Eurozone crisis rocks Dutch government

The eurozone crisis has provoked political tension throughout Europe, but in few countries has the drama been more tortuous than in the Netherlands.

The centre-right Dutch government of Mark Rutte supports eurozone rescue efforts, including debt support for Greece and a centralised European budget authority.

But the government owes its majority in parliament to the far-right Party for Freedom of Geert Wilders, which criticises aid to Greece as 'throwing money over the dikes'. As a result, Mr Rutte has been forced to rely on leftwing opposition parties to get his eurozone policies through parliament.

ESO: Background information: Netherlands: Indebted states must be made ‘wards’ of the commission or leave euro http://www.europeansources.info/record/netherlands-indebted-states-must-be-made-wards-of-the-commission-or-leave-euro/

ESO: Background information: Dutch disquiet brews over Greek rescue http://www.europeansources.info/record/dutch-disquiet-brews-over-greek-rescue/

De Volkskrant, 23.9.11: Wilders acts up in Parliament (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu//en/content/news-brief-cover/981311-wilders-acts-parliament

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