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full screen The former head of the Netherlands’ intelligence organization, Dick Schoof, is expected to become the Netherlands’ next prime minister. Archive image. Photo: Rtl Nieuws Via AP/TT
Right-wing parties in the Netherlands, which previously agreed to form a government, look set to choose former intelligence chief Dick Schoof as prime minister.
The issue of, among other things, the post of prime minister has been one of several stumbling blocks in the protracted negotiations after the election in November last year. Geert Wilders and his far-right Freedom Party were asked to form a government, but the other right-wing parties did not want to see him as prime minister.
The official mediator in the government negotiations, Richard van Zwol, said on Tuesday that the parties had agreed on a candidate for prime minister:
– On a recommendation by and with the support of the parliamentary coalition leaders, I have found that Dick Schoof is willing to make himself available as Prime Minister.