Rutte Praises His Party as First Exit Poll Results Point to VVD Election Success

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has hailed the apparent victory of the ruling Dutch People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) in the national elections.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Earlier on Wednesday, an exit poll conducted by NOS public broadcaster showed that Rutte’s center-right party secured at least 31 out of a total 150 parliament seats.

"It seems like for third time in a row the VVD is the Netherlands biggest party. Our message to the Netherlands — that we will hold our course, and keep this country safe and stable — got though," Rutte said on Wednesday, as quoted by The Guardian.

According to Chief EU Commission Spokesperson Margaritis Schinas, President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker has already congratulated Rutte on his victory.

"JunckerEU just spoke with @markrutte, congratulated him on clear victory: 'A vote for Europe, a vote against extremists,'" Schinas wrote on Twitter.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has also congratulated Rutte in a telephone conversation, according to her spokesman Steffen Seibert, quoted by The Guardian.