THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The Netherlands has woken up to a new star of right-wing populism, as the party of a Latin-quoting, philosophy-reading lawmaker surged past anti-Islam firebrand Geert Wilders — and all other politicians — in important local elections.

Thierry Baudet's Forum for Democracy emerged from the sidelines into the Dutch political mainstream as the biggest winner in nationwide elections that determine the makeup of the parliament's upper house and also impact the coalition government of Prime Minister Mark Rutte.

"Today, we won the first major battle," Baudet told his party faithful in a jubilant victory speech after Wednesday's vote.

Baudet, one of his party's two national lawmakers, ticks all the populist boxes, often railing against an aloof elite of career politicians, academia and journalists as well as immigrants he argues are undermining a proud nation.