THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Caretaker Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte was battling for his political life Thursday at a bitter parliamentary discussion about the nation’s derailed procedure for forming a new ruling coalition after an election last month.
That seemed a very long way away Thursday.
Negotiations stopped weekly ago following one of both officials directing the coalition talks tested positive for COVID-19 and has been photographed carrying notes putting out details of the discussions.
One of the text has been a line stating: “Ranking Omtzigt, operate elsewhere.” This was a mention of favourite lawmaker Peter Omtzigt of the Christian Democrat Appeal celebration, which has long been a thorn in the side of the authorities with his hard questions.
Following the notice had been photographed, Rutte told reporters last week he hadn’t discussed Omtzigt within his coalition talks. But based on notes made by civil servants which were printed Thursday, Rutte did speak about the lawmaker.
Rutte told the consequent argument that he didn’t keep in mind that part of this conversation and answered reporters’ queries”in hindsight “
“I’m not standing here lying.
The discussion around Rutte’s leadership comes because the Netherlands is combating rising coronavirus infections even through a months-long lockdown. Rutte’s popularity soared last year since he had been viewed as a stable hand steering the Netherlands throughout the coronavirus catastrophe, but ebbed since the March election approached.
“Do not you understand that your time is up?” Wilders said.
He’s taking off time, after complaining of fatigue.
Sigrid Kaag, chief of the centrist D66 party that finished second in the election,” said she’d witnessed a”pattern of forgetfulness, amnesia” from Rutte within his over a decade in office.
“How do you, at the best crisis we face from the Netherlands, reestablish the confidence that has been ruined?” King asked.
