The new election in the town of Gorinchem in Zuid-Holland, held because of allegations of voter fraud, has resulted in a slight shift from D66 to the CDA when compared with the first vote in March.
Local party Democraten Gorinchem again emerged as the biggest party with seven seats, followed by Stadsbelang Gorinchem with four. However, D66 lost one of its three seats which went to the Christian Democrats, taking the CDA total to two.
Turnout in the town, where 31,000 people were eligible to vote, was down from 51% to 47%.
The local council decided to cancel the results of the elections held in March amid allegations that voters had been coerced or enticed into signing off proxy votes, after some polling stations reported unusually high numbers in favour of a D66 candidate.
Local D66 party leader Tom van der Meijden said it hurt to lose a seat, and that it was difficult to say if the suspicions had an impact on the result. “I don’t think we will ever know, but it may have played a part,” he told news agency ANP.
Police are still investigating a formal complaint by the town’s mayor, Reinie Melissant, alleging that votes were solicited and signatures were forged in some cases.
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