Dutch elections: Far-right party fails first round of votes

The Dutch election on Wednesday shut down far-right populist sentiments, after Prime Minister Mark Rutte defeated his extreme rightwing rival, Geert Wilders. Wilders, known for anti-immigrant and anti-Islam stance, came in second following fears that far-right movements are spreading across Europe. Prime Minister Mark Rutte claimed victory in the Hague Wednesday night, as his supporters cheered him on. "This night is a night for the Netherlands -- after Brexit, after the American elections -- where we said stop it, stop it to the wrong kind of populism," Rutte The election was viewed as a major test of populist right-wing sentiments in Europe, only months ahead of the French and German election.