Dutch Government on the verge of falling.

[Earthling]

Can any Dutch give me a summary of how disastrous this government has been? I know Wilders is a bigot, but I mean in terms of policy.

Well, in 2010 we came out of the hard economic times as one of the best in Europe, now we are back in a recession and near the bottom of Europe. That says it all.

This government has fallen and new elections will be held probably in September. It's not official yet (after all, the PVV was never really part of the government to begin with), but the government has lost it's majority support in parliament.

As for the parties.

The CDA doesn't even have a leader. Since Balkenende left in June of 2010 Verhagen (now the deputy prime minister) has been the acting leader, but he has said allready he is not available for the job (he is among the most distrusted politicians in the country). And there is no real frontrunner for the job right now.

The PvdA just elected a new leader only weeks ago. But Samson is only partyleader for the moment. New elections will be held to decide who will lead them throw the elections. Although, with the recovery in the polls the last week, Samson will probably win those party elections easily.

As for Geert Wilders, he is slipping away. His party is in turmoil and more and more elected official around the country are walking away from him.
There are some rumours that he might be leaving The Netherlands for a job in the US.

[Earthling]

He was bad, as was this government. Sending kids back to Africa where they have nobody who can take care of them is bad enough. Sending gays to Iran where they will be murdered for being gay. Those kind of things happened, sadly enough.

[Earthling]

Rutte has sold the VVD out to the PVV and the radical Christians of the SGP. That is really sad for a party that claims to be liberal.

[Earthling]

The Wilders of 2010 was very different from the man who left the VVD in 2004. He has become more radical by the year. Compared to him Fortuijn is almost left wing and Verdonk seems like a moderate.

And Verdonk was thrown out of the VVD when they were in opposition.

So yes, Rutte sold his party out to the PVV and the SGP. And he did it to stay in power.

[Earthling]

Rutte has sold the VVD out to the PVV and the radical Christians of the SGP. That is really sad for a party that claims to be liberal.

Given that Wilders (as well as the seemingly-forgotten Rita Verdonk) were VVD to begin with, it hardly looks like that much of a sell-out.

What was that? Seriously? (The video, I think).

The worst campaign spot you will ever find.

[Earthling]

Rutte has sold the VVD out to the PVV and the radical Christians of the SGP. That is really sad for a party that claims to be liberal.

Given that Wilders (as well as the seemingly-forgotten Rita Verdonk) were VVD to begin with, it hardly looks like that much of a sell-out.

Haha Rita Verdonk and that infamous little video!

She had the bad luck of pulling out at the wrong moment and in the wrong direction. Never understood why she didn't wind up in the PVV. Might have to do with Wilders being too close to Ayaan Hirsi Ali. I'm sure one of our Dutchmen knows. Trots Op Nederland still exists, google learns me, and now is one of those irrelevant parties with a disproportionally long wikipedia article.

Edit: Dutch political videos generally are a bit weird and ill-considered: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVx7-z1oC8Y

Rita Verdonk is more right wing on economic issues. Geert Wilders has pretty left wing economic views (I suspect it's more out of electoral believe than real believe). And Verdonk was and is just one big joke.

[Earthling]

In contrast to Balkenende he is.

Paars will be the next government, that is almost a fact. The PVV will not be trusted again and the CDA is in huge trouble and needs time out op power. That will leave either Paars or a government with VVD and SP. And the latter is not realistic.

[Earthling]

PvdA is now willing to compromise on September 5 as election date, which gives a large majority in parliament for this date.

It will probably be September 12.