The Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, has submitted his resignation to the king after the ruling coalition failed to reach a consensus on migrant policy. The four-party coalition will act as a caretaker cabinet until a new general election can be held.
In a statement to reporters in The Hague, Rutte acknowledged that migration is a significant political and social issue. However, the coalition members have very different views on migration policy, and it has become clear that these differences are irreconcilable.
The main point of contention during the coalition meeting was a proposal to limit the number of refugees and asylum-seekers in the country. Rutte’s People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and the Christian Democrats wanted to restrict the number of relatives who could join asylum-seekers already in the country to 200 per year. They also suggested creating a separate category for war refugees and those fleeing political persecution. However, the other two coalition partners, D66 and the Christian Union, opposed the idea of breaking up families.
King Willem-Alexander has been informed of the government’s resignation, and Rutte will continue to serve as caretaker Prime Minister until the new general election, which is expected to take place in November.
The Netherlands has been facing a housing shortage, and with approximately 46,000 asylum applications received in 2022, the government projected that this number could rise to as high as 70,000 in the current year. Additionally, the country has temporarily protected around 95,000 Ukrainians until March 2025.
Rutte has been the Prime Minister of the Netherlands since October 2010, leading four different ruling coalitions during his tenure. The most recent coalition was formed in January 2022 after prolonged negotiations, resulting in only 77 seats out of 150 in the parliament for the four-party bloc.
Following Rutte’s resignation, several political leaders have called for quick elections and a change of direction. Geert Wilders, the leader of the Freedom Party, tweeted in support of immediate elections, while Jesse Klaver, the leader of the Green Left party, emphasized the need for a new parliament and a change in direction.
In conclusion, the resignation of Prime Minister Mark Rutte and the collapse of the ruling coalition in the Netherlands reflect the deep disagreements among coalition members on migrant policy. The country’s upcoming general election will determine the future direction of Dutch politics and how it will address the challenges associated with migration and asylum-seekers.
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