Dutch Government Resigns Over Childcare Subsidies Scandal

Dutch Government Resigns Over Childcare Subsidies Scandal
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy speaks after a televised debate moderated by journalist Jeroen Pauw, on the eve of European elections in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on May 23, 2019. Piroschka van de Wouw/Reuters
Reuters
Updated:

THE HAGUE—Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced the resignation of his government on Friday, accepting responsibility for years of mismanagement of childcare subsidies, which wrongfully drove thousands of families to financial ruin.

Rutte said he had handed his resignation to King Willem-Alexander. The cabinet would remain in place in a caretaker capacity to manage the coronavirus crisis for now, with an election already due on March 17.