Dutch PM retires after coalition government collapsed

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
10 Jul 2023 13:38

Despite retiring from his position, the PM faces a vote of no-confidence from the opposition parties in the parliament.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte delivers a press conference following a cabinet meeting after the collapse of the Rutte IV cabinet in The Hague on July 7, 2023 (AFP)

On Monday, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced that he would be stepping down from politics after the downfall of his coalition government, thus marking the end of the political career of the Netherlands' longest-serving leader.

Rutte, who has successfully led four coalition governments since 2010, made the announcement following a dispute over restrictions on the number of asylum seekers.

The four-party coalition, helmed by Rutte, experienced a dramatic rupture last Friday due to the aforementioned disagreement.

"Yesterday morning, I made the decision that I am no longer fit to lead the VVD (his center-right party). Upon the formation of a new government after the elections, I will retire from politics," Rutte said.

While Rutte has expressed his intention to continue serving in a caretaker capacity until the elections, which are not scheduled until at least mid-November, he faces a crucial parliamentary vote later today that could potentially unseat him as the caretaker premier. Two left-wing opposition parties and the far-right party led by Geert Wilders, an Islamophobic figure, have jointly submitted a motion of no-confidence against Rutte.

For the motion to succeed, it must secure support from at least one of the four parties that constituted Rutte's recently collapsed coalition, as reported by Dutch media outlets.

Earlier this week, it was reported Mark Rutte will be presenting his resignation to the Dutch King Willem-Alexander.

With a poisonous concoction of concerns including migration, enraged farmers, and rising costs of living, the next election appears to be some of the most heated ones in a generation.

It was also reported that the Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB) intended to build on its previous victory earlier this year during senate elections, and its leader Caroline van der Plas did not rule out running for prime minister.

At the same time, he tweeted a racist statement saying, "We can make the Netherlands a beautiful country again with fewer asylum seekers and crime, more money and houses for our own people, decent care, plenty of room for our farmers and fishermen."