Henk Vermeer was officially confirmed as the new leader of the BoerBurgerBeweging (BBB) parliamentary faction on Wednesday, following the abrupt departure of Mona Keijzer the previous day. The change in leadership comes amid accusations of secret talks between Keijzer and Gidi Markuszower, leader of the Groep Markuszower, a splinter group from the Party for Freedom (PVV).
Vermeer, in statements to the press, described Keijzer’s exit as “valueless” and revealed she had “threatened to resign dozens of times” when decisions didn’t align with her preferences. He specifically cited concerns over Keijzer’s unauthorized discussions with Markuszower as a key factor in the loss of trust. “The trust has really been broken,” Vermeer stated, according to reporting from RTL Nieuws.
Keijzer, a former minister and vice-premier, announced her departure from the BBB on Tuesday, stating she would continue as an independent member of parliament. She has disputed Vermeer’s account of the conversations with Markuszower, claiming there was only one meeting and no concrete proposal for the Groep Markuszower to join the BBB. Keijzer accused Vermeer and other BBB members of “mud-slinging.”
The dispute extends beyond the Markuszower meetings. Vermeer indicated that the BBB had discussed potential collaboration with the seven former PVV members who formed the Groep Markuszower, but ruled out any merger, citing fundamental differences and a desire to maintain the BBB’s distinct identity. “We are not going to let the BBB be taken over,” he said.
The internal conflict within the BBB was triggered by the fractious leadership selection process following Caroline van der Plas’s decision to step down as party leader. Keijzer reportedly believed she had been promised the position, but Vermeer was ultimately chosen by the remaining BBB parliamentarians in a unanimous vote. Vermeer acknowledged Keijzer’s disappointment but defended the decision, stating that her repeated threats to resign had eroded confidence in her ability to lead the faction.
Vermeer too dismissed suggestions that recruiting Keijzer as a prime ministerial candidate in 2023 was a misstep, describing her as a “vote-winner” with valuable governing experience. Though, he maintained that her recent actions demonstrated a lack of transparency and respect for the party’s collective decision-making process.
The fallout from Keijzer’s departure is already being felt within the BBB, with party members outside of The Hague reportedly divided between supporting Vermeer or Keijzer, according to NRC Handelsblad. The BBB has not yet announced any plans to address the internal divisions or clarify its future direction.
