Dick Schoof (67) has been nominated as Prime Minister of the brand new cupboard by PVV, VVD, NSC and BBB. For a lot of, his presentation got here out of the blue. As a senior civil servant, he primarily labored within the background.
Schoof is a clean slate for the agricultural sector. He’s at present the best official on the Ministry of Justice and Safety. Earlier than that, he was head of the AIVD and labored as Nationwide Coordinator for Counterterrorism and Safety.
Till January 2021, the meant prime minister was nonetheless a member of the PvdA, however he canceled that membership as a result of he mentioned he now not felt ‘associated’ to that social gathering.
‘Intens second’
Schoof known as his nomination as prime minister an ‘intense second’. He by no means anticipated to be requested for the best put up within the nation’s authorities. He calls the step surprising, however ‘not illogical’. He says he has labored for the federal government and the democratic constitutional state all his life. ‘I feel that I can contribute to that good from my administrative information and expertise as Prime Minister. For the general public good, the final curiosity of the nation.’
Earlier than his virtually forty-year profession within the civil service, Schoof studied city planning at Radboud College in Nijmegen, Gelderland. His cradle was in Santpoort, North Holland, however he grew up in Hengelo, Overijssel, the place his father was director of Social Affairs on the municipality.
Regardless of missing expertise in political debate, Schoof considers himself appropriate for the place of Prime Minister. Based on him, remaining calm and picked up on sophisticated subjects is a attribute that characterised him as a senior civil servant. Based on him, this high quality can also be crucial to revive confidence in politics.
BBB comfortable
BBB chief Caroline van der Plas is ‘very comfortable’ with the nomination of Schoof as prime minister. She praises his broad expertise inside authorities. ‘Moreover, I feel he is a pleasant man. That is vital.’
Based on Van der Plas, it stays to be seen what Schoof is aware of about agriculture. ‘However I’m very assured that he’ll rapidly study what he nonetheless has to study there.’
It has by no means occurred earlier than {that a} Prime Minister strikes into the Tower with out expertise of political craft within the Home or from a ministerial put up. For the extra-parliamentary cupboard at a distance from the Home of Representatives, which the 4 coalition events aspire to, a technocrat with out political coloration may very well be a bonus.
Throughout his presentation, Schoof expressed the ambition to serve all the time period of the brand new cupboard.
