Fewer than half the voters for four Dutch political parties backed their own leader in last week’s general election, according to an analysis by public broadcaster NOS.

Former GroenLinks-PvdA leader Frans Timmermans drew the lowest share, with just 38% of his party’s supporters voting for him personally.

Caroline van der Plas of BBB (44%), Dilan Yeşilgöz of the VVD (46%) and Laurens Dassen of Volt (47%) also received relatively little direct support. By contrast, Geert Wilders, leader of the far right PVV, was chosen by 95% of his party’s voters or more than 1.7 million people.

The findings are based on official vote tallies sent by local councils to the electoral council, which will publish the full results on Friday.

Acting economic affairs minister Vincent Karremans, from the right-wing liberal VVD, attracted 328,000 preference votes, the highest number for any non-leader in this election. Two other VVD ministers, Eelco Heinen and Ruben Brekelmans, also scored strongly.

Yesilgöz came under intense criticism earlier in the campaign for a series of gaffs but went on to lead the party to 22 seats, a drop of two on their previous total. Nevertheless, her personal support has taken a major knock. She took 85% of the votes for the VVD in the 2023 general election.

D66 leader Rob Jetten, who led his party to victory, received support from 68% of his voters, compared with 80% for CDA’s Henri Bontenbal and 89% for SGP’s Chris Stoffer.

The highest leader share in the past 15 years was recorded by SGP’s Kees van der Staaij in 2010, when 99% of his voters backed him.