Awwal 28, 1432 H/March 3, 2011, SPA -- The ruling Dutch coalition government was looking for an additional partner Thursday after results of regional elections indicated it was going to lose control of the Senate, dpa reported. With 98 per cent of the votes counted, the ruling centre-right alliance of the liberal VVD party and the Christian Democratic Action (CDA), and its ally Geert Wilders' Party for Freedom (PVV), was set to control 37 seats, just short of a majority in the 75-strong upper house. The coalition's hopes now rest on Gerrit Holdijk, a member of the Reformed Political Party. The 20-year veteran of the Senate shares many political viewpoints with Wilders and Prime Minister Mark Rutte of the VVD party. It was not yet clear if Holdijk would lend his support to the coalition. Wednesday's vote elected 566 members of the country's 12 provincial parliaments, which in May will in turn elect members of the senate. Local lawmakers normally stick to their party line. -- SPA
