Exodus from Dutch politics continues amid coarse discourse

The slew of politicians stepping down from their position continued on Thursday, as outgoing Finance Minister and party leader Sigrid Kaag (D66/Renew) announced she was leaving politics amid concerns over her safety.

The exodus began after the Dutch cabinet fell over disagreements on family reunification rules last week, with outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte (VVD/Renew) being the most notable politician to hang up his cleats.

“My work takes a toll on my family,” Kaag admitted during an interview with De Trouw. “I also came to the Netherlands to give my children a foundation. But they have been given such a distorted and nasty picture of their own country,” she added.

Kaag had worked for the United Nations in Lebanon before taking over the finance minister function in 2017.

Back in May, Kaag’s daughters had already expressed concern about their mother’s well-being and safety due to numerous threats she had received, calling on her to give up her function as finance minister during a national talk show.

Kaag was not the only politician to announce her departure from politics on Thursday, as independent MP Liane den Haan also stated that she will not return to the Dutch parliament after the upcoming elections.

“Like my fellow (female) politicians, I suffer from hatred, swearing and threats. This affects me, but my children and my mother […] even more,” den Haan tweeted, adding that “current politics are ugly”.

Mark Rutte’s footsteps

Meanwhile, outgoing Justice Minister Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius (VVD/Renew) will not only continue in politics but may even compete for the prime minister spot as the party’s national board officially endorsed her candidacy for party leader a day after she announced her interest in the position.

“Mark Rutte’s footsteps are big to follow in. If anyone can do that, it is Dilan,” board chairman Eric Wetzels stated in a press release. “With the [likely] announcement of Dilan as candidate list leader, we start a new chapter of the VVD. […] Together with you, we will take on challenges facing the Netherlands and build a successful campaign,” he added.

Potential competitors to Yeşilgöz-Zegerius have until 13 August to submit their own candidacy, with the national parliamentary elections likely to take place on 22 November.

(Benedikt Stöckl | EURACTIV.com)