For a province with about 1.1 million inhabitants, Overijssel is not doing well. In Rutte III, which is currently a caretaker government, we are represented by Arie Slob (Zwolle, Minister of Education) and Henk Kamp (Hengelo, Defence). Previously, Ank Bijleveld from Goor was Minister of Defence.
Last week, Slob already announced that he would not take up office in a new cabinet. Henk Kamp also said just after he replaced Bijleveld that he is not available for a new cabinet.
The only minister with Overijssel roots is Christianne van der Wal. Although she was born in Oldenzaal, she is currently active as a deputy in Gelderland. Before that, she was an alderman in the Gelderland municipality of Harderwijk. She is now minister for Nature & Nitrogen on behalf of the VVD.
‘Regional spread’
King’s Commissioner Andries Heidema reacts positively, despite the absence of Overijsselaars in the cabinet. “The new cabinet is a nice regional spread.” The Commissioner is referring to the current regional activities of Christianne van der Wal, as described above, Deputy in Gelderland, Franc Weerwind (D66 Minister for Legal Protection), who is currently mayor of Almere, and Hanke Bruins Slot (CDA Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations). who is currently deputy in the province of Utrecht.
Glad there is a team
All in all, the King’s Commissioner is particularly pleased that there is now a team whose members do not only come from the square kilometer of the Binnenhof. As far as Heidema is concerned, things are quickly rolling up their sleeves, because there is a lot to do. “Overijssel, together with Gelderland, has focused on smart use of the Netherlands with the Oost deed,” says Heidema. He hopes and expects that the eastern Netherlands will be looked at in the areas of housing, infrastructure, agriculture and nature, but also with the energy transition.
Deed and power of East
Curious about how the provinces of Overijssel and Gelderland see their role in making smart use of the Netherlands? In the deed of Oost, MPs from nine political parties indicate that they are committed to the economy of the East Netherlands and important themes such as housing, agriculture and nature and the energy transition. In the Power of East 2.0, the provinces indicate that, in addition to space, the East Netherlands also has other trump cards with, for example, a technical cluster in Twente, business services in and around Zwolle and ‘cleantech companies’ in Deventer and the Stedendriehoek municipalities of Apeldoorn. and Zutphen.
No direct Overijsselaars in ‘section K’, the new cabinet, but a parliament with Overijssel MPs who want to make an effort via Podium Oost, among other things, to engage Overijssel and Gelderland to make smart use of the Netherlands.
This is the composition of the new cabinet (source: NOS)
Ministry of General Affairs (AZ) • Mark Rutte (VVD), Prime Minister Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Buza) • Wopke Hoekstra (CDA), Minister of Foreign Affairs • Liesje Schreinemacher (VVD), Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Ministry of Justice and Security (J & V) • Dilan Yesilgöz (VVD), Minister of Justice and Security • Franc Weerwind (D66), Minister for Legal Protection • Eric van der Burg (VVD), State Secretary for Asylum and Migration Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (BZK) • Hanke Bruins Slot (CDA), Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations • Hugo de Jonge (CDA), Minister for Housing and Spatial Planning • Alexandra van Huffelen (D66), State Secretary for Kingdom Relations and Digitization Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW) • Robbert Dijkgraaf (D66), Minister of Education, Culture and Science • Dennis Wiersma (VVD), Minister for Primary and Secondary Education • Gunay Uslu (D66), State Secretary for Culture and Media Ministry of Finance (FIN) • Sigrid Kaag (D66), Minister of Finance • Marnix van Rij (CDA), State Secretary for Taxation • Aukje de Vries (VVD), State Secretary for Allowances and Customs Ministry of Defense ( DEF) • Kajsa Ollongren (D66), Minister of Defense • Christophe van der Maat (VVD), State Secretary for Defense Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (I & W) • Mark Harbers (VVD), Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management • Vivianne Heijnen (CDA) ), State Secretary for Infrastructure and Water Management Ministry of Economic Affairs (EZ) • Micky Adriaansens (VVD), Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate • Rob Jetten (D66), Minister for Climate and Energy • Hans Vijlbrief (D66), State Secretary for Mining Ministry of Agriculture , Nature and Food Quality (LNV) • Henk Staghouwer (CU), Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality • Christianne van der Wal (VVD), Minister for Nature and Nitrogen Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment Legacy (SZW) • Karien van Gennip (CDA), Minister of Social Affairs and Employment • Carola Schouten (CU), Minister for Poverty Policy, Participation and Pensions, Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) • Ernst Kuipers (D66), Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport • Conny Helder (VVD), Minister for Long-term Care and Sport • Maarten van Ooijen (CU), State Secretary for Youth and Prevention
