Plasterk's bid to replace Dutch PM Rutte "no longer tenable" amid corruption scandal

The prospect of Ronald Plasterk leading the Dutch Cabinet as the next prime minister was becoming less and less likely amid increasing pressure related to a scandal involving the former interior minister. Plasterk's candidacy to become prime minister is "no longer tenable," sources close to the new PVV, VVD, NSC and BBB political coalition told broadcaster NOS. At best, the scandal casts a dark shadow on Plasterk's management of the patent process involving a new cancer treatment. At worst, Plasterk could potentially face claims of scientific fraud that led to him enriching himself.

Aside from more recent reporting about the row between Plasterk and NSC leader Pieter Omtzigt, the science research scandal already surfaced weeks ago in an article written by NRC. Since then, the newspaper has written several follow-up pieces that call into question Plasterk's decisions regarding the patent. The current phase is "the highest alarm level," sources told NOS.

Plasterk, a microbiologist and politician, reportedly earned millions of euros on a patent for which he claimed sole credit. The patient application filed in the Untied States could soon be granted, but it could highlight mistakes made during the procedure. This could refer the patent worthless, which could then trigger lawsuits filed against Plasterk by various stakeholders, patent expert Koos Rasser told NRC.

The research is connected to Plasterk's time leading the Amsterdam Medical Center (AMC), the teaching hospital of the University of Amsterdam. This was before the hospital was rebranded as the Amsterdam University Medical Center in a partnership with the Vrije Universiteit. Plasterk grew wealthier from the patents associated with the therapy, but neither the hospital nor the researcher involved, oncology professor Kees Punt, benefitted from the arrangement.

After Plasterk printed a brief, one-paragraph public apology to Pieter Omtzigt in the Telegraaf on Friday for maligning the NSC leader in Parliament, Punt sent a direct message to Plasterk over their argument about the patent. Sources told NOS suggested Punt write a new letter of apology, along the lines of, "Sorry for my lack of integrity, I should not have used data from fellow scientists without involving them."

Plasterk told NRC that his former colleague's allegations were without merit. Punt was the head of oncology at Amsterdam University Medical Center and the AMC when Plasterk was working there.

The problems for Plasterk do not end there, as attorney Henri Sarolea told NRC that there were inaccurate accounting details for Plasterk's company involved in the patient application. Sarolea has decided to try to press charges against Plasterk for forgery. Again, Plasterk denied the allegation of any intentional wrongdoing.

The Amsterdam University Medical Center said last week it was investigating the matter, though it was not clear if this was going to be carried out independently of both parties. "But when more is known, we will report it," the hospital told NOS.

Plasterk's scientific ethics issue surfaced in April, two months after he said Omtzigt acted inappropriately by walking out of Cabinet formation negotiations in February. Plasterk then complained that Omtzigt used Plasterk's car and driver to drive to a group of journalists to explain why.

Despite both issues, PVV leader Geert Wilders was rumored to favour Plasterk as a prime minister candidate. Plasterk has been a member of the PvdA, the Dutch Labour party, for more than 45 years. He also served as a Cabinet member under Jan Peter Balkenende.

Under the circumstances, Plasterk would be wise to fall on his sword and say he is not interested in the prime minister job, sources told NOS. Neither Wilders nor the PVV commented on the record about the matter. As the leader of the largest party in the coalition, Wilders has first crack at naming a future prime minister. Without unanimous agreement on Plasterk, the PVV, VVD, NSC and BBB coalition has already started on shaky ground.

Normally, the future prime minister would first be nominated as a formateur to research and vet potential Cabinet ministers and state secretaries. This individual would then create a shortlist. Without a prime minister candidate, the formateur will be Richard van Zwol, who helped lead the last round of Cabinet negotiations. However, he has made it clear he does not want to take Mark Rutte's job.

Without knowing who will lead the Cabinet, it seems questionable that Van Zwol would be able to have serious conversations with potential Cabinet members, since the most viable candidates would want to first know the name of the prime minister, said NOS.