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The party that clocked up the biggest electoral gains, the Freedom party or PVV of Geert Wilders, the controversial anti-Islamic politician, could play a crucial role in those talks, which are expected to take several weeks. Mr Wilders, who wants to stop immigration from Muslim countries and repatriate immigrants who commit crimes, won 24 seats, up from nine in the last general election in 2006.

Mr Wilders, who last year made a proposal in parliament to tax all Muslim women €1,000 a year to wear a headscarf, hailed the result as a “glorious day for the Netherlands” and said he was serious about entering coalition talks with other parties. “We want to make the Netherlands better, safer and prouder,” he said.