Left-wing liberal party D66 was named on Tuesday as ‘the big winner of 2008’ by pollster Maurice de Hond. The party rose in the polls from six seats to 16. It currently has three seats in parliament.

Party members told the Volkskrant that their improved position in the polls is down to party leader Alexander Pechtold. He is seen as a politician who speaks his mind and takes risks.
MPs also told the paper that the party promotes itself as free-thinking in a time when the government is seen as interfering.