Reactions and congratulations to the new president-elect of the US, Barack Obama, have been pouring in from Dutch political and business leaders throughout the day.

Shortly after the Democrat victory was confirmed at around 5am local time, Dutch prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende issued a statement wishing him ‘every success with this difficult task’.
Challenges
Obama faces a challenging term in office, Balkenende said, referring to the financial crisis and the deteriorating US economy. ‘But I am also thinking about combating terrorism, about climate change, human rights and free world trade.’ He added that the need for close cooperation between Europe and the US is greater than ever.
Foreign minister Maxime Verhagen also welcomed Obama’s victory. There is now a bigger chance that the US will back the International Criminal Court in The Hague and close down the Guantanamo Bay prison camp on Cuba, he told NOS tv.
Mariette Hamer, leader of the parliamentary Labour party , told ANP news agency that the election of Obama is a ‘relief for the whole world’ but warned that he must be given the time he needs to implement changes.
Speaking from the US, Arie Slob of the orthodox Christian party ChristenUnie, said he was touched by ‘how much hope people are getting from the fact that the election of a black president has conquered centuries of injustice,’ reports ANP.
trade liberalisation
The employers’ organisation VNO-NCW called on the new president not to bow to growing pressure within the US to introduce protectionist policies to cope with the financial crisis but to go ahead with the liberalisation of international trade.
“In that sense we will have to wait and see whether we are pleased with [the election of] Obama,” a VNO-NCW spokesman is reported as saying.
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