Farmers-led party set to prosper in key Dutch regional elections

Green transition in spotlight as party opposed to nitrogen emission cuts surges in polls

A new party led by farmers fighting cuts to nitrogen emissions looks set to be the big winner in key Dutch regional elections that could severely weaken the government and, analysts suggest, herald a Europe-wide backlash against the green transition.

The BoerBurgerBeweging (Farmer-Citizen Movement, or BBB) was launched in 2019 and has just one MP, but its people-against-the-elites platform has struck a chord with disaffected voters and polls suggest it could finish as the second largest or even the largest party in Wednesday’s vote.