It was a surprise move after the four-party ruling coalition failed to reach a consensus over migration policies.
Rutte the nation’s longest serving prime minister, said the differences between the parties were irreconcilable and that he had no choice but to offer his resignation to the king. The issue of migration has long been a divisive one in Europe, and it appears to have reached a tipping point in the Netherlands as well. The four parties involved had widely differing views on migration, with the conservative people’s party for freedom and democracy and the Christian Democrats advocating for stricter policies while D-66 a Social Liberal Political party and the Christian Union called for more leniency.
Last year, over 21 thousand people from outside Europe sought asylum in the Netherlands while tens of thousands more moved there for work and study. The resignation of Rutte’s government means that it will remain in office as a caretaker until a new government is formed.
