The prime minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, has announced his resignation after a shocking revelation that he did not pay his fare for a tram ride in The Hague. The scandal, dubbed “Tramgate” by the media, has sparked outrage among the Dutch public, who demand accountability and transparency from their leaders.
Rutte, who has been in power since 2010, admitted that he forgot to scan his OV-chipkaart, a smart card used for public transport in the Netherlands, when he boarded the tram on his way to a meeting. He said he was distracted by a phone call and did not notice the fare gates.
“I deeply regret this mistake and I apologize to the Dutch people for breaking the law and violating their trust,” Rutte said in a televised statement. “I have decided to resign as prime minister and leader of the VVD party, effective immediately.”
Rutte’s resignation has triggered a political crisis in the Netherlands, as his coalition partners scramble to form a new government. The opposition parties have called for new elections, saying that Rutte’s transport scandal is a symptom of a larger problem of corruption and mismanagement in his administration.