This was agreed on Monday during the founding meeting of the new cabinet by future Prime Minister Dick Schoof and the ministers of PVV, VVD, NSC and BBB, writes trainer Richard van Zwol in his final report on the formation of the cabinet.
In practice, this means that the government programme must be finalised by 17 September. The previously drawn up framework agreement will serve as a basis for the plans, but it still needs to be worked out.
Busy summer
For most ministers, this means they will have a very busy summer ahead. For example, Mona Keijers (BBB), the incoming Housing Minister, will have to work with her officials to consider how she can ensure that the target number of 100,000 new-build homes per year can be met over the next four years.
And in the Ministry of Defense, Ruben Brekelmans (VVD) and Gijs Tuinman (BBB) will have to give substance to the cabinet’s intention to play a “driving role” in “supporting Ukraine politically, militarily, financially and morally.” against Russia.” assault’.
During their recent meeting with the House of Representatives, the ministers admitted that such intentions also raise dilemmas and discussions within the Defence Department. Brekelmans mentioned air defence as an example. “It would like to provide maximum support to Ukraine, but it also has to defend its own territory.”
‘Responsible cuts’
The Ministry of Finance will also have to make decisions on the previously announced cuts. For example, the incoming cabinet wants to reduce the civil service by 22 percent and, among other things, 25,000 full-time employees would have to be cut.
This single intention recently provoked considerable criticism in Parliament from Eelco Heinen, the future Minister of Finance. For example, Christian Union MP Pieter Grinwis expressed concern that the incoming cabinet “seems to want to fire more officials than there are.” Diplomats greatly feared that many embassies would have to close.
Some of that fear now seems unfounded. The incoming cabinet indicated Monday that cuts to civil servants will be accounted for “in a responsible and realistic manner.” In addition, “special attention” will be paid to “the importance of an adequate missionary network.”
Where the most money will be saved is still unknown. The national budget is drafted simultaneously with the government programme, so that both crucial documents can be presented before Budget Day.
Pleasant atmosphere
Despite the expected crowds, the proposed ministers are looking forward to their new role, they said Monday at the official founding meeting of their new cabinet. Fleur Agema, who will be Minister of Health and Deputy Prime Minister on behalf of the PVV, said she was “very proud.” She hopes this will be the most right-wing cabinet ever. “I assure you with a warm social heart.”
Her PVV colleagues, Marjolein Faber (Asylum and Migration) and Reinette Klever (Development Aid), no longer wanted to look back at the “repopulation theory” that they previously seemed to support, but which they say they have renounced as ministers. Faber: “I don’t look back, I look forward.”
The future Minister of Justice, David van Weel (VVD), considered that a “good and constructive atmosphere” reigned at the founding meeting. He had never met many of his fellow ministers. “It’s mostly about getting to know each other.” During the meeting, the distribution of tasks between the ministers was also agreed upon and they expressed their support for the previously signed outline agreement.
The ministers will officially take the oath before the king on Tuesday morning. The traditional landing photograph is then taken. Around noon, outgoing Prime Minister Rutte will formally hand over the gavel to his successor, Dick Schoof. “Only then will we truly be ministers,” said the new prime minister.
Several ministers left business interests aside
Several future ministers have had to put aside their business interests in recent weeks in order to be able to work permanently as ministers or secretaries of state, trainer Van Zwol announced on Monday. It is the first time that the economic activities of ministers have been made public before assuming their positions.
For example, it appears that several ministerial candidates own several (vacation) houses that will no longer be rented out. Like PVV members Dirk Beljaarts, future Minister of the Economy (two houses in the Netherlands), Reinette Klever, future Minister of Development Aid (two holiday houses, one in Switzerland and one in the Netherlands) and Marjolein Faber, the future Minister of Development Aid (two holiday homes, one in Switzerland and one in the Netherlands) Minister of Asylum and Migration (one home in the USA).
In addition, Faber and his party colleague Vicky Maeijer (Long Term Care) have promised that they will not negotiate their shares until they have spent at least six months as ministers. Other ministers have placed their companies in foundations, so that they temporarily no longer have control over them. They are VVD member Vincent Karremans (Youth, Prevention and Sport), BBB member Mona Keijzer (Public Housing), NSC member Teun Struycken (Legal Protection) and PVV member Zsolt Szabó (Digitalization).
NSC member Folkert Idsinga (Tax) has the most business interests of all ministers; he deals in shares, rents out property and has his own business. He is suspending all of these activities for the time being.
Several exceptions have been recognized. For example, Maeijer, a member of the PVV, can continue to be a “mother librarian”, Karremans, a member of the VVD, can finish a book, and Struycken, a member of the NSC, can continue teaching religious education.