Dutch parliament to hold no-confidence vote on caretaker PM Rutte

[discocrisco01]

Source: Reuters

Opposition parties in the Dutch parliament on Thursday tabled a no-confidence motion in Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who is trying to form a new government in the wake of March 17 elections.

Rutte was the clear winner of last month's parliamentary elections. Losing a vote of confidence would delay the formation of a new coalition government and weaken his position as head of the conservative VVD party

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/dutch-parliament-hold-no-confidence-vote-caretaker-pm-rutte-2021-04-01/

[nycbos]

1. If Mr Rutte won the election...

... how does the opposition think they're going to win the vote of no confidence?

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. It may be a long shot, but there was a development after the election

The OP link isn't working for me, but this is: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-netherlands-politics-rutte/dutch-parliament-to-hold-no-confidence-vote-on-caretaker-pm-rutte-idUSKBN2BO5CT?il=0

The no-confidence vote was to take place later in the day, after Rutte appeared in parliament to explain why he had told reporters he had not discussed a political appointment for one lawmaker, when it later emerged that he had.
...
Talks on forming a new government were abruptly put on hold on March 25 when one of the chief negotiators unwittingly revealed a sensitive document to a news photographer as she rushed out of parliament after learning that she had tested positive for COVID-19.

The document showed that negotiators were discussing a position “elsewhere” for MP Pieter Omtzigt, a prominent critic of Rutte’s previous Cabinet, though Omtzigt’s Christian Democrats were a coalition member.

"Winning the election" means getting more seats than expected, and being the only party with a realistic chance to head a coalition, in their PR system. The opposition may think that some of the potential coalition allies might have second thoughts.

[OnlinePoker]

4. His party only won 34 of the 150 seats in their House of Representatives.

He will only govern by forming a coalition. 17 Different parties won at least 1 seat so it will be hard to keep a coalition together for long.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_Dutch_general_election

On edit. He only got 21.9% of popular vote.

[nycbos]

5. I understand how a proportional representation system works...

... in a parliamentary system of government.

The party that wins the most seats gets crack at forming a coalition government. However given the information you provided of 17 parties winning at least one seat that seems to be pretty difficult. Appreciate the context.

[bucolic_frolic]

2. Tabled means exact opposite over there as compared to US

We table something, we put it aside. They table something as in throwing it on the table for consideration.

Sounds like opposition thinks it can tap into some hidden buyer's remorse. Is that article on the level? Rutte is a "clear winner" "caretaker". Popular but not so popular.

[muriel_volestrangler]

6. Dutch PM Rutte narrowly survives no-confidence vote

Dutch caretaker Prime Minister Mark Rutte has narrowly survived a vote of no confidence over his conduct during talks to form a governing coalition.

But he remains under pressure after parliament adopted a formal motion of disapproval which noted he had not "spoken the truth" during the talks.
...
However, almost the entire house of parliament backed the disapproval motion against him. His biggest coalition partner, Sigrid Kaag of the centre-left D66 party, said it was not clear to her that he would continue in charge of forming a new government.
...
She and Wopke Hoekstra of the Christian Democrats submitted the disapproval motion against Mr Rutte, even though their parties had backed him in the confidence vote.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-56611399