Just days away from a national election in which he hopes to secure a third term in office, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte did not want to be seen as backing down to Turkish threats.
Rutte enraged Ankara by refusing to let Turkey's foreign minister land in the Netherlands on Saturday and denying the country's family and social policies minister access to the Turkish consulate in downtown Rotterdam.
However, the prime minister may have bolstered his image as a tough leader while in the midst of an electoral battle with far-right populist Geert Wilders.
Amsterdam political scientist Andre Krouwel says that in a campaign dominated by nationalism, the diplomatic furor lets Rutte and his party show voters, "We are the ones who go down into the trenches to defend the Netherlands
Source: Ahram online
GMT 09:22 2017 Thursday ,16 March
VVD Party wins Most Seats According to Exit PollsGMT 14:48 2017 Wednesday ,15 March
Erdogan’s Srebrenica comment touches new nerve in The HagueGMT 12:47 2017 Wednesday ,15 March
Dutch vote in key elections as farright slipsGMT 19:31 2017 Tuesday ,14 March
Tensions rise ahead of key polls in the NetherlandsGMT 16:35 2017 Tuesday ,14 March
Dutch PM refutes Erdogan's "falsification of history"Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2023 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2023 ©