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The Dutch Left’s Embrace of the Austerity Suicide Pact: It’s Necessary for the Children!

By William K. Black

A remarkable, and terrible, thing has just taken place in the Netherlands of which few Americans are aware.  The ruling Dutch political coalition collapsed when the ultra-right wing party (the Freedom Party, led by Geert Wilders) refused to support its coalition partners’ austerity package (calling for tax increases and reduced government expenditures).  Wilders is best known for his opposition to Islamic immigrants but is developing a new following based on his Euro skepticism. The core parties of the governing coalition were Mark Rutte’s VVD party and the Christian Democrats (CDA).

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