Dutch FM flies home to discuss future of austerity

[April 23, 2012]  AMSTERDAM (AP) -- The Dutch finance minister has flown home early from an International Monetary Fund meeting to discuss the future of austerity measures torpedoed by euro-skeptic lawmakers and to reassure rating agencies he wants to put his country's budget back on track.

Jan Kees de Jager arrived home Sunday saying he still plans to submit a 2013 budget to the European Union by April 30, despite a political crisis that is widely expected to force the Dutch government to resign in coming days.

De Jager tells Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf that the AAA-rated country has a reputation for fiscal prudence and discipline and he wants to keep it that way.

De Jager says he is repeating that message "to everyone, including the rating bureaus."

[Associated Press]

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