Mark Rutte

Dutch to hasten plans to pay damages after gas field

The Hague - Muslimchronicle

The Dutch government plans to speed up moves to compensate people whose homes and buildings were damaged in a 3.4 magnitude quake, blamed on extraction at Europe's biggest gas field. "I want a framework for compensation to be drawn up within a couple of weeks," Prime Minister Mark Rutte told reporters on Friday, just days after northern Groningen province was hit byRead more

Dutch PM defends plans to scrap dividend tax

The Hague - AFP

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte scrambled to calm a brewing storm Friday over the new government's plans to scrap a dividend tax for companies, saying it was needed to retain and promote foreign investment. Rutte and his four-party coalition government have come under fire from opposition parties for deciding to cancel dividend tax in 2019, which local news reports sayRead more

Appeal in far-right Dutch MP's discrimination case set for May

The Hague - Muslimchronicle

Firebrand anti-Islam Dutch political Geert Wilders will return to court in May to appeal against his 2016 conviction for discrimination, judges ruled Thursday. But they rejected the defence request for other witnesses to be called. These included Prime Minister Mark Rutte and other former ministers, the Dutch broadcaster NOS said. "The substantive hearing will start on May 17, 2018. TheRead more

Irma death toll in St Maarten climbs to four

The Hague - Muslimchronicle

Four people are now known to have died in the Dutch Caribbean island of Sint Maarten when it was hit by Hurricane Irma, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said Sunday. "Unfortunately, there were two more victims that we did not know about earlier," Rutte told reporters, adding the death toll from Wednesday's storm in the Dutch part of St MartinRead more

French, Italian bonds boosted by Dutch defeat for populists

Amsterdam - Arab Today

French and Italian bonds jumped as Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s Liberals easily beat off an election challenge from the Freedom Party of Geert Wilders, boosting optimism that a rising tide of populism across the euro region can be stemmed. French bonds gained a fourth day, with 10-year yields dropping below 1 percent for the first time in a week.Read more

Dutch PM Rutte on course for big victory over far-right Wilders

Amsterdam - Arab Today

The Netherlands’ center-right Prime Minister Mark Rutte was on course for a resounding victory over anti-Islam and anti-EU Geert Wilders in an election on Wednesday, offering huge relief to other EU governments facing a wave of nationalism. “It appears that the VVD will be the biggest party in the Netherlands for the third time in a row,” a beaming RutteRead more

VVD Party wins Most Seats According to Exit Polls

The Hague - Arab Today

Early results in the Dutch election are showing Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) has won 31 out of the 150 seats available and it’s enough to put them in the lead. The three parties nearest to them have each won 19 seats and include Geert Wilders’ Party for Freedom (PVV), the Christian Democrats andRead more

Dutch PM slaps down far-right challenge

The Hague - Arab Today

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte easily defeated a strong challenge by far-right rival Geert Wilders in key elections seen as a bellwether of populist support in Europe, partial vote counts said Thursday. With more than 54 percent of votes counted, Rutte's Liberal VVD party was set to win 32 seats, making it the largest in the new 150-seat parliament, withRead more

Erdogan’s Srebrenica comment touches new nerve in The Hague

Ankara - Arab Today

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s blaming of the Netherlands for the 1995 Srebrenica massacre is the latest development in the row between the two countries. “We know the Dutch from Srebrenica. We know how bad their characters and nature are,” Erdogan said. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte reacted by saying: “Erdogan continues to escalate the situation, and it is aRead more