The new coalition has divided up the ministerial posts. As expected, the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science will go to D66. The Undersecretary will remain a member of the VVD.
D66 leader Rob Jetten will become Prime Minister and VVD member Eelco Heinen is the intended Minister of Finance. State Secretary Sandra Palmen (formerly NSC, now independent) will remain responsible for handling the social benefits scandal.
Other candidates for the new cabinet are not yet known, but informateur Rianne Letschert could well make the move to The Hague, perhaps as D66 Minister of Education. The Maastricht University administrator is appreciated by Jetten and apparently also gets on well with the party leaders of CDA and VVD.
It seems unlikely that former minister Robbert Dijkgraaf will make a comeback for D66. His policy was torpedoed by the Schoof cabinet, and the new coalition also seems to be taking a slightly different direction than he advocated. The current VVD State Secretary for Education is Koen Becking. It is not yet clear whether he will remain in office.
Defense minister from VVD
The ministers of Defense are also important for universities and colleges, as a significant portion of the increased defense budget will be spent on knowledge and innovation. The minister comes from the VVD, while the CDA provides the state secretary.
CDA leader Henri Bontenbal will remain in the House of Representatives. It remains to be seen what VVD leader Dilan Yesilgöz will do. In the past, she was State Secretary for Economic Affairs (2021-2022) and Minister of Justice and Security (2022-2024).
HOP, Bas Belleman
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