Dutch government collapses over Afghanistan

he Dutch government collapsed in the early hours of Saturday morning over Labour's insistence that the Netherlands pull out of Afghanistan this year.

After two days of intensive talks and a bitter parliamentary debate, it had become increasingly clear the gulf between prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende and deputy prime minister Wouter Bos was too great to bridge.

Labour leader Bos stated earlier this week that he wanted a decision on Nato's request to the Netherlands to stay in Afghanistan at Friday's cabinet meeting. And that decision would have to be a no, he said repeatedly.

Balkenende said he wanted to keep all options open and was sticking to the March 1 deadline.

Read more >> | DutchNews.nl - Dutch government collapses over Afghanistan

See also >> | Dutch cabinet, Balkenende's fourth, collapses - NRC-Hamdelsblad

See also >> | Dutch government falls over Afghanistan mission

Labels: Afghanistan, Dutch politics, Foreign Policy, NATO

- posted by DD @ 11:07 p.m. Perma Link/Print  

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