Coalition Collapse: Foreign Minister Resigns in Protest Against Blocking Sanctions on Israel
The temporary Dutch government entered a crisis on Friday after all ministers and state secretaries of the Nieuw Sociaal Contract (NSC) party resigned, following the resignation of Foreign Minister Kaspar Fieldkamp. Fieldkamp's resignation came after coalition partners rejected his call for stricter measures against Israel, leaving him isolated within the cabinet.
Fieldkamp said after a tense meeting that he no longer has confidence in his ability to implement the foreign policy he sees as necessary in response to the Israeli military attack on the city of Gaza and the new settlement plans in the West Bank. He added: "The Netherlands has already taken a number of steps, but I felt resistance within the cabinet against further measures. I do not expect that to change, so I will return home to write my resignation letter."
His resignation came one day after he informed the Tweede Kamer that he plans to impose additional sanctions, a step that was not coordinated with other coalition partners. Both VVD and BoerBurgerBeweging (BBB) opposed these measures, putting Veldkamp in political isolation.
A few hours later, all NSC ministers resigned, including Deputy Prime Minister Eddy van Heijum, Interior Minister Judith Outermark, Education Minister Ibo Bruins, Health Minister Daniel Jansen, along with four state secretaries. Interim Prime Minister Dick Schoof confirmed these resignations in parliament, deeming the decision unfortunate given the responsibilities placed on the government during its transitional phase.
This crisis coincided with the parliament's discussion on responding to the conflict in Gaza. While most MPs agreed that Hamas should be completely eradicated and maximum pressure should be exerted on the countries harboring its leaders, proposals from opposition parties, supported by the NSC, to impose a boycott on settlement products, recognize the State of Palestine, and halt arms deals with Israel failed. Acting Foreign Minister Robijn Brekelmans from the VVD party pledged to raise the issue of boycotting settlements at the European level, while keeping the option of unilateral sanctions on the table if efforts fail.
The VVD and BBB parties denied deliberately obstructing the sanctions and accused the NSC of abandoning the government during ongoing negotiations. BBB stated: "NSC described itself as a party of good governance, but it is now leaving the Netherlands without leadership." VVD expressed surprise at the sudden withdrawal.
The political crisis has forced the parliament to cut its summer break again, with discussions resuming on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Skhov has canceled a trip planned to Kyiv to meet President Volodymyr Zelensky and discuss peace efforts with Russia, as all eyes are now on the instability in The Hague.