D66’s Nathalie van Berkel has resigned from her position as a member of the Dutch Parliament, following the withdrawal of her candidacy for State Secretary of Finance. The resignation, announced Tuesday, comes after reports surfaced detailing inaccuracies in her curriculum vitae, according to multiple news sources.
The controversy began when media outlets reported discrepancies in Van Berkel’s educational background and professional experience as listed on her CV. Rob Jetten, the designated Prime Minister, stated he was unaware of the extent of the inaccuracies “in the sharpness as it has now come out,” according to reporting from NOS News. Jetten had previously described Van Berkel’s decision to step down from the State Secretary role as “remarkably regrettable” and “courageous and sensible,” but offered limited further comment on the matter.
Van Berkel announced her resignation from Parliament via a post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. Jan Paternotte, the leader of the D66 parliamentary faction, expressed respect for her decision and thanked her for her “great commitment and hard work.” Van Berkel was first elected to the House of Representatives in October of last year.
The situation presents a challenge for Jetten as he continues forming a new cabinet. He indicated he hopes to identify a replacement candidate for the State Secretary position this week, according to AD.nl. The incoming cabinet is scheduled to be sworn in next week, with all other prospective ministers already confirmed.
The unfolding events occur as Jetten is engaged in discussions with potential cabinet members. Hans Vijlbrief, the designated Minister of Social Affairs, has stated his intention to engage with stakeholders across the country to build support for potentially difficult policy measures, including adjustments to unemployment benefits and the state pension age. Vijlbrief emphasized the need for broad consensus, even beyond a parliamentary majority, on these issues, according to NOS News.
Jetten, in remarks reported by RTL, characterized Van Berkel’s resignation as her own decision, stating he did not request her to step down. The incident has prompted scrutiny of the vetting process for candidates nominated for ministerial positions.
