THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Long-serving Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte urged his country to support Ukraine and international cooperation in his final address to his compatriots on Sunday, as an inward-looking new government takes over the Netherlands within two days.
“It is crucial that our country is embedded in the European Union and NATO. Together we are stronger than alone. Especially now,” said the 57-year-old Rutte from his office in The Hague.
After fourteen years leading the country, he will take his consensus-building experience to Brussels, where he will take over as NATO’s new Secretary General later this year.
He stressed the need to continue supporting Ukraine, “for peace there and security here.” The new government, which is expected to take office on Tuesday, has promised to continue providing aid. But far-right populist Geert Wilders, whose party won the largest bloc of seats in last year’s elections, has taken pro-Russian positions and Kremlin supporters cheered his victory at the ballot box.
Rutte described the MH17 tragedy in 2014 as “perhaps the most drastic and emotional event” during his term of office. The passenger plane was shot down over eastern Ukraine while traveling from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, killing all 298 passengers and crew, including 196 Dutch nationals.
In 2022, a Dutch court convicted two Russians and a pro-Moscow Ukrainian of involvement in the downing of the Boeing 777.
Known for cycling to meetings and his dedication to politics, Rutte emphasized the positive qualities of his country.
“There is no war here, you can be who you are, we are prosperous,” he said in his 12-minute speech.
He acknowledged that there had been low points during his tenure, including a child support scandal in which thousands of parents were wrongly labeled as fraudsters.
Wearing a white shirt with some of the top buttons undone, Rutte said his time in office had left him with some “gray hair and wrinkles.”
