Dutch PM: Country ‘better off’ ahead of crunch polls

THE HAGUE: Just weeks before elections, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Friday pressed his bid for a third term insisting The Netherlands is better off today than when his coalition took power in 2012.

The Dutch are headed for crunch polls next month and the Liberal centre-right Rutte is one of the frontrunners in opinion polls, which have seen far-right political opponent Geert Wilders surge into the lead.

“The Netherlands is much better off today than before the inauguration of cabinet,” Rutte told journalists at his final weekly press conference before the March 15 vote.

“The economy, anno 2017, is in superb shape, with solid growth across the board,” Rutte said — achieved not only by “the coalition government and the opposition in parliament... but above all by 17 million Dutch citizens.”

He pointed to figures released earlier this week by the central statistics office that put economic growth back to levels before the 2008 economic crisis.

Economic recovery is one of three themes of Rutte’s election campaign, together with “keeping things stable in an unstable world” and further integration into Dutch society.

Asked about a letter he penned three weeks ago urging people to vote for stability, and calling on all people including immigrants to adapt to the country’s values, the Dutch premier said: “My message is that if you find it intolerable to live here or to be a part of this beautiful country you have the option to leave.”

“That’s not just for immigrants, but for everybody,” he said.

Rutte, and his liberal VVD party is bidding for a third term in office under the slogan “Act. Normally.”

At a time of political turbulence in Europe and the United States, the pragmatic Rutte has positioned himself firmly as a candidate of the status quo. “It’s up to the voters to decide how things will look after March 15 — but I would plead for a continuation of the current situation,” he said.

Political parties are gearing up for the crucial polls, which experts say will focus more on national identity and immigration than economics.

On Saturday, Wilders, who has led opinion polls for the past month, takes to the streets to officially launch his campaign and canvass for votes. Wilders and his Freedom Party (PVV) have gained traction with a heavily anti-immigration, anti-EU and anti-minority message which has struck home among parts of the electorate worried by Europe’s migrant influx. — AFP