Rutte’s leadership style

Dutch politician Mark Rutte

Dutch politician Mark Rutte is the country’s prime minister and the head of the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy. Rutte became prime minister in 2010 when the people’s party, which had lost six seats in the 2006 general election, triumphed.

Rutte’s administration

Rutte is renowned for being a fiscally responsible leader who represents the Dutch. Geert Wilders, a member of the far-right National Party, and the Labor Party supported Rutte’s administration. Mark additionally compelled a number of parties to join his administration.

The Liberal Democratic D66 and the Christian Union

For example, the Liberal Democratic D66, which according to culture is the most advanced force in the country, and the Christian Union that was composed of evangelical Christians. The D66 party aimed at breaking the enactment of the law to legalize euthanasia and gay marriage. Euthanasia was mainly implemented for those tied to living. Christians were against this new law because culturally it was wrong to practice killing in the name of helping those tied to living. On the other hand, practicing gay marriage was wrong according to the evangelicals because it this issue reveals a moral conflict between their faith and feelings. Marriage according to Christians is a lifelong commitment between a man and a woman, which displays the glory for their mutual joy and the good of the society. Therefore, evangelicals strongly opposed euthanasia and abortion for the better of their culture. It was impossible for the two parties to work together in the new government, because of compromised cultural issues. This process brought hatred between the two parties; hence governance was made more difficult as Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) also joined the Christian party. It is evident that Rutte’s style of leadership brought a difference in Netherlands culture because of the set ideas (Van Holsteyn, 2011).

Reference

Van Holsteyn, J. J. (2011). The Dutch parliamentary election of 2010. West European Politics, 34(2), 412-419.