Netherlands in turmoil after PM quits

Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte tendered his resignation on Monday, plunging the country into political uncertainty as it faces demands to cut its budget in line with strict new European Union deficit limits.

The government’s collapse after far-right politician Geert Wilders pulled out of budget talks threatens to move the political battle over austerity from Europe’s peripheral south to the heart of the eurozone.

Credit markets reacted with anxiety. The spread between Dutch and German bonds widening to 72 basis points – the highest since the eurozone crisis began.

Blog: Eurozoneremarks, 24.4.12: The Netherlands: What's next ? http://ezropinion.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/netherlands-whats-next.html

De Volkskrant / Trouw, 23.4.12: Wilders plunges country into uncertainty (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/news-brief/1858671-wilders-plunges-country-uncertainty

RNW, 27.4.12: Date set for Dutch election in September http://www.rnw.nl/english/bulletin/date-set-dutch-election-september

ESO: Background information: Dutch government falls over budget talks / Dutch try to reassure EU over budget http://www.europeansources.info/record/dutch-government-falls-over-budget-talks-dutch-try-to-reassure-eu-over-budget/

BBC News, 23.4.12: Dutch government falls in budget crisis http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17811509

RNW, 23.4.12: Dutch PM Mark Rutte set to resign http://www.rnw.nl/english/bulletin/dutch-pm-mark-rutte-set-resign

RNW, 23.4.12: Crisis in the Hague angers EU http://www.rnw.nl/english/bulletin/crisis-hague-angers-eu

DutchNews. nl, 23.4.12: Political crisis: Elections loom as prime minister visits the queen http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2012/04/political_crisis_elections_loo.php

EUObserver, 23.4.12: EU commission: Dutch crisis no reason to dodge rules http://euobserver.com/19/115996

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