Dutch government collapses over immigration policy

The Dutch government collapsed on Friday after failing to reach a deal on restricting immigration, which will trigger new elections in the fall.

The crisis was sparked by a push by Prime Minister Mark Rutte's conservative VVD party to limit the flow of asylum seekers to the Netherlands, which two of his four-party government coalition refused to support.

Rutte has tendered the resignation of all ministers and state secretaries to the king, the government said in a statement.

The king has considered the resignation and asked that the prime minister, ministers and state secretaries continue to carry out the duties they consider necessary to the interests of the country in a caretaker capacity, the statement said.

The king will receive Rutte at Huis ten Bosch Palace to discuss the government's resignation on Saturday.

(CGTN)