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{{Mark Rutte}}{{Navboxes|list1={{Prime Ministers of the Netherlands}}{{European Council}}{{Current NATO leaders}}{{Current heads of government}}{{Fourth Rutte cabinet}}{{Third Rutte cabinet}}{{Second Rutte cabinet}}{{First Rutte cabinet}}{{State Secretaries for Education of the Netherlands}}{{State Secretaries for Social Affairs of the Netherlands}}{{Second Balkenende cabinet}}{{First Balkenende cabinet}}{{Members of the House of Representatives of the Netherlands, 2021–present}}{{Members of the House of Representatives of the Netherlands, 2017–2021}}{{Members of the House of Representatives of the Netherlands, 2012–2017}}{{Members of the House of Representatives of the Netherlands, 2010–2012}}{{Members of the House of Representatives of the Netherlands, 2006–2010}}{{People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy}}}}{{Authority control}}

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name	Mark Rutte| image = Mark Rutte, 23.03.23 (cropped).jpg| caption = Rutte in 2023| office = Prime Minister of the Netherlands	Deputy{edih}	title={{nobold|See list}}	Maxime Verhagen(2010–2012)}}	Lodewijk Asscher(2012–2017)}}	Hugo de Jonge(2017–2022)}}	Kajsa Ollongren(2017–2022)}}	Wopke Hoekstra(2022–2023)}}	Carola Schouten(2017–present)}}	Sigrid Kaag(2022–2024)}}	Karien van Gennip(2023–present)}}	Rob Jetten(2024–present)}}}}| term_start = 14 October 2010| term_end = | predecessor = Jan Peter Balkenende| successor =| office1 = Leader of the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy| term_start1 = 31 May 2006| term_end1 = 14 August 2023| predecessor1 = Jozias van Aartsen| successor1 = Dilan YeÅŸilgöz| office2 = State Secretary for Education, Culture and Science| primeminister2 = Jan Peter Balkenende| term_start2 = 17 June 2004| term_end2 = 27 June 2006| predecessor2 = Annette Nijs| successor2 = Bruno Bruins| office3 = State Secretary for Social Affairs and Employment| primeminister3 = Jan Peter Balkenende| term_start3 = 22 July 2002| term_end3 = 17 June 2004| predecessor3 = Hans Hoogervorst| successor3 = Henk van Hoof	House of Representatives (Netherlands)>House of Representatives| term_start4 = 31 March 2021| term_end4 = 10 January 2022| term_start5 = 23 March 2017| term_end5 = 26 October 2017| term_start6 = 20 September 2012| term_end6 = 5 November 2012| term_start7 = 28 June 2006| term_end7 = 14 October 2010| term_start8 = 30 January 2003| term_end8 = 27 May 2003	1967	14|df=y}}| birth_place = The Hague, Netherlands| party = People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy	Leiden University (Bachelor of Arts>BA, MA)| signature = Accession Treaty 2011 Mark Rutte signature.svg}}{{Mark Rutte sidebar}}Mark Rutte ({{IPA-nl|ˈmÉ‘r(É™)k ˈrʏtÉ™|lang|Mark Rutte.ogg}}; born 14 February 1967) is a Dutch politician who has served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands since 2010. He is currently acting in a demissionary capacity, scheduled to leave national politics following the installation of the next cabinet after the 2023 general election.WEB, 7 July 2023, Nieuwe verkiezingen vinden op zijn vroegst half november plaats,www.nu.nl/val-kabinet/6271468/nieuwe-verkiezingen-vinden-op-zijn-vroegst-half-november-plaats.html, 11 July 2023, NU, nl, NEWS, Boztas, Senay, 10 July 2023, Dutch PM Mark Rutte to leave politics after collapse of government, en-GB, The Guardian,www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/10/dutch-pm-mark-rutte-to-leave-politics-after-collapse-of-government, 10 July 2023, 0261-3077, Rutte was the leader of the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) from 2006 through 2023. On 2 August 2022 he became the longest-serving prime minister in the history of the Netherlands.After embarking on a business management career working for Unilever, Rutte entered national politics in 2002 as a member of Jan Peter Balkenende’s cabinets. Rutte won the 2006 VVD leadership election and led the party to victory in the 2010 general election. After lengthy coalition negotiations, he became prime minister of the Netherlands. He was the first liberal to be appointed prime minister in 92 years.WEB,www.eenvandaag.nl/binnenland/36482/mark_rutte_eerste_liberale_premier_sinds_1918, Mark Rutte: eerste liberale premier sinds 1918, eenvandaag.nl, 7 October 2010, 23 April 2012, nl,www.eenvandaag.nl/binnenland/36482/mark_rutte_eerste_liberale_premier_sinds_1918," title="web.archive.org/web/20120526045836www.eenvandaag.nl/binnenland/36482/mark_rutte_eerste_liberale_premier_sinds_1918,">web.archive.org/web/20120526045836www.eenvandaag.nl/binnenland/36482/mark_rutte_eerste_liberale_premier_sinds_1918, 26 May 2012, dead, An impasse on budget negotiations led to his government’s early collapse in April 2012, but the VVD’s victory in the subsequent election allowed Rutte to return as prime minister to lead a coalition between the VVD and the Labour Party (PvdA), which became the first cabinet to see out a full four-year term since 1998. Though the VVD lost seats in the 2017 general election, it remained the largest party. After a record-length formation period, Rutte was appointed to lead a new coalition between the VVD, Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), Democrats 66 (D66) and Christian Union (CU).Though Rutte and his cabinet resigned in response to the childcare benefits scandal,WEB, Dutch PM Rutte and his government quit over child welfare scandal,www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/1/15/dutch-pm-rutte-and-his-government-quit-over-child-welfare-scandal, Al Jazeera, 15 January 2021, 16 January 2021, WEB, The buck stops here: Dutch govt quits over welfare scandal,apnews.com/article/europe-mark-rutte-cabinets-estonia-general-elections-b4532458837e77737908ab756fecd45d, Associated Press, 15 January 2021, 16 January 2021, WEB, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and his entire Cabinet resign over child welfare scandal,www.cbsnews.com/news/dutch-government-cabinet-mark-rutte-resign-child-welfare-scandal/, CBS News, 15 January 2021, 16 January 2021, en-US, the VVD won the 2021 general election.WEB, Netherlands election: Mark Rutte claims fourth term with ‘overwhelming’ victory,www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/17/netherlands-election-mark-rutte-on-course-to-win-fourth-term, The Guardian, 18 March 2021, 15 July 2023, NEWS, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and his entire Cabinet resign over child welfare scandal,www.cbsnews.com/news/dutch-government-cabinet-mark-rutte-resign-child-welfare-scandal/, CBS News, 15 January 2021, 16 January 2021, Rutte began his fourth term in 2022 after another record-length formation period. On 7 July 2023, he announced his government’s resignation after his coalition failed to agree on how to handle increasing migration.{{citation |title=Mark Rutte resigns as Dutch PM amid migration dispute – National {{!}} Globalnews.ca |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/9818417/mark-rutte-resigns-dutch-pm-migration/ |access-date=7 July 2023 |website=Global News |language=en-US}}WEB, Corder, Mike, Dutch premier resigns because of deadlock on thorny issue of migration, paving way for new elections,apnews.com/article/netherlands-migration-rutte-government-0a52333c06947d689eb38a43a13ff7b1, Associated Press, 7 July 2023, 7 July 2023, His government has since taken on a caretaker role pending the formation of a new cabinet.WEB, Moses, Claire, Bilefsky, Dan, Dutch Government Collapses Over Plan to Further Limit Immigration,www.nytimes.com/2023/07/07/world/europe/dutch-government-collapses.html, The New York Times, 7 July 2023, 7 July 2023, Due to his ability to come out of political scandals with his reputation undamaged, Rutte has been referred to as “Teflon Mark”.WEB, Henley, Jon, ‘Teflon’ Mark Rutte set for fourth Dutch term after record-breaking talks,www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/14/teflon-mark-rutte-fourth-dutch-term-record-breaking-talks-government-coalition, The Guardian, 14 December 2021, 11 February 2024, Early life Rutte was born in The Hague, in the province of South Holland,{{in lang|nl}} Drs. M. (Mark) Rutte, Parlement & Politiek. Retrieved 2 August 2014. in a Dutch Reformed family. He is the youngest child of Izaäk Rutte (5 October 1909 – 22 April 1988), a merchant, and his second wife, Hermina Cornelia Dilling (13 November 1923 – 13 May 2020), a secretary. Izaäk Rutte worked for a trading company; first as an importer in the Dutch East Indies, later as a director in the Netherlands.{{citation needed|date=August 2015}} His second wife was a sister of his first wife, Petronella Hermanna Dilling (17 March 1910 – 20 July 1945), who died while she and he were interned together in Tjideng, a prisoner-of-war camp in Batavia, now Jakarta, during World War II.WEB, El primer ministro holandés respeta el confinamiento y no se despide de su madre enferma,www.abc.es/internacional/abci-primer-ministro-holandes-respeta-confinamiento-y-no-despide-madre-enferma-202005261030_noticia.html, Diario ABC, 26 May 2020, es, Pedigree{{dead link |date=July 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}} Rutte has seven siblings as a result of his father’s two marriages. One of his elder brothers died from AIDS in the 1980s. Rutte later described the deaths of his brother and his father as events that changed the course of his life.WEB,www.dutchnews.nl/news/2016/09/rutte-on-zomergasten-wilders-multiculturalism-and-the-last-taboo/, Rutte on Zomergasten: Wilders, multiculturalism and the ‘last taboo’, 5 September 2016, WEB,www.politico.eu/article/mark-rutte-quiet-rebel-of-the-north-eu-netherlands/, Mark Rutte: North’s quiet rebel, 8 June 2018, Rutte attended the Maerlant Lyceum from 1979 until 1985,WEB, 16 February 2011, Rutte opent Maerlant-Lyceum Den Haag,www.hartvannederland.nl/top-nieuws/2011/rutte-opent-maerlant-lyceum-den-haag/, 10 June 2020, Hart van Nederland, en-US, 10 June 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200610140512/https://www.hartvannederland.nl/top-nieuws/2011/rutte-opent-maerlant-lyceum-den-haag/, dead, specialising in the arts. Although his original ambition was to attend a conservatory and become a concert pianist,WEB,www.depers.nl/binnenland/515537/Rutte-had-pianoleraar-kunnen-zijn.html, Rutte had pianoleraar kunnen zijn, De Pers, 23 April 2012, dead,www.depers.nl/binnenland/515537/Rutte-had-pianoleraar-kunnen-zijn.html," title="web.archive.org/web/20120311230152www.depers.nl/binnenland/515537/Rutte-had-pianoleraar-kunnen-zijn.html,">web.archive.org/web/20120311230152www.depers.nl/binnenland/515537/Rutte-had-pianoleraar-kunnen-zijn.html, 11 March 2012, he instead went to study history at Leiden University, where he obtained an MA degree in 1992.WEB,www.rijksoverheid.nl/regering/het-kabinet/bewindspersonen/mark-rutte/cv, CV | Mark Rutte, rijksoverheid.nl, 23 April 2012, dead,www.rijksoverheid.nl/regering/het-kabinet/bewindspersonen/mark-rutte/cv," title="web.archive.org/web/20120320055239www.rijksoverheid.nl/regering/het-kabinet/bewindspersonen/mark-rutte/cv,">web.archive.org/web/20120320055239www.rijksoverheid.nl/regering/het-kabinet/bewindspersonen/mark-rutte/cv, 20 March 2012, Rutte combined his studies with a position on the board of the Youth Organisation Freedom and Democracy, the youth organisation of the VVD, of which he was the chair from 1988 to 1991.WEB,www.vvd.nl/mensen/7/mark-rutte, Mark Rutte, VVD, nl, 22 July 2014, 26 July 2014,www.vvd.nl/mensen/7/mark-rutte," title="web.archive.org/web/20140726120308www.vvd.nl/mensen/7/mark-rutte,">web.archive.org/web/20140726120308www.vvd.nl/mensen/7/mark-rutte, dead, After his studies Rutte entered the business world, working as a manager for Unilever and its food subsidiary Calvé. Until 1997, Rutte was part of the human resource department of Unilever, and played a leading role in several reorganisations. Between 1997 and 2000, Rutte was staff manager of Van den Bergh Nederland, a subsidiary of Unilever. In 2000, Rutte became a member of the Corporate Human Resources Group, and in 2002, he became human resource manager for IgloMora Groep, another subsidiary of Unilever.WEB,www.elsevier.nl/web/10148524/Artikel/Mark-Rutte.htm, Biografie – Mark Rutte, elsevier.nl, 23 April 2012, dead,www.elsevier.nl/web/10148524/Artikel/Mark-Rutte.htm," title="web.archive.org/web/20120524121956www.elsevier.nl/web/10148524/Artikel/Mark-Rutte.htm,">web.archive.org/web/20120524121956www.elsevier.nl/web/10148524/Artikel/Mark-Rutte.htm, 24 May 2012, Between 1993 and 1997, Rutte was a member of the national board of the VVD. Rutte also served as a member of the VVD candidate committee for the general election of 2002. Rutte was elected as Member of Parliament in 2003.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}} Political career Rutte served as State Secretary (i.e. Deputy Minister) at the Social Affairs and Employment Ministry from 22 July 2002 to 17 June 2004 in the First and Second Balkenende cabinets. Rutte was responsible for fields including bijstand (municipal welfare) and arbeidsomstandigheden (Occupational safety and health). After the 2003 elections Rutte was briefly also a member of the House of Representatives, from 30 January to 27 May 2003.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}In 2003, as State Secretary, Rutte advised municipalities to check, exceptionally, Somali residents for social assistance fraud, after some Somalis working in England were also found to receive social assistance benefits in the Netherlands. A Somali man entitled to benefits was stopped by social investigators and checked for fraud on the basis of his external characteristics, after which he refused the investigators access to his home. The Municipal Executive (College van burgemeester en wethouders) of Haarlem decided to withdraw the right of the man to social benefits. He disagreed with this and his appeal was upheld by the administrative judge. The court ruled that “an investigation aimed exclusively at persons of Somali descent is discriminatory” and contrary to the Constitution because this distinction is “discrimination based on race”. Rutte rejected the criticism and stated that a change in the law would then be necessary to be able to combat targeted fraud.WEB, Rutte: Veroordeling discriminatie onterecht,www.elsevier.nl/web/10124079/Nieuws/Politiek/Rutte-Veroordeling-discriminatie-onterecht.htm, Elsevier, 19 May 2007, NEWS, Rutte zette aan tot discriminatie, NRC, 21 May 2007,www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2007/05/21/rutte-zette-aan-tot-discriminatie-11326918-a609570, NRC Handelsblad, {{ECLI|ECLI:NL:RBHAA:2007:BA5410}}Rutte later served as State Secretary for Higher Education and Science, within the Education, Culture and Science Ministry, replacing Annette Nijs, from 17 June 2004 to 27 June 2006, in the Second Balkenende cabinet. In office, Rutte showed particular interest in making the Dutch higher education system more competitive internationally, by trying to make it more market oriented (improving the position of students as consumers in the market for education). Rutte would have been succeeded by former The Hague alderman Bruno Bruins. Before Bruins could be sworn into office, the second Balkenende cabinet fell. In the subsequently formed Third Balkenende cabinet Bruins succeeded Rutte as State secretary.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}Rutte resigned from his position in government in June 2006 to return to the House of Representatives, and he soon became the parliamentary leader of the VVD. Rutte became an important figure within the VVD leadership. Rutte was campaign manager for the 2006 municipal elections.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}} Party leadership election After the resignation of Jozias van Aartsen, the VVD having lost in the 2006 Dutch municipal election, the party held an internal election for a new Lead Candidate, in which Rutte competed against Rita Verdonk and Jelleke Veenendaal. On 31 May 2006, it was announced that Mark Rutte would be the next lijsttrekker of the VVD. He was elected by 51.5% of party members. Rutte’s candidacy was backed by the VVD leadership, including the party board, and many prominent politicians such as Frank de Grave, former minister of Defence, Ivo Opstelten, the mayor of Rotterdam and Ed Nijpels, the Queen’s Commissioner of Friesland. The Youth Organisation Freedom and Democracy, the VVD’s youth wing, of which he had been chair, also backed him. During the elections he promised “to make the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy a party for everyone and not just of the elite”. His youthful appearance has been likened to the successful former leader of the Labour Party, Wouter Bos.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}Rutte said that the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) party was a group that “the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy could do business with”.NEWS,www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2006/08/cda_calls_for_longer_working_w.php, CDA calls for longer working week, 18 August 2006, dutchnews.nl, He had also stated that with the social security ideas of the Labour Party, which he called too socialist, it was unlikely that the VVD would cooperate or form a coalition after the elections.{{citation needed|date=July 2014}} 2006 general election For the 2006 general election, the VVD campaign with Rutte as leader did not get off to a good start; he received criticism from within his own party.{{in lang|nl}} “Onvrede binnen VVD over Rutte,” Algemeen Dagblad (31 October 2006). Retrieved 14 May 2014. Rutte was said to be overshadowed by his own party members Rita Verdonk and Gerrit Zalm, as well as being unable to penetrate between Wouter Bos and Jan Peter Balkenende, who were generally seen as the prime candidates to become the next prime minister. On 27 November, it became known that Rita Verdonk, who generally held a more populist view on politics, managed to obtain more votes than Mark Rutte; he obtained 553,200 votes against Verdonk’s 620,555.NEWS,www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2006/11/tension_mounts_as_vvd_waits_fo.php, Tension mounts as VVD waits for Verdonk’s reaction to voters’ support, 28 November 2006, dutchnews.nl, After repeated criticisms by Verdonk on VVD policy, Rutte expelled her from the party’s parliamentary faction on 13 September 2007.{{in lang|nl}} Oranje, Joost and Guus Valk, “Kamp: VVD moet Rutte nu steunen,” {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140515020325vorige.nrc.nl/binnenland/article1838911.ece |date=15 May 2014 }} NRC Handelsblad (15 September 2007). Retrieved 14 May 2014. Literal English translation: “Verdonk was yesterday by Mark Rutte formally expelled from the VVD’s parliamentary party in the House of Representatives after she had again voiced criticism of the party in the press.” Dutch original: “Verdonk werd gisteren formeel door Mark Rutte uit de Tweede Kamerfractie van de VVD gezet, nadat zij in de pers opnieuw kritiek had geuit op de fractie.” 2010 general election In the 2010 general election, Rutte was once again the lijsttrekker for the VVD. It won 31 seats to become the largest party in the House of Representatives for the first time ever. A long period of negotiations followed, with several personalities succeeding each other, being appointed by Queen Beatrix in order to find out what coalition could be formed. Efforts to form a broad spectrum coalition between the VVD, CDA and PvdA failed. Instead, the only possibility appeared to be a centre-right coalition of liberals and Christian Democrats (CDA), with the outside support of the Party for Freedom (PVV), led by Geert Wilders.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}} Prime Minister of the Netherlands factoids | party = People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy	2010 Dutch general election>2010, 2012 Dutch general election	, 2017 Dutch general election>2017, 2021| appointer = Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands| seat = Torentje	Jan Peter Balkenende#Prime Minister of the Netherlands>Jan Peter Balkenende| successor = | seal = | seal_size = | seal_caption = | official_url =www.government.nl/ministries/ministry-of-general-affairs}} First term File:Rutte, Verhagen en Wilders bij presentatie regeer- en gedoogakkoord (5121025524).jpg|thumb|left|Rutte presenting his first cabinet together with Deputy Prime Minister Maxime Verhagen (CDA) and coalition partner Geert WildersGeert WildersAfter securing support for a coalition between the VVD and CDA, Rutte was appointed as formateur on 8 October 2010; Rutte announced his prospective cabinet, including Maxime Verhagen from the CDA as deputy prime minister. On 14 October, Queen Beatrix formally invited Rutte to form a government, and later that day, Rutte presented his first cabinet to Parliament. The government was confirmed in office by a majority of one, and Rutte was sworn in as Prime Minister of the Netherlands, becoming the first Liberal to serve in the role since Pieter Cort van der Linden in 1918.WEB,www.nrc.nl/international/election2010/article2561211.ece/The_Netherlands_shifts_to_the_right, Election 2010 – The Netherlands shifts to the right, NRC Handelsblad, 10 June 2010, 10 June 2010,www.nrc.nl/international/election2010/article2561211.ece/The_Netherlands_shifts_to_the_right," title="web.archive.org/web/20100613040242www.nrc.nl/international/election2010/article2561211.ece/The_Netherlands_shifts_to_the_right,">web.archive.org/web/20100613040242www.nrc.nl/international/election2010/article2561211.ece/The_Netherlands_shifts_to_the_right, 13 June 2010, dead, He also became the second-youngest prime minister in Dutch history, after Ruud Lubbers.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}After the victory at the 2011 provincial elections, the VVD secured its status as the lead party within the government. In March 2012, seeking to comply with European Union requirements to reduce the nation’s deficit, Rutte began talks with his coalition partners on a budget which would cut 16 billion euros of spending. However, PVV leader Geert Wilders withdrew his party’s informal support from the government on 21 April, stating that the proposed budget would hurt economic growth.WEB,www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17811509, Dutch government falls in budget crisis, 23 April 2012, BBC News, 24 April 2012, This led to the early collapse of the government, and Rutte submitted his resignation to Queen Beatrix on the afternoon of 23 April.WEB,www.reuters.com/article/us-dutch-politics-idUSBRE83M0PB20120423, Dutch Prime Minister resigns in budget cuts row, 23 April 2012, Gilbert Kreijger and Thomas Escritt, Reuters, 24 April 2012, His government had lasted for 558 days, making it one of the shortest Dutch cabinets since World War II. Second term Ahead of the 2012 general election, Rutte was named the VVD’s lijsttrekker for the third time. At the election in September, the VVD won an additional 10 seats, remaining the largest party in the House of Representatives; the CDA and PVV saw their number of seats fall significantly.WEB,verkiezingen.volkskrant.nl/uitslag/resultaten.html, Volg de verkiezingen 2014 live, De Volkskrant, dead,verkiezingen.volkskrant.nl/uitslag/resultaten.html," title="web.archive.org/web/20120915030821verkiezingen.volkskrant.nl/uitslag/resultaten.html,">web.archive.org/web/20120915030821verkiezingen.volkskrant.nl/uitslag/resultaten.html, 15 September 2012, The VVD quickly negotiated a coalition agreement with the Labour Party, and on 5 November 2012, the Second Rutte cabinet was confirmed by a vote in Parliament, seeing Rutte returned as prime minister of a VVD-PvdA coalition government.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}File:Gesprek met Poetin (9097392157).jpg|thumb|Rutte with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the St. Petersburg International Economic ForumSt. Petersburg International Economic ForumIn 2014, The Hague held a Group of Seven special meeting after the Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was shot down in Ukraine with 193 Dutch nationals aboard. During the municipal elections of 2014, the VVD finished third behind local parties and the CDA; at the European Parliament election the same year, it finished fourth. At the 2015 Dutch provincial elections, however, the VVD remained the largest party in the province’s legislatures with about 15% of the vote, but lost 23 seats in the States-Provincial.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}In April 2016, Rutte was appointed by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and President of the World Bank Group Jim Yong Kim to the High-Level Panel on Water. Co-chaired by Mauritius President Ameenah Gurib and Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto, the joint United Nations-World Bank Group panel was set up to accelerate the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6).United Nations Secretary-General, World Bank Group President Appoint High-Level Panel on Water United Nations, a press release of 21 April 2016. That month also saw the 2016 Dutch Ukraine–European Union Association Agreement referendum, which resulted in a rejection. In November 2016 the House of Representatives approved by 132 votes against 18 a ban on the Islamic burqa in some public spaces including schools and hospitals, a bill supported by the VVD.The Netherlands votes for partial restrictions of the burqa in public space, independent.co.uk, 29 November 2016.Rutte’s second cabinet completed its full four-year term without collapsing or losing a vote of no confidence, becoming the first cabinet to do so since the First Kok cabinet from 1994 to 1998.WEB,nos.nl/artikel/2188954-kabinet-rutte-ii-verslaat-lubbers-iii-langstzittende-kabinet.html, Kabinet-Rutte II verslaat Lubbers III: langstzittende kabinet, NOS, 20 August 2017, nl, 17 October 2017, Third term The VVD went into the 2017 general election with a small lead over the PVV in most opinion polls. Rutte was judged to have managed the 2017 Dutch–Turkish diplomatic incident well according to similar polling. While the VVD lost 8 seats in the general election, the PvdA lost 29, and these seats were split between a number of other parties, leaving the VVD the largest party in parliament for the third successive election. After holding coalition discussions, Rutte negotiated a grand coalition with the CDA, D66 and CU; he presented his third cabinet on 26 October 2017, and was sworn in as prime minister for a third term. The 225 days between the general election and the installation of the government was the longest such period in Dutch history.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}File:The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi meeting the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Netherlands, Mr. Mark Rutte, at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi on May 24, 2018.JPG|thumb|Rutte with Indian Prime Minister Narendra ModiNarendra ModiThe coalition agreement’s plan to abolish the 15% dividend tax (providing the state €1.4 billion per year) proved highly unpopular, as it had not been mentioned in any party’s program, and it later appeared that major Dutch companies like Shell and Unilever had secretly been lobbying for that measure.Rutte: effect afschaffen dividendbelasting op bedridden niet bekend {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201042904www.rtlnieuws.nl/geld-en-werk/rutte-effect-afschaffen-dividendbelasting-op-bedrijven-niet-bekend |date=1 December 2017 }} (in Dutch), rtlnieuws.nl.In July 2018, Rutte became a topic in international news because of what was considered “typical Dutch bluntness”, by interrupting and explicitly contradicting the American president Donald Trump during a meeting with the press at the Oval Office in the White House.NEWS,www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2018/07/03/trump-got-a-dose-of-dutch-bluntness-from-visiting-prime-minister/, Trump got a dose of Dutch bluntness from visiting prime minister, The Washington Post, 29 January 2021, subscription, WEB,dutchreview.com/news/rutte-interrupts-trump-4-things-that-happened-at-the-rutte-trump-meeting/, Rutte interrupts Trump! 4 Things that happened at the Rutte - Trump meeting | DutchReview, 3 July 2018, Rutte’s third government provided materials to the Levant Front rebel group in Syria.NEWS, Dutch govt under fire for Syria opposition support,www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/dutch-govt-under-fire-for-syria-opposition-support/ar-BBN9CXc, MSN, 11 September 2018, 8 February 2019,web.archive.org/web/20190201013142/https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/dutch-govt-under-fire-for-syria-opposition-support/ar-BBN9CXc, 1 February 2019, dead, In September 2018, the Dutch public prosecution department declared the Levant Front to be a “criminal organisation of terrorist intent”, describing it as a “salafist and jihadistic” group that “strives for the setting up of the caliphate”.WEB,www.dutchnews.nl/news/2018/09/dutch-funded-jihadist-group-in-syria-terror-trial-may-now-falter/, Dutch funded ‘jihadist’ group in Syria, terror trial may now falter, 11 September 2018, Dutch News, 16 September 2018, On 21 March 2018, the Dutch Intelligence and Security Services Act referendum was held. It resulted in a rejection. At the 2019 provincial elections, Rutte’s VVD suffered a blow following the victory of right-wing populist newcomer Forum for Democracy (FvD).{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}During the negotiations for the COVID-19 recovery fund in the European Union, Rutte is considered the unofficial leader of the Frugal Four,NEWS, Dodman, Benjamin, Dutch PM Mark Rutte, the thrifty europhile holding Europe hostage,www.france24.com/en/20200720-dutch-pm-mark-rutte-the-thrifty-europhile-holding-europe-hostage, 21 July 2020, Reuters, AFP, France 24, 20 July 2020, demanding loans instead of grants and more conditions on them.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}During a parliamentary debate on 9 September 2020, Rutte suggested that the EU could be dissolved and re-formed without Poland and Hungary, as he perceives these countries’ governments to be dismantling the rule of law.NEWS, [Opinion] Could we found a new EU without Hungary and Poland?,euobserver.com/opinion/149470, 25 September 2020, EUobserver, WEB, The frugal blues: An underappreciated threat to the European project,www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_the_frugal_blues_an_underappreciated_threat_to_the_european_proj, ECFR, 15 September 2020, 25 September 2020, WEB, Plenaire verslagen,www.tweedekamer.nl/kamerstukken/plenaire_verslagen/detail/7225f470-7ca6-42a0-8c84-bd2534dbb5a3, www.tweedekamer.nl, 25 September 2020, nl, 9 September 2020, Je moet gaan nadenken: kun je een begroting maken via een intergouvernementeel verdrag of kun je nu een Europese Unie oprichten zonder Hongarije en Polen?, 21 January 2021,web.archive.org/web/20210121212952/https://www.tweedekamer.nl/kamerstukken/plenaire_verslagen/detail/7225f470-7ca6-42a0-8c84-bd2534dbb5a3, dead, On 15 January 2021, the third Rutte cabinet collectively resigned after publications of research around the childcare subsidies scandal in the Netherlands.NEWS, Erdbrink, Thomas, 15 January 2021, Government in Netherlands Resigns After Benefit Scandal, en-US, The New York Times,www.nytimes.com/2021/01/15/world/europe/dutch-government-resignation-rutte-netherlands.html,ghostarchive.org/archive/20211228/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/15/world/europe/dutch-government-resignation-rutte-netherlands.html, 28 December 2021, limited, 16 January 2021, 0362-4331, {{cbignore}} Rutte offered his resignation to the King, accepting responsibility for the scandal.NEWS, van den Berg, Stephanie, Dutch government resigns over childcare subsidies scandal,www.reuters.com/article/us-netherlands-politics-resignation/dutch-government-resigns-over-childcare-subsidies-scandal-idUSKBN29K1IO, 15 January 2021, Reuters, 15 January 2021, File:President Trump Meets with the Prime Minister of the Netherlands (48317652116).jpg|Rutte with U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House on 18 July 2019File:Mark Rutte with Basuki Hadimuljono.jpg|Rutte with Indonesian Minister of Public Works Basuki Hadimuljono showing off their Nokia phones in 2019 Fourth term File:Зустріч Президента України з Прем’єр-міністром Нідерландів у Києві 09.jpg|thumb|Rutte with Ukrainian President Volodymyr ZelenskyyVolodymyr ZelenskyyFile:Ilham Aliyev met with Prime Minister of Kingdom of the Netherlands in Davos 02.jpg|thumb|Rutte with Azerbaijani President Ilham AliyevIlham AliyevFile:Mark Rutte, Ursula von der Leyen, Kaïs Saïed, and Giorgia Meloni, 2023, P061638-976557.jpg|thumb|Rutte with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Tunisian President Kais SaiedKais SaiedFollowing the 2021 Dutch general election, Rutte’s VVD party held 34 of 150 seats and was expected to form a new coalition government.WEB, Dutch election: PM Mark Rutte claims victory and fourth term,www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56436297, BBC News, 17 April 2021, 18 March 2021, After remaining caretaker prime minister for the duration of the longest formation process in Dutch history, on 15 December 2021 he presented a coalition agreement with D66, CDA and CU, the same combination as his previous government.NEWS, Coalition agreement presented today after record long formation process,nltimes.nl/2021/12/15/coalition-agreement-presented-today-record-long-formation-process, 15 December 2021, NL Times, ANP, 15 December 2021, A scandal during his fourth term was that it was found out that he had been wiping the majority of SMS text messages of his phone for years in violation of the archival law, personally judging which messages were to be archived and which messages were to be deleted.WEB, 18 May 2022, Premier Rutte wiste jarenlang iedere dag zijn sms’jes,www.volkskrant.nl/nieuws-achtergrond/premier-rutte-wiste-jarenlang-iedere-dag-zijn-sms-jes~b47ba005/, 10 July 2023, de Volkskrant, nl-NL, His excuse was that his phone memory filled up too quickly. This was not considered a plausible excuse by other ministers.NEWS, 18 May 2022, Rutte bepaalde zélf welke sms’jes belangrijk waren en welke niet - en dat wringt,www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2022/05/18/rutte-en-zijn-smsjes-deed-de-premier-iets-verkeerd-a4124837, 10 July 2023, NRC, nl, Valk, Guus, This was also in violation of his campaign promise and coalition accords that stated they wished to restore peoples faith in politics, create a new governance culture and “improve the information provided to the [second] house”, that the archival law would be modernized and that information would be made available faster.Different stances on immigration policy within his four-party coalition had existed since the coalition government was formed. VVD and CDA supported restrictions on immigration, while D66 and CU opposed them. In 7 July 2023, the parties failed for the last time to reach an agreement and decided unanimously that they could not remain together in the coalition. Immediately, Rutte offered the resignation of his government.NEWS, Dutch PM Mark Rutte resigns after collapse of coalition government,news.sky.com/story/dutch-pm-mark-rutte-resigns-after-collapse-of-coalition-government-12917179, 3 December 2023, Sky News, 8 July 2023,web.archive.org/web/20231203034134/https://news.sky.com/story/dutch-pm-mark-rutte-resigns-after-collapse-of-coalition-government-12917179, 3 December 2023, NEWS, Mark Rutte hands in resignation to the king after coalition collapse,www.euronews.com/2023/07/07/dutch-government-reportedly-collapses-after-failure-to-reach-agreement-on-asylum-measures, 3 December 2023, Euronews, 7 July 2023,web.archive.org/web/20231203041306/https://www.euronews.com/2023/07/07/dutch-government-reportedly-collapses-after-failure-to-reach-agreement-on-asylum-measures, 3 December 2023, The king asked that the prime minister and his government continue to carry out their duties in a caretaker capacity.WEB, Prime Minister Rutte tenders government’s resignation,www.government.nl/latest/news/2023/07/07/prime-minister-rutte-tenders-governments-resignation, Government of the Netherlands, 3 December 2023, 8 July 2023,web.archive.org/web/20231203043841/https://www.government.nl/latest/news/2023/07/07/prime-minister-rutte-tenders-governments-resignation, 3 December 2023, On 10 July 2023, Rutte announced his departure as political leader of the VVD and that he would leave politics when a new government took over.WEB, 10 July 2023, VVD-leider Mark Rutte stopt, kondigt vertrek uit politiek aan,nos.nl/liveblog/2482232-vvd-leider-mark-rutte-stopt-kondigt-vertrek-uit-politiek-aan#UPDATE-container-70594340, 10 July 2023, nos.nl, nl, NEWS, Boztas, Senay, Dutch PM Mark Rutte to leave politics after collapse of government,www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/10/dutch-pm-mark-rutte-to-leave-politics-after-collapse-of-government, 3 December 2023, The Guardian, 10 July 2023,web.archive.org/web/20231203042509/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/10/dutch-pm-mark-rutte-to-leave-politics-after-collapse-of-government, 3 December 2023, In October 2023, he condemned the Hamas attack on Israel and expressed his support to Israel and its right to self-defense.NEWS, “Israel has every right to defend itself,” says Dutch PM,www.dutchnews.nl/2023/10/israel-has-every-right-to-defend-itself-says-dutch-pm/, Dutch News, 8 October 2023, On 23 October 2023, Rutte visited Israel to express solidarity with the country. He met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem.NEWS, Netanyahu to Dutch leader: This war is civilization vs. barbarism,www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/netanyahu-to-dutch-leader-this-war-is-civilization-vs-barbarism/, The Times of Isael, 23 October 2023, He rejected calls for a ceasefire in the 2023 Israel–Hamas war but supported “humanitarian pauses” to provide aid to civilians in the Gaza Strip.NEWS, Western countries oppose cease-fire in Gaza as humanitarian crisis unfolds,www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/western-countries-oppose-cease-fire-in-gaza-as-humanitarian-crisis-unfolds/3034047, Anadolu Agency, 27 October 2023, NEWS, Rutte covering up negative info about Israel to protect future NATO job, officials say,nltimes.nl/2024/01/22/rutte-covering-negative-info-israel-protect-future-nato-job-officials-say, NL Times, 22 January 2024, Early general elections were held on 22 November 2023. Rutte later became a candidate to succeed Jens Stoltenberg as Secretary General of NATO, and his bid received public support from the governments of the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France in February 2024.NEWS, UK backs outgoing Dutch PM as next Nato chief,www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-politics-68349957, BBC, 22 February 2024, NEWS,www.rtlnieuws.nl/nieuws/politiek/artikel/5436609/rutte-de-race-navo-baas-ooste-europese-landen, 23 February 2024, 23 February 2024, nl, RTL Nieuws, Lange, Laurens, Rutte heeft unanieme steun nodig - sommige NAVO-landen zien liever andere baas, Rutte needs unanimous support – some NATO members would rather have another boss, Hungarian foreign affairs minister Péter Szijjártó subsequently declared he opposed Rutte’s candidacy, citing his past exertion of pressure on the country, and Romania put forward President Klaus Iohannis as an opponent.NEWS,www.volkskrant.nl/politiek/hongarije-tegen-benoeming-rutte-tot-secretaris-generaal-van-de-navo~b023d123/, subscription, 6 March 2024, Seine, Famke, 6 March 2024, nl, de Volkskrant, Hongarije tegen benoeming Rutte tot secretaris-generaal van de Navo, Hungary opposed to appointment of Rutte as secretary-general, NEWS,fd.nl/politiek/1512685/vier-landen-stribbelen-nog-tegen-bij-benoeming-van-rutte-tot-navo-baas, subscription, 2 April 2024, Cats, Ria, 2 April 2024, nl, Het Financieele Dagblad, Vier landen stribbelen nog tegen bij benoeming van Rutte tot Navo-baas, Four countries keep resisting appointment of Rutte as NATO leader, Former Romanian President Traian Băsescu also declared that “Rutte hates Romania” and that “Romania must do everything it can to stop Rutte from becoming the next Secretary General of NATO”, citing the fact that Rutte’s Government blocked Romania’s accesion into the Schengen Area twice, despite Romania meeting all the requirements.WEB, 2024-03-06, Băsescu: România trebuie să respingă ideea cu Mark Rutte secretar general NATO. Iohannis are obligaÈ›ia să se bată cu el,www.digi24.ro/stiri/actualitate/politica/basescu-romania-trebuie-sa-respinga-ideea-cu-mark-rutte-secretar-general-nato-iohannis-are-obligatia-sa-se-bata-cu-el-2711799, 2024-04-05, www.digi24.ro, ro, WEB, Băsescu: „Rutte dispreÅ£uieÅŸte România. Iohannis are obligaÅ£ia să se bată ca acest individ să nu devină secretar general NATO”,stirileprotv.ro/stiri/politic/basescu-zrutte-dispretuieste-romania-iohannis-are-obligatia-sa-se-bata-ca-acest-individ-sa-nu-devina-secretar-general-nato.html, 2024-04-05, Stirileprotv.ro, ro, On 26 February 2024 Rutte travelled to Paris, where Emmanuel Macron was holding an emergency summit over the situation in Ukraine, as they had suffered the loss of Avdiivka due to shell hunger. Czech PM Petr Fiala proposed to purchase 500,000 rounds of artillery ammunition for Volodymyr Zelensky’s forces. This was the second time in one month the Czech government had aired the matter. The French had previously vetoed the idea to purchase the ammunition from foreign sources.NEWS,www.luxtimes.lu/europeanunion/eu-seeks-more-ammunition-for-ukraine-to-reverse-putin-s-advance/8742102.html, EU seeks more ammunition for Ukraine to reverse Putin’s advance, The government of Rutte announced, through him on that day in Paris, that it would provide €100 million for this purpose.NEWS, France’s Macron does not rule out Europeans sending troops to Ukraine,www.reuters.com/world/europe/paris-conference-belie-doom-gloom-ukraine-elysee-says-2024-02-25/, 2024-04-05, On 1 March Rutte increased the commitment to €250 million for Fiala’s venture, as he went to Kharkiv to tour with Zelensky an underground metro station that had been repurposed into a primary school. There they signed the Netherlands-Ukraine bilateral security agreement.NEWS, Rutte pledges more cash for Ukrainian ammunition during visit,www.dutchnews.nl/2024/03/rutte-pledges-more-cash-for-ukrainian-ammunition-during-visit/, 2024-04-05, NEWS, Netherlands’ Rutte Signs Security Deal in Ukraine, Promising Artillery Funding,www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2024-03-01/ukraine-netherlands-sign-security-guarantee-deal, 2024-04-05, Honours {{flag|Australia}}: Honorary Companion of the Order of Australia (9 October 2019)2019-S8 – Honorary Companion (AC) in General Division (9 October 2019) {{flag|Belgium}}: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown (28 November 2016)WEB,royalcorrespondent.com/2016/11/28/their-majesties-king-willem-alexander-and-queen-maxima-of-the-netherlands-host-a-gala-state-banquet-2/, Their Majesties King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands Host a Gala State Banquet., 28 November 2016, {{flag|France}}: Grand Officer of the Order of Legion of Honour (11 April 2023)WEB,www.ppe-agency.com/preview.php?zoektype=2&id=332477&start=0&search=11-04-2023+Gala, [DNF] Fotoarchief Denieuwsfoto, www.ppe-agency.com, {{flag|Italy}}: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (20 December 2022)WEB,www.quirinale.it/onorificenze/insigniti/1578301, Le onorificenze della Repubblica Italiana, Personal life Rutte is single.NEWS, Ten things you didn’t know about prime minister Mark Rutte,www.dutchnews.nl/features/2015/11/ten-things-you-didnt-know-about-prime-minister-mark-rutte/, 14 March 2017, Dutch News, 3 November 2015, He is a member of the Dutch Protestant Church.WEB,www.rd.nl/vandaag/politiek/rutte-het-geloof-blijft-een-worsteling-voor-mij-1.247996, Rutte: Het geloof blijft een worsteling voor mij, RD.nl, nl, 30 October 2019, As of 2021, Rutte still taught social studies at the Johan de Witt College, a secondary school in The Hague.WEB, 8 October 2016, Mark Rutte als leraar: ‘Hij is grappig, beetje streng en neemt nooit zijn telefoon op’,www.rtlnieuws.nl/nieuws/nederland/artikel/390286/mark-rutte-als-leraar-hij-grappig-beetje-streng-en-neemt-nooit-zijn, 10 June 2020, RTL Nieuws, nl, Rutte is known to be a big fan of the writing of Robert Caro, especially his 1974 book about Robert Moses, The Power Broker.NEWS, The Dutch Prime Minister Is a Big Fan of Robert Caro,www.nytimes.com/2016/05/15/nyregion/mark-rutte-robert-caro-robert-moses.html, 31 March 2017, The New York Times, 13 May 2016, He drives a Saab 9-3 estate.NEWS, Mark Rutte (the prime minister of the Netherlands) Continues to Drive Saab,www.saabplanet.com/mark-rutte-continues-to-drive-saab/, 1 June 2020, Saab Planet, 1 June 2020, As of 2024, he has lived for several decades in an apartment in Benoordenhout, a neighbourhood of The Hague.NEWS, Rubio, Ilah, Gemengde gevoelens over vertrek Mark Rutte in zijn eigen buurt: ‘Op wie moet ik nu stemmen?’, Mixed feelings about Mark Rutte’s departure in his own neighbourhood: ‘Who should I vote for now?’,www.ad.nl/den-haag/gemengde-gevoelens-over-vertrek-mark-rutte-in-zijn-eigen-buurt-op-wie-moet-ik-nu-stemmen~af0dcbb2/?referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F, 20 July 2023, Algemeen Dagblad, 10 July 2023, Dutch, NEWS, Conradi, Peter, Holland’s ‘Mr No’ Mark Rutte sees off EU but risks putting Eurosceptics in saddle,www.thetimes.co.uk/article/hollands-mr-no-mark-rutte-sees-off-eu-but-risks-putting-eurosceptics-in-saddle-fj5n6wn23, 20 July 2023, The Times, 26 July 2020, See also List of international prime ministerial trips made by Mark Rutte References {{Reflist}} External links {{Commons}} Mark Rutte, official government profile {{C-SPAN|64055}}