Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s coalition government collapsed yesterday, after failing to reach a deal on restricting immigration. Local media has reported that, after just a year and a half in office, the government collapsed due to the differences among four coalition parties over the asylum policies.
The four parties were unable to find agreement in crisis talks chaired by Prime Minister Mark Rutte. Rutte, the Netherlands’ longest-serving leader, presided over crisis talks amongst the four coalition partners but failed to reach a deal. Local media reported that new elections would likely be held 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.
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 government later confirmed he had presented his resignation and would visit King Willem-Alexander on Saturday.
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.