New Right-Wing Nationalist Government Assumes Power in the Netherlands

The new Dutch government, led by technocrat Dick Schoof, officially took office after 223 days of negotiations following the elections on November 22. The government is comprised of 15 ministers from four different parties, with the right-wing PVV controlling five ministries.

During the inauguration ceremony inside Huis ten Bosch Palace in The Hague, ministers and state secretaries were sworn into their new roles by King Willem-Alexander. This marked the first time the monarch oversaw a government inauguration that wasn’t led by liberal Mark Rutte. Rutte handed the key to his office over to Schoof after the ceremony.

The coalition government includes the PVV, VVD, NSC, and BBB parties. Only the VVD has previous government experience, while the other parties are relatively new. Geert Wilders’ PVV, founded in 2006, secured a significant role in the government despite relinquishing the opportunity to personally lead it due to certain conditions set by his partners.

Schoof, with an extensive background in law enforcement and intelligence, was elected Prime Minister unanimously. The government pact outlines some of the main areas of focus for the new legislature, including migration, housing, emissions, and resolving ongoing issues inherited from Rutte’s administration.

Schoof expressed his commitment to creating a safe and fair Netherlands with social protection for all, emphasizing the importance of controlling migration, maintaining dialogue, making decisions, and being transparent about them. The specifics of the government’s policies are still to be developed by the new ministers.