Dutch Labour party leader stands down

The Dutch Labour party announced a sudden change of leader on Friday, just three months ahead of a general election, in what appeared to be the latest sign of increasing alarm inside the established parties at the ascendancy of Geert Wilders, the far-right politician.

Wouter Bos, the former finance minister who precipitated the June election by walking out of a coalition cabinet last month, unexpectedly announced he would step down as leader and not stand as a member of parliament.

Job Cohen, the 62-year-old mayor of Amsterdam, immediately said he would put himself forward to replace Mr Bos, 56. Mr Bos, who said he wanted to spend more time with his family, sought to deflect the impression of a dramatic course change, claiming to have privately discussed a handover of power with Mr Cohen over the last two years (...)