Dick Schoof caught in the crossfire of coalition parties
in the media image: Martijn Vonk on Unsplash
Dutch caretaker prime minister Dick Schoof’s days are numbered. Now the parliamentary debates on the budget are over, an unusual experiment comes to an end: a politically unaffiliated prime minister. Wim Voermans, Professor of Constitutional Law, reflects in current affairs programme ‘EenVandaag’ on ‘a botched experiment – never again.’
The parliamentary debates were the final occasion when Dick Schoof had to defend the direction of his cabinet in the House of Representatives. What is traditionally a time for the prime minister to set out the government’s direction and strategy for the coming period, was used by MPs to hand out marks to a caretaker cabinet with no authority to speak of.
Where prime ministers can usually count on support from their role as party leader and party chairman, Dick Schoof had to get by without political supporters. At his very first debate in parliament, he was already harshly tackled by the leader of the Party for Freedom (PVV) Geert Wilders. That moment, experts say, was a blot on his future leadership: he was no longer seen as a fully-fledged leader by the coalition parties and became caught in their crossfire.
Voermans says it was a ‘minor miracle’ that the cabinet had survived for 11 months. Considering the position he found himself in, the professor says Schoof did a good job. 'It’s hard for a prime minister to exercise authority without a party behind him. Not only that, he was unable to add his own vision to the coalition’s agreement on broad policy goals.'
Politicians in The Hague are now moving swiftly on with preparations for the general election at the end of October.
More information?
Watch the item on EenVandaag (from 17.45 min, in Dutch)