Prime Minister Modi Congratulates New Dutch PM Dick Schoof

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Dick Schoof on becoming the new Prime Minister of the Netherlands. Modi expressed his eagerness to work with Schoof to strengthen India-Netherlands relations in areas like renewable energy, water management, and technology.

Earlier in the day, Dick Schoof, a former spy chief, was sworn in as the new Prime Minister by Dutch King Willem-Alexander at the royal Huis ten Bosch Palace in The Hague. Schoof leads a right-wing coalition government that promises to implement the country’s strictest-ever immigration policies.

Schoof, 67, takes over from Mark Rutte, who is set to become the next secretary-general of NATO. The new coalition government was formed after seven months of negotiations following the electoral victory of far-right leader Geert Wilders last November. Wilders’ party secured five out of 15 ministerial posts in the new government.