NETHERLANDS: Coalition Confirms Fmr Intel Chief Dick Schoof To Become New PM

The parties set to form the Netherlands' next gov't have confirmed that former head of the Dutch intelligence service and anti-terrorism agency Dick Schoof is set to become the country's next prime minister. Rumours of Schoof's appointment had circulated in local press this morning. Telegraaf reports that Schoof was formerly a member of the centre-left Labour party (PvdA), but left the party in 2019. 

• Following the announcement earlier in May of an agreement between four parties to form a right-wing gov't, the next major task was finding a PM candidate. As part of the coalition deal, none of the party leaders - right-wing PVV's Geert Wilders, centrist NSC's Pieter Omtzigt, centre-right VVD Dilan Yesilgoz and agrarian BBB's Caroline van der Plas - can sit in cabinet let along become PM. Wilders' first choice - former PvdA senator Ronald Plasterk, who mediated coalition talks, ruled himself out last week. 
• Schoof (67), who has served as the seniormost official at the Ministry of Justice since 2020, will officially head the gov't when it eventually comes to office but it is the party leaders that will dictate the coalition's policy agenda. Wilders, as leader of the largest party, is set to play a formative role in looking to enact greater restrictions on immigration that could involve seeking opt-outs from the EU on asylum measures. 
• A press conference is expected to take place ~1700CET (1100ET/1600BST) at the House of Representatives announcing Schoof's nomination.