In the wake of recent elections, campaign managers from various Dutch political parties gathered to discuss their strategies, key moments, and the overall outcome of the electoral race. Robert van Asten, D66 campaign manager and newly elected Member of Parliament, admitted to being “a bit dizzy” after his party’s intense final push.

D66, after experiencing significant losses in the 2023 elections, reassessed its approach, recognizing the need to adapt its message and delivery. This led to a more optimistic narrative, a shift to the right on migration by Rob Jetten, and a prominent display of the Dutch flag. The party consciously moved away from a perceived “admonishing finger” approach.

CDA spin doctor Bart van den Brink framed the election results as a “comeback” for his party. He highlighted a shift in political style in the spring of 2024, leading to “courageous choices” like a “freedom contribution” and phasing out mortgage interest relief, as key factors. While acknowledging competition from both the left and right, Van den Brink downplayed the impact of a specific interview regarding reformed schools’ stance on homosexuality.

VVD campaign manager Silvio Erkens admitted that his party capitalized on the aforementioned interview, viewing it as an “opportunity to show what we stand for.” Laura Vissenberg of GroenLinks-PvdA attributed her party’s underperformance to “strategic voting” towards D66 in the final stretch.

For D66, the cancellation of Geert Wilders from an RTL debate, which allowed Rob Jetten to participate, proved to be a pivotal moment. Erkens noted that Wilders struggled to find his “match rhythm” in a later debate. He also praised Dilan Yesilgöz’s resilience after facing criticism during the summer.

Michiel Hoogeveen, JA21 campaign manager and future Member of Parliament, identified the inclusion of former PVV minister Ingrid Coenradie as a defining moment for his party. He also emphasized the impact of Coenradie’s piano performance on “Pauw & De Wit,” showcasing the party’s seriousness to voters.

Regarding the upcoming formation talks, Hoogeveen asserted that JA21 is an “indispensable link.” Other campaign managers remained more reserved, with Van Asten expressing uncertainty about the timeline and Van den Brink optimistically echoing D66’s slogan, “It is possible!”