The new Dutch cabinet, led by Prime Minister Rob Jetten, has officially taken office after being sworn in by King Willem-Alexander. The ceremony took place at Huis ten Bosch Palace in The Hague, where eighteen ministers and ten state secretaries took their oaths or made their solemn promises.
The cabinet is a minority government formed by three parties. D66 provides 10 cabinet members, the VVD has 9, and the CDA has 8. Sandra Palmen remains in her role as a non-partisan State Secretary to continue overseeing the recovery operation for the childcare benefits scandal (toeslagenaffaire).
During the ceremony, ministers stood before the King to pledge their loyalty. Four ministers who served in the previous Schoof cabinet—Hermans, Karremans, Van Weel, and Heinen—did not need to be sworn in again as they are continuing in their current roles. However, State Secretaries Palmen and Tielen were required to take the oath again because they now serve under different ministries.
Following the formal proceedings, the new team appeared on the palace steps for the traditional “platform photo” with the King. The ‘photo op’ was marked with protests from dozens of Extinction Rebellion protesters gathered at the palace gates.
As a minority cabinet, the government must seek support from other parties in both the House of Representatives (Tweede Kamer) and the Senate (Eerste Kamer) to pass any plans outlined in their coalition agreement.
The transition of power continues this afternoon as ministers head to their respective departments to take over from their predecessors. The first official council of ministers will then be held at the Ministry of General Affairs. The new cabinet will present itself to the media at the Catshuis later this evening.
@anp | NEWS BRAINPORT
