VVD leader Dilan Yeşilgöz to become Minister of Defense and Deputy Prime Minister

VVD leader Dilan Yeşilgöz has announced in the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of Dutch parliament, that she is leaving her party’s parliamentary group to take up the roles of Minister of Defense and Deputy Prime Minister in the new Cabinet. Current caretaker Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans is under consideration to succeed her as parliamentary group leader, though Yeşilgöz emphasized that the decision rests with the group itself.

Yeşilgöz stressed that she will continue as party leader and believes that this can be effectively balanced with her new position as Minister of Defense. She had long been mentioned as a candidate for the Defense portfolio. Under Mark Rutte’s last Cabinet, she was Minister of Justice and Security, having previously served as State Secretary for Economic Affairs.

Yeşilgöz stated that Brekelmans is keen to take on the role of parliamentary group leader. “We talked about it together, and he is very ambitious to lead the group,” she said, adding that “ambitions and transitions are aligning.”

Brekelmans says he is stepping away from Defense reluctantly, having hoped to stay on at the ministry. “It was a great honor to help strengthen our armed forces at such a critical moment,” he said. He is keen to return to parliament, where he previously served as spokesperson for foreign affairs and asylum.

The VVD is putting forward only sitting ministers and members of the Tweede Kamer for roles in the new Cabinet. David van Weel, for instance, will return as Minister of Justice and Security, the post he held before transferring to Foreign Affairs last summer.

Vincent Karremans will shift from his role as Minister of Economic Affairs to head the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management. Sophie Hermans is leaving the Ministry of Climate and Green Growth to take up the position of Minister of Health, while current Infrastructure State Secretary Thierry Aartsen will become Minister of Labour and Participation in the incoming Cabinet.

Among the three State Secretaries appointed by the VVD, two are drawn from its parliamentary group. Eric van der Burg, previously State Secretary for Asylum and Migration in the last Rutte Cabinet, will take on a role at the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations. Silvio Erkens is set to join the Ministry of Agriculture, while Judith Tielen will continue as State Secretary, moving from Health to Education.

Sources in The Hague have said that former informateur Rianne Letschert will take up the role of Minister of Education, Culture, and Science for D66, following reports by RTL Nieuws. Letschert, the chair of Maastricht University’s Executive Board, has long been mentioned for the post. Additionally, Judith Tielen will serve as State Secretary at the ministry, the VVD announced.