Pictured Ms Pauline Krikke, new Mayor of The Hague.
By Branko van Loon.
There’s a lot going on The Hague politics, on both the local and national level. A new mayor has been nominated by the city council. For the first time the City of The Hague will have a female mayor: Ms Pauline Krikke. In The Netherlands, the Mayor is not democratically elected, but appointed by the Crown, after a nomination by the city council and approval of the national government. If the national government approves the nomination, as is always the case, Ms Krikke will be installed as Mayor on the 17th of March.
Ms Krikker is an experienced politician and administrator. Currently she is a member of the Senate. Previously she was mayor of Arnhem (2001-2013) and before that she was vice-mayor in Amsterdam. Ms Krikke is member of the Dutch liberal party VVD.
Anticipating
Last year mayor Jozias Van Aartsen announced his retirement, 9 months before the end of his second term. On March 1st 2017, after nine years, he will no longer be the Mayor but a citizen of The Hague. The reason for his early retirement is that next year, in March 2018, local elections will take place (expats can cast their vote too in these elections!). This will give his successor a year to get used to the new job. Enough time before elections, and the installation of a new council and city executive.
More changes
Another political change will take place in the City of The Hague. The current vice-mayor in Leidschendam-Voorburg, Ms Saskia Bruines (D66), will replace Ms Van Engelshoven. Previously Bruines has been member of the city council and vice-mayor in Amsterdam.
After seven years, Vice-Mayor Ms Ingrid van Engelshoven, responsible for International Affairs, will leave local politics to run for a seat in the national Parliament. Ms Van Engelshoven has a high placement on her party’s list D66 and is very likely to be elected. Ms. Van Engelshoven has made no secret of her ambition to become minister. Whether she stands a chance all depends on the outcome of the national elections on this 15th of March.
Who will govern The Netherlands?
In a few weeks, a record number of 28 political parties will participate in the Dutch national elections. Seven new parties have entered the political arena. In the polls the anti-Islam far-right Party for Freedom still is on course to win the most seats in Parliament. Prime-minister Mark Rutte however recently declared that his party the VVD, like other political parties did before him, will not cooperate with the PVV. Most parties fundamentally disagree with PVV-leader Mr Wilders’ political views.
Mr Geert Wilders has pledged, when in government, to close Dutch borders, close mosques and leave the EU. Some of the new political parties however are open to cooperation with the PVV. This most likely will result in very interesting and difficult coalition negotiations. The Dutch will need all their ‘polder’ skills to form a new government.
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Branko van Loon is Associate Partner and Senior Consultant at Hague Corporate Affairs. He is specialised in public administration, political affairs, and strategic communication.
Hague Corporate Affairs: visit our website at www.en.hague.company.
Afbeelding 1 Branko van Loon
