The unstable coalition of Dutch PM Mark Rutte is at risk of collapsing because parties have opposing opinions about measures to limit migration, according to local mass media.
Rutte, who has remained the country’s PM for 12 consecutive years, took charge over the government once again in January 2022 after coalition formation talks that lasted a whole 271 days.
Rutte’s liberal-conservative People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (PPFD) has initiated tightening the country’s asylum policy. However, it has met with a strong opposition from its coalition partners.
Public broadcaster NOS has noted that “the collapse of the government is not far off”.
Coalition partners’ crisis talks have so far brought no tangible results. It is believed efforts will continue over the weekend.
Rutte has threatened with PPFD potentially leaving the government if their proposed changes are not passed.
Rutte proposed limiting the rights of asylum seekers for family reunification when fleeing general threats, such as war, unlike asylum seekers who are provided with asylum to protect them from personal threats.
The Christian Union, on the other hand, and Minister of Finance Sigrid Kaag’s led left wing centrist party D66 categorically object to this, media report.
Nevertheless, some sources claim Rutte’s strict position is only a “negotiation tactic”.
The migration law has been an apple of discord in the Dutch government for a long time. PPFD and Christian Democrats are in favour of tighter limitation of migration, CU and D66 oppose it.
Holland is currently in the middle of reforming its immigration system. This reform provides for dividing asylum seekers into two categories. The first group is people who are persecuted for their political or religious views, or their sexual orientation. The second group are war refugees allowed to stay in Holland temporarily and who have less rights than the people in the first group.
Although CU and D66 were ready to compromise on topics like tighter action against abuse of asylum rights or the categorisation of asylum seekers, they consider Rutte’s proposal on limiting the reunification of families as going too far.
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