Outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte announces he is leaving politics during a debate in the House of Representatives following the fall of the cabinet, in The Hague on July 10, 2023. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on July 10, 2023 he was leaving politics after nearly 13 years in charge, in a shock end to his time as the longest-serving leader in the history of the Netherlands. (Photo by Remko de Waal / ANP / AFP) / Netherlands OUT
The Hague, Netherlands 鈥斅燚utch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said Monday he was leaving politics after nearly 13 years in charge, in a shock end to his time as the longest-serving leader in the history of the Netherlands.
Nicknamed 鈥淭eflon Mark鈥� for surviving scandals that hit his four governments, the center-right leader said he would bow out after elections triggered by the collapse of his coalition in a row over asylum policy.
The European Union鈥檚 second-longest-serving leader after Hungary鈥檚 Viktor Orban was widely expected to seek a fifth term in the elections this autumn, but stunned MPs with his surprise announcement.
鈥淚 feel OK, but of course, it is a significant moment for me personally,鈥� Rutte, 56, told AFP after leaving parliament.
The bike-riding, frugal-living premier had steered the Netherlands through economic upheaval and the Covid pandemic since 2010, relying on a 鈥淢r Normal鈥� image to appeal to voters.
He was also a European stalwart, who infuriated some southern countries with his hard line on bailouts but won support for his backing of Ukraine.
鈥楶ass the baton鈥�
The four-party coalition government collapsed on Friday over Rutte鈥檚 plans to cut numbers of family members from war zones who are allowed to reunite with asylum-seekers in the Netherlands.
The ChristenUnie 鈥� a Christian Democratic party 鈥� and the center-left Democracy 66 had strongly opposed Rutte鈥檚 plan.
Rutte, who passed Ruud Lubbers last August to become the longest-serving Dutch PM, is staying on as caretaker premier until a new government is formed. He is due to mark 13 years in office in October.
鈥淚 would like to say something personal. There has been speculation over the past few days about what motivates me. The only answer is the Netherlands,鈥� Rutte said during a parliamentary debate on the fall of the coalition.
鈥淵esterday morning, I took the decision that I am no longer suitable to be the new leader of the VVD (his party). When the new government is sworn in after the elections, I will quit politics.鈥�
He later told reporters: 鈥淭his is not entirely without emotion鈥� But it feels good to pass the baton.鈥�
Rutte 鈥渂lew up his own government in the hope 鈥� in my opinion, and I am not the only one 鈥� that early elections would go well for his VVD liberal party and also for himself,鈥� said social scientist Hans Boutellier, professor at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
鈥淎nd I think 鈥� but it鈥檚 a bit of a guess of course 鈥� that he was actually blamed too much,鈥� he told AFP.
Politicians from all sides paid tribute but were already eyeing the post-Rutte era, with a protest party of Dutch farmers, in particular, hoping to repeat their recent success in senate elections.
The farmers have held months of rowdy rallies against plans to cut livestock numbers and maybe close some farms to meet environmental targets.
鈥榁ery surprised鈥�
The Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB)鈥檚 leader Caroline van der Plas told AFP she was 鈥渧ery surprised鈥� by Rutte鈥檚 decision but that it was 鈥渧ery wise鈥�.
She said she was 鈥渘ot sure yet鈥� if she wanted to serve as prime minister but the 鈥済ood news for the Netherlands is that a new policy will be made鈥�.
Dutch lawmakers applauded after far-right leader Geert Wilders, Rutte鈥檚 long-term rival, praised him in parliament, saying: 鈥淵our choices were not ours, but you made them with conviction.鈥�
Opposition parties scrapped a planned no-confidence motion that would have toppled Rutte as caretaker premier.
Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra, who said he was also stepping down as head of the CDA, one of the parties in the fallen coalition, said he had an 鈥渋ncredible amount of respect鈥� for Rutte.
He later tweeted a meme involving the comic character Tintin, saying 鈥淲hat a week huh鈥�, with the reply, 鈥淚t鈥檚 only Monday morning.鈥�
There are no obvious successors in Rutte鈥檚 own party, which announced it would choose a candidate this week ahead of the elections, which are likely to be in mid-November.
Turkish-born Justice Minister Dilan Yesilgoz and VVD parliamentary group leader Sophie Hermans, a former assistant to Rutte, are among the frontrunners, broadcaster RTL said.
Rutte meanwhile has been tipped for the top jobs at NATO or the European Council.
But he indicated he would continue his work as a part-time teacher instead. 鈥淢aybe I鈥檒l do that for a few days,鈥� he told reporters.