Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra has stepped down from his position in order to prepare for his anticipated appointment as the EU commissioner for climate action.
Hoekstra submitted his resignation papers to King Willem-Alexander on Friday, he wrote on Twitter.
Hoekstra had been foreign minister and deputy prime minister since January 2022.
“It has been an honor to serve the Netherlands as Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister,” he wrote on Twitter. “The war in Ukraine has shaped my term in office, and it shows us the importance of a strong and decisive EU and NATO.”
Hoekstra formally resigned from his post and submitted his resignation papers to King Willem-Alexander. His nomination for the role came from EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and if confirmed, he will replace Social Democrat Frans Timmermans, who is running for the Red-Green alliance in the upcoming Dutch parliamentary elections.
In the interim, Liesje Schreinemacher, the current minister for foreign trade, will assume the responsibilities of the Foreign Ministry. Despite facing criticism and doubts about his qualifications from environmental groups, Hoekstra maintains that he is dedicated to addressing climate change and believes he can make a significant impact in his new role.
His resignation from the position of foreign minister is effective immediately, and he is expected to assume his role as EU commissioner in October.
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