Main players in Netherland election

Nearly 13 million citizens, including 850,000 new voters, head to the polls on March 15 to select from 28 parties vying to form a ruling coalition

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00 Number of seats in 150-seat parliament 

0% Latest opinion poll*

Mark Rutte, 50: Current prime minister leads coalition between his pro-business Liberals (VVD) and Labor Party (PvdA) 40 24% 

Alexander Pechtold, 51: Has led D66 since 2006. Supports same-sex marriage, euthanasia, legal marijuana growing 12 20% 

Geert Wilders, 53: Leader of anti-immigrant Freedom Party (PVV). Mainstream parties have ruled out forming coalition with PVV 12 20%

Jesse Klaver, 30: Green Left. Pro-EU and pro-refugee 4 17% 

Sybrand van Haersma Buma, 51: Christian Democrats. Tough stance on immigration 13 16% 

Lodewijk Asscher, 42: Labor Party leader since December. Opposes austerity measures 35 14%

Emile Roemer, 54: Socialists. Anti-EU, anti-globalization 15 14% 

Marianne Thieme, 45: Party for the Animals. Focus on broad environmental issues 2 6% 

Gert-Jan Segers, 47: Christian Union. Conservative views on ethical issues 5 5%

*Poll by I&O Research of 3,208 voters, mostly online, between March 3 and March 7

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Pictures: Associated Press, Pepijn Leupen, Anne Paul Roukema 

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