Meet Dick Schoof, former intelligence chief likely to become the new Dutch prime minister – Firstpost

Dick Schoof, the former head of the Dutch intelligence services and anti-terrorism office, has been proposed as the new prime minister of the Netherlands by a coalition of four right-wing parties.

Shoof, 67, is currently a senior civil servant in the Dutch Ministry of Justice. He was invited to lead the new government, not only by Geert Wilders’ nationalist PVV, but by all four parties forming the coalition. “I am not affiliated with any party, I am not running here on behalf of the PVV… I want to be the prime minister of all Dutch people,” Schoof said at a press conference.

Although he has no experience in Parliament or government, Schoof’s extensive experience in public service and his commitment to the rule of law make him a compelling candidate for the position.

How did the coalition select Shoof?

Schoof’s appointment comes after election winner Geert Wilders, leader of the far-right Party for Freedom (PVV), formed a coalition with three other conservative parties. Wilders ruled himself out of the top job, allowing the coalition to nominate Schoof.

Wilders praised Schoof on social media, saying: “Congratulations Dick. Dick Schoof has an excellent track record, is not a member of any party and therefore stands above the parties, is honest and, what’s more, very friendly.”

The coalition, described as the most right-wing in the Netherlands in decades, has ambitious government plans. Their programme, published on May 16, describes the “strictest asylum regime ever”, with stricter border controls and stricter rules for asylum seekers, which could trigger a conflict with the EU.

The coalition aims to introduce strict measures against asylum seekers, abolish family reunification for refugees and reduce the number of international students. The plan, titled “Hope, Courage and Pride,” has faced intense scrutiny from analysts questioning its legal and constitutional feasibility.

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Schoof, responding to these concerns, stressed: “I think that in all my roles the common thread has always been the functioning of the democratic rule of law and this will help me in my role as Prime Minister. » He also mentioned outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte as an inspiration, praising his handling of government tasks.

Rutte’s government will continue to operate in an interim capacity until the new administration is officially sworn in. Wilders’ original prime ministerial candidate, Ronald Plasterk, withdrew last week amid allegations of his involvement in medical patent fraud.

Who is Dick Schoof?

Hendrikus Wilhelmus Maria “Dick” Schoof was born on March 8, 1957 in Santpoort, Netherlands. He studied town and regional planning at Radboud University from 1975 to 1982. Schoof’s career in public service began with the Association of Dutch Municipalities, followed by a position at the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sciences in 1988.

In 1996, he was appointed Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Justice and Security.

Schoof has held several high-level positions, including chief director of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (1999-2003), where he played an important role in reforming immigration law.

From 2010 to 2013, he served as Director General of Police, overseeing the restructuring of the police force from regional units to a national organization. As head of the National Coordinator for Security and Counter-Terrorism (NCTV), he was involved in controversial aspects of the investigation into Malaysia Airlines Flight 17.

In December 2019, Schoof was appointed Secretary General of the Ministry of Justice and Security, tasked with resolving scandals within the ministry. His leadership played a crucial role during a turbulent period, helping to restore confidence and stability.

Schoof, a divorced father of two, has worked mainly on domestic policies and does not have a high international profile. His extensive public service experience and non-partisan attitude are considered assets to lead a technocratic administration in the midst of a deeply divided nation.

Schoof and the investigation into flight MH17

As counterterrorism chief, Schoof played a central role in coordinating the Netherlands’ response to the crash of Flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine by Russian-controlled forces, which resulted in the death of 198 Dutch citizens.

While this cemented his reputation as a security expert in political circles, it also sparked controversy. In 2015, Dutch media reported that Schoof had attempted to influence an apparently independent investigation into the government’s handling of the MH17 crisis.

Publicly released emails revealed that Schoof criticized the report’s authors for their “too heavy-handed and too negative” conclusions about the Dutch response, urging them to soften their language, which they then did.

At the time, Rutte defended both Schoof and the investigation, saying the report’s authors still fully supported their findings “100%.”

The new government, which is expected to be operational by the end of June, will have looser links with Parliament, allowing for more direct governance by the cabinet. This approach aims to streamline decision-making processes and more effectively implement the coalition’s ambitious policy goals.

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Reflecting on his unexpected appointment, Schoof said, “I guess it will be a surprise to a lot of people that I’m here…” Actually, it’s a surprise to me, too. He said he remained committed to upholding the rule of law and governing for all Dutch citizens, regardless of their political affiliation.

With the contribution of agencies