Socialist Party leader Lilian Marijnissen told Dutch broadcaster NOS the collapse of Mr Rutte’s government was “good news for the Netherlands”. Mr Rutte negotiated for months over a package of measures to reduce the flow of new migrants arriving in the country of nearly 18 million people. The idea of blocking family members was strongly opposed by minority coalition party ChristenUnie. Pieter Heerma, the leader of coalition partner the Christian Democrats, called Mr Rutte’s approach in the talks “almost reckless”. The party is already the largest bloc in the Dutch Senate and will be a serious threat to Mr Rutte’s People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy.

Source: The Times July 08, 2023 13:23 UTC