Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte will remain in the position in a caretaker capacity until a new government is formed after elections on Nov 22.
“Such a role would be interesting as it would offer the chance to contribute for a few years on the international stage in a period of dramatic global changes,” Rutte said in an interview with radio station Den Haag FM. Rutte, who unexpectedly announced his departure from Dutch politics in July soon after handing in the resignation of his fourth cabinet, said he did not know if he was considered a frontrunner for the role as head of Nato and would not start a personal campaign.His term was extended in July for a fourth time, as the alliance’s 31 member countries opted to stick with an experienced leader rather than try to agree on a successor with Russia’s war in Ukraine raging on Nato’s doorstep.
Some Nato governments had signalled that they thought it was time Nato had its first female secretary-general but no candidate emerged to garner the necessary consensus.