Crisis cabinet talks after Labour senators refuse to back health insurance reforms

A cabinet crisis within the Dutch coalition government following the decision of three Labour senators to vote against key health reforms proposed by the Dutch health minister.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte decided to cancel his presence at the European Council on 18-19 December 2014 to deal with the crisis in his government.

• Primary Source

EUObserver, 18.12.14: Dutch PM misses EU summit to save coalition http://euobserver.com/news/126994

ESO: Background information: Dutch left and right agree coalition http://www.europeansources.info/record/dutch-left-and-right-agree-coalition/

Dutchnews.nl, 19.12.14: Cabinet threatens to bypass senate if revised health reforms not backed http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2014/12/cabinet-threatens-to-bypass-senate-if-revised-health-reforms-not-backed.php/

BBC News, 18.12.14: Luxembourg speaks for the Dutch http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-eu-30541875

Deutsche Welle, 18.12.14: Dutch PM Rutte cancels EU summit trip as government teeters http://dw.de/p/1E78e

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