As PM, Dick Schoof says he will represent all Dutch people, but he won't join PVV
Long-time security and counter-terrorism official Dick Schoof confirmed rumors on Tuesday, and acknowledged that he has been asked to be the next leader of the Netherlands. He said repeatedly during a press conference that he intends to be a leader for the entire country, and he will remain "partyless" and will not join a political party. Traditionally, the prime minister is chosen as a member of the largest party in a coalition, which is the far-right PVV led by Geert Wilders, but Schoof said he will not be dragged to an extremist stance.
Schoof could take office as early as June 26, the soft deadline set by the formateur leading the formation of the Cabinet, Richard van Zwol. Schoof was a member of the PvdA for many years, but recently resigned from the left-wing Dutch Labour party. He will represent the new right-wing coalition consisting of the PVV, the VVD, the party of current Prime Minister Mark Rutte, and two political newcomers, the BBB and NSC.
"For me, this is a very intense moment. I never would have expected to be asked; to stand here is an honor. It's very special, and I'm well-aware that the prime minister of the Netherlands is an intense job," he said during the press conference.
He rejected the premise that he could wind up in a power struggle with Wilders, who had to give up his own dream of becoming prime minister when it was clear that was a roadblock to the formation of a new Cabinet. "There is only one prime minister and only one leader of the PVV." He noted that VVD leader Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius, the current Minister of Justice and Security, also wanted the job. Instead, she will take a seat leading the VVD from the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of Parliament. Wilders will also remain there, as will BBB leader Caroline van der Plas and NSC leader Pieter Omtzigt.
Schoof acknowledged many others were surprised that he would be asked to take the job. "I thought about this intensely," he said, including deep conversations with his family about the job offer. He expressed his appreciation for the coalition agreement put forward by the four parties, saying it is "an excellent program for all Dutch people."
He noted that it is "ambitious," and said that he shared the concerns of immigration, asylum and refugee issues, social security, the standing of all citizens "including farmers," and international security. The new right-wing coalition presented their “main lines agreement” after 175 days of talks.
Voters are generally satisfied with the coalition agreement but have concerns about the upcoming Cabinet’s ability to implement it. Opposition parties are very critical of the agreement, describing it as “disastrous” and filled with fantasies.
The agreement includes plans to sharply reduce the number of people seeking asylum in the Netherlands, tackle the housing shortage, and improve the business climate, among other things. These plans will be paid for through various tax hikes and budget cuts, including raising the VAT on books, concerts, and sporting event tickets from 9 to 21 percent.
Schoof is currently the highest official at the Ministry of Justice security and previously led the intelligence service AIVD, counter-terrorism agency NCTV, and immigration service IND. That gives him experience in two of the spearheads in the right-wing coalition's “main lines agreement” - implementing the “strictest asylum policy yet” and upping the fight against organized crime.
The Tweede Kamer gave Van Zwol five weeks to select Ministers and State Secretaries for the four right-wing parties’ extra-parliamentary Cabinet. The parties agreed that about half of the Cabinet members would not be politicians from the coalition parties but experts from the field. He has just over four weeks left to form this Cabinet.
It was an open secret that PVV leader Geert Wilders wanted to nominate Ronald Plasterk (PvdA) to be Prime Minister, but Plasterk made himself unavailable due to allegations of patent fraud against him. The PVV, VVD, NSC, and BBB leaders have been discussing possible candidates for the job with formateur Richard van Zwol since last week.
