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The anti-Islam leader of the Dutch far-right Party for Freedom (PVV) is neck and neck with the current Prime Minister as voters go to the polls today. Geert Wilders' election would mark Europe’s first political earthquake of the year ahead of the important French and German elections later in 2017. Mr Wilders has seized on the Brexit vote and Donald Trump’s victory to further his own attempts to overturn the political status quo.

The far-right politician pledges to ‘de-islamise’ the country by closing its borders, banning Islamic headscarves, closing mosques and banning the Koran. He has vowed to take the Netherlands out of the EU as well stopping public money going towards development aid, windmills, the arts and innovation. But what will really happens if Mr Wilders triumphs in the Dutch election today?

Getty What happens if Geert Wilders wins the Dutch election 2017?

Although Mr Wilders could well get the most votes in the election, the PVV will not be able to form a Government on its own. Unlike Britain, the Netherlands is always ruled by a coalition of political parties due to the fragmented nature of Dutch politics. Winning the most seats does not automatically make him Prime Minister because the top job goes to the leader with the most seats in the coalition. WHEN IS THE DUTCH ELECTION?

Getty What would Geert Wilder's victory mean for German and French elections?

Ben Kleber, from business information company Dun and Bradstreet, said a Wilders win might have “implications for the future of the EU”. He said: “It could create the opportunity for other European nations to take advantage of the short-term uncertainty and could herald a break-up of the EU in the longer term. “The economic implications of a Wilders success in the Netherlands might have a destabilising effect on the euro, as the head of the PVV has threatened to take the Netherlands out of the Eurozone – however, even if Wilders does win the election it is very unlikely that he will gain enough seats in Parliament to form his own government. “Moreover, other political parties have ruled out forming a coalition with the PVV.”

Dutch firebrand politician Geert Wilders Wed, February 8, 2017 Known as the 'Dutch Donald Trump' Play slideshow AFP/Getty Images 1 of 13 Originally from Venlo in the south-eastern Netherlands, Mr Wilders moved to Israel in 1981 after graduating from secondary school.

The latest poll of polls predicts that the PVV will win between 19 and 23 seats of the 76 seats needed to form a coalition in the House of Representatives in the Netherlands. The poll average showed that one of the current coalition partners, the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), is set to get 24 to 28 seats. But VVD Prime Minister Mark Rutte has already ruled out a coalition between VVD and the PVV if Mr Wilders wins the election. Other Dutch parties are also unwilling to form a coalition with him, according to Rem Korteweg, senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform (CER). “The result of that is going to be a political mess after the election,” Mr Korteweg said, noting that there could be political stalemate. “Wilders will claim that he has the will of the people. But there are very few - if any parties - that will go into Parliament with him.”

If the PVV is excluded from the coalition, then it will be very large, unwieldy and at risk of falling apart and leading to fresh elections. Even if Mr Wilders is blocked from real political power in the Netherlands, his election would be devastating blow for Europe’s liberal order. The far-right populist victory could boost the chances of Front National leader Marine Le Pen in the French elections this spring. It would also be welcomed by Frauke Petry - the woman leading the populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) into the German federal elections in September. France and Germany are key EU members so the victory of anti-EU populist could lead to collapse of the European bloc as we know it. The rise of right-wing populism has already influenced the political dynamic in Germany with Chancellor Angela Merkel moving to ban the burka.

Geert Wilders: These are the Party for Freedom leader's policies Wed, February 8, 2017 Noteworthy policies that Geert Wilders mentions in his party program. Play slideshow 1 of 14