DutchNews.nl - Political crisis: Elections loom as prime minister visits the queen

Prime minister Mark Rutte tendered his resignation to queen Beatrix on Monday afternoon, following the collapse of talks aimed at restoring order to the government's finances.

Geert Wilders, leader of the anti-immigration PVV, pulled out of the negotiations on Saturday, saying the impact of the spending cuts ‘ordered by Brussels’ was too great.

The decision means the minority cabinet no longer has enough support in parliament, making elections inevitable.

The cabinet met for 1.5 hours on Monday morning to discuss the political crisis.

Most MPs say the general election should take place before the summer, because of the pressure to come up with a comprehensive package of spending cuts. They will debate the political crisis with prime minister Mark Rutte on Tuesday.

At the same time, opposition party leaders have said they are willing to work with the government to draw up a 2013 budget in order to at least partly meet demands by Brussels that the budget deficit be reduced to below 3% next year.

There are just seven days to go before the Netherlands should submit its spending plans although there is some flexibility in this, Nos television says.

A spokesman for European commissioner Olli Rehn told reporters on Monday Brussels expected the Netherlands would do all it can to meet its obligations.

Readers' Comments

Good riddance to Rutte; perhaps now we will see the back of Wilders as well.

By Quince | 23 April 2012 3:27 PM

The real problem is that the duo Rutte-Wilders has strangled the growth of our economy, and has led us to recession. There you have the problem of deficit. Less economic activity leads to less revenue for the state and therefore a larger deficit. When they took over the government, we were growing more than Germany, and we had half Germany's unemployment. Today we have more unemployment than Germany and we are in recession. Those are their results.

By zenplus | 23 April 2012 4:30 PM

You're a good man Geert and you always try to do the right thing (unlike a lot of other politicians). Geert has my support now and always. Any other coalition won't work when right meets left. The PVV can go from strength to strength now but in a different medium

By Heidi | 23 April 2012 5:27 PM

So very very sad to see some of the pro-PVV comments here, and at the same time see the Netherlands dead center on the front page of the Wall Street Journal: The Dutch Collapse.
If you have small amount of intelligence how on earth can you watch what is happening and think that the PVV is good? This is so sad to me. I really worry about the future of the human race when I see this stuff.

By Bill | 24 April 2012 6:43 AM

Always does the right thing!!?! On what planet is insulting an entire culture the right thing!?!?

By Stupid | 24 April 2012 12:00 PM

This is the good news that millions have been waiting for.

'But sadly the system will remain the same, despite the next political party that comes to power. No cooperation, just corporation, business as usual, right?

By The visitor | 25 April 2012 4:29 AM

@Bill- Give it a rest mate, I feel very sad and concerned about the future of the human race when I read your posts. What gives you the automatic right to the moral high ground? And how dare you insult Heidi's intelligence just because you have different political points of view, please have some basic manners, discuss politics by all means but attacking people on the basis of intellect is low, even for a lefty.

By Phil | 25 April 2012 9:31 AM

Phil: why is that freedom of speech and opinion ONLY seems to apply to the Wilders and the PVV? stop whining like babies when others voice their opinions.
I rarely address anyone directly here Phil, and certainly not the PVVers precisely for this reason. however, if I insulted someone's intelligence, then I am sorry. Unfortunately I cannot become or act less intelligent in my comments so - deal with it! stop whining and deal with it.

By Bill | 26 April 2012 6:41 AM