Dutch PM Rutte Loses Senate Majority Amid New Populist Surge
- Forum poised to replace Rutte’s liberals as biggest faction
- Rutte in need of opposition support for climate measures
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The anti-EU Forum for Democracy party is set to become the largest faction in the Dutch Senate, leaving Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s coalition government without a majority, and highlighting the challenge of tackling populism two months before key European Parliament elections.
While Rutte’s own VVD party managed to limit losses, the overall outcome shows his cabinet will need to seek other alliances to push through his policy agenda in a fragmented political landscape that shows the rise of a new populist group.