NATO Chief Mark Rutte brands Geert Wilders untrustworthy after Dutch cabinet collapse
The collapse of the Dutch cabinet exposed a fundamental lack of trust in PVV leader Geert Wilders, according to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Speaking Friday on the talk show Humberto, Rutte said, “That he walks away when he thinks it will benefit him electorally. And you cannot govern a country with that.”
Rutte, who served as prime minister and led the VVD, initially partnered with Wilders in his first cabinet. However, after Wilders broke that alliance, Rutte and the VVD kept the door firmly closed to further cooperation with the PVV.
His VVD successor, Dilan Yeşilgöz, reversed course by showing willingness to work with Wilders again. Political analysts say this helped the PVV become the largest party. Yet, when Wilders triggered the cabinet’s fall last month, Yeşilgöz promptly declared she would no longer consider governing with the PVV.
Since stepping down as prime minister last year to become NATO secretary general, Rutte has generally avoided commenting on Dutch politics.
Reporting by ANP
