Information
Dick Schoof, a 67-year-old senior civil servant and former head of the Dutch intelligence and security service AIVD, is set to become the Prime Minister of the Netherlands. This decision comes as part of a coalition agreement among four political parties: the nationalist Party for Freedom (PVV), the liberal People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), the conservative New Social Contract (NSC), and the populist Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB). The PVV, led by Geert Wilders, emerged as the largest party after November’s election but did not secure enough support to govern by itself.
As part of the coalition deal, Wilders agreed to forfeit the office of Prime Minister and make concessions on some of his more extreme anti-Islam policies, such as a ban on mosques. Schoof, who was once a member of the center-left Labour Party and has held several high-ranking positions in the Dutch government, including head of the Dutch immigration service, was chosen for his expertise on security and migration, two key issues for the coalition partners.
The coalition has already outlined plans for a “strictest-ever asylum regime” with stronger border controls and harsher rules for asylum seekers, potentially putting it in conflict with the European Union. Despite the challenges ahead, Wilders expects the new government to be operational by the end of June, ending the political limbo that has persisted since the November election.
Source: Reuters, dpa
So what
Though it is uncommon for former intelligence professionals to become high-level politicians, it is possible that during such uncertain times in Europe, his former profession may be helpful. Regardless, it is likely that political opposition will use his former position to discredit him, likely calling him untrustworthy and other similar insults.
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