Dutch government in disarray over Hirisi Ali

[Apollyon]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060629/wl_afp/netherlandspolitics

THE HAGUE (AFP) - The Dutch government resigned after losing the support of its junior coalition partner in a row over controversial Immigration Minister Rita Verdonk.

Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende announced in parliament that his government would tender its resignation to the Dutch head of state Queen Beatrix probably Friday.

The reformist D66, the junior coalition party with just three of a total of 25 ministers and junior ministers in government, effectively pulled the plug on Balkenende's government when it withdrew its support in the row over Verdonk's handling of the controversy surrounding the citizenship of Somali-born Islam critic and former lawmaker Ayaan Hirsi Ali.

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This whole sordid affair has had quite an impact on Hans Brinkerville.

What's the take on this from a European pov?

[egslim]

The minister also produced a declaration signed by Hirsi Ali in which she said that she was actually too the blame for the situation and wrote she did not reproach the minister anything.

However, Hirsi Ali later told Dutch media that she signed the document under pressure because she wanted the affair to be over and needed a valid Dutch passport to complete her move to Washington where she has a job at a conservative think tank.
If this accusation of blackmail is true, then I feel getting rid of Verdonk is a matter of good riddance to bad rubbish. Much like puking after you've eaten something rotten.

Unfortunately, having a demissionary government for a significant period of time won't do the country any good. There is still some hope that can be avoided, though.