On 15 January 2021, Prime Minister Mark Rutte tendered to the King the resignation of all the government ministers and state secretaries.
Because of the government’s caretaker status, the 2022 budget focuses on implementing existing policy. But a number of issues are so pressing that steps need to be taken now. The government has decided to invest heavily in climate action, the housing market and the rule of law. These are big issues that cannot be resolved within the lifetime of one government. Investment is possible because the economy is in good shape despite the COVID-19 pandemic. It is up to a new government to formulate a more detailed response to these and other issues.