Dutch Government Loses Lower-House Majority, Risking Inaction

(Bloomberg) -- Prime Minster Mark Rutte’s ruling coalition lost its one-seat majority in the Dutch lower house of parliament, making it even more complicated for the government’s four-party alliance to enact its legislative priorities.

Wybren van Haga, who was expelled from Rutte’s Liberal party last month, announced on Monday that he would retain his seat but become unaffiliated with any existing factions, cutting support for Rutte’s government to 75 in the 150-member assembly.

Earlier this year, Rutte’s coalition lost its majority in the Senate as populist parties gained in provincial elections. Rutte said recently that his cabinet would be seeking as broad support for its policies as possible.

To contact the reporter on this story: John Hermse in The Hague at jhermse@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Joost Akkermans at jakkermans@bloomberg.net, ;Ben Sills at bsills@bloomberg.net, Richard Bravo, Andrew Blackman

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