The Christian Democrats are losing their social affairs minister Aart Jan de Geus who has been appointed interim secretary general of the OECD in Paris. De Geus was responsible for reorganisation of the invalidity benefit (WAO) and early retirement schemes.

Rumour also has it that economic affairs minister Joop Wijn will return to his old employer ABN Amro following his unexpected announcement yesterday that he is leaving politics. Meanwhile junior environment minister Pieter van Geel is tipped to take the job Wijn didn’t want – parliamentary leader of the Christian Democrats.