Prime Minister Rutte’s departure from politics is seen by many as an opportunity for a fresh start with a different culture. What do the “outgoing” government parties participating in the election campaign today think about this?
In the previous formation, VVD, D66, CDA and ChristenUnie were more or less allied against each other. In the “Omtzigt position, position elsewhere” debate that took place shortly after the 2021 elections, mutual relations, especially between Rutte and other party leaders, were seriously tested. After months of negotiations, a government agreement was finally reached in early 2022, which many saw as a marriage of convenience.
Cabinet collapsed due to family reunion
The outgoing cabinet had difficulties from the beginning due, among other things, to the war in Ukraine. In the background was an ongoing debate about immigration. Earlier this summer, the cabinet collapsed after the parties failed to agree on restrictions on family reunification.
It soon became clear that all four coalition parties would enter the elections with a new party leader. VVD member Rutte, CDA member Hoekstra and D66 member Kaag are no longer in office; Party leader Bikker from the Christian Union remains, but he is actually new as he was not yet the party leader in the last elections.
Does this combination of events – especially Rutte’s departure – present opportunities for a fresh start and the much-discussed new administrative culture? Rutte recently said that he had stayed too long and should hand over the baton in 2021.
Yeşilgöz: “I don’t throw anything in the trash”
VVD party leader Yeşilgöz, Rutte’s successor, answered the question today whether he had distanced himself from Rutte for 13 years. “I take pride in the things that go well, and I learn from the things that don’t. “I don’t throw anything away, we are proud of the things we have to value,” he said.
Today, Rutte, who campaigned on behalf of VVD like Yeşilgöz, also used this word with pride: “We have almost the strongest economy in the world and there is no unemployment. But there are also many problems we need to solve.” In his view, there can be no question of an “old” and “new” VVD: “We are all a team together.”
“Responsibility taken”
D66 leader Jetten noticed during the election campaign that many people were skeptical about politics. Does he regret his party’s re-entry into the cabinet with Rutte two years ago? “D66 is a party that takes responsibility. We won 24 seats last time and really made a difference. I’m proud of that, but of course you can’t change the political culture alone. “This work is actually not over yet.”
CDA party leader Bontenbal also emphasized that his party took responsibility. According to him, this is in the DNA of the party. But Bontenbal says the CDA does not necessarily have to return to the cabinet. “We will see whether the CDA wants to be in the coalition or the opposition.”
His Christian Union colleague Bikker made similar comments about responsibility. Regarding the Christian Union joining Rutte IV, Bikker said that everyone saw that the party was not very enthusiastic and that it was not a happy marriage. “But now we are in a new moment. “I see opportunities for development, especially in The Hague.”
Source: NOS
Emma Fitzgerald is an accomplished political journalist and author at The Nation View. With a background in political science and international relations, she has a deep understanding of the political landscape and the forces that shape it.
