6 months Ago
Prime Minister Dick Schoof presented the Cabinet's resignation at Huis ten Bosch palace at about 4 p.m. Tuesday. The short-lived Cabinet lasted 336 days and was disbanded soon after the resignation. The King will now meet with his permanent advisors, the Vice-President of the Council of State and the Presidents of the two chambers of Parliament.
Cabinet of caretakers and interim successors
The ministers of the continuing coalition parties VVD, NSC and BBB, will temporarily take over the tasks of the ministers of the PVV in the Cabinet. The PVV has lost a former Economic Affairs Minister: Dirk Beljaarts is no longer a member of the Czech delegation, because he has stepped down at the request of Geert Wilders. Eelco Heinen, VVD's Finance Minister, will be standing in for Beljaarts.
Deputy Prime Minister from VVD, Sophie Hermans, will take over responsibility for infrastructure and water management, which had been at the hands of Barry Madlener and Chris Jansen. Hermans will already take care of the climate and green growth portfolio. Minister David van Weel will fill the role of Asylum Minister Marjolein Faber and State Secretary Ingrid Coenradie temporarily. Coenradie is going to leave the PVV, with the intention to remain in the Cabinet. NSC member Judith Uitermark will succeed State Secretary Zsolt Szabó, and MFA Minister Caspar Veldkamp will be taking over from Reinette Klever, Minister for Development Aid.
Uncertainty and Debate Ahead
It is also still unclear whom has been proposed as the replacement of Public Health Minister Fleur Agema and State Secretary Vicky Maeijer. The Tweede Kamer is set to debate with Schoof on Wednesday morning about the collapsed Cabinet. Schoof will provide introductory remarks. There had been an expectation of a debate for weeks but it wasn't officially scheduled until Tuesday afternoon.
Opposition politicians demand more than explanations from Prime Minister Schoof. Frans Timmermans, party leader GroenLinks-PvdA, calls on all four coalition parties to account. Rob Jetten from D66 invited to discuss how and when to organize elections to let citizens speak. Leader Mirjam Bikker (ChristenUnie) is disappointed that the government's work has been brought to a standstill due to the exit of PVV, and wants a clear explanation from the members of the coalition.
