Puzzle parties with dolls, who will be on the platform later?

The parties then decide for themselves who will receive their posts. Former party leader of D66 Alexander Pechtold had his list of suitable candidates in his head long before the formation. “But then there were also people who called me around the end of the formation, supposedly coincidentally, to drink coffee. Well, then you are really too late.”

Pechtold, himself a minister, aimed for a mix of real “party tigers” and people from outside. “You also want to counterbalance people who never have time to flyer for the party or to submit amendments at conferences. For a fresh look.” It therefore happens that ministers join a party at the last minute. Four years ago, the future State Secretary Menno Snel, for example, still had to apply for a D66 membership card.

In addition to the right political affiliation, the right motivation is very important, says Rosenthal. He lists reasons why people should not want it. “Not to become famous Dutch. Not because of the car with driver. Not because they only have success in mind and want to dance on the table like Sigrid Kaag. But because they necessarily want to serve the public good.”

Waiting money puller / plush sticker

Intended ministers and state secretaries must be aware that the career move can have negative consequences, says Rosenthal. “Threats are part of it these days. Maybe you can handle it yourself, but are you doing it to your partner and children?”

Even without threats it can be quite hard, for example due to all the (social) media attention. Or in the words of Pechtold: “You will be destroyed before you even start. Also, if you stay too short, you are a redundancy payer. Too long, you are a plush sticker again.”

According to the former D66 leader, this means that fewer and fewer “people with real qualities” feel like it. “You only have to look at Twitter once to think: I don’t need that.”

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