Centrists Are The Surprising Winners In Dutch Elections

Surprise Election Triumph For Dutch Centrists -- The Australian

DUTCH voters have given a resounding slap to anti-Brussels Eurosceptic parties, re-electing centrist Prime Minister Mark Rutte to complete a surprisingly bright week for supporters of the embattled euro common currency.

Populists of the hard Left and far Right dominated the early stages of the Dutch election campaign with promises to stop supporting the German-led policy of fiscal austerity at home and expensive bailouts for struggling southern neighbours such as Greece and Portugal.

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More News On The Dutch Election

Dutch prepare for coalition government -- CBC/AP
Dutch Rivals Set for Coalition Talks -- Wall Street Journal
Dutch election: Pro-Europe VVD and Labour parties win -- BBC
Dutch PM wins election, tough fiscal stance likely -- Reuters
Dutch voters go centrist, shun euroskepticism -- Christian Science Monitor
Netherlands election analysis: Dutch show faith in Europe -- Anna Holligan, BBC News
Dutch Election Shows Europe Hasn’t Lost Its Mind -- Yet -- Marc Champion, Bloomberg

Dutch Government Falls

Mark Rutte, Dutch prime minister. Rutte, who ran out of room for maneuver after budget talks with Geert Wilders’s Freedom Party collapsed, is battling for domestic support to dispel investor concerns the Netherlands can regain control of its finances. Photographer: Michele Tantussi/Bloomberg

Dutch Government Becomes Latest Casualty Of Euro Debt Crisis -- L.A. Times

LONDON -– The Dutch government has become the latest to fall in Europe because of the continent's stubborn debt crisis, which appears to be flaring up again after a temporary lull.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte and his Cabinet resigned en masse Monday after they failed to clinch a deal with other parties over austerity cuts to reduce the Netherlands' budget deficit. It was an embarrassing development for the Dutch, who have repeatedly lectured Southern European nations on the need to rein in public spending but now can't agree on such a plan themselves.

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More News On The Fall Of The Dutch Government

Dutch government quits after austerity talks fail -- AP
Dutch Cabinet Submits Resignation To The Queen -- Wall Street Journal
Dutch govt quits after budget talks fail -- Sydney Morning Herald/AP
Dutch prime minister, Cabinet resign after failing to reach agreement to reduce budget -- FOX News
Dutch Face Elections As Rutte Seeks Majority for Measures -- Bloomberg
Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte resigns over austerity measures -- The Telegraph
Dutch prime minister quits as austerity talks fail -- Euronews
Dutch cabinet quits after rift with far-right -- AFP
Dutch government collapses after far right pulls plug -- CNN
The Dutch government's fall will mean political deadlock for months to come -- Joel Janssen, The Guardian

Netherlands Preparing To Leave Afghanistan This Weekend

Twenty-four Dutch soldiers were killed and 140 injured over the last four years Photo: AFP/GETTY Images

Taliban Congratulates Netherlands For Pulling Soldiers Out Of Afghanistan -- The Telegraph

The Taliban has congratulated the Netherlands for plans to pull its soldiers out of Afghanistan this weekend.

Almost 2,000 Dutch troops have been deployed in the Uruzgan region, where the Taliban is active and opium production is high.

The final contingent of 250 Dutch soldiers will be withdrawn on Sunday, after strong domestic opposition to participation in the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force.

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More News On The Netherlands Leaving Afghanistan

Dutch troops to leave Afghanistan -- AFP
Taliban congratulates Dutch on Afghan withdrawal -- Radio Netherlands Worldwide
Dutch military chief gives upbeat assessment of 4-year Afghan mission in which his son died -- Canadian Press