Dutch government falls in immigration feud; Ukraine backing assured

The government in the Netherlands collapsed Friday amid an inability to reach consensus on immigration restrictions.

The crisis emerged when Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s conservative VVD party sought to limit the influx of asylum seekers to the Netherlands, a proposal that two out of four parties in Rutte’s ruling coalition refused to support, reports NBC News.

For the time being, Rutte’s coalition will remain in place until a new administration is formed after elections planned later in 2023.

In a televised news conference, Rutte stated, “It’s no secret that the coalition partners have differing opinions about immigration policy.”

“Today we unfortunately have to conclude that those differences have become insurmountable. Therefore, I will tender the resignation of the entire cabinet to the king,” he added.

The tensions escalated days ago when Rutte insisted on support for a proposition to restrict the entry of children of war refugees already in the country, and to impose a waiting period of at least two years for family reunification.

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The Christian Union and liberal Democrats 66, two parties in the coalition, found this proposal too extreme, resulting in a deadlock.

In the fragmented Dutch political landscape, the process of forming a new government typically takes months.

During this caretaker period, no new policies can be implemented. Rutte assured that the caretaker Dutch government would not disrupt the country’s support for Ukraine.

The Netherlands experienced a 33% increase in asylum applications last year, a number that is only expected to increase in the coming years, according to officials.

This surge in applications continues to strain the country’s asylum facilities, where hundreds of refugees often sleep outdoors with limited access to water, sanitation, and health care.

Rutte, the longest-serving government leader in Dutch history and one of the most senior in the European Union, is expected to lead his VVD party in the upcoming elections.

The collapse Friday was the fourth for a government Rutte has led since he first became prime minister in 2010.