According to Prime Minister Mark Rutte, the ChristenUnie is “very far” in the search for a new agriculture minister, after the departure of Henk Staghouwer. In the program Op1 he says that the search for a successor is “very fast” and that “everything is being done”.
Rutte cannot yet say when the new agriculture minister will start working. He does think “as soon as possible”. Nor can he say whether a name is already circulating. “But I expect to hear it very soon.”
Staghouwer resigned three weeks ago, after he came under heavy fire in the House of Representatives because of his disappointing plans for agriculture. Party colleague Carola Schouten, also Minister for Poverty Reduction, has since taken up his duties. In the previous cabinet she was also Minister of Agriculture.