DutchNews.nl - DutchNews.nl brings daily news from The Netherlands in English

21 May 2025
Newsletter Donate Advertise
  • News
  • Life in the Netherlands
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
  • Search
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Art and culture
  • Sport
  • Europe
  • Society
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Housing
  • Education
  • News
    • Home
    • Economy
    • Art and culture
    • Sport
    • Europe
    • Society
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
    • Education
  • Life in the Netherlands
    • Latest
    • Opinion
    • Books
    • Travel
    • 10 Questions
    • Learning Dutch
    • Inburgering with DN
    • Food & Drink
    • Ask us anything
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
    • Team
    • Donate
    • Advertise
    • Writing for Dutch News
    • Contact us
    • Privacy
    • Newsletter
  • Search

Rutte to stand down as PM and quit politics after election

July 10, 2023
Mark Rutte announced his decision in parliament on Monday. Photo: ANP/Remko de Waal

Mark Rutte will not stand for re-election as prime minister in a general election triggered by the early collapse of his fourth cabinet.

The prime minister told MPs in a short statement that he would be quitting politics when the current caretaker period ends.

“In recent days there has been speculation about what my motivation was. The only answer is: the Netherlands,” Rutte said.

“My position must be seen in that light. On Sunday I decided that I will not be available as leader of the VVD party in the upcoming elections.”

Rutte’s unexpected statement came at the start of a debate on Monday morning on the collapse of his cabinet last week, after the four parties were unable to agree on migration.

The VVD, led by Rutte, had demanded strict new curbs on asylum applications, including a cap on family members joining refugees who had been granted temporary status, but coalition partners D66 and the ChristenUnie said the proposal went too far.

The parties had agreed on other measures, including introducing a two-tier asylum system in which people facing personal persecution were given priority over those fleeing war zones.

Socialist party leader Lilian Marijnissen called Rutte’s decision to step down “sensible” and called for elections to be held as soon as possible.

“The Rutte era has done the Netherlands a lot of damage,” she said. “If you look at the public sector, healthcare and education, a million people at risk of falling into poverty in what’s supposed to be the richest country in the world.

“Rutte IV was a continuation of Rutte III where the same people took responsibility for the problems but didn’t solve them.”

Other leaders, including Caroline van der Plas of the BBB and Farid Azarkan of Denk, echoed the view that Rutte had taken a “responsible” decision.

Rutte keert niet terug in volgend kabinet! Een heel verstandig besluit. #nieuweverkiezingen #IedereDagBBBeter

— Caroline van der Plas (@lientje1967) July 10, 2023

De juiste beslissing op het verkeerde moment. Rutte had veel eerder moeten opstappen. Deze premier heeft teveel kapot gemaakt. Tijd voor een eerlijk en rechtvaardig Nederland. #tk2023 #Rutte pic.twitter.com/mDzS4VAri2

— Farid Azarkan (@F_azarkan) July 10, 2023

Pieter Omtzigt, the independent MP who played a key role in exposing the childcare benefit scandal that triggered the resignation of Rutte’s last government, said the time was ripe for Rutte to quit politics.

“His coalition partners were clearly so exasperated with him that it will be very difficult to form a coalition in future,” he said.

“It’s in the interests of the country that a decent national government emerges, and that’s not what we had in the last few weeks.”

Confidence motion withdrawn

Sylvana Simons, MP for the left-wing Bij1 party, said Rutte’s decision was “good news” and the prime minister should step down immediately.

“We’re done with the Rutte era,” she said. “I think the country needs a clean break as soon as possible, and that means today.”

GroenLinks party leader Jesse Klaver withdrew a motion of no confidence in Rutte that had been tabled for Monday’s debate, allowing him to continue as prime minister in a caretaker capacity until the election.

“Rutte has indicated that he is putting the interests of the country before those of his party. So we have confidence in him again to lead the country as caretaker prime minister,” Klaver said.

Share this article
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Copy URL
Election 2023 Politics
Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.

We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.

Make a donation
Latest
Show more
Bodies found in car during search for missing children
EU to review Israel agreement over Gaza crisis after Dutch push
Central bank president Knot urges Europe to end dependency on US
Europe's last battlefield: Remembering Texel's Georgian uprising
"The Netherlands is innovative yet surprisingly traditional"
NewsHomeEconomyArt and cultureSportEuropeSocietyEnvironmentHealthHousingEducation
Life in the NetherlandsLatestOpinionBooksTravel10 QuestionsLearning DutchInburgering with DNFood & DrinkAsk us anything
About usTeamDonateAdvertiseWriting for Dutch NewsContact usPrivacyNewsletter
© 2025 DutchNews | Cookie settings

Help us to keep providing you information about coronavirus in the Netherlands.

Many thanks to everyone who has donated to DutchNews.nl in recent days!

We could not provide this service without you. If you have not yet made a contribution, you can do so here.

The DutchNews.nl team

Donate now

Dutchnews Survey

Please help us making DutchNews.nl a better read by taking part in a short survey.

Take part now