More than seven months after the Dutch election, King Willem-Alexander swore in a new government on Tuesday, marking the first change of prime minister in 14 years.
Dick Schoof, a former head of the Dutch intelligence and counterterrorism service, signed a formal decree at Huis ten Bosch Palace, saying he “declares and undertakes” to fulfill his duties as the country’s prime minister. The 67-year-old Schoof was formally sworn in along with 15 other ministers who make up the country’s right-wing coalition.
Anti-immigration, anti-Islam leader Geert Wilders’ party won the most seats in last year’s election but took 223 days to form a government.
The four parties that make up the coalition are Wilders’ Party for Freedom, the centre-right People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy led by outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte, the populist Farmers and Citizens Movement and the centre-right New Social Contract party. The formal agreement to form the new coalition government is titled “Hope, Courage, Pride” and aims to introduce tougher measures for asylum seekers, end refugee family reunification and reduce the number of international students studying in the country.
Opposition from other coalition partners prevented the controversial Wilders from assuming the prime ministerial position. During months of negotiations, he backed down on some of his most extreme views, including withdrawing proposals banning mosques, Islamic schools and the Quran.
For the first time since World War II, the Netherlands is led by a prime minister who is not affiliated to a political party. Prior to taking over as head of the Dutch intelligence agency, Mr Shoaf served as head of counter-terrorism operations and as director of the Immigration and Naturalisation Service.
