Dutch government ‘to resign’ over childcare subsidies

Netherlands' Prime Minister Mark Rutte

Credit: John Thys /AFP Pool 

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s government will collectively resign over a report that blamed the government for mismanagement of childcare subsidies that drove thousands of families to financial ruin, national broadcaster NOS reported on Friday.

The move was seen as largely symbolic. Mr Rutte’s government will remain in office in a caretaker mode until a new coalition is formed after a March 17 election in the Netherlands and his party is expected to win the election, putting him first in line to begin talks to form the next ruling coalition.

But the resignation will bring to an end a decade in office for him.

Mr Rutte’s spokesman did not immediately return calls seeking confirmation of the reports. The prime minister is expected to give a press conference at 2:15pm local time (1:15pm GMT).

His Cabinet’s resignation had been expected this week after growing criticism over the childcare subsidies scandal.

Some 20,000 families either had their childcare benefits cut or were forced to pay back every cent they had ever claimed, sometimes over small administrative errors in their paperwork.

Dual-nationality families were subject to particular scrutiny, it has emerged.

A parliamentary inquiry last month declared that the tax office had carried out an “unprecedented injustice”, with the scandal stretching over much of the past decade.