The Dutch government's ruling coalition collapsed on Friday due to the failure of the parties to come to a mutual agreement on immigration policy. It underlines the fact that governments all across Europe continue to be divided over the issue of those seeking asylum entering the continent.
One of Europe's longest-serving leaders, Prime Minister Mark Rutte, announced on Friday that he would submit his resignation to the king while serving over his fourth Cabinet.
On Friday, Rutte told reporters in The Hague, “It is no secret that the coalition partners have very different views on migration policy; and today, unfortunately, we have to draw the conclusion that those differences are irreconcilable.”
A caretaker government led by Rutte will rule until new general elections are held in the fall as a result of the collapse of the cabinet.
The coalition government's parties had battled over migration for months, arguing over the parameters of family reunification and whether to establish two categories of asylum: a temporary one for those escaping armed conflict and a permanent one for those fleeing persecutors.
The Dutch government, which already has tighter immigration laws than several other European Union countries, remained divided over immigration policy. The Christian Union and the centrist D66, two parties of the ruling coalition, decided last week they could not reach an agreement with Rutte's party, which triggered a crisis in the coalition government.
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