Dutch coalition falls after resignation of D66 ministers (PM resigns)

[Kellanved]

AMSTERDAM — The Dutch coalition government collapsed on Thursday evening after one of the most bizarre days in the country's political history.

Christian Democrat Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende finally conceded the coalition was finished after both Cabinet ministers and the one junior minister of D66, the smallest coalition party, resigned.

Balkenende is expected to tender his government's resignation to Queen Beatrix on Friday.

Hours earlier, Balkenende had announced that his ministers had decided a rejected motion of no confidence in Immigration Minister Rita Verdonk of the Liberal Party (VVD) had no consequences for the government.


Balkenende said the Cabinet, including the two D66 ministers, was unanimous in its decision. One of the D66 ministers, Alexander Pechtold, earlier this month beat Van der Laan in the election to be the new leader of D66's parliamentary party.

The parliamentary party of D66 supported the opposition motion of no confidence on Thursday morning because of the way Verdonk refused to acknowledge any blame for the Ayaan Hirsi Ali naturalisation affair.
...
http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=1&story_id=31207&name=Dutch+coalition+falls+after+resignation+of+D66+ministers+

Rergarding the affair:
http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/spiegel/0,1518,417478,00.html

[CountAllVotes]

1. global problems trickling down to the Netherlands!

This is a very bizarre story alright! I have a good friend living there. I'll have to make contact and find out what's up!

Sheesh!

:dem: :kick:

[OregonBlue]

2. Please do. Would like to know what the mood is in Denmark since

they've been a big war supporter.