This archive report was first published on 20 July 2020.
As the unofficial head of the 'Frugals' -- the Netherlands, Sweden, Austria, Denmark, and Finland -- Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has become the face of opposition at the EU summit, which has entered its fourth day.
His stance has drawn criticism from Hungarian Premier Viktor Orban, who accused Rutte of personally hating him and holding up a deal. Diplomats from other countries have also expressed their disapproval in private.
Despite the backlash, Rutte remains unrepentant, insisting on stricter rules for the southern EU states that will receive the majority of the funds. He knows that Dutch voters, who will go to the polls next year, expect him to hold firm.
"We're not here to socialize for the rest of our lives -- we're all here to defend the interests of our own countries," Rutte told reporters on Monday.
With the summit on the brink of collapse, Rutte warned that it "may still fail". His position has been shaped by his country's history of Calvinist thriftiness and its reputation as a trading power.
As one of Europe's longest-serving leaders, Rutte has a reputation for being frugal. He cycles to work from his apartment and drives a second-hand Saab. His research fellow, Pepijn Bergsen, describes him as someone who "doesn't really seem to care about material possessions".
Rutte's tough stance on the EU summit echoes his previous behavior during the Greek debt meltdown and EU migration crisis in the 2010s. His critics argue that the Netherlands' tax breaks for multinationals cost the EU billions of euros, while the Dutch benefit from soaring exports to other European countries.
With general elections due in March, Rutte is aware of the need to see off a strong challenge from far-right and eurosceptic parties. He has dismissed the "Mr No" epithet, saying he is focused on working for Dutch interests, which are "clearly linked to a European interest".
July 20, 2020
