Mayor orders Rotterdam vote recount

Tuesday 09 March 2010

Rotterdam mayor Achmed Aboutaleb has ordered a recount of all the votes cast in the city council election last week following allegations of irregularities in some polling stations.

Earlier on Tuesday, former mayors Bram Peper and Ivo Opstelten had added their voices to calls for a recount.

Labour emerged as the winner over local populist party Leefbaar Rotterdam in last Wednesday's election by a margin of just 650 votes. Both parties have 14 seats on the 45 seat council.

However, the slight majority gives Labour the lead in forming a new coalition executive and the party has already said it cannot work with Leefbaar, which takes a tough line on immigration and integration.

Leefbaar

A number of complaints have been made about the result and Leefbaar made a formal objection to the election committee.

In some polling stations there are reports that people were allowed to vote without showing their passport. In others, two people were spotted together in polling booths, which is also against the rules.

And the Telegraaf on Tuesday highlighted the case of an elderly man who claimed he had voted twice.

It is not yet clear when the recount will be completed.

© DutchNews.nl

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