Schoof’s appointment marks a major shift from the current political landscape, where he will assume leadership without affiliation to any party or participation in recent election campaigns, while Rutte is set to become secretary-general of NATO, the strategic alliance that protects member states in Europe and North America.
The change of government comes as the Netherlands’ first far-right government is formed following landmark elections that changed the country’s political trajectory. The coalition led by Geert Wilders’ party has promised a shift in power after Rutte’s long tenure as prime minister.
This development highlights a pivotal moment in Dutch politics, reflecting both continuity and change in the country’s leadership and policy direction.
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schauff delivered his inaugural address to parliament on Wednesday, vowing to prioritise reducing immigration, one of the main goals of his new government.
“The biggest concern among these issues is asylum and immigration. This is the heart of the problem from everyone’s point of view,” Shoaf said. Shoaf, who is not part of any of the four parties in the governing coalition, formally took over from longtime prime minister Mark Rutte on Tuesday. The 67-year-old, a former head of the Dutch intelligence and counterterrorism service, emerged as a surprise choice for the top job.
Geert Wilders’ anti-immigration party won the most seats in last year’s election, and after 223 days of trying to form a four-party coalition government, resistance from other coalition partners prevented the controversial Wilders from becoming prime minister.
