Jul 13, 2023 at 00:07Update: 2 hours ago
Sigrid Kaag is no longer the party leader for D66 in the upcoming elections. Kaag says in an interview with Fidelity that her work is too stressful for her family. The outgoing Minister of Finance is under serious threat and heavily protected.
Until the next cabinet takes office, the 61-year-old Kaag will continue as caretaker Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister. After that she leaves Dutch politics. Kaag does not yet know what she will do next and whether that will be in the Netherlands. It is also not yet known who will succeed her.
“My work has put a heavy burden on my children and my husband,” says Kaag in conversation with Fidelity. “I came back to the Netherlands because I really thought: I can do something here and try to do the right thing. But it has asked too much of my family. I think I should not ask this again.”
In recent years, Kaag – like many other politicians – has been confronted with threats. For example, she was visited at home in January 2022. A man waved a torch in front of her house and shouted conspiracy theories. He was sentenced to five months in prison last February.
A few months ago, Kaag was a guest in the interview program College Tour by Twan Huys. In it, she was confronted with a video message from her daughters, who said they feared for their mother’s life.
Kaag later told NU.nl that the online hate and threats have no influence on her work. “I don’t let my life be guided by social media, because then you’re on the wrong path.”
D66 made big gains with Kaag as party leader
After years of working as a diplomat, Kaag returned to the Netherlands in 2017. She became Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation in the Rutte III cabinet.
When Kaag became party leader in 2021, expectations were high. She wanted to become the first female prime minister in the Netherlands and advocated a new administrative culture.
The politician won five seats in the elections, making D66 the second party in the Chamber. After a turbulent formation period, she became Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance in the fourth and last Rutte cabinet.
D66 is not the only party that has to look for a list leader for the upcoming elections. Earlier, Prime Minister Mark Rutte (VVD) announced that he would leave politics. CDA leader Wopke Hoekstra is also no longer available for the list leader.
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2023-07-12 22:07:42
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