Support for the Euro Is Seen in Dutch Election Results

In a closely watched election, Dutch voters appeared on Wednesday to give Prime Minister Mark Rutte and his center-right Liberal Party a narrow victory over the center-left Labor Party, which will bring a sigh of relief to European allies anxious about rising euro skepticism in the richer countries of the north.

Up to 40 percent of voters were estimated to be undecided until the end, weary of politicians in the fifth election in 10 years and nervous about their own well-being during an economic recession in the euro zone. But they appeared to settle on the two mainstream parties, rejecting more extreme calls for the Dutch to abandon the euro. 

With 98 percent of votes counted Thursday, Mr. Rutte’s party won 41 seats out of 150 at stake and Labor, led by a fresh-faced leader, Diederik Samsom, won 39. That would make a governing coalition of the two parties possible, but negotiations will be difficult.

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