Dutch caretaker government scraps partial lockdown as infections mount
Following its European counterparts, the Dutch government has implemented the first stage of its easing of social-distancing restrictions, starting on April 28. The government took this reckless measure even though it is still a caretaker government, the Dutch bourgeois parties having failed to form a government since elections in March.
“We are of course glad that this is possible again, because society yearns for more freedom,” said Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
Guests queue, bottom, to take their seats at spaced out terrace tables in Utrecht, Netherlands, Wednesday, April 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
Prime Minister Mark Rutte set to carry Dutch general elections by default
Tomorrow, general elections will take place in the Netherlands for the general public. The elections are spread out over three days to reduce social contacts, and voting is currently proceeding for voters diagnosed as vulnerable to COVID-19. The elderly above 70 years old have been encouraged to vote by mail, and voting began yesterday for voters diagnosed as vulnerable to COVID-19.
Voting form of the Dutch elections in 2017 (Sebastiaan ter Burg/ Creative Commons)
Internal Affairs Minister Kajsa Ollongren, of the Liberal D66 party, told the news media that should the curfew be extended, it would not be enforced on election days. Ballot offices are open until 9:00 p.m.
The Turkish Generals In The Azerbaijani Army Analysts are assessing the results of the most important military conflict of recent times, the Azeri victory in Nagorno-Karabakh. They are paying special attention to the role of the Turkish military, including their operation of drones. Who were the Turkish generals that led the successful offensive of the Azerbaijani army and what the Azerbaijani military are dissatisfied with – the VZGLYAD newspaper investigates. Several days ago, in the midst of Azerbaijan s offensive operation in Karabakh, a number of Russian and Azerbaijani publications reported the dismissal and even arrest of the First Deputy Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan and Chief of General Staff Colonel General Najmeddin Sadigov. He was charged with treason and cooperation with the Russian military intelligence service. It was additionally stated that the general opposed the Turkish dominance in the leadership of the Azerbaijani armed forces.