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Dutch government falls over Afghan troop mission
Reed Stevenson and Aaron Gray-Block
AMSTERDAM
Sat Feb 20, 2010 1:51am EST
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Factbox: Dutch mission in Afghan province Uruzgan
Fri, Feb 19 2010
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Fri, Feb 19 2010
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AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende's coalition government collapsed on Saturday when the two largest parties failed to agree on whether to withdraw troops from Afghanistan this year as planned.
World
The fall of the government in the EU member country, just two days short of the coalition's third anniversary, all but guarantees that the 2,000 Dutch troops will be brought home this year and will eventually prompt new parliamentary elections.
The collapse, the fourth for a cabinet led by Balkenende in eight years, throws into doubt the scope and timing of planned budget cuts for next year as the Dutch economy battles to emerge from the global downturn.
"I unfortunately note that there is no longer a fruitful path for the Christian Democrats, Labor Party and Christian Union to go forward," Balkenende, who leads the center-right Christian Democrats, told reporters.
The collapse occurred after more than 15 hours of talks that lasted until early on Saturday, and acrimonious exchanges throughout the week.
Balkenende wanted to extend the Dutch troop deployment in the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan past an August deadline, but Deputy Prime Minister Wouter Bos's Labor Party opposed any extension.
NATO had asked the Netherlands, among the top 10 contributing nations to the mission, to investigate the possibility of a longer stay in Afghanistan as the alliance seeks to contain the Taliban insurgency.
Parliamentary elections could be held mid-year at the earliest, but would likely be followed by months of talks between parties to form a government.
A new government may prove difficult to establish, with opinion polls suggesting four or five parties may be needed to secure a majority coalition in the 150-seat parliament.
Right-wing legislator Geert Wilders's Freedom Party, which has called for an end to the Afghan mission, could be the big winner at the next election.
Opinion polls tip the Freedom Party, campaigning on mistrust of the government and an anti-immigration ticket, to become the largest or second biggest party in parliament.
Labor could regain some much-needed electoral support by its stance over Afghanistan but that may not be enough to form a left-leaning coalition.
AUSTERITY MEASURES
The collapse of Balkenende's coalition effectively nullifies an existing agreement to hold off any economic austerity steps until 2011 and could lead to deeper cuts when next year's budget is unveiled in September.
This week, the Dutch government's main think-tank raised its 2010 budget deficit forecast to 6.1 percent of gross domestic product but called for a 2011 deficit of 4.7 percent, implying that steep spending cuts will be needed.
That could crimp the Dutch economy, which data last week showed has just entered a fragile recovery after four straight quarters of negative growth.
The Dutch mission in Afghanistan, which started in 2006, is scheduled to end in August with the last of the troops leaving in December. Most are deployed in Uruzgan province.
"A withdrawal will damage the reputation of the Dutch as a reliable partner that is willing and able to contribute to important military missions," said Edwin Bakker, a senior research fellow at the Clingendael Institute in The Hague.
Twenty-one Dutch soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan.
(Editing by Ralph Gowling)
World
Comments
See All Comments (2) | Post Comment
Feb 20, 2010 1:19am EST
the UN should charge muslims with inciting hatred and discrimination against non-muslims,,, and crimes against humanity,,,
islamic apartheid,,,
The Evils of Islamic Political Ideology: Oppression of non-Muslims
http://www.rightsidenews.com/200906014988/homeland-security/the-evils-of-islamic-political-ideology-oppression-of-non-muslims.html
THIS IRANIAN HAS A GOOD IDEA!!!
Ali Sina, an ex-Muslim from Iran. He is the creator of Faithfreedom.org.
Yet I know that by eradicating Islam we can save the world from the dangers of a catastrophe that otherwise is looming over our heads and could cause more disaster than the 1st and 2nd World Wars combined. Eradication of Islam means restoring peace among humanity and civility, democracy and prosperity in the Muslim world.
http://www.faithfreedom.org/Articles/sina/why_i_left_islam.htm
wrongatlarge
Report As Abusive
Feb 20, 2010 1:20am EST
terrorislam wants peace,,, a piece of your country that is,,,
and another piece,,, and another piece,,, and another piece,,,
until they have the world,,,
they are always going into some country and then saying they want another terrorislamic state,,,
http://www.terrorismawareness.org/what-really-happened/
stop them now before it is too late,,,
wrongatlarge
Report As Abusive
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