DutchNews.nl - DutchNews.nl brings daily news from The Netherlands in English

22 May 2025
Newsletter Donate Advertise
  • News
  • Life in the Netherlands
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
  • Search
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Art and culture
  • Sport
  • Europe
  • Society
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Housing
  • Education
  • News
    • Home
    • Economy
    • Art and culture
    • Sport
    • Europe
    • Society
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
    • Education
  • Life in the Netherlands
    • Latest
    • Opinion
    • Books
    • Travel
    • 10 Questions
    • Learning Dutch
    • Inburgering with DN
    • Food & Drink
    • Ask us anything
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
    • Team
    • Donate
    • Advertise
    • Writing for Dutch News
    • Contact us
    • Privacy
    • Newsletter
  • Search

With Plasterk gone, who is next in line as Dutch prime minister?

May 21, 2024
The Dutch parliamentary complex. Photo: DutchNews.nl

The decision by Ronald Plasterk to drop his hopes of becoming prime minister has raised many questions about who might now be nominated by far-right leader Geert Wilders.

Plasterk, who had not been formally nominated for the role, pulled out because he is the subject of an investigation into a patent that made him millions. His decision has now left commentators wondering if there is a plan B.

Wilders and the other three leaders of the new coalition parties have all agreed to remain in parliament – a move seen as a sop to Wilders who could not muster enough support among his coalition partners to take on the role as PM.

However, the lack of alternatives highlights the fact that the PVV has no formal party structure, no members and no pool of possible candidates.

Some names have been suggested, including Kim Putters, like Plasterk a Labour supporter, who also helped steer the coalition negotiations and is thought to be a favourite of the NSC. 

Another possible candidate, according to the AD, would be Steven van Eijck who was a junior finance minister years ago and has since held a string of public sector jobs. Like Putters, he is a member of the social and economic council but has no party affiliations. 

Elbert Dijkgraaf, a stalwart of the fundamentalist Protestant party SGP, who helped finalise the coalition agreement has also been mentioned, as has Mona Keijzer, number two on the BBB list. However, she is not without history, given she was sacked by Mark Rutte as junior economic affairs minister for her opposition to the government’s coronavirus measures while a member of the CDA. 

Keijzer also hit the headlines again last weekend after asserting that only Muslim immigrants needed to learn about the Holocaust as part of their integration programme because the “hatred of Jews is part of the culture in Islamic countries”.

Rotterdam mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb told current affair programme Buitenhof on Sunday that “Mr Wilders himself” is the best candidate for the job.

“It would be great for this cabinet to ask him,” Aboutaleb said. “Its obvious, isn’t it. It is such a break with tradition not to have the leader of the biggest party as prime minister. So let Mr Wilders lead this cabinet.”

Authority

Meanwhile, the AD on Tuesday described the situation as a “soap opera that does not bode well for the authority of the new coalition”. 

Wilders is unlikely to come up with anyone who is a member of the VVD, NSC or BBB because he considers himself to be the winner of the November election, the paper said. And there is no one, the paper points out, within the pool of PVV parliamentarians with the experience to lead a cabinet.

MPs are likely to debate the coalition agreement on Wednesday without knowing who the next prime minister will be.  

Share this article
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Copy URL
Election 2023 Politics PVV
Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.

We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.

Make a donation
Latest
Show more
Fewer international students starting bachelor degrees in NL
MPs urge cabinet to join banned Pride march in Budapest
Dutch house prices up 10% on a year ago, latest figures show
Foundations and the future: what you need to think about
Highway to hell: confessions of a would-be Ring reveller
NewsHomeEconomyArt and cultureSportEuropeSocietyEnvironmentHealthHousingEducation
Life in the NetherlandsLatestOpinionBooksTravel10 QuestionsLearning DutchInburgering with DNFood & DrinkAsk us anything
About usTeamDonateAdvertiseWriting for Dutch NewsContact usPrivacyNewsletter
© 2025 DutchNews | Cookie settings

Help us to keep providing you information about coronavirus in the Netherlands.

Many thanks to everyone who has donated to DutchNews.nl in recent days!

We could not provide this service without you. If you have not yet made a contribution, you can do so here.

The DutchNews.nl team

Donate now

Dutchnews Survey

Please help us making DutchNews.nl a better read by taking part in a short survey.

Take part now