New Right-Wing Gov't Sworn In, Seeks Immediate Immigration Cutbacks

The new Dutch gov't has been officially sworn in, ending PM Mark Rutte's 14-year tenure and bringing in the most right-wing administration in the country's history. While new PM Dick Schoof does not have a party affiliation, the party with the largest representation in cabinet is Geert Wilders' right-wing nationalist Party for Freedom (PVV). The PVV holds the foreign trade, economic affairs, health, infrastructure, and asylum ministries in the new gov't. Wilders remains in the House of Representatives, but will be seen as a major player behind the scenes directing party policy.

• The finance ministry is held by Eelco Heinen of the centre-right People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), previously Rutte's party, but now sitting as a junior partner.
• Bloomberg reports: "The cabinet aims to invoke emergency legislation to limit the inflow of migrants and seek an opt-out from the European Union’s migration policy." Having for years sat as a key broker within the EU between various groups opposed on ideas of fiscal tightening/relaxation or EU integration, the Netherlands is now likely to engage in a more combative relationship with Brussels as it seeks to reduce its financial contributions and halt the flow of migrants into the country from other EU member states.