In the Netherlands, the ruling coalition is falling apart amid infighting over immigration policy

After a year and a half of existence, the coalition government of Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has fallen, swept away by heated negotiations between the four ruling parties over the policy of welcoming refugees, several media reported on Friday July 7. nationals.

“The government has not reached an agreement on the measures to be taken in order to restrict the influx of asylum seekers. This is what is reported in The Hague”writes on its site the Dutch public radio-television NOS. “This is the end of the Rutte IV government”she adds.

Nicknamed “Teflon” for his ability to stay in power for 12 years despite the scandals – and thus becoming the longest serving prime minister in the history of the Netherlands – Mr Rutte had taken the reins of his fourth coalition in January 2022 after a record 271 trading days.

But the head of government, of the liberal right-wing VVD party, had in recent days caused trouble among his right-wing and center partners, demanding that they adopt a series of divisive measures around the reception asylum seekers.

A monthly quota of 200 children

Mark Rutte demanded that the three other parties in the ruling coalition, the Christian Democrats of the CDA, the centrist liberals of the D66 and the small Protestant party ChristenUnie, agree to establish a quota for the number of children from areas conflicts who can obtain asylum in the Netherlands. Refugees already established in the Netherlands will no longer be allowed to be joined there by their children if a monthly quota of 200 children has already been reached, he also asked.

But two more flexible parties on immigration, the ChristenUnie and the D66, are opposed to this project. The ChristenUnie, of which a large part of the voters are in the “Bijbelgordel”the Belt of the Bible, a conservative area of ​​the country, is because of its religious beliefs traditionally opposed to a hardening of the policy of reception of asylum seekers.

“We were all created and are all loved by the same God and it is also from him that we received the earth on which we live. We therefore believe that it is our duty to provide a safe place for the victims of disasters, wars, persecutions and oppression.writes the ChristenUnie on its site.

Towards a fifth term for Mark Rutte?

After initial negotiations on Wednesday, members of the government had again met urgently overnight from Thursday to Friday to discuss the Prime Minister’s proposals, without however reaching an agreement, leading to speculation on a rapid drop in the fourth government of Mr. Rutte, commonly known in the Netherlands “Rute IV”.

Since the start of his first term in 2010, Mr. Rutte and his liberal right-wing formation have had to face competition and pressure from several far-right parties, in particular the PVV of Geert Wilders, fiercely opposed to the ‘immigration.

With the explosion of the coalition, Prime Minister Mark Rutte should once again embark on the legislative race, with the aim of starting a fifth term as Prime Minister. However, he could face competition within his party for the top position.

Originally scheduled for 2025, these elections which determine the composition of the lower house of the Dutch Parliament should be convened soon, with a possible holding over the next few months.

The race for deputies promises to be tough for the parties of the outgoing government as a new pro-farmer formation opposed to European Union environmental regulations won the most seats in March’s regional elections which also determine the composition of the Senate.