Dutch government collapses over migration row

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said Friday his coalition government was resigning over "insurmountable" differences about measures to curb migration.

Rutte, 56, the Netherlands' longest-serving leader, chaired days of crisis talks between the four coalition parties but they were unable to reach a deal.

The Netherlands is expected to hold elections in November following the fall of the coalition, which is Rutte's fourth since 2010 and had only taken office in January 2022 after lengthy negotiations.

"This evening we have unfortunately reached the conclusion that the differences are insurmountable," Rutte, the leader of the center-right VVD party, told a press conference.

"For this reason, I will shortly present my written resignation to the king in the name of the whole government."

Rutte added that he had the "energy" to stand for a fifth term but that he had to "reflect" first.