Hans Wijers, the newly appointed informant on behalf of D66, publicly expressed a personal preference on election night for a broadly supported middle cabinet, instead of a coalition with the radical right JA21.
Furthermore, Wijers called VVD leader Dilan Yesilgöz a liar on this occasion. He also said that he is disappointed that voters have not punished the VVD more severely for this cabinet period.
Wijers made the statements in the evening of October 29, a few hours after the first results forecasts, as a panelist on a stage during a drinks party by entrepreneur Willem Sijthoff in Amsterdam. NRC spoke to fourteen attendees, several of whom independently confirmed the statements. In addition, it has NRC about a film recording of one of Wijers’ statements.
Wijers’ statements are remarkable and sensitive because as an informant, together with Sybrand Buma (CDA), he must bring together a workable coalition. The relationship between D66 and CDA with the VVD is already under pressure in the formation, because the VVD excludes GroenLinks-PvdA, and thus a broad middle cabinet.
Informant Hans Wijers arrives late NRC know: “I did not express myself well there. I believe that the VVD is a party that has contributed effectively to the governance of our country for many years, and Ms Yesilgöz is a party leader with a solid track record.”
“During this process, it is obvious that I will mainly be in contact with Messrs. Bontenbal and Jetten. If Mrs. Yesilgöz plays a role at any time, I will approach her with an open mind. I therefore take back my previous statements and have personally contacted her about this.” Yesilgöz did not want to respond on Thursday.
Dedain
Organizer Willem Sijthoff mentions the festivity in a response NRC “a pleasant and beautiful evening”. “I did not receive Hans Wijers’ contribution.” As is often the case, Sijthoff, media entrepreneur and D66 member and donor, invited friends, acquaintances and associates to a celebration. The location was Capital C, a large office building on Weesperplein in the capital, where various guests alternated on stage to comment on current events. Former minister Wijers was not programmed as a speaker, but was invited to take a seat on stage by the ringmaster.
In the hall, approximately two hundred guests listened, had drinks and chatted – entrepreneurs, administrators, famous Dutch people such as Beau van Erven Dorens and (former) politicians, including Jacques Monasch (former PvdA MP). “Wijers was not available as an informant, he said on stage when he was asked about it,” says Monasch. Furthermore, the D66 celebrity spoke “with disdain about the right and the possibility of a center-right cabinet,” according to the former PvdA member.
I thought it was inappropriate, especially given D66’s desire to play less of a man
In the rest of his contribution, Wijers called VVD leader Dilan Yesilgöz “a liar,” according to several attendees. “I am very sure of that,” says Frank Leijdesdorff, former partner at law firm Loyens & Loeff. “I thought it was inappropriate, especially given D66’s desire to play less of a man.”
Leijdesdorff was also bothered by Wijers’ statement that he thought it was a shame that the voter had not punished the VVD more severely. This statement by Wijers is also confirmed by several guests. Attendee Maarten Feilzer: “I liked his contribution shockingfor a former minister. I can’t remember the exact words but he railed strongly against Dilan Yesilgöz.”
Fundamental differences
Wijers also commented on the new cabinet to be formed. “I think it is extremely important that we get stable policies over the next six to eight years,” he says on the recording NRC has in possession. “We need a majority in the House of Representatives and the Senate. You can only get that by not creating a cabinet with 76 seats in which you can already see that there are fundamental differences in a number of important areas.”
With the latter statement, Wijers was referring to a possible cabinet of D66, CDA, VVD and the radical right JA21. A combination that at that time appeared to have a majority of 76 seats, and with the final result it amounts to 75 seats.
D66’s preference is for a broad center cabinet of D66, VVD, GL-PvdA and CDA with a large parliamentary majority. Wijers has expressed this preference in private circles for some time, just like his fierce aversion to Yesilgöz, various sources confirm. NRC.
Wijers was Minister of Economic Affairs in the first Purple cabinet of PvdA, VVD and D66 (1994-1998). Afterwards he was active in business at Akzo Nobel and Heineken, among others. He also fulfills numerous social functions and was chairman of the supervisory board of Ajax.
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