Election: Rain could determine who becomes prime minister

The wet weather forecast for Wednesday could have an effect on the outcome of the general election, according to Manfred te Grotenhuis of the Radbout University in Nijmegen.


Te Grotenhuis researched the effect of rain on election results last year and told nu.nl it can make a difference of one or two seats. This is not normally enough to have a big impact on the result, but in this year’s neck and neck race rain could determine who becomes prime minister, he said.
‘When there is five centimetres of local rain, it can mean the loss of a seat for the Labour party,’ he told website nu.nl. ‘Whereas wet weather does not affect the right-wing Liberals.’
Neck and neck
With the PvdA and the VVD currently neck and neck in the polls, rain could see VVD leader Mark Rutte retain his post as prime minister to the detriment of PvdA leader Diederik Samsom.
According to Te Grotenhuis’ research, the Christian Democrats fair best in a rainy election because their voters are so loyal.
However, Ipsos Synovate director Marianne Bank says in her 25-year career she has never noticed the weather affecting election results.
The KNMI weather bureau says there is a 50% chance of sunshine and a 50% chance of rain on Wednesday.
Will the weather put you off voting? Let us know using the comment box below.

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