Sophie Hermans, outgoing VVD minister for Climate Policy and Green Growth, will temporarily take charge of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science now that Eppo Bruins has resigned (in Dutch).
This was announced by the caretaker cabinet on Saturday. The four other ministries of outgoing NSC ministers will also be temporarily taken over by ministers from the VVD and BBB.
Hermans was number 2 on the VVD candidate list in the previous elections, but is not eligible for election this time. However, she has stated she is available as a minister should the VVD govern again.
For many years, Hermans was political assistant to VVD leader Mark Rutte. In 2017, she joined the House of Representatives for the liberals and five years later she became party leader. She is the daughter of Loek Hermans, Minister of Education, Culture and Science in the second ‘purple’ cabinet (1998-2002) of the PvdA, VVD and D66.
As Minister of Climate and Green Growth, Hermans visited the TU Delft campus last year for an “Energy and Climate Dialogue with the VVD”. During that meeting, she faced critical questions from the attending students about budget cuts in higher education and the National Growth Fund.
- Also read: Hoe de VVD in gesprek ging met studenten van de TU (in Dutch)
The acting ministers have been appointed until successors are found. The announcement refers to ‘temporary management’. It does not mention how quickly the two remaining coalition parties expect to find new ministers. (HOP, BB / Delta, EB)
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