The cabinet may have to continue cutting spending past 2012, taking the total package of cuts before the next election to over €18bn, prime minister Mark Rutte says in an interview with the Telegraaf.

The warning comes three weeks ahead of the publication of the government’s 2012 spending plans. Ministers have already said no extra cuts are being planned for next year.
Asked if ministers were looking at 2013 and taking extra steps to keep the economy on track Rutte said: ‘That could well be the case. But not for 2012. But I cannot rule it out for the long term. Let me put it like that.’
The prime minister, and economic affairs minister Maxime Verhagen did not give any details of what sort of cuts could be on the cards. ‘But we want to kill the national debt monster,’ Rutte said.