The Netherlands elects its youngest prime minister and the first openly gay prime minister.
The Netherlands made political history by electing Rob Jetten, 38 years old, as the youngest and first openly gay Prime Minister in the country's history. The elections were held on October 29, marking a turning point in the Dutch political landscape and sending a clear message of openness and progress to Europe and the world.
Jetten, the leader of the liberal centrist party Democraten 66 (D66), managed to defeat the far-right candidate Geert Wilders from the Party for Freedom (PVV). Wilders, known for his anti-immigration and anti-Islam rhetoric, ran his campaign on populist grounds that included calls to ban the Quran and tighten immigration policies. Jetten's victory was seen as a triumph of hope and tolerance over fear and division.
In his first statement after the announcement of the results, Yiten expressed his happiness and great responsibility, saying: "I am very happy that we have become the largest party in this election — it is a historic result for the D66 party. We have shown the rest of Europe and the world that it is possible to defeat populist movements through a positive message for our country." His victory is set to be officially confirmed after the counting of mail-in votes from Dutch citizens living abroad on November 3rd.
His fiancé, Argentine hockey star Nico Keenan, who is an Olympic player having participated twice in the Olympics, was by his side on election night. Keenan shared a video on TikTok showing the couple preparing for results night, dressed in elegant suits and exchanging a quick smile and kiss before leaving the house. He wrote in the caption: 'Election night, let's go🔥🫶🏽' — in a spontaneous moment that reflected the human side and joy of this historic night.
The engaged couple, who announced their engagement in November 2024, always publicly show their mutual support. Yiten attended the Paris 2024 Olympics to cheer for Kenan during his participation with the Argentine national team in hockey. Their relationship has received widespread praise as it represents the values of modern Netherlands — equality, honesty, and the freedom to love without restrictions. Kenan, who plays at Hockey Club Klein Zwitserland in The Hague, previously spoke about being bisexual and the importance of representation in sports, saying: "People told me they are happy that there is finally a bisexual hockey player playing in the premier league."
With Rob Jetten ready to officially take office, his victory is seen not only as a political achievement but as a cultural shift that reflects the progressive spirit of the Netherlands, which has long been a symbol of tolerance and freedom in the world.