Dutch Foreign Minister Sigrid Kaag resigned on Thursday after parliament formally condemned her handling of the Afghanistan evacuation crisis.
Lawmakers approved a motion criticising the government for failing to evacuate some Afghans, and for missing signs of an imminent Taliban takeover.
Kaag’s resignation comes a day after Britain’s Dominic Raab was demoted from his position as foreign minister over the way he dealt with the situation in Afghanistan.
“The House considers that the government has acted irresponsibly,” Kaag said in a statement to parliament after parliament voted by 78 votes to 72 to condemn her.
“And although I stand by our commitment, I can only accept the consequences of this judgement as the minister with ultimate responsibility,” she added.
“In my view on democracy and the culture of our administration, a minister should go if the policy is disapproved of. I will therefore submit my resignation as minister of foreign affairs to his majesty the king.”
Dutch Defence Minister Ank Bijleveld however refused to resign despite also being hit with a so-called censure motion by parliament.
Kaag said she would stay on as leader of the centre-left D66 party, which is in coalition talks with Prime Minister Mark Rutte after winning the second-most seats in elections in March.
Rutte said her resignation was a “great loss” to the cabinet.
The Netherlands evacuated more than 1,500 people, both Dutch nationals and eligible Afghans, in the final chaotic days before the US pulled out of Afghanistan.
But many Afghans were left behind, including 22 interpreters, according to the government, despite calls from MPs to evacuate them months ago…..read more
Source: France24
