The latest opinion poll from Maurice de Hond puts the populist Freedom Party (PVV) almost on a par with the conservative VVD, the senior partner in the current Dutch coalition.
The poll indicates that, if an election were to be held now, the VVD would just remain the largest party with 30 MPs, down from its present 31. It also forecasts that the PVV would get 29 seats in parliament, up from its current 24. The Socialist Party would, according to Maurice de Hond, become the third largest group in the 150-strong parliament.
The present coalition is made up of the VVD and the Christian Democrats. This minority government relies on parliamentary support for most of its policies from the PVV.