Dutch Government Falls After Cabinet Crisis

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, October 17, 2002

Dutch Government Falls After Cabinet Crisis

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The Dutch government collapsed after two ministers resigned amid disagreements in the three-party coalition and feuding within the party of Pim Fortuyn's List (LPF),Prime Minister Jan-Peter Balkenende announced in the parliament Wednesday.

The fall of the coalition between the Christian Democrats (CDA),VVD Liberals and LPF made the government the shortest-lived cabinet in Dutch history, only three months in office.

According to reports reaching here from The Hague, the two ministers had arguments about the enlargement of the European Union (EU), which is ready to accept 10 countries mainly from Central and Eastern Europe in 2004.

A Foreign Ministry spokesman said earlier that the Dutch government will ensure its position on plans for the historic EU enlargement at a summit next week even in a caretaker capacity.

The crisis sparked fears that a caretaker cabinet would be forced to delay its backing for the EU enlargement at the key summit next week in Brussels until a new government is installed in The Hague after fresh elections.

The spokesman said the Netherlands would have to make clear itsposition on the enlargement, irrespective of whether the current government or a caretaker cabinet was in charge of running the country.

A caretaker cabinet could go to the crucial summit to representthe Netherlands after approval of its position by a majority in the parliament, he said.

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