Dutch PM Rutte's party leads exit polls

By Hasan Esen and Abdullah Asiran

HAGUE, Netherlands (AA) - Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte's party won the most seats in Wednesday’s general election, according to exit polls.

Center-right People's Party for Freedom and Democracy Party (VVD) won 31 out of 150 seats, the polls say, losing 10 seats compared to the 2012 election.

Geert Wilders' far-right, anti-Islam Party for Freedom (PVV), the Christian Democrats and the D66 Party trail with 19 seats each, with all three parties gaining seats.

The polls suggest a high turnout at 81 percent.

PVV appears to have fared poorly against the backdrop of weekly surveys that showed it running neck and neck VVD until a late taper.

Rutte will need the support of at least three other parties to secure the majority needed for a government.

DENK, a party founded in 2015 by Dutch politicians of Turkish origin, won three seats in their first election.

Official results will be declared on March 21.