Dutch election winner Wilders taps ex-spy chief as next premier

DICK Schoof, a top official in the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security, has been selected as the next prime minister by the four parties seeking to form a coalition in the Netherlands.

Dutch election winner Geert Wilders’ Freedom Party, the liberal VVD, the centre-right NSC and the populist Farmer-Citizen Movement announced Schoof as their choice for the top role on Tuesday (May 28).

The rest of the Cabinet needs to be formed before Schoof can formally replace Mark Rutte, the country’s longest-serving premier, in a process that could take weeks.

While Schoof is a seasoned government official, he is not a politician. He has years of experience on topics important to the new government: migration and security.

As a senior government official in the Justice and Security Ministry, he has been in charge of migration policies. He was previously also the head of the Dutch intelligence service and the director of the nation’s immigration department.

Dutch coalition parties seeking to form a government six months after an election agreed on significantly reducing migration, according to a deal presented earlier this month. Schoof was a member of the Labor Party in the past but is no longer affiliated with any political party.

BT in your inbox

Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox.

Sign Up

Sign Up

The policy blueprint underscores the most hard-right shift for the country in decades, as migration tops voters’ concerns in Europe. Nationalist and far-right parties have moved into positions of power throughout the EU, including in Italy and Sweden.

Schoof “has a great track record, is non-partisan and is therefore above the parties,” Wilders said in a post on X on Tuesday. Schoof “has integrity and is also very sympathetic,” he said. The leaders of the other three parties also endorsed the selection of Schoof.

Wilders’ attempts to form a government have faced several setbacks since his surprise election victory in November. The far-right politician was also forced to abandon his bid to become prime minister in order to move talks forward.

SEE ALSO

Amsterdam parking space up for grabs for half-a-million euros

ASML takes step toward major expansion in Eindhoven, Netherlands

The party leaders have agreed to stay out of the next Cabinet, which is expected to include a mix of ministers who are affiliated with political parties, as well as those from different fields. BLOOMBERG