Wiegel talks about four parties governing together, “and while there is sometimes a little thunder here and there, things are pretty much under control under the current prime minister,” he says.
Wiegel finds the cabinet’s handling of all issues particularly admirable. “A lot of different things are coming at us, and politicians think differently too,” the VVD star continues. ‘And then you have to try and find a line. I think it’s thanks to the prime minister that he gets to do that.’
Historically low trust
But where Wiegel speaks positively of the Rutte IV cabinet, the Dutch population seems to be dissatisfied. Especially when it comes to trust in government, which is a historically low 30%. According to Wiegel, this is due to the number of parties and disagreement. “But if you think very carefully – and look particularly at how the Prime Minister is doing – then it is true that he knows how to show how it should be done.”
His words of praise on Rutte indicate a change. Wiegel had previously been critical of Rutte. “But I’ve changed my mind,” he says. ‘People always think politicians feel the same way, but that’s not my case. The Prime Minister simply knows very well what he wants.’