More potential ministers – Sander Dekker gets justice, says the Telegraaf

More names of potential ministers are circulating in the Dutch media on Wednesday morning, a week ahead of the formal presentation of the new cabinet.

The new government will consist of 16 ministers plus eight junior ministers and prime minister Mark Rutte aims to present the new line-up on October 26.

According to the Telegraaf, the current junior education minister Sander Dekker (VVD) is set to become justice minister while Carola Schouten, who was closely involved in the coalition agreement talks for ChristenUnie, will get the newly created job of agriculture minister.

Agriculture is also likely to become a separate ministry – expanding the total number to 12, the paper said. Agriculture is currently part of economic affairs.

Broadcaster NOS says its sources have confirmed that Rotterdam alderman Hugo de Jong will become health minister, with special responsibility for long-term care services. He is also the CDA’s candidate for deputy prime minister, the broadcaster said.

The new defence minister will be CDA stalwart Ank Bijleveld, who is currently king’s commissioner in Overijssel.

Amsterdam

The first names of the four D66 ministers are also emerging. According to the Parool, Amsterdam alderman and deputy mayor Kasja Ollongren will get the home affairs job, and be D66’s deputy prime minister.

D66 MP Wouter Koolmees is tipped for social affairs and D66 will also get the position of aid minister, NOS says. Talks between potential ministers and party leader Alexander Pechtold are set to start on Wednesday.

Earlier it emerged that VVD parliamentary party leader Halbe Zijlstra will get the foreign affairs job, Eric Wiebes, currently tax minister, will get economic affairs and climate, while CDA senator Wopke Hoestra will take over at finance.