Dutch elections: Dilan Yesilgoz, the Turkish-Kurdish woman who might become Netherlands PM

This week's elections in the Netherlands could produce what might seem like an unlikely victor.

Dilan Yesilgoz-Zegerius, who is of Turkish-Kurdish origin, is among the frontrunners for Wednesday's vote - and could become the country's first female prime minister.

The 46-year-old is currently Minister of Justice and Security, a role she has held since January of last year.

She succeeded current Prime Minister Mark Rutte as leader of the People's Party of Freedom and Democracy (VVD) when he stepped from the role in July, amid schisms in the ruling coalition over issues including migration.

According to the latest polls, the conservative VVD has a slight lead on both the far-right Party for Freedom - led by Geert Wilders - and the centre-left GroenLinks-Labour Party alliance.

Child of refugees, tough on migration

Yesilgoz-Zegerius was born in Ankara, Turkey to a Turkish mother and a Kurdish father, both of whom were human rights activists. She moved to the Netherlands as a child.

Like many of today's migrants and refugees who seek sanctuary in Europe, part of her journey to the Netherlands was by boat.

One of her main campaign promises has been to 'Get a grip' on the country's borders. 

"We must tackle uncontrolled migration now. Otherwise we will lose even more sight of who comes here, our social services will become unaffordable and there will no longer be room for people who are really fleeing war and violence," reads her website.

In a position reminiscent of that of the UK's Conservative Party, she said tough migration policies would help stop migrant drownings and "break the human smuggling system".

She has also vowed to be tough on crime, and to invest in green industries.

Yesilgoz v Wilders

There has been animosity between Yesilgoz and Wilders in the past - with the far-right leader once drawing on her "Turkish background" while criticising her.

The two have since met and reconciled, and Yesilgoz has failed to rule out forming a coalition with Wilders - who is known for his anti-Islam views, but appears to have toned down some of his rhetoric in a bid to appeal to more voters.

She has since questioned Wilders' authenticity, saying: "Every day it's a mystery which Geert Wilders you'll encounter."

She has also said that she would not serve as minister in a government led by Wilders.