Dutch junior finance minister quits after
questions over his personal investments
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[November 02, 2024]
By MIKE CORDER
THE HAGUE,
Netherlands (AP) The Dutch junior minister for finance quit Friday
following criticism of his refusal to publish details of his personal
investments. He is the first member of the new hard right-dominated
ruling coalition to resign since it was installed in July.
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The Dutch parliament buildings in The Hague, Netherlands, Feb. 9, 2021.
(AP Photo/Mike Corder, File) |
Folkert Idsinga is a member of the New Social Contract party
that campaigned last year on pledges to restore trust in elected
officials following a string of government scandals.
But he came under fire this week after refusing to disclose
details of his shareholdings and other investments. His
government portfolio includes the tax office and taxation
policy.
Announcing his resignation Friday, he insisted he had done
nothing wrong, saying he had followed established procedures by
declaring his investments to the official who vetted new Cabinet
members and putting them into a holding foundation so that he
could not interact with them while in office.
That did not stop opposition lawmakers and the ruling Party for
Freedom of election winner Geert Wilders calling on Idsinga to
reveal exact details of the companies in which he has
investments.
In a sign of strained relations in the four-party government
sworn in on July 2, Idsinga took aim at Wilders' party as he
explained his decision to quit.
One of the parties that supported this request is our largest
coalition party. For me, this is unacceptable. For me, this
directly affects the trust that the House of Representatives has
in me as a minister and I cannot and do not want to function
effectively in this way. So I draw a line in the sand, he said.
Idsinga told reporters in The Hague that he would make public
details of his investments at a later date and took a parting
swipe at online criticism of government ministers.
I experience the way in which messages are spread via social
media as very harmful to politics," he said. "In addition,
people from outside may be discouraged in this way from
committing themselves to the political cause of the country. And
this is not the way in which to govern a country.
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