Months more than seven since the election, in which the radical right party made significant gains, a new government has taken office in Holland. On Tuesday, Dutch king Willem-Alexander swore in Dick Schoof, the newly appointed prime minister and 15 other ministers.
Dick Schoof who is replacing Mark Rutte as prime minister was not on the November election ballot, and he is without any political affiliation having previously been head of Dutch intelligence.
By forming this right-leaning coalition government, a 14-year reign by the outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte comes to an end. The swearing-in marked the official transfer of power and initiation into another chapter of this country’s politics.
Last year’s coalition negotiations were led by Geert Wilders’ Party for Freedom which secured most seats; they lasted for 223 days. Although his partners objected thus he failed to be premier, his party’s impact is clear from its policies that are now supported by the new administration. The coalition also comprises Farmer Citizen Movement, a populist party. Whose ideology contradict with PvdA’s social democracy and VVD People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy that is considered to be center-right.
Called “Hope courage pride”, the coalition agreement introduces stringent measures on asylum seekers such as elimination of family reunification refugees and reducing foreign students number in Netherlands. These measures have already faced criticism within the coalition itself and from opposition groups.
Even though Wilders had pro-Russia expressions at one time or another before; new defense minister. Ruben Brekelmans together with the new government said it remains committed to Ukraine. Besides Schoof indicated that “The greatest threat is from east. And I might be more worried about it than most.”
Politically youth organizations are already challenging the immigration policy through several moves by some political parties like two coalition partners. New Social Contract included a softer approach towards asylum plans’. Eva Brandemann is Chairperson of New Social Contracts Youth wing also said. “We must receive people here fairly and with dignity, even though the influx must be limited”.
There is also a proposal in the coalition agreement that cuts almost 1 billion euros from the country’s education budget. This has been received with resistance from universities. Professor Nivja de Jong from Leiden University said that this will compromise students’ quality of learning. She and other lecturers are organizing talks to emphasize the value of their work after those budget cuts were made.
The coalition agreement will be converted into a full-fledged governing plan by the government for the rest of summer.
