In the future, the House of Representatives wants to hold public hearings at the end of the formation process before appointing ministerial candidates or secretaries of state. A slight majority voted in favor of D66 MP Sneller’s motion on this issue. According to Sneller, such hearings are good for the transparency of the organization. And MPs can ask candidates questions about their suitability and motivations.
The candidate can also explain certain things himself or add personal emphasis, Sneller says. In addition to D66, GroenLinks-PvdA, PVV, Party for the Protection of Animals, FvD, Denk, JA21, Volt, BBB, Bij1, Van Haga Group and MPs Omtzigt and Gündoğan are also in favour.
Already in the next elections
D66 member wants the new system to be implemented in the next formation. Sneller said this would not formally require a change in the House of Representatives’ rules of procedure. However, he hopes to be re-elected as an MP in the elections and wants to keep his finger on the pulse to see whether his proposal will be implemented.
There are more countries where such hearings are taking place, and in the EU context, it has been common practice for years for candidates for European Commission membership to be questioned by the European Parliament. Former Minister Hoekstra recently had to go through this process before becoming EU Climate Commissioner.
As expected, the House of Representatives announced that a “non-political” observer should be appointed in the new formation. After the election, the largest party can nominate the person, and the nomination must have the widest possible support among party leaders in the new parliament. A proposal to use the king as a scout failed.
Source: NOS
Emma Fitzgerald is an accomplished political journalist and author at The Nation View. With a background in political science and international relations, she has a deep understanding of the political landscape and the forces that shape it.
