Poll: Timmermans favorite minister, VVD scores big

By Maxime Zech on Monday, 18 August 2014 - 10:45
Minister Timmermans
Minister Timmermans made a big international impact with the way he handled the MH17 tragedy.

Minister Timmermans from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the country's favorite Cabinet Minister. A poll from Maurice de Hond on Sunday shows that the PvdA-politician gets a 6.1, passing his party-cohort from Finance Jeroen Dijsselbloem. 

Two months ago, the Minister scored a 4.9. De Hond's poll also pushes up Prime Minister Mark Rutte (VVD) from a 4.5 to a 5. De Hond does not give a reason for these shifts, but it is not hard to tie Minister Timmermans' win and Rutte's rise in popularity to their performances after the MH17 tragedy.

Peoples' opinion of the Cabinet on the whole has improved since last August. It is only Minister Ronald Plasterk (PvdA) of Internal Affairs whose popularity has dropped from a 4.4 last year to a 4.2 now. This could be down to a scandal involving the Minister and phone data collection from intelligence service AIVD.

The poll has also given ruling parties VVD and PvdA more seats, with the VVD on 28 seatsh this week, and the PvdA on 15. Two weeks ago, the parties lost a seat a piece. Compared to five weeks ago, the parties now have six seats more with De Hond's poll. The biggest loser in this month is the D66, who loses four seats and is now on 22.

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