Mark Rutte

Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 2010 to 2024

Mark Rutte (born 14 February 1967) is a Dutch politician who has been the 14th Secretary General of NATO since 2024. He was the Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 2010 to 2024. He was leader of the conservative liberal People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) from 2006 to 2023.[1][2] In July 2023, Rutte and his government announced their resignations.[3]

Mark Rutte
Rutte in 2024
14th Secretary General of NATO
Assumed office
1 October 2024
Preceded byJens Stoltenberg
Prime Minister of the Netherlands
In office
14 October 2010 – 2 July 2024
Monarch
Deputy
See list
Preceded byJan Peter Balkenende
Succeeded byDick Schoof
Leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
In office
31 May 2006 – 14 August 2023
Preceded byJozias van Aartsen
Succeeded byDilan Yeşilgöz
State Secretary for Education, Culture and Science
In office
17 June 2004 – 27 June 2006
Prime MinisterJan Peter Balkenende
Preceded byAnnette Nijs
Succeeded byBruno Bruins
State Secretary for Social Affairs and Employment
In office
22 July 2002 – 17 June 2004
Prime MinisterJan Peter Balkenende
Preceded byHans Hoogervorst
Succeeded byHenk van Hoof
Member of the House of Representatives
In office
31 March 2021 – 10 January 2022
In office
23 March 2017 – 26 October 2017
In office
20 September 2012 – 5 November 2012
In office
28 June 2006 – 14 October 2010
In office
30 January 2003 – 27 May 2003
Personal details
Born (1967-02-14) 14 February 1967 (age 57)
The Hague, Netherlands
Political partyPeople's Party for Freedom and Democracy
EducationLeiden University (BA, MA)
Signature

Political career

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In 2010, Rutte won the elections with his party. He did not gain a majority in parliament, he won 31 out of 150 seats. Before he could form his government, there were four weeks of negotiations with the Christian-democratic CDA and the right-wing PVV of Geert Wilders. Wilders was not in the government, but he was supporting the government on several issues. These issues were discussed in those four weeks. When he was sworn in on 14 October 2010, he became the first liberal Prime Minister in the Netherlands in 92 years.[4]

The First Rutte cabinet, consisting of VVD, CDA, and PVV, lasted from 2010 to 2012. The Second Rutte cabinet, consisting of VVD and PvdA, lasted from 2012 to 2017. The Third Rutte cabinet, consisting of VVD, D66, CDA, and CU, lasted from 2017 to 2022.

On 15 January 2021, Rutte announced his resignation and that of his government because of a child welfare scandal.[5]

Rutte has been leading the Fourth Rutte cabinet, consisting of VVD, D66, CDA, and CU, since 10 January 2022.

On 7 July 2023, Rutte announced his government's resignation after his coalition failed to agree on how to handle increasing migration.[6] His government will take on a caretaker role until the next general election.[7] Rutte said that he will be leaving domestic politics all together.[8]

Rutte announced his candidacy to replace Jens Stoltenberg as Secretary General of NATO in October 2023, and his bid received public support from the governments of the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France in February 2024.[9][10] With his only opponent, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, dropping out in June 2024 Rutte secured the position of Secretary General.[11][12] He was sworn-in on 1 October 2024.

Personal life

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Rutte is single and lives in The Hague. He frequently uses his bike for government duties at the Binnenhof and the Catshuis. He is also a part time teacher at a high school in The Hague.

References

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  1. (in Dutch) Mark Rutte teruggekeerd in Tweede Kamer
  2. "government.nl". Archived from the original on 2011-11-24. Retrieved 2011-04-18.
  3. Corder, Mike (7 July 2023). "Dutch premier resigns because of deadlock on thorny issue of migration, paving way for new elections". APNews.com. Associated Press. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  4. (in Dutch) Mark Rutte: eerste liberale premier sinds 1918
  5. "Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and his entire Cabinet resign over child welfare scandal". CBS News. 15 January 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  6. "Mark Rutte resigns as Dutch PM amid migration dispute - National | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved 2023-07-07.
  7. Moses, Claire; Dan Bilefsky (7 July 2023). "Dutch Government Collapses Over Plan to Further Limit Immigration". NYTimes.com. The New York Times. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  8. Slomp, Door Edo van der Goot en Priscilla (2023-07-10). "VVD-leider Mark Rutte verlaat politiek: 'Mijn positie is volstrekt ondergeschikt'". NU (in Dutch). Retrieved 2023-07-10.
  9. "UK backs outgoing Dutch PM as next Nato chief". BBC. 22 February 2024.
  10. Lange, Laurens (23 February 2024). "Rutte heeft unanieme steun nodig - sommige NAVO-landen zien liever andere baas" [Rutte needs unanimous support – some NATO members would rather have another boss]. RTL Nieuws (in Dutch). Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  11. De Koning, Petra; Aharouay, Lamyae (5 June 2024). "NAVO-secretaris-generaal Stoltenberg gaat naar Boedapest om Rutte te helpen" [NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg will visit Budapest to help Rutte]. NRC (in Dutch). Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  12. "Rutte over nieuwe baan: 'Drie maanden vrij en dan hard werken'" [Rutte about new job: 'Three months of vacation and hard work thereafter']. NOS (in Dutch). 20 June 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.

Other websites

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