Newsletter Newsletters Events Events Podcasts Videos Africanews
Loader
Advertisement

Mark Rutte, the longest-serving PM in Dutch history, announces retirement

Dutch PM Mark Rutte says he is leaving politics following the collapse of his coaltion government.
Dutch PM Mark Rutte says he is leaving politics following the collapse of his coaltion government. Copyright  Kayhan Ozer/AP
Copyright Kayhan Ozer/AP
By Euronews with AFP
Published on Updated
Share this article Comments
Share this article Close Button
Copy/paste the article video embed link below: Copy to clipboard Copied

Rutte said he would remain in office on an interim basis until the general election, which the Dutch electoral council says will not take place until mid-November at the earliest.

ADVERTISEMENT

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte says he will step down from politics after this autumn's snap general election, a decision that marks the career end of the longest-serving head of government in Dutch history.

Rutte, who has led four coalition governments since 2010, announced the collapse of his current four-party coalition on Friday, following internal disputes over the tightening of Dutch asylum policy.

"On the occasion of the investiture of a new government after the elections, I will leave politics," he told parliament on Monday.

He also made it clear that he would not head the list for his centre-right People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD).

Rutte said he would remain in office on an interim basis until the general election, which, according to the Dutch electoral council, won't take place until mid-November at the earliest.

But Rutte faces a vote in parliament later today, with the opposition seeking to unseat him as interim prime minister.

Two left-wing opposition parties and Geert Wilders' far-right Party for Freedom have tabled a motion of no confidence in Rutte.

To succeed, the motion must be supported by at least one of the four parties in Rutte's coalition.

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo paid tribute to Rutte in a Tweet, stating: "Thanks for everything, Mark. Not only the Netherlands is going to miss you." 

Go to accessibility shortcuts
Share this article Comments

Read more

Drones, fences and roadblocks: How The Hague ramped up security for NATO summit

‘Strictest asylum regime ever’: Dutch cabinet agrees new measures to limit asylum seekers

Dutch police disperse people from streets after Amsterdam tram set on fire