Mark Rutte has been prime minister for just two weeks now, but you wouldn't know it from watching him. Speaking to the press after the weekly cabinet meeting, fielding criticism in parliament or taking his place among other EU leaders in Brussels - he is relaxed, authoritative and sharp.

Everybody loves Mark
Even his political opponents are singing his praises. Alexander Pechtold is the leader of the Democrat 66 party.
 

"After all these years of only getting clarity after asking eight or nine questions - you now get it straightaway, the only thing is you don't get what you want.

Green Left leader Femke Halsema agrees. "However you look at it, a prime minister who actually answers questions is a breath of fresh air."
  
Rutte's clarity is even more striking when compared to his predecessor. Jan Peter Balkenende, the Christian Democrat who led the country for the past eight years, was anything but straightforward and often read his jargon-laden speeches in a monotone.
 
Controversy
After Balkenende’s example, perhaps it isn’t difficult to seem straightforward but even so, the praise for Mark Rutte is remarkable. Many consider his government to be the most right wing in Dutch history. His cabinet controls a minority of seats in parliament, and relies on the populist anti-Islam Freedom Party of Geert Wilders. Plus, he has presented a budget full of unpopular cuts.
 
It is no surprise, then, that Mr Rutte himself was pleased with the good reception he found in parliament.
 

"That is nicer than critique, of course, that's logical. But I thought the give and take went well. We had some fundamental differences, it was at times a tough debate, but it was always about the content, it did not get personal."

 
Danger lurking
Rutte's performance won him praise from many commentators, as well. He was awarded the Socrates prize for best debater during the two days in parliament. But his openness could backfire.
 
Andre Krouwel is a political scientist at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam. He, too, likes Rutte's style. But he says the prime minister may be forced to change.
 
"If you remain this clear and outspoken, of course you are bound to end up with problems in politics. Because politics is about not always being direct and keeping your options open. So although many people find it a relief that he's so outspoken, it's also a political danger."
 
Rutte has skirted danger twice now as a direct consequence of his openness. In parliament, he was a bit too honest on the question of double passport holders. One of his deputy ministers has a Swedish passport, in addition to her Dutch one. No problem, says Rutte. But in the case of potential cabinet members with a second passport from Turkey or Morocco, it would have been 'a point of discussion'.
 
The new prime minister had to quickly modify that viewpoint.
 
Not long after, speaking in Brussels before the summit of EU leaders, Mr Rutte called the idea that the EU budget would expand next year 'nuts'. But within just a few hours, he supported a proposal to increase the EU budget after all.
 
Unscathed
And yet, neither of these incidents seem to have damaged Mr Rutte. Indeed, he may be able to play a major role in a European Union now dominated by governments on the right.
 
But despite having already assumed the aura of prime minister in just two weeks, Mark Rutte still has a learning curve. After a few more such candid remarks, we may start hearing the more familiar diplomatic fog. Let's enjoy the clarity while it lasts.