Former minister and parliamentary leader of the conservative VVD Joris Voorhoeve has resigned his party membership. His move is in protest at the VVD holding talks with the Christian Democrats (CDA) on the formation of a minority government which will rely on support from the anti-Islamic Freedom Party (PVV).
He is against the VVD being dependent on Geert Wilders’ populist PVV, saying he does not wish to share responsibility for such a situation. Last month, he said he was against working with the PVV which he described as “undemocratic”.
Mr Voorhoeve was parliamentary leader of the VVD from 1986 to 1990 and served as defence minister from 1994 to 1998. He is a member of the Council of State, the highest administrative court and governmental advisory body in the Netherlands.