D66 informateur steps down from formation talks over offensive messages about VVD leader

D66 informateur Hans Wijers is stepping down from his position following the revelation that he called VVD leader Dilan Yeşilgöz “that witch from the VVD" in private messages, which were brought to his attention Friday morning by NRC. He announced his decision to the press after holding his first meetings in the position. D66 leader Rob Jetten announced on X that Wijers will not be replaced as informateur. Sybrand Buma, the other informateur, will continue the role alone “so as not to waste time.”

Wijers said in a statement that the messages were “a one-on-one communication” in which he “spontaneously made remarks that you would never make if you thought them through.” The CDA has designated Buma as informateur. Over the next three weeks, the mayor of Leeuwarden will hold talks with Jetten and CDA member Henri Bontenbal regarding the Cabinet formation.

In the Netherlands, an informateur explores potential coalitions following elections. They meet with political parties to identify areas of agreement and disagreement and then advise the king or parliament on the most practical approach to forming a government.

Wijers stated in a press release that the messages were sent “well ahead of the elections.” He had already faced criticism recently for comments he made about the VVD party and its leader, Dilan Yesilgoz-Zegerius, during a gathering on election night.

Wijers said that the government formation process is “too important” to allow his remarks to “distract from the core issues.” The former D66 minister added that publishing the messages could damage his role as an “unbiased informateur.”

Jetten called Wijers’ resignation the “only logical choice.” He described the messages as “not pleasant language” and said it was clear to him that "it had to end." According to Jetten, he and Wijers reached that agreement within a minute.

Yeşilgöz responded to the news by expressing hope that the coalition formation process can “truly get underway now." Yeşilgöz had expressed her intention to meet with Jetten and Bontenbal to discuss the next steps in the coalition formation. For the next few weeks, the two parties will continue their talks alone, but the VVD is expected to join later. “The Dutch deserve a politics that addresses their concerns,” Yeşilgöz wrote on X.

D66 were the largest party in the elections for the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of Dutch parliament. The CDA came third in the elections, behind the PVV.

Since 2000, an average of three informateurs have been appointed for each Cabinet formation. In the last two formations, however, there were four informateurs in each case.