Dutch PM Rutte meets king to discuss caretaker government
The Hindu
The next major step will be to dissolve parliament
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte met with King Willem-Alexander on Saturday to discuss a caretaker administration, the day after his centre-right government collapsed following a dispute over migration policies.
Mr. Rutte declined to comment on the hour and a half-long talks after he left the palace in The Hague.
"These are confidential meetings," he told reporters.
The next major step will be to dissolve parliament, but first there will be a debate about the government's resignation in the Dutch lower house planned for Monday.
After parliament is dissolved, an election will be held, expected in November.
Mr. Rutte, 56, in power since 2010, is the Netherlands' longest serving prime minister. He told a press conference on Friday he'd like to run for a fifth term but would consult with his party before making a final decision.
The crisis in Dutch politics came after Mr. Rutte's conservative VVD party sought to limit the flow of asylum seekers to the Netherlands.
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