Dutch PM Rutte says he will not run for fifth term in office
Al JazeeraJul 03, 2023
Netherlands: Rutte to Leave Politics After Elections Amid Govt Turmoil
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Image copyright: Minister-president Rutte/Flickr [via Wikimedia Commons]
The Facts
Outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced on Monday that he will not run for a fifth term in office, adding that he will quit politics once the new cabinet is formed after the elections in November.
Following Rutte's statement, a motion of no confidence to topple Rutte from power that had been tabled for debate that day was withdrawn.
The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
Given that Rutte had long been a lame duck walking into office even before his cabinet collapsed, this announcement was somewhat expected. Anyone closely watching the Dutch people protesting against his plans to impose a Great Reset-style scheme to shut down thousands of farmers in the country already knew that he and his allies would be forever swept away in elections.
Pro-establishment narrative
While Rutte has faced a rapid deterioration of his popularity at home by the end of his tenure, it's undeniable that this seemingly ordinary man has led the relatively small Netherlands to the highest echelons of European politics by promoting an agenda based on free trade, fiscal prudence, and liberal social values. Now that he's quitting politics, his absence will surely be felt.
