Dutch Senate wants explanation for double-ministers in new gov't

The Eerste Kamer, the Dutch Senate, wants clarification from Prime Minister Mark Rutte about his plan to put two ministers at the head of the same ministry in the Rutte III government. In a letter on Wednesday, Senate President Ankie Broekers-Knol (VVD) wrote that appointing more than one person as head of a Ministry is against the Constitution, ANP reports.

Broekers-Knol wants to know exactly who will be in charge of the affected Ministries in the coming cabinet period. "Constitutionally it is important that it is clear which of the two ministers of the three named ministries is responsible for the ministry", she wrote.

The Rutte III government released its list of Ministers over the weekend. The government plans to have two Ministers in three Ministries - the Ministry of Justice and Security, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and the Ministry of Public Health, Welfare and Sports.