Minister Van der Steur falls over Teeven-deal

THE HAGUE – Minister of Safety and Justice Ard van der Steur stepped down on Thursday night after a tough debate about the so-called Teeven-deal. Stef Blok will take over his job until the elections on March 15.

Earlier State Secretary Fred Teeven and Van der Steur’s predecessor Ivo Opstelten saw their career cut short over the Teeven-deal.

The matter became again a hot potato earlier this week after Bas Haan, a reporter for NieuwsUur reported in a book that Van der Steur had kept information back about the deal as a Member of Parliament and as a minister. The opposition was outraged.

Van der Steur said during the debate that many had already made up their minds about what he called unjust accusations. Prime Minister Mark Rutte said that it had become impossible to win this case.

The Teeven-deal is about a controversial settlement Fred Teeven arranged when he was a public prosecutor with a drug dealer.

Photo caption: Minister van der Steur embraces Prime Minister Mark Rutte in the parliament. Photo ANP