Premier Elected to a Second Term

Prime Minister Wim Kok won a second term in national elections that strengthened his coalition’s grip on parliament. With 98% of the votes counted, media projections showed that Kok’s ruling coalition will win 98 seats in the Dutch parliament’s 150-member lower house--up from 92 seats. Kok’s left-leaning Labor Party led the way with 45 seats, followed by the right-leaning Liberals with 39 and the centrist Democrats 66 Party with 14 seats. The results assured both Kok and his coalition second terms, and were at least partly attributable to strong economic growth. Kok said he was delighted with the victory.