The Dutch see a role for themselves as champions of free trade and the European single market.
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Mark Rutte
The Dutch leader believes Europe must be careful not to overreach.
The liberal incumbent has framed the election as a choice between optimism and pessimism.
The liberal prime minister rules out a pact with his Freedom Party rival, Geert Wilders.
Culture-war issues help Mark Rutte’s competitors. He wins by making the election about the economy.
The Dutch liberal party leader isn’t taking his cue from Donald Trump. That’s exactly the politics he’s fighting against.
The center-right prime minister argues that Geert Wilders has disqualified himself.
The Dutch prime minister has more faith in his country and its institutions than do Freedom Party voters.
The Dutchman can’t get a deal without his parliament’s support, but the parties there want to see a deal first.
One could cast the Netherlands’ Mark Rutte in the role of Hillary Clinton and Geert Wilders as Donald Trump.