Opposition fiercely criticize new Dutch PM for "weak" response to far-right intolerance

Prime Minister Dick Schoof immediately faced fierce criticism from opposition parties in his first parliamentary debate on Thursday. GroenLinks-PvdA, D66, DENK, and others found his responses to intolerant and controversial statements made by PVV Ministers insufficient and “weak.”

The opposition parties wanted the new Prime Minister to emphatically distance himself from the repopulation conspiracy theory linked to Ministers Marjolein Faber (Asylum and Migration) and Reinette Klever (Foreign Trade and Development Aid), both from the far-right nationalist PVV. “There are two Cabinet members who propagate racist conspiracy theories,” said D66 leader Rob Jetten.

But Schoof would go no further than to say he has every confidence in the members of his Cabinet and that everyone signed the rule of law declaration and the coalition agreement. “I am sure that all members of the Cabinet are not racist and do not subscribe to population theories,” he said, after being pressed about those Cabinet member who believe in the Great Replacement theory and similar ideas.

DENK leader Stephan van Baarle called that “weak” and asked the Prime Minister whether this would be the norm in his government term. Schoof responded, “Racism, conspiracy theories, and discrimination will not be the norm in this Cabinet.”

After being sworn in earlier this week, Faber and Fleur Agema (Public Health) told RTL Nieuws that they are not in favor of headscarves and would prefer that Muslim women take them off and taste freedom. GroenLinks-PvdA leader Frans Timmermans and DENK leader Van Baarle wanted to know whether Schoof had discussed this with the PVV Ministers.

Again, he said that he was sure his Ministers weren’t racist.

D66 leader Jetten referred to a recent social media post by Faber in which she called parliamentarian Esmah Lahlah a “PvdA-headscarf.” Jetten invited the Prime Minister to look Lahlah in the eye and distance himself from that statement.

Schoof turned to the parliamentarian and said: “The fact that you are wearing a headscarf makes no difference to me. You are a human being to me.”

Lahlah said that the PVV Minister’s statement impacted her. Wearing a headscarf is her own choice and one she made freely, she said in a vociferous message a out personal liberty.

“For all the girls who wear a headscarf and feel touched by what is happening here, don’t be fooled. It is your choice, and you can achieve anything you want,” the parliamentarian said. Her statement was met by loud applause from the Tweede Kamer, and she stepped out of the room in tears. She returned some time later.

Remarkably, Schoof also received criticism from Geert Wilders, leader of the PVV - the largest party in the coalition. Wilders was upset that Schoof did not immediately distance himself from PvdD MP Esther Ouwehand’s statement that there are two racists in the Cabinet. He is disappointed that Schoof did not become angry and say that there are no racists in his Cabinet.

Schoof reiterated that he has confidence in all members of his Cabinet.