Dutch cabinet falls
The Dutch centre-right cabinet of Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende has fallen. In a short statement to parliament, the prime minister said all ministers are offering their resignation. Mr Balkenende will probably submit his resignation to Queen Beatrix on Friday.
Earlier, the smallest Dutch coalition party D66 withdrew its support for the cabinet because of its continued support for Immigration Minister Rita Verdonk. Ms Verdonk recently came under fire when she revoked the citizenship of MP Ayaan Hirsi Ali after she admitted to having used a false name and date of birth when she applied for naturalisation. She then reversed course on the issue and decided that Ms Hirsi Ali can retain her citizenship.
Source: Radio Netherlands, 29 June 2006
