Thursday, 29 October 2015 - 07:33
Report: Dijksma on deck after Infrastructure Sec's abrupt resignation
Sharon Dijksma, the current State Secretary of Economic Affairs, seems to be the most popular candidate to succeed Wilma Mansveld as State Secretary of Infrastructure and Environment. Mansveld stepped down on Wednesday following the report on the fiasco surrounding high-speed train Fyra.
Dijksma is currently in China on a trade mission with King Willem-Alexander in her role as State Secretary for Economic Affairs. She told broadcaster NOS that she does not want to "speculate" on who will succeed Mansveld and that she thinks it wise that PvdA leader Diederik Samsom is taking his time to make a decision. "This type of decision is made in The Hage, not in China."
The trade mission to China is ending on Thursday and Dijksma will be returning to the Netherlands during the course of the day.
The Hague considers Dijksma experienced, conceptually strong and with knowledge on the policy of infrastructure and environment.
Should Dijksma step up to be the State Secretary of Infrastructure and Environment, it is not clear who will succeed her at Economic Affairs.