D66 leader Pechtold will not be Minister in new gov't

D66 leader Alexander Pechtold will not be a Minister in the new Dutch government, he confirmed to RTL Nieuws. He is staying as D66 leader in the Tweede Kamer, because that is better for "the stability of the new coalition" and being party leader in parliament gives him a bit more room on the home front, he said.

Pechtold also said that he might like to be a Minister or mayor in the future, and at age 51 he has all the time in the world. Pechtold previously served as mayor of Wageningen and minister of Government Renewal and Kingdom Relations. During that time he did not see his children much, he said, according to the broadcaster.

ChristenUnie leader Gert-Jan Segers previously stated that he will remain in the Tweede Kamer. VVD leader Mark Rutte is set to be Prime Minister again. It is not yet clear what CDA leader Sybrand Buma will do.