Climate Minister Hermans temporarily appointed Minister of Education

The outgoing cabinet announced this on Saturday. The four other ministries that were held by NSC members will be temporarily taken over by ministers from VVD and BBB.

The NSC ministers left the cabinet on Friday. In the cabinet meeting, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Caspar Veldkamp, was unable to convince the other governing parties, VVD and BBB, to take new measures against Israel. He then drew his conclusion and resigned. His colleagues from NSC followed suit shortly afterwards.

Hermans was the second most voted politician on the VVD list in the previous elections, but she is not eligible this time. However, she says she is available to work as a minister if VVD returns to power.

Hermans was a political assistant to VVD leader Mark Rutte for many years. In 2017, she entered the House of Representatives representing the liberals and became the party leader five years later. She is the daughter of Loek Hermans, Minister of Education, Culture and Science in the second “purple” cabinet (1998-2002), which was comprised of PvdA, VVD and D66.

Interim ministers have been appointed until successors are found. The announcement does not say how soon the two remaining parties expect to find the successors.