VVD leader and prime minister Mark Rutte told the final televised debate of the election campaign on Tuesday evening there would be major consequences for the Netherlands if southern European countries left the eurozone.

Repeating his opposition to more support for Greece, the prime minister said the southern countries must meet the strongest conditions in order to qualify for help, such as those demanded by Germany.
Geert Wilders, leader of the anti-immigration PVV who has turned his attention to Europe during the campaign, said Rutte has already paid too much money to Greece.

Backbone
‘Rutte has the vision of an ostrich, the backbone of a mussel and the truthfulness of Pinocchio,’ he said. The Netherlands must leave the EU, Wilders said, adding that Rutte has ‘lied more times during the campaign than [Labour leader Diederik] Samsom has been arrested’. Samson is a former campaigner for Greenpeace.
During the debate, CDA leader Sybrand Buma urged Samsom to make a choice ‘between the French group which wants lower pensions and higher taxes and to sort of try to reduce budget deficits’ and the tougher line followed by finance minister Jan Kees de Jager and the northern countries.
Samsom said it is a mistake to try to choose between Paris and Berlin. ‘All the countries of Europe have to solve the problems,’ he said.