Henk Vermeer cites "secret talks" with Markuszower as reason for dropping Mona Keijzer

BBB lawmaker Henk Vermeer said Tuesday that trust in Mona Keijzer had been irreparably damaged after she left the party the previous day. In an interview with De Telegraaf, Keijzer referred to a “major breakdown in trust,” arguing that Vermeer had been chosen to succeed departing party leader Caroline van der Plas instead of her. Vermeer, for his part, claimed Keijzer conducted several talks with former PVV member Gidi Markuszower without the party’s approval.

Vermeer informed reporters that the three other MPs had unanimously chosen him as leader of the parliamentary group on Tuesday morning. Keijzer has reacted angrily, saying she had been assured she would take on the role. Vermeer acknowledged that the faction’s decision must have been deeply disappointing for her and that it likely came as a painful surprise.

Vermeer disputes Keijzer’s version of events. According to him, the caucus agreed the day after the late-October elections that it would make sense for Keijzer, as second on the party list, to become parliamentary leader should Van der Plas resign. However, he said that developments since then have eroded that confidence.

Vermeer said Keijzer’s exit did not come as a shock, noting her long history with the CDA and claiming she had repeatedly hinted at stepping down. In his view, the party leadership did not make a mistake by recruiting her as its prime ministerial candidate in 2023. He described her as a vote-winner who brought significant governing experience to the table.

Vermeer accused Keijzer of conducting secret meetings with the Markuszower Group. While the BBB faction had discussed potential collaboration following the split of seven MPs from the PVV, Vermeer stressed that this never included forming a joint parliamentary group, calling such a move “an attempt to take over the BBB.”

Vermeer expressed his disappointment with the current situation. “I find this entirely unacceptable,” he said, adding that it undermines confidence in both the party and politics. Some prominent BBB members have opposed his appointment. “I see signs of discontent,” he noted.

Still, Vermeer does not anticipate further departures from the party and says he has received “substantial support” for taking on the role. In the last general election, he received 3,469 preference votes compared with Keijzer’s 111,839.