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Close contest as Dutch cast votes Dutch on course for split result
(about 7 hours later)
The Dutch are voting in parliamentary elections, with opinion polls showing as many as 40% of them undecided. Voting has ended in parliamentary elections in the Netherlands, with early exit polls suggest support split between the main parties.
PM Jan Peter Balkenende's Christian Democrats are expected to emerge as the largest party, but the opposition Labour has been narrowing the gap. PM Jan Peter Balkenende's Christian Democrats were ahead of the opposition Labour party according to predictions, but short of a majority.
Campaigning focused on welfare reforms rather than the outgoing government's tough stance on immigration.Campaigning focused on welfare reforms rather than the outgoing government's tough stance on immigration.
Neither the right nor left blocs are expected to win the 76 seats to secure a majority. If early indications are confirmed, coalition talks could be protracted.
Talks to form a coalition could be protracted. Neither the right nor left blocs were on course to win the 76 seats needed to secure a majority.
Some experts say the Socialist Party's rise in the polls show a left-wing coalition could pose a real challenge to the centre-right coalition of the Christian Democrats (CDA) and liberals (VVD). The partnership in the outgoing coalition, the Christian Democrats (CDA) and the Liberals, would need to include several more parties to obtain a parliamentary majority.
One television exit poll put the CDA on 38 seats to Labour's 34, while another gave the CDA 43 seats and Labour 35.
The Socialists' rise in the opinion polls appeared to be confirmed by a good result putting them in third place, with more than 20 seats.
The CDA-led governing coalition collapsed in June after a row over its handling of the disputed citizenship of a Somali-born Dutch politician.The CDA-led governing coalition collapsed in June after a row over its handling of the disputed citizenship of a Somali-born Dutch politician.
Some 10,000 polling stations opened at 0630 GMT and will close at 2000 GMT. Unofficial exit poll results are expected immediately and partial results an hour later. Some 12 million people were eligible to elect the 150-member lower house parliament. The MPs are elected for a four-year period by proportional representation.
Some 12 million people are eligible to elect the 150-member lower house parliament. The MPs are elected for a four-year period by proportional representation.
ImmigrationImmigration
In a live TV debate on the eve of the election, the party leaders focused mainly on welfare reforms rather than immigration.In a live TV debate on the eve of the election, the party leaders focused mainly on welfare reforms rather than immigration.
Dutch voters in Amsterdam give their views on the electionsIn picturesDutch voters in Amsterdam give their views on the electionsIn pictures
The immigration issue had gripped Dutch politics since the high-profile murders of two prominent campaigners against Muslim extremism - independent politician Pim Fortuyn and film-maker Theo van Gogh.The immigration issue had gripped Dutch politics since the high-profile murders of two prominent campaigners against Muslim extremism - independent politician Pim Fortuyn and film-maker Theo van Gogh.
On Friday, the cabinet backed a proposal to ban face-covering clothing, including the burqa worn by some Muslim women.On Friday, the cabinet backed a proposal to ban face-covering clothing, including the burqa worn by some Muslim women.
The main parties have both embraced pro-integration policies - a departure from the Dutch tradition of multiculturalism.The main parties have both embraced pro-integration policies - a departure from the Dutch tradition of multiculturalism.
Mr Balkenende has also been claiming credit for a strong economic recovery in the country in the past few years.Mr Balkenende has also been claiming credit for a strong economic recovery in the country in the past few years.
"I am very proud of the results and I really hope that people will recognise this and that we can go on with these successful type of policies," Mr Balkenende told reporters as he voted."I am very proud of the results and I really hope that people will recognise this and that we can go on with these successful type of policies," Mr Balkenende told reporters as he voted.
Labour leader Wouter Bos hopes his party will be able to successfully challenge the CDA or at least force its way into a so-called grand coalition.Labour leader Wouter Bos hopes his party will be able to successfully challenge the CDA or at least force its way into a so-called grand coalition.
However, the BBC's Sam Wilson in Amsterdam says polls suggest that many left-wing voters dissatisfied with the government's spending cuts seem ready to turn to the Socialist Party rather than Labour, whom they believe sound too willing to jump into a coalition bed with the CDA.
The latest projections give Mr Balkenende's CDA about 41 seats compared to about 38 for Labour.
But the uncertain voters could still make a big difference.
Some analysts think the Socialist Party could leap from nine seats to 23.