13/09/2012 15:43
Conservative Dutch leader Mark Rutte wins in the elections
Conservative Dutch leader Mark Rutte began forging a new ruling coalition Thursday after bucking a European trend by winning an election despite pushing through tough austerity measures to counter the continent’s devastating debt crisis.
“Now we have to focus on forming, as soon as possible, a stable government,” Rutte said as lawmakers from his free-market VVD party cheered.
Rutte’s party won 10 extra seats to give it 41 overall in the 150-seat House of Representatives. His closest rival — and now most likely coalition partner — Diederik Samsom of Labor saw his party grow by nine seats to 39.