US and UK endorse Dutch PM Mark Rutte as next Nato chief
GuardianFEB 2024
Given that Rutte had long been a lame duck walking into office even before his cabinet collapsed, this announcement was somewhat expected. Anyone closely watching the Dutch people protesting against his plans to impose a Great Reset-style scheme to shut down thousands of farmers in the country already knew that he and his allies would be forever swept away in elections.
While Rutte has faced a rapid deterioration of his popularity at home by the end of his tenure, it's undeniable that this seemingly ordinary man has led the relatively small Netherlands to the highest echelons of European politics by promoting an agenda based on free trade, fiscal prudence, and liberal social values. Now that he's quitting politics, his absence will surely be felt.