Dutch elections shake up establishment with victory for protest party

An anti-establishment protest group, the Farmer Citizen Movement (BBB), has emerged as the largest party in all 12 provincial assemblies and won the Senate with 19% of the vote in Dutch elections.

The BBB's unexpected success is seen as a strong rebuke to the country's mainstream parties.

In the Dutch provincial elections held on 20 March, the Farmer Citizen Movement (BBB) emerged as the largest party in all 12 provincial assemblies, winning a result that commentators have characterised as a "protest vote".

The BBB's leader, Caroline van der Plas, was reportedly "stunned" by the outcome.

The result is a serious blow to the country's mainstream parties, with the rightwing Freedom Party making significant gains and the GreenLeft suffering serious losses.

The Dutch Labour Party also struggled, despite "some mildly positive pre-election polls", according to The Guardian.