The far-right Freedom Party of Geert Wilders has nominated five candidates for ministerial positions in the incoming Dutch government. The coalition government, dominated by Wilders’ PVV party, includes the liberal VVD, conservative NSC, and farmers’ party BBB. The new administration, led by Prime Minister Dick Schoof, is set to take office on June 26. The ministers nominated by the PVV include hardliners on issues such as asylum and migration, foreign trade, and development cooperation.
The PVV candidates include Gidi Markuzower and Reinette Klever for Asylum and Migration and Foreign Trade respectively. Dirk Beljaarts, Barry Madlener, and Fleur Agema will be in charge of the Ministries of Economic Affairs, Infrastructure, and Healthcare. The VVD has nominated candidates for Finance, Justice, Defence, and Climate, with Eelco Heinen, David van Weel, Ruben Brekelmans, and Sophie Hermans set to take on these roles.
Newcomer NSC, founded last year with a conservative agenda, will handle Foreign Affairs, led by Caspar Veldkamp. Other NSC nominees include Judith Uitermark, Eddy van Hijum, and Eppo Bruins for Home Affairs, Social Affairs, and Education respectively. The BBB party, established in 2019, will be responsible for the Agriculture and Nature Ministry, with Femke Wiersma as the nominated minister. Mona Keijzer, a former state secretary, will take on the Housing portfolio.
The incoming administration’s head, Dick Schoof, lacks political experience compared to his predecessor Mark Rutte, who led the country since 2010. The ministers nominated by the parties will need to undergo a confirmation hearing in the national parliament. There are also 13 state secretaries whose names have not all been confirmed yet, and portfolios could change as a result. The new government, which includes a mix of experienced politicians and newcomers, will face important challenges in areas such as asylum and migration, economic affairs, infrastructure, and healthcare.
