Tagged with deputy prime minister
AMSTERDAM (BNO NEWS) — Amsterdam mayor Job Cohen on Friday resigned his position as mayor and announced his candidacy for leader of the Dutch Labour Party.
Earlier on Friday, former Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Wouter Bos, who was also the Dutch Labour Party leader, announced he would leave politics to spend more time with his family. He recommended that Cohen should take over as party leader.
Cohen, during a 3 p.m. news conference, said he would resign his position as mayor with immediate effect. “It’s the best position I ever had in my life,” Cohen said. He apologized for his sudden departure.
AMSTERDAM (BNO NEWS) — Job Cohen is expected to resign as mayor of Amsterdam on Friday to take over as the leader of the Dutch Labour Party, reports said.
Earlier on Friday, former Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Wouter Bos, who was also the Dutch Labour Party leader, announced he would leave politics to spend more time with his family. He announced that Cohen would take over as party leader.
Nu.nl, a popular Dutch news website, reported that Cohen would announce his resignation during a news conference at 3 p.m. local time. The website reported that he would leave his position immediately.
A city spokeswoman confirmed Cohen would make an announcement during a party meeting at 3 p.m., but refused to provide more details. “More details will be forthcoming,” she said.
THE HAGUE (BNO NEWS) — A long crisis over a NATO request that asked Dutch troops to remain in Afghanistan toppled the coalition government on early Saturday.
Dutch Prime Minister Balkenende confirmed the news in a press conference shortly after 4.15 a.m. local time, following cabinet talks of more than 15 hours. “The continuation of a cabinet can never be the goal of itself,” Balkenende said.
The crisis erupted on Wednesday when Deputy Prime Minister and Labour leader Wouter Bos said he and his party were opposed to a NATO request to extend the Dutch mission in Afghanistan’s Uruzgan beyond its agreed 2010 end date. The Christian Democrats and the Christian Union wanted to keep all options on the table until March 1, the deadline for the decision.
Labour leader Wouter Bos, whose party will exit the coalition, is expected to hold a news conference at 4.45 a.m. local time.
Dutch law requires general elections to be held within 83 days.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (BNO NEWS) — U.S. Vice President Biden on Tuesday spoke with Dutch Deputy Prime Minister Wouter Bos during a phone call, the White House said.
Biden and Bos discussed the American and Dutch contributions to the NATO mission in Afghanistan, which claimed the lives of more than twenty Dutch soldiers. Biden thanked Bos for the “important” Dutch contributions to security and development goals in Afghanistan, the White House said.
Biden also underscored America’s appreciation for Dutch expertise in Uruzgan, and noted the United States’ desire to continue consultations with the Netherlands as the alliance moves forward in implementing its shared strategy in Afghanistan.
