9-7-2023 (AMSTERDAM) Following the abrupt collapse of his fourth government due to disagreements over migration policy, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has expressed his interest in seeking a fifth term. However, he may face the toughest electoral challenge of his career.
Last August, Rutte, 56, broke the record for the longest-serving prime minister in Dutch history, a testament to his political resilience and adeptness honed over his 12-year tenure. Leading the conservative People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) for 17 years, Rutte has steered the party through numerous crises and a hardening stance on immigration, in response to the rise of right-wing parties advocating for stricter border controls.
When asked on Friday about his desire to continue in a leadership role, Rutte stated that it ultimately depended on his party. However, he added, “If you were to ask me to decide now, the answer is obviously ‘yes’ because I have the energy and the ideas.”
Nicknamed “Teflon Mark” for his ability to navigate political difficulties unscathed, Rutte has faced mounting criticism in recent years for his handling of critical policy issues, ranging from agriculture and climate change to social welfare and the crisis surrounding the Groningen gas field. His previous government was brought down by a scandal involving childcare subsidies, during which he claimed to have “no active memory” of his earlier statements and admitted to deleting text messages from his phone.
The current political storm is attributed to “a clash of values” within the four-party coalition government regarding immigration. While smaller coalition parties insisted on the right of children and parents seeking asylum to be reunited, Rutte’s VVD sought more restrictive measures.
Although many Dutch voters express fatigue with Rutte’s leadership, they find no obvious alternative. His main rival in the upcoming autumn election will be a farmers’ protest party that has shaken up the political landscape, gaining a majority of seats in the Dutch Senate following provincial polling in March.
Despite facing challenges domestically, Rutte remains an influential figure on Europe’s political stage. He formed his first coalition government in 2010 and his fourth in January 2022, following an election widely regarded as a referendum on his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Among current European national leaders, only Hungary’s Viktor Orban has served longer.
Rutte, who is unmarried, resides in the same house in The Hague that he purchased with his student friends. He can often be seen cycling to cabinet meetings or state visits while enjoying an apple. Throughout his political career, he has continued to teach a social studies class at a high school in the city.
Despite being frequently tipped for high-level international positions within the EU or NATO, Rutte has expressed contentment with his current role, deeming it “the best job in the world” and indicating no desire to leave Dutch politics. “I feel like I’m reaching the halfway point,” he quipped to journalists last year.
