Housing minister Stef Blok has been appointed acting head at the security and justice ministry following the resignations of Ivo Opstelten and his deputy Fred Teeven.

Successors to the two ministers, who resigned on Monday evening following revelations about a 4.7 million guilder payment to a drugs baron, will probably not be appointed until after the provincial elections on March 18.

Political commentators say VVD officials plan to take their time to find replacements for the hardline Opstelten and Teeven because it will require a careful balancing act.

Blok, 50, was an MP for the VVD before joining the cabinet after the 2012 general election.