Dutch government collapses over bitter migration row
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s coalition government collapsed Friday over “insurmountable” differences on how to tackle migration, with elections expected in November.
Rutte, 56, the Netherlands’ longest-serving leader and one of Europe’s most experienced politicians, said days of crisis talks between the four parties failed to produce a deal, according to AFP.
They fell out over Rutte’s plans to tighten curbs on reuniting families of asylum seekers, a bid to curb numbers following a scandal last year over overcrowded migration centres.
“It is no secret that the coalition partners have very different views on migration policy,” Rutte, the leader of the centre-right VVD party, told a press conference after talks broke down.
“This evening, we have unfortunately reached the conclusion that the differences are insurmountable. For this reason, I will shortly present my written resignation to the king in the name of the whole government.”
The coalition was Rutte’s fourth since he took office in 2010. But it had only taken office in January 2022 after a record 271 days of negotiations and was deeply divided on many issues.
Rutte -- dubbed “Teflon Mark” after the non-stick pan coating for his ability to avoid political catastrophe -- added that he had the “energy” to stand for a fifth term but that he had to “reflect” first.
The earliest that elections can be held is in mid-November, the Dutch election commission said.
Rutte said he would lead a caretaker government until then that would focus on tasks including support for Ukraine.
The sudden collapse sparked bitter recriminations between the four parties in the year-and-a-half-old coalition, which had been dubbed “Rutte IV”.