Arabic version: روب جيتن يتولى منصب أصغر رئيس وزراء في تاريخ هولندا

Rob Jetten has officially assumed the role of the youngest and first openly gay prime minister of the Netherlands following the swearing-in of his minority government. The 38-year-old leader of the Democrats 66 party (D66) emerged victorious in October’s election, narrowly defeating anti-Islam populist Geert Wilders.

Jetten has formed a centre-right minority government in coalition with the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and the Christian Democratic Alliance (CDA). This minority cabinet will face challenges, as every major reform in their coalition agreement, which includes an additional €19 billion for defense and cuts to healthcare and benefits, will need to be negotiated through the Netherlands’ two parliamentary houses.

According to BBC News, the coalition’s stance on asylum seekers is another contentious issue, advocating for refugees to apply for asylum outside Europe rather than upon arrival. Such migration policies have previously contributed to the collapse of the last two coalition governments in the Netherlands.

Jetten was sworn in by King Willem-Alexander at the Huis ten Bosch Palace in The Hague on Monday. He expressed his commitment to serving the nation through collaboration and improvement, stating in a social media post, “Let’s get to work.”

Despite his youthful image and progressive platform, Jetten faces opposition from Wilders, who has vowed to challenge any initiatives from the new government. Concerns have also been raised by opposition parties regarding the financial implications of Jetten’s government’s plans, particularly the impact on ordinary citizens versus the wealthy.

With his election marking a significant shift in Dutch politics, Jetten’s leadership is expected to bring both challenges and opportunities as he navigates the complexities of a minority government.