Rutte’s prospects of forming a new government diminish with the departure of the coalition partner

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s prospects of forming a new government dwindled on Saturday when a coalition partner seen as vital to securing a parliamentary majority ruled out joining a new government he led.

Rutte narrowly survived a censorship vote on Friday after parliament passed a motion disapproving his behavior during negotiations on forming a new government.

But ChristenUnie’s leader, Gert Jan Segers, in an interview with the Nederlands Dagblad newspaper, said: “We don’t want to go back to ‘normal business’. We cannot be part of a fourth Rutte government ”.

ChristenUnie is one of four government parties led by Rutte’s conservative VVD party since 2017.

Rutte, in office since 2010 and often an influential figure in the European Union, was the decisive winner in the general election two weeks ago.

But he narrowly survived the vote of no confidence, which accused him of not speaking the truth about his suggestions about the possible future of a critical legislator from another party.

All parties outside of their coalition voted for their immediate removal.

This seemed to have left the current coalition as the only viable option for Rutte to form his fourth consecutive government, until Segers’ action on Saturday blocked that path.

Rutte, who remained as interim prime minister, said on Friday that he has not given up hope of forming a new government, as he expects the formation negotiations to resume in the coming weeks.

Parliament next week will appoint an independent official tasked with mapping out ways to make the government formation process work again.

An opinion poll published after the vote of no confidence debate showed that Rutte’s support among the general public dropped to 25%, from 54% the previous week.