His days in the Netherlands seem numbered, but in Europe Rutte is actually powerful
Prime Minister Rutte's position in Europe is quite strong," observes EU expert Mathieu Segers, professor of European History at Maastricht University. "In Europe, a lot of value is placed on years of service. And Rutte has been there for a long time. Because of that length of service, he plays a central role in European Council and in European politics. Thus, he sometimes acts as an oilman between France and Germany."
"He feels well at home on the European stage, can manoeuvre well," says Segers. "If he ever changes his mind, there are several options in Brussels."
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