to become the country's next prime minister. His liberal-progressive party, D66, made huge gains in the general election, and despite initial exit polls suggesting that other parties had won more seats, Jetten appears almost certain to take the top job.
Speaking to an ecstatic crowd of supporters on Wednesday night, Jetten hailed the backing for his pro-European, pro-climate party as a victory for the centre and a sign that the far-right's stranglehold on Dutch politics is coming to an end. "We have turned the page on Geert Wilders," he said, referencing the leader of the far-right Freedom party (PVV), which was at the centre of power in 2021 but has since collapsed under pressure from its own MPs.
Jetten's party, Democrats 66, was formed nearly six decades ago by a group of dissatisfied activists who were "unsettled by the serious devaluation of our democracy." Since then, it has struggled to make an impact on the Dutch political landscape. However, in recent years, the party has learned from its mistakes and adopted a more populist approach, with Jetten himself becoming a key figure.
Jetten's campaign was built around the message "het kan wél," or "yes we can." This emphasis on optimism and collaboration resonated particularly strongly with voters who were looking for an alternative to the divisive politics of Wilders and his PVV. The party's leader has been praised by many as a genuine optimist who is not afraid to tackle tough issues head-on.
Jetten's rise to power is also significant because he would be the Netherlands' first openly gay prime minister. His partner, Nicolás Keenan, is an Argentinian hockey player, and Jetten met him in a supermarket.
As Jetten looks to unite a country that has been plagued by divisions and negativity, his words were generous and collaborative. He spoke not just about what was going wrong in Dutch society but also about the many things that are going right, including low national debt, a well-functioning economy, and relatively low unemployment.
While only time will tell if Jetten can truly deliver on his promises, his message of hope and optimism has resonated with many voters. His party's slogan, "het kan wél," has become a rallying cry for those who are looking for a more positive and inclusive politics. As one former party chair put it, "We need someone who can lead us to the future."
Speaking to an ecstatic crowd of supporters on Wednesday night, Jetten hailed the backing for his pro-European, pro-climate party as a victory for the centre and a sign that the far-right's stranglehold on Dutch politics is coming to an end. "We have turned the page on Geert Wilders," he said, referencing the leader of the far-right Freedom party (PVV), which was at the centre of power in 2021 but has since collapsed under pressure from its own MPs.
Jetten's party, Democrats 66, was formed nearly six decades ago by a group of dissatisfied activists who were "unsettled by the serious devaluation of our democracy." Since then, it has struggled to make an impact on the Dutch political landscape. However, in recent years, the party has learned from its mistakes and adopted a more populist approach, with Jetten himself becoming a key figure.
Jetten's campaign was built around the message "het kan wél," or "yes we can." This emphasis on optimism and collaboration resonated particularly strongly with voters who were looking for an alternative to the divisive politics of Wilders and his PVV. The party's leader has been praised by many as a genuine optimist who is not afraid to tackle tough issues head-on.
Jetten's rise to power is also significant because he would be the Netherlands' first openly gay prime minister. His partner, Nicolás Keenan, is an Argentinian hockey player, and Jetten met him in a supermarket.
As Jetten looks to unite a country that has been plagued by divisions and negativity, his words were generous and collaborative. He spoke not just about what was going wrong in Dutch society but also about the many things that are going right, including low national debt, a well-functioning economy, and relatively low unemployment.
While only time will tell if Jetten can truly deliver on his promises, his message of hope and optimism has resonated with many voters. His party's slogan, "het kan wél," has become a rallying cry for those who are looking for a more positive and inclusive politics. As one former party chair put it, "We need someone who can lead us to the future."
I'm like totally stoked about this Rob Jetten guy! He's been running around The Hague for ages, but now he's gonna be the PM? That's wild! 
I remember back in the day when Geert Wilders was all the rage, but it seems like people are finally over that whole far-right thing. 
Jetten's party, D66, has been around forever, but they've finally gotten their act together. It's like they took a page outta the Obama playbook and figured it out! 
I'm all about representation and diversity, and Jetten's got that in spades.
rob jetten is literally going to change the game in holland he's all about that progressive life and climate action which is exactly what holland needs right now! 66 years old and still got it 
his party's slogan "het kan wél" is everything i love how they're shifting towards a more inclusive politics 
I'm not sure if it's too much to ask for a politician who doesn't sound like they're trying out for a role in a rom-com 
. Rob Jetten's message of hope and optimism is refreshing, but let's be real, we've heard that before... and it didn't quite work out 
. Still, I guess you have to give him points for being genuine and tackling tough issues head-on 
. Here's hoping he can live up to all the hype 
. The fact that his partner is an Argentinian hockey player just adds to the "aww" factor 
.
Rob Jetten seems like a breath of fresh air after years of Geert Wilders' divisive politics 
think this is such an amazing moment for netherlands 
... Jetten's vibe is all about hope & positivity, which is exactly what the country needs right now. we're living in a world where people are getting so caught up in negativity & division, and it's great to see someone coming along with a message of "yes we can" 
his message of hope and optimism really resonated with ppl, esp after all that negativity in dutch politics. i love how he's not afraid to tackle tough issues head-on 
also, it's amazing that hes the 1st openly gay pm in holland, Nicolás Keenan is so lucky to have him 
.
just heard that Rob Jetten is gonna be Dutch PM 
38 year old athlete turned politician and his party D66 got more seats than anyone else 
. Let's hope he can deliver on his promises without burning himself in the process 
. Like, I'm so down for that vibes 
It's like, a big deal in the Netherlands and I'm here for it! 
His party's message of "het kan wél" or "yes we can" is so inspiring and I love how he's all about tackling tough issues with optimism 
and I'm living for it! 
it's gonna be interesting to see how he tackles the tough issues, but for now, let's celebrate this new chapter in dutch politics