Dutch trouble

Wilders

The government of the Netherlands, which is what we had better call it now that someone called Hollande is likely to occupy the Elysée Palace, has resigned.

The government was a coalition which incorporated Geert Wilders' Freedom Party, which cannot accept the austerity measures required by the new Fiscal Pact: The Netherlands would have to cut some €15 billion to get down to the maximum 3% figure permitted. There is increasing talk that The Netherlands will be downgraded from its AAA status.

Elections will probably not take place until the autumn.

So, on a good day for Hollande, a bad day for Holland.