AMSTERDAM (Feb 23, 2026) — In a historic shift for Dutch politics, Rob Jetten will be sworn in today by King Willem-Alexander, becoming the youngest Prime Minister in the country’s history at age 38 and the first to be openly gay.
A Stunning Political Turnaround
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The Victory: Jetten’s centrist D66 party secured a narrow win in the October snap elections, successfully unseating Geert Wilders’ far-right Freedom Party (PVV).
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The Coalition: Jetten will lead a minority government alongside the centre-right CDA and the liberal VVD. Together, they hold 66 seats—nine short of a full parliamentary majority.
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Beating Populism: Following his win, Jetten famously claimed that populist movements could be defeated by campaigning with a “positive message.”
Policy Priorities
The new “right-wing signature” coalition has outlined a clear path for the nation:
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Foreign Policy: A staunchly pro-EU stance, pledging full support for Ukraine and meeting NATO spending commitments.
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Fiscal Discipline: Choosing budget cuts over deficit spending to fund military and defense investments.
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Migration: Despite the centrist leadership, the government plans to continue a crackdown on migration, including stricter rules on family reunification.
Challenges Ahead
With only a minority in parliament, the Jetten administration will need to negotiate with opposition parties to pass any major reforms. While Wilders has been sidelined to the opposition, other hard-right groups like JA21 and Forum for Democracy saw significant gains in the 2025 elections, signaling a fractured political landscape.
