The election that inspired hope
…but not because of who won outright
It seems awfully long ago (April 2 actually) that Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte survived a no-confidence vote after being caught up in a scandal that threatened to end his 11 years in office. And the March 17 Dutch election seems like ancient history. In managing the crisis-defying feat of winning, Mr Rutte is the poster child for political hopefulness.
The Netherlands itself is triggering hope for a change in the European political season. The truly hopeful bits to emerge from the election have nothing to do with the winner, but the runners-up.
The fortunes of the country’s liberal democrat party, D66, revived.
It can only be good that the new spotlight is on D66 leader, Sigrid Kaag.
A former UN diplomat, she is pro-European. More significant by far perhaps for politics on the European mainland, Ms Kaag is married to a Palestinian.
Ms Kaag, whose children have Arab blood, has spoken out about racism in Dutch society. She has loudly and clearly made a virtue …
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