On Friday, the Dutch government fell apart due to the inability to agree on immigration restrictions, leading to early elections in the fall.
Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s conservative VVD party pushed to curb the flow of asylum seekers to the Netherlands, but two parties in his four-party governing coalition refused to back the move, leading to the crisis.
Prolonged Transition Period in Dutch Politics
Rutte’s demand for the backing of a plan to restrict the entry of children of war refugees already in the Netherlands and to make families wait at least two years before being joined has ratcheted up tensions.
For the relatively minor Christian Union and the liberal D66, the newest proposal went too far, leading to a deadlock.
Until a new cabinet is formed following new elections, Rutte’s coalition will serve in a caretaker capacity. Given the fragmented nature of the Dutch political scene, this can take many months.
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Toughest Immigration Policies
Under pressure from right-wing groups, Dutch Prime Minister Rutte spent months looking for measures to significantly restrict the number of asylum seekers entering the country. The Netherlands already has one of the strictest immigration rules in Europe.
The number of asylum applications in the Netherlands increased by 33% in 2016 to over 46,000, and the government predicts the number might rise to over 70,000 in 2017 – surpassing the previous peak set in 2015.
For months last year, hundreds of migrants were forced to sleep in the rough without access to clean water, sanitary facilities, or medical care; this will again put a burden on the country’s asylum facilities.
He said he would lessen the influx of refugees into the Netherlands in order to improve living conditions there. His coalition partners, however, felt his initiatives went too far, and he never managed to earn their support.
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Source: CNN