The right-wing VVD Liberals will move into 2011 as the biggest party in the country, having added four seats to their election total of 31 in the final political barometer of the year.

Geert Wilders’ anti-Islam PVV is second in the poll, with 26 seats, two more than it won during the general election, despite a string of revelations about the criminal convictions of several MPs.
Labour, second in the general election with 30 seats, is now on 24 and is third while the Christian Democrats, who form a minority cabinet with the VVD, are on 19, two down on their general election total.
Difficult issues
Despite his popularity, prime minister Marc Rutte has two difficult issues to solve: the senate’s opposition to the increase in value-added tax on the performing arts and a lack of support in the lower house for a new Afghan mission.
The cabinet will discuss the stalemate over the tax rise on Friday, although Rutte is in Brussels. Senators are threatening to block the passage of the entire 2011 tax plan unless ministers agree not to put up the tax from 6% to 19% in January.

Afghanistan
Moreover, according to the Telegraaf, Rutte is also having problems finding a majority in parliament to support a police training mission to Afghanistan.
‘We have to see if there is a parliamentary majority. But I have no guarantees,’ Rutte told the paper.
The PVV, which supports the minority government on economic issues, opposes the mission, forcing Rutte to look for support from other parties.