The war in Ukraine is matter for the boss and that’s a good thing. With twelve years of experience in crisis situations (MH17, corona), Mark Rutte is the first person in his own country to inform us about the support for the heavily beleaguered Ukrainians, the reception of the refugees and the sanctions against Russia. You do not want to leave that to Wopke Hoekstra and Kajsa Ollongren, the first to be approached as ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense respectively.
The two ministers are new to their ministry. Less than two months into their position, they still have to find their way, get to know their new advisers and assess them correctly and build trust with their employees. In times of international crises, it comes down to close cooperation between Foreign Affairs and Defence. This is often a difficult task, because the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as the person with primary responsibility for foreign policy, is always leading and the Ministry of Defense sometimes thinks differently about this. BZ deals with peace missions, Defense supplies the military.
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As a minister, you must be able to fully rely on your civil servants, especially the experts on the subjects for which you are politically responsible. Building a relationship of trust takes time. Hoekstra started with a misstep. He ignored the unanimous recommendation of the selection committee to appoint Brigitta Tazelaar as Director-General of Political Affairs, a top position at the ministry. Hoekstra opted for a man, Marcel de Vink, inflicting the ire of his department on his neck. Tazelaar will be ambassador to Washington in more than a year, a way to make up for the painful rejection. Apparently she is suitable for that, according to Hoekstra.
It is of course never useful for a newly appointed minister to set aside the advice of a committee without stating reasons. Then if 600 civil servants out of 3000 revolt because women in the ministry are already underserved in the higher positions, then you have a problem. It is typical Hoekstra not to respond to the accusations. He calls the petition from the protesting officials ‘really tough’, but does not answer the question of why he is ignoring the advice of the selection committee. It is difficult to talk about people in public, and perhaps the candidate and the minister did not click. But with catchphrases like ‘I’m a feminist’ without going into the content, you don’t show that you take the complaints seriously.
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Credibility is about the most important quality a politician must have in order to function at all. Hoekstra is a master at evading questions, which seriously affects his credibility. Raising awareness of Pieter Omtzigt? No, that was about the provision of information about the allowance affair. Skating in Thialf, while indoor sports had not been allowed for two months? “It is especially important at this time that we keep moving enough.” Apologize to Omtzigt? “I have an extraordinary amount of appreciation for Pieter.” Hoekstra in Nieuwsuur about the accusation that the CDA no longer stands up for farmers? “I think you are concerned about farming and how to proceed with nitrogen.” Avoid, dodge, dodge. Hoekstra is no different.
Indeed, he is more of a driver than a politician, as he said in June 2020. But he nevertheless became a politician, even leader of the party, whether or not against his will. A good politician is able to gain the trust of his colleagues and supporters. In the elections of a year ago, that did not work; Hoekstra lost the elections gloriously and ended up with a meager fifteen seats for the CDA. Now, a year later, the following has halved. As long as Wopke Hoekstra leads the CDA, recovery is nowhere in sight. Don’t trust either.
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