Prime Minister Mark Rutte announces his resignation

The ruling coalition is breaking up again in the Netherlands. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced the resignation of his coalition government on Friday, July 7, citing differences after heated negotiations over the country’s refugee reception policy. “Tonight, we have unfortunately come to the conclusion that the differences are insurmountable. For this reason, I will soon present my resignation to the King on behalf of the entire government”he said at a press conference.

Head of liberal right-wing party VVD, Mark Rutte demanded that the three other parties in the coalition (the Christian Democrats of the CDA, the centrist liberals of the D66 and the small Protestant formation ChristenUnie) agree to establish a quota for the number of children from conflict zones. eligible for asylum in the Netherlands. More flexible on immigration, the ChristenUnie and the D66 opposed this project.

New legislative soon convened?

With the explosion of the coalition, the Prime Minister should once again embark on the legislative race, with the aim of starting a fifth term. However, he could face competition within his party for the top position. Initially scheduled for 2025, these elections which determine the composition of the lower house of the Dutch Parliament could be held in the coming months.

Nicknamed “Teflon” for his ability to stay in power for 12 years despite scandals, Mark Rutte took the reins of his fourth coalition in January 2022 after 271 days of negotiations. He thus became the longest-serving prime minister in Dutch history.