Voting starts in three-day Dutch election dominated by COVID-19

Incumbent Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s VVD party is widely expected to take the most votes, securing him a fourth term in office.

Three days of voting have begun in the Netherlands in a parliamentary election seen as a referendum on the government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic. A record 37 parties are fielding candidates in the election, with voting starting Monday. Roughly 13 million voters are eligible to take part. COVID-19 has dominated the campaign period, with opposition parties criticising the management of the healthcare emergency and candidates explaining how they would rebuild the economy when the virus recedes.