As of: 09/17/2021 4:22 p.m.
She hesitated for one evening – now the Dutch Defense Minister Bijleveld has also resigned. Foreign Minister Kaag had previously drawn conclusions from the Afghanistan evacuation mission.
After the Dutch Foreign Minister Sigrid Kaag, Defense Minister Ank Bijleveld has now also resigned. Both drew conclusions from the chaotic Afghanistan evacuation mission of the country and the sharp criticism of the parliament of their role.
Parliament majority for disapproval
The previous evening, after a heated debate on the deployment, Parliament had approved two motions for disapproval. The left-liberal Foreign Minister Kaag resigned immediately. Parliament decided that “the cabinet acted irresponsibly,” said Kaag. As the “minister with ultimate responsibility,” she said, referring to the motion for disapproval, she could not do anything other than accept the consequences of this decision.
She had previously admitted in a parliamentary debate that the government had reacted slowly and chaotically to warnings about the situation in Afghanistan. As a result, some local staff and people who had worked as translators for the Dutch troops could not have been taken out of the country before or after the Taliban seizure of power, she said.
Criticism from own party for hesitant withdrawal
The request against Kaag had been supported by the Christian Union belonging to the ruling coalition, as a member of the party announced in advance. This resulted in a majority in favor of parliamentary disapproval. Defense Minister Bijleveld, who is a member of the Christian Union, received such a reprimand. The fact that she did not resign directly – like Kaag – was criticized by her own party.
The Dutch government is only executive in office at the moment, as a coalition has not yet been formed six months after the election. Foreign Trade Minister Tom de Bruijn will temporarily also become the country’s Foreign Minister.