Queen announces Dutch elections to be held June 9, nearly 1 year early
By APTuesday, February 23, 2010
Dutch will go to polls June 9, nearly 1 year early
AMSTERDAM — The Dutch government has set the date for elections for June 9, nearly one year ahead of schedule, after the center-right government collapsed in a dispute over its engagement in Afghanistan.
A government statement issued Tuesday says Queen Beatrix, the ceremonial head of state, accepted the resignation of 12 Cabinet officers from the left-leaning Labor Party who quit the coalition Saturday when it refused a NATO request to keep Dutch troops in the southern Afghan province of Uruzgan.
It says Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende will remain in office until the elections but is empowered to deal only with issues that cannot be delayed.
The Dutch are withdrawing from Afghanistan this year as NATO steps up its campaign against the Taliban.
