Politicians taking part in a television debate ahead of next month’s local elections said they were concerned about the forecast low turnout.

Local authorities are being given an increasingly important role and it is even more important they have good quality executives, party leaders said during the debate on the Pauw en Witteman talk show.

Polls indicate the turnout could be below 50%. Four years ago it was just over 54%. ‘This is a real problem,’ Alexander Pechtold, leader of the D66 liberal democrats, said.

During the debate, the leaders of the VVD, PvdA, CDA, SP and D66 discussed employment initiatives, tax increases, healthcare, housing and education.

Geert Wilders, leader of the anti-immigration PVV, declined to take part in the debate, Nos television said. The PVV is only fielding candidates in The Hague and Almere and is set to become the biggest party in both cities.