Off to Brussels in style: Ex-Netherlands PM Mark Rutte leaves office on bicycle after handing over power to successor Dick Schoof

Chandigarh, July 6

As the Netherlands got a new government on July 2 with a different prime minister for the first time in 14 years, it was former PM Mark Rutte who ‘set an example’ while handing over the power to his successor Dick Schoof.

A video of Rutte has gone viral on social media in which the former premier is seen leaving the Prime Minister’s Office on a bicycle after completing the official ceremony of ‘handover’ to Dick Schoof.

The viral video shows some people also applauding Rutte after he reach outside the building on the bicycle.

Hollanda Başbakanı Mark Rutte,
14 yıldır yaptığı görevi devrettikten sonra başbakanlık ofisinden ayrılırken..

Şöyle bir fotoğrafı bir İslam ülkesinde görememek!?pic.twitter.com/L2GRssTCmF

— Ayşe Sucu (@aysesucu) July 4, 2024

This is not the first time that Rutte has taken the ‘cycle route’ as he is known for cycling to meetings and his dedication to politics.

After leading the country for 14 years, Rutte will take his experience with consensus-building to Brussels, where he will take over as NATO’s new secretary-general later this year.

After 14 years of #cycling to work, former Dutch prime minister @markrutte is off to Brussels – in style! pic.twitter.com/aLIU3kJwWs

— Henk Swarttouw (@copenhenken) July 3, 2024

On Tuesday, Dutch King Willem-Alexander swore in the country’s new government, more than seven months after elections dominated by a far-right, anti-Islam party.

Dick Schoof, former head of the Dutch intelligence agency and counterterrorism office, signed the official royal decree at Huis Ten Bosch Palace, saying he “declared and promised” to uphold his duties as the country’s prime minister.

The 67-year-old was formally installed alongside 15 other ministers who make up the country’s right-leaning coalition.

The anti-immigration party of firebrand Geert Wilders won the largest share of seats in elections last year but it took 223 days to form a government.

The four parties in the coalition are Wilders’ Party for Freedom, outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s center-right People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy, the populist Farmer Citizen Movement and the centrist New Social Contract party. — with agency inputs