Junior defence minister Jack de Vries resigned on Friday afternoon following revelations he is having an affair with a defence ministry aide.

De Vries, an important Christian Democrat spin doctor, is also withdrawing from the CDA’s list of potential MPs for the June 9 general election.
‘I have reached this decision partly due to the continuing pressure of publicity,’ De Vries said in a short statement. ‘This is leading to unfair pressure on those close to me.’
De Vries said he took full responsibility for his actions.
News of the affair leaked out at the beginning of this week.
Prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende said he fully respected De Vries’ ‘difficult and far-reaching’ decision. And he thanked the former minister for his work for both the defence ministry and the CDA.
Defence minsiter Eimert van Middelkoop said the decision was ‘painful but sensible’.
De Vries, 41, is married and has two sons.
Sex scandals are rare in Dutch politics. The affair is particularly embarassing for the CDA which regards the family as the cornerstone of society.