AMSTERDAM (BNO NEWS) — Former Dutch Minister of Integration and Housing Eberhard van der Laan was confirmed as the new Mayor of Amsterdam on Friday, the government said.

The Dutch cabinet approved Van der Laan, 55, as the city’s new Mayor during a meeting on Friday. He is a Labour Party member who served as Minister of Integration and Housing from November 2008 up until February 23, 2010, when the Dutch coalition government collapsed.

Van der Laan will replace Job Cohen who resigned on March 12 to become the leader of the Labour Party. His most important task will be to reduce crime in the Dutch capital.

His nomination will become effective on Wednesday. Until then, Labour Party politician Lodewijk Asscher will serve as the city’s Acting Mayor.

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