AMSTERDAM (HRNW) – Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s government faced a no-confidence vote on Wednesday over plans to cut nitrogen emissions on farms, three weeks after being beaten in provincial elections by a farmers’ protest party opposed to such cuts.
Rutte’s centre-right coalition is expected to survive the vote as its four parties together hold a slim majority in the 150-seat parliament, but the opposition’s move underlines the government’s vulnerability following the elections.
Opposition parties said during Wednesday’s parliamentary debate that the Rutte government had failed to offer any convincing policies to tackle nitrogen emissions as well as other issues such as high inflation and immigration.
“Put the country’s interest first and quit today,” said Geert Wilders, leader of the far-right Freedom Party (PVV).
The opposition parties are expected to propose the no- confidence vote later in the day.