Rutte calls it a “political reality that we cannot ignore.” He says the decision is difficult for all parties, including “me personally.” According to Rutte, all parties have done everything to find a solution. ‘It is a pity it didn’t work out. But none of this detracts from the pleasant and proactive way we have worked together in the cabinet, including on the issue of migration,’ said Rutte.
Mixed feelings
Because after days of negotiations, the coalition parties have not come to an agreement. According to political journalist Leendert Beekman, the measures to limit the influx have gone badly. “ChristenUnie didn’t accept the third package that was ready, we’ve already seen it coming,” says Beekman. State Secretary for Asylum Eric van der Burg said earlier that a new proposal was on the table regarding family reunification, the main divisive issue between the parties.
“We’ve Already Seen It Coming”
Despite this, an agreement could not be reached and so the Rutte IV cabinet came to an end. The downfall of the cabinet evokes many mixed feelings, both within Hague politics and in the rest of the Netherlands. BoerBurgerBeweging frontwoman Caroline van der Plas is pleased with cabinet fall and won’t rule out premiership if BBB becomes biggest in new election. PVV’s Geert Wilders is happy with the fall, but actually offered a helping hand saying “the parties have to step over their own egos”.
“Sad” and “disappointing”
PvdA leader Attje Kuiken says she is done with this cabinet and is ready for new elections. To this end, the PvdA can join forces with GroenLinks. The leader of the latter party, Jesse Klaver, calls it outrageous that the government is now falling. “I’ve been saying this for two years, rule or resign.” DENK’s Farid Azarkan believes this is “better for the country” and JA21’s Joost Eerdmans “has seen no improvement” in the current situation.
“Rutte’s attitude is irresponsibly harsh and almost reckless”
Several ministers described the situation as “sad” and “disappointing”. For example, Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren thinks it is “a difficult time, especially in view of the war in Ukraine”. Education minister Robbert Dijkgraaf says he has “mixed feelings” and a visibly disappointed economic and climate affairs minister Micky Adriaansens says the sides have worked hard on “this difficult topic that is important to the Netherlands”.
Party chairman Pieter Heerma of the CDA calls Rutte’s attitude during the asylum debate “irresponsibly harsh and almost thoughtless”.