Thursday, September 16, 2021

After the defeat of Afghanistan
Dutch foreign minister resigns

The Dutch parliament chalked up the failed evacuation of Afghan local activists to the defense and foreign ministers from the airport in Kabul. The latter says she can’t do anything but accepts the consequences – and resigns.

Dutch Foreign Minister Sigrid Kag has resigned following harsh parliamentary criticism of Afghanistan’s failed evacuation. Parliament had previously adopted a motion of disapproval in The Hague with a vote of 78 to 72. Parliament credits the left-liberal foreign minister for failing to evacuate local Afghan workers from Kabul.

Christian Democratic Defense Minister AK Bijlewald also received disapproval. But you decided to stay in office. Kag was only the caretaker minister and held the position since May. A new coalition government has not been formed since the parliamentary elections in March.

The entire opposition and the ruling Christian Union party voted in favor of the proposals for rejection. The foreign minister then resigned: “Your Parliament has decided that the cabinet has acted irresponsibly. Therefore I can do nothing but accept the results.”

The outcome of the formation of the government cannot be predicted yet.

It is not clear what political consequences the move will have for government formation. Over the weekend, Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s right-wing liberal VVD, left-liberal D66 with Cork and Christian Democrats should begin talks about the formation of a minority government.

Like the Netherlands, meanwhile there were also in Germany Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer and Foreign Minister Heiko Maas in criticismAn incorrect assessment of the situation in Afghanistan led to an evacuation mission, which was at times chaotic.