Yet it is one that does not pit the elite against the common man in the way populist parties often do, political analysts said.
The Dutch election is shaping up as one of the most significant and competitive in years.
Mr. Rutte, who is serving as caretaker prime minister until a new government is formed, was considered a mainstay of Dutch politics.
Mr. Rutte was also a strong voice for fiscal restraint inside the European Union, especially after the British exit, allowing the Netherlands to punch above its weight on E.U.
Those are big political shoes to fill, and the race remains unpredictable, analysts said, with three or four parties closely jockeying near the top of polls in the homestretch.
Persons:
Rutte, ”
Organizations:
European Union
Locations:
Groningen, Netherlands