The acting Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, has announced his retirement from politics after the collapse of his fourth government by differences over asylum policy of immigrants. In this way, Rutte has reported that she “is no longer available” as head of the electoral list of the Popular Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD).

“There has been speculation in recent days about my motivations, and the only answer is this: the Netherlands,” declared the until now prime minister, who has indicated that he made this decision on Sunday, despite the fact that on Friday ensure that he still had “energy and ideas” to lead a next cabinet.

The politician, who has led four governments since 2010has announced his withdrawal in a parliamentary speech prior to a debate on the reasons that led to the fall of the center-right coalition that has ruled the Netherlands since January 2022.

In statements to the press after his speech, Rutte has defended that “It’s a good time to pass the baton”, and has explained that he has made this decision “with mixed feelings and many emotions”, although he has acknowledged that he feels good about having done it. Likewise, Mark Rutte has assured that the leadership of the VVD did not demand his withdrawal.

Rutte, who has been the leader of the Liberals for 17 years, has said he does not know what he is going to do in the near future, although he has assured that, for the moment, he rules out a candidacy for the NATO secretary general or another position. at a high level in the European Union (EU), and has underlined that will continue to teach in a school in The Hague until making a decision about his future.

the liberal politician will remain acting prime minister until a new government is formed after the next elections, for which there is still no date, and has indicated that King Willem-Alexander has asked him to continue to take charge of “important” issues, such as aid to Ukraine and other national issues.

A surprise ending in politics

The end of Rutte’s political career comes totally by surprisesince he had always dropped that it was not yet the time to leave the Government of the Netherlands, and he even mentioned in interviews with the local media that he did not rule out running for his fifth consecutive election, with the aim of leading another cabinet.

Rutte has pointed out that the tragedy of MH17the shooting down of the Malaysia Airlines plane in eastern Ukraine on July 17, 2014, as “the most important moment” of his political career. The Malaysian flight had departed from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport for Kuala Lumpur and most of the 298 passengers were Dutch citizens.

The Dutch Executive fell last Fridayafter the center-right coalition failed to agree on asylum policy, especially with a measure put on the table by Rutte himself to put strict limits on the reunification of immediate family members of refugees.