AMSTERDAM, Netherlands, May 16 (UPI) -- Dutch Christian Democrat leader Jan Peter Balkenende is set to become the country's new prime minister after his party won a spectacular victory in Wednesday's general election.
With almost 90 per cent of the votes counted, the center-right grouping is on course to send 43 members to the 150-seat Dutch Parliament. It is expected to form a coalition with right-wing liberals and the party of slain anti-immigration leader Pim Fortuyn, which came second place with 26 seats.
The governing Labor Party crashed in the worst defeat in its history, losing almost half its 45 seats to end up in joint fourth place.
Labor leader Ad Melkert, who took over as party boss earlier this year, stepped down before the official result was announced.
"The Netherlands has voted and it has chosen another course," he told party faithful in Amsterdam.
The demoralized party, which has been in government for 13 years, will chose a new leader Thursday. The two front-runners are Europe Minister Dick Benschop and Secretary of State for Finance Wouter Bos -- both telegenic modernizers in the mold of British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Caretaker Prime Minister Wim Kok told stunned party staffers that a "black shadow had descended over the Netherlands since the murder of Fortuyn nine days ago."
The European Union's longest serving prime minister, who has reigned over a period of high growth and low unemployment, added: "The last eight years have gone well, but obviously not well enough."
The new prime minister will be chosen over the coming weeks after torturous talks between the coalition parties. Balkenende, who managed to stem the rise of Fortuyn's populist party and the right wing Liberals, is favored to receive the nod from Queen Beatrix to form a government.
However, he will be forced to rely on the fractious and inexperienced List Pim Fortuyn party and the right-wing Liberals to form a majority.
The victory of the Christian Democrats in the Netherlands confirms a steady shift to the right in Europe over the past two years.
Following the successes of right-wing parties in Austria, Italy and Denmark, the center-right is now in power in more EU countries than the left for the first time in almost a decade.
Outgoing Labor leader told left-wing activists in Amsterdam: "A cold wind is blowing in Europe. This is not the moment for Social Democrats."
Turnout was high in the Netherlands' most dramatic poll in recent memory, with approximately three-quarters of the country's 11 million-strong electorate turning out to vote on a warm, spring day.
