Rutte’s prospects of forming a new government have waned as coalition partner resigns

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s prospects of forming a new government fell on Saturday as a coalition partner deemed vital to securing a parliamentary majority ruled out joining a new administration he led.

Rutte survived a no-confidence vote on Friday after parliament passed a motion disapproving of his behavior during talks on forming a new government.

But ChristenUnie leader Gert Jan Segers said in an interview with Nederlands Dagblad: “We don’t want to go back to business as usual.” We cannot be part of a fourth Rutte government. “

ChristenUnie is one of four government parties led by Rutte’s 2017 Conservative VVD.

Rutte, in office since 2010 and often an influential figure in the European Union, was the decisive winner of the general election two weeks ago.

But he survived only the vote of confidence, which accused him of not telling the truth about the suggestions he made about the possible future of a critical parliamentarian from another party.

All parties outside his coalition voted for his immediate removal.

This seemed to have left the current coalition as the only viable option for Rutte to form a fourth consecutive government, until Segers’ movement on Saturday blocked that path.

Rutte, who has served as interim prime minister, said on Friday he had not given up hope of forming a new government, as he expected talks to resume in the coming weeks.

Next week, Parliament will appoint an independent official to identify ways to get the government up and running again.

An opinion poll published after the debate on the no-confidence vote showed that Rutte’s support among the general public fell to 25%, from 54% a week earlier.