Rutte's prospects of forming new government wane as coalition partner quits

Amsterdam: Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte's prospects of forming a new government waned on Saturday as a coalition partner seen as vital for securing a parliamentary majority ruled out joining a new administration led by him.

Rutte narrowly survived a no-confidence vote on Friday after parliament passed a motion disapproving of his behaviour during talks about forming a new government. But ChristenUnie leader Gert Jan Segers, in an interview with newspaper Nederlands Dagblad, said: "We don't want to return to 'business as usual'. We cannot be part of a fourth Rutte government".