Voter turnout in the Dutch general election appeared relatively low today, with just 38 per cent of the country's 12 million eligible voters having cast their ballots by afternoon, dpa quoted the polling company Synovate as saying. In previous elections voter turnout at the same point in time had already reached 43 per cent. Synovate's survey was commissioned by public radio and other media. Polling stations close at 2100 (1900 GMT). All opinion polls have so far forecast a defeat for the conservative Christian Democratic Appeal, which led the previous ruling coalition. A narrow victory for the opposition centre-right People's Party for Freedom and Democracy was possible. The pro-business party has been pushing deep budget cuts that are to include generous social programmes.
