New Dutch government moves gambling policy to new secretary of state

[Wolf32]

With an agreement finally in place for a new coalition government, gambling policy in the Netherlands will be overseen by the newly established Secretary of State for Legal Protection.

This position, which falls under the Ministry of Justice, will replace the former Minister for Legal Protection role previously held by Franc Weerwind.

After six months of negotiations, Geert Wilders’ Party for Freedom (PPV) will lead a conservative coalition with the Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), the New Social Contract Party (NSC), and the Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB). According to state broadcaster NOS, the NSC will be assigned the Secretary of State for Legal Protection role, while the VVD’s David van Weel will be named Minister of Justice.

Dick Scoof will become the new Prime Minister of the Netherlands, succeeding Mark Rutte after 14 years. Reportedly, five ministries will be allocated to PPV members, while the VVD and NSC will each receive four ministries, and the BBB will receive two. Weerwind, who became Minister for Legal Protection in January 2022, will be departing The Hague.