Dutch PM Rutte survives no-confidence vote after FM steps down

Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-14 06:05:27|Editor: Chengcheng
Video PlayerClose

THE HAGUE, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Tuesday survived a vote of no confidence in Dutch parliament after Foreign Minister Halbe Zijlstra stepped down for lying about a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Party for Freedom (PVV) leader Geert Wilders had proposed the vote of no confidence against Rutte for his reaction on Zijlstra's lie, and he was supported by five other opposition parties.

The motion didn't get a majority vote.

Earlier on Tuesday, Zijlstra announced his resignation just before a debate on his position in the Dutch lower house of parliament.

The pressure on him was too high after the 49-year-old FM had admitted in Dutch newspaper de Volkskrant on Monday that he lied on having being present at a meeting with Putin in 2006. One day later he also appeared to have misinterpreted words of Putin on a "Great Russia".

The debate continued without Zijlstra, but with Rutte, who had to defend his decision to initially support Zijlstra and why he did not inform the parliament immediately after he heard about Zijlstra's lie on Jan. 29.

Rutte admitted he made a mistake and he blamed himself for underestimating the seriousness of the case when Zijlstra informed him two weeks ago about the forthcoming article in de Volkskrant.

"I thought he could continue as a minister with a good explanation," said Rutte. "I found his lie a sin, but not a mortal sin."

Sigrid Kaag, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, will temporarily take over the tasks of Zijlstra as FM until a successor is found.

TOP STORIES
EDITOR’S CHOICE
MOST VIEWED
EXPLORE XINHUANET
010020070750000000000000011100001369738761
国产无码在线观看免费在线,37pao国产成视频,日韩一区二区视频在线,国产国产人免费人成免费视频麻豆
亚洲视频IGAO视频在线 | 亚洲欧美日韩综合另类一区 | 亚洲日本好爽视频在线 | 亚洲第一中文字幕 | 久久综合国产高清 | 偷自视频区在线 |