Dutch prime minister says he will leave politics after next electionS

The Hague, Jul 10 (AP) Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, the Netherlands’ longest serving premier, said Monday he will leave politics after a general election sparked by his government’s resignation.

Rutte, the leader of the conservative People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy, or VVD, announced his decision at a hastily arranged parliamentary debate.

“Yesterday morning I made a decision that I will not be available again as a leader of the VVD. When a new Cabinet takes office after the elections, I will leave politics,” he said.

Rutte’s four-party ruling coalition resigned Friday after failing to agree on a package of measures to rein in migration.

No date has yet been set for the election.