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Defence Min Follows Foreign Min In Resigning Over Afghan Withdrawal

NETHERLANDS

Dutch Defence Minister Ank Bijleveld has announced her resignation over the collapse of the Afghan gov't and the withdrawal of Dutch forces from the country. Her resignation comes a day after the Afghan collapse also claimed the scalp of Foreign Minister Sigrid Kaag.

  • The resignations come after the lower house of parliament passed a censure movement against the gov't following the chaotic withdrawal that saw translators who worked for Dutch officials and troops left behind in the country.
  • The resignations risk throwing a spanner into ongoing coalition talks following the inconclusive March general election. Kaag sits as head of the liberal D66 party, the second-largest in the House of Representatives. She stated that despite her resignation from Cabinet, the party would remain part of PM Mark Rutte's caretaker gov't.
  • Bijleveld hails from the centrist Christian Democratic Appeal, but does not lead the party so her resignation should not have any material impact on coalition negotiations.

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