who will be the new prime minister?

#prime #minister
ANP

• Nynke de Zoeten

  political reporter Nieuwsuur

• Peter Winterman

  political reporter Nieuwsuur

• Nynke de Zoeten

  political reporter Nieuwsuur

• Peter Winterman

  political reporter Nieuwsuur

The formation will enter the ‘final week’ tomorrow, but it is still a mystery to those involved at the negotiating table who should become the new Prime Minister. The ball is in Geert Wilders’s court to put forward a candidate, but for the time being he is keeping his cards close to his chest.

This is causing nerves in the VVD, sources within the formation say News hour. That party does not want the PVV leader to come up with a candidate at the last minute.

This happened earlier when Wilders chose scouts and informants. Within the VVD faction there is a desire to hear who the intended prime minister is during the internal discussion of the main lines agreement, so that this can be taken into account in the assessment.

In any case, Wilders himself is certain not the prime minister will be, just like the other leaders of the negotiating parties: Dilan Yesilgöz (VVD), Pieter Omtzigt (NSC) and Caroline van der Plas (BBB). That was already agreed in March.

It is unclear whether Wilders already has someone in mind. One person involved in the formation speaks of “Geert Wilders’ best-kept secret”.

Behind the scenes, the option was also discussed that the prime ministerial candidate would be approached on behalf of all four parties, and not just by Wilders. This way it may be more attractive for a candidate to say yes.

Keijzer, Agema and Hermans may be ministers

This method is also seen as an opportunity to recruit ministers and state secretaries. Although the PVV, VVD, NSC and BBB have not yet reached an agreement on the content, the parties are already thinking about which ministers should soon be on the platform.

For example, BBB would like to put MP Mona Keijzer forward as minister and deputy prime minister. Five months after her installation, she has still not furnished her office in the House of Representatives, because she expects to move to a ministry soon.

MPs Fleur Agema (PVV), Eelco Heinen (VVD), Sophie Hermans (VVD), Eddy van Hijum (NSC) and Nicolien van Vroonhoven (NSC) may also make the switch to the cabinet, it sounds in The Hague.

Hague ministers or not?

Some forming parties doubt whether it is wise to have half of the ministers come from outside politics. That was in March advice from ex-informer Kim Putters, and earlier NSC leader Pieter Omtzigt also hammered on experts who do not come from The Hague politics.

But VVD and BBB are concerned that outsiders may not be able to form majorities because they do not know their way around parliament and ministries.

However, the 50 percent ‘quota’ can be achieved if the PVV and NSC bring in relatively more outsiders. After all, the pond to fish for is small for Wilders: his party has no members and he surrounds himself with few confidants.

Veterans Teeven and Remkes

Wilders may be looking at (former) politicians with a decidedly right-wing profile, such as Fred Teeven (VVD) and Marco Pastors (JA21). Teeven was State Secretary for Justice between 2010 and 2015. In November, Wilders asked Teeven if he wanted to become a scout. But not all parties thought that was a good plan and ultimately the choice fell on Ronald Plasterk.

ANP Former State Secretary Fred Teeven.

Other names circulating in The Hague as ministers are those of Jacco Vonhof (MKB Nederland) and former employer leader Hans Biesheuvel. The current informant Elbert Dijkgraaf (SGP) is also a possible candidate, although when asked he says he would ‘rather not’.

The name of VVD celebrity Johan Remkes has been mentioned as a potential prime minister for some time. In response, the former minister said: “I am a retiree in Groningen and I intend to remain so.”

The name carousel is in full swing behind the scenes, but agreement must first be reached on an outline agreement for a ‘program cabinet’. And the question remains whether that will work. In recent weeks it has become clear that themes such as: migration in finance it is far from a done deal that the parties will find an agreement.