News item | 29-05-2026 | 13:30
At the proposal of Minister Heerma of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, the Council of Ministers has approved the appointment of Mrs. ATB Bijleveld-Schouten as chairman of the Advisory Board on the Legal Status of Political Office Holders (ARPA). Due to the departure of Mr AHG (Alexander) Rinnooy Kan as chairman, this position had become vacant. The appointment takes effect on June 1, 2026.
The full advisory board is composed as follows:
- Mrs ATB (Ank) Bijleveld-Schouten (also chairman);
- Mr GTM (Gerard) Groten;
- Mrs MS (Mijke) Houwerzijl;
- Mr JP (Hans) Vollaard;
- Mr JPH (Johan) Zwemmer;
- Mrs. L. (Leonie) Heres;
- Mr MGT (Marco) Pastors.
The ARPA is an independent and permanently established advisory board that started in April 2022. The advisory board can provide solicited and unsolicited advice to the cabinet and parliament on the (financial) aspects of the employment conditions of political office holders. With effect from February 2026, the ARPA has been given the additional task of advising on subsequent positions of ministers.