Rikus Jager (CDA) and Mirjam Pauwels (VVD) have been appointed to form a new provincial government in Groningen. Both have been politically active in Drenthe for many years.
Jager was mayor in Westerveld for almost fourteen years before he retired at the age of 70. He then left for Dalfsen for the position of acting mayor. Pauwels was an alderman in Assen for three years and before that active in De Wolden.
The duo, together with Mattias Gijsbertsen, former councilor of GroenLinks in Groningen, must forge a new coalition with BBB, VVD, PvdA and GroenLinks.
On September 25, the previous coalition fell after the BBB voted against a wind farm and was accused, especially by the Christian Union, of being guilty of unreliable management. CDA and Groninger Belang dropped out of previous information rounds.
The fallen coalition was supported on 23 of the 43 seats. The four parties that are now negotiating have 24 together.