ASSOCIATED PRESS: AMSTERDAM — Early returns in Dutch local elections showed an anti-immigrant, anti-Islam party making big gains in a result seen as a possible foreshadowing of national elections in June.
"We're going to take the Netherlands back from the leftist elite, that coddles criminals and supports Islamization," said Freedom Party leader Geert Wilders early Thursday.
Wednesday's voting in 394 cities in theory elects city councils to deal with matters such as parking fees and taxes on dog ownership. But with national elections slated for June 9, Dutch media and politicians are treating the event as a dress rehearsal.
The Freedom Party was leading handily with half the votes counted in the medium-sized city of Almere, around 20 kilometers (12 miles) northeast of Amsterdam.
Voting was conducted with paper and pencil, and full results won't be certified until Friday. >>> Toby Sterling, AP | Wednesday, March 03, 2010
