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'We have no choice but to help Greece,' prime minister tells MPsFriday 20 May 2011 The Netherlands will continue putting pressure on Greece to reform its economy but has little choice but to agree to give more financial help, prime minister Mark Rutte told parliament on Tuesday night. Writing off the Greek debt or a return to the drachma will affect confidence in the markets in Portugal, Ireland and possibly Spain and Italy, which will have an ‘enormous effect’ on the open Dutch economy, Rutte said. ‘Look at the collapse of Lehman in September 2008,’ Rutte said. ‘Direct links with the bank were limited but the effect on the Dutch economy was enormous. We cannot take that risk again.’ Debate Rutte was speaking during a general debate on government policy, during which he clashed several times with Geert Wilders, leader of the anti-Islam PVV. Wilders says Greece should leave the euro and that the Netherlands should refuse to help a second bail-out. ‘Wilders is playing with fire, playing with savers’ money, with pensions and with industry. That is irresponsible,’ Rutte is quoted as saying. Wilders described Greece as ‘corrupt’. Opposition MPs urged Wilders to pull out of the alliance his party has with the minority government because of his position on Greece. But Rutte defended the PVV leader, saying the partners had agreed to differ on foreign policy. Earlier in the debate, Socialist Party leader Emile Roemer left the chamber after Wilders said the Labour party had spent 30 years bringing ‘Islamic voting fodder’ into the country. Rutte, too, said the anti-Islam party leader had gone too far. Is Rutte right? Take part in our poll Earlier stories © DutchNews.nl
Yes you do have a choice. Let greece go out of euro, restructure its debt and stop maintaining a chaos in country that ordinary people pay. We dont want more debt, because some corrupted politicians with your help want. Already unemployment is 20% and rising. With taxes and recession of 5% u dont solve anything. I say all that being greek. Look at iceland. THey are already making much better. By kostas | May 20, 2011 8:33 AM So yet again the clown insults a whole nation by calling them Junkies and yet again insults a whole religion and is he gonna get away with it? well of course he can If he can fly Nazi flags from his office and get away with it then he can do any thing he want.The reputation of Holland is already becoming one of intolerance racism and corruption.The whole world is watching and they do not like what they see. By Jason | May 20, 2011 9:19 AM I hope they feel the pressure. This kind of financial irresponsibility will affect us for decades to come. By Michael | May 20, 2011 1:54 PM Sorry many of but the Greeks living in Amsterdam admit that Greece is corrupt. Since when did being honest become wrong or politically incorrect? By Michael | May 20, 2011 1:56 PM Unfortunately, Rutte is probably right but that does not mean I think this is a good situation to be in. Basically weak countries, like Greece and Portugal, can sort of hold the rest of the EU 'hostage' because of the possible consequences. I cannot help but wonder why our leaders could not see this coming before the EU was formed, and certainly before Greece was allowed to enter the EU. I think it was already apparent then that this would happen. I also believe that Greece will eventually default on its (now enormous) debt and step out the EU. I do not think Greece can resolve this. By Bill | May 20, 2011 3:03 PM
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Actually my Dutchie translated Wilders words as "cattle" rather than "fodder".
Moo to you, Blondie.
[Editor's note: Your Dutch is quite correct about the literal translation - but we used 'fodder' as an English equivalent of the phrase, like 'cannon fodder']
By CW | May 20, 2011 8:24 AM