This is apparent from documents requested by a citizen through an appeal to the Open Government Act (Wob), writes de Volkskrant Today.
Letter to parliament was already ready
VVD minister Cora van Nieuwenhuizen caused a lot of surprise last summer to resign as minister and get started at lobby club Energie-Nederland. This association represents the interests of companies such as Eneco, Shell, Gazprom, BP and BAM Bouw en Techniek.
Prime Minister Mark Rutte already knew about Van Nieuwenhuizen’s new job on 23 July, according to de Volkskrant. He agreed that his party colleague would remain a minister until a new cabinet takes office.
In a draft letter to parliament from Van Nieuwenhuizen, it would have stated the following: “Obviously, it must be ensured that any possible conflict of interest in connection with my future position is prevented”.
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Van Nieuwenhuizen’s decision to switch from politics to a lobby association was criticized a lot, but according to her, the switch fit within the applicable rules. The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management announced at the time that a so-called lobbying ban would not apply to it.
Lobby ban
Prime Minister Rutte suddenly changed his mind at the beginning of September and then announced that the former minister would be banned from lobbying. “Ministries will explicitly not accept the minister as a lobbyist after the resignation for a period of two years,” he said.
It is not clear from the documents why Rutte changed his mind about Van Nieuwenhuizen’s stay. In a debate in response to parliamentary questions about the situation, he only said the following about it in the autumn: “On August 26, 2021, after further political consideration, I came to the conclusion that the appointment does not go well with the position of minister. “
Cora van Nieuwenhuizen has been the chairman of Vereniging Energie-Nederland since October 1, and she left as minister on August 31. A spokesperson for the ex-politician tells de Volkskrant that Rutte agreed until August 26 that she could continue as an outgoing minister. “That’s right,” the spokesperson said.
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