THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Conservative Dutch leader Mark Rutte began forging a new ruling coalition Thursday after bucking a European trend by winning an election despite pushing through tough austerity measures to counter the continent's devastating debt crisis.
Dutch voters clearly chose to reinforce pro-European measures.
Since Europe's debt crisis erupted in 2009 and plunged the continent into the economic doldrums, longtime Italian leader Silvio Berlusconi quit, Greece's government fell and French President Nicolas Sarkozy — a conservative like Rutte — was voted out of office.
"The direction can and must change," Samsom told supporters in Amsterdam.
Because the right wing policies of the last two years cannot continue.
Dutch voters clearly chose to reinforce pro-European measures.
Since Europe's debt crisis erupted in 2009 and plunged the continent into the economic doldrums, longtime Italian leader Silvio Berlusconi quit, Greece's government fell and French President Nicolas Sarkozy — a conservative like Rutte — was voted out of office.
"The direction can and must change," Samsom told supporters in Amsterdam.
Because the right wing policies of the last two years cannot continue.
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