The
Dutch government has collapsed because of differences between coalition
parties over asylum policies, according to media reports.
The four parties were unable to find agreement in crisis talks chaired by Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
The
government was set up a year-and-a-half ago, but the parties have been
diametrically opposed on migration policy for some time.
New elections will now be held, probably in the autumn
Mr Rutte is expected to hand in his cabinet's resignation.
His
conservative VVD party had been trying to limit the flow of asylum
seekers, but junior partners D66 and the Christian Union refused to
support the proposals.
A proposal to restrict entry to family members of refugees already in the Netherlands caused particular tension.
Mr
Rutte, 56, is the country's longest serving prime minister and has been
in office since 2010. The current government - which took office in
January 2022 - is his fourth coalition.
