Economy

Nathalie van Berkel, a member of the D66 party, has resigned from both her candidacy for state secretary of Finance and her seat in the Dutch Parliament, following revelations of inaccuracies in her curriculum vitae. The decision, announced Monday, comes as incoming Prime Minister Rob Jetten seeks to finalize his cabinet lineup before a planned swearing-in next week.

The controversy centers on Van Berkel’s claims regarding her educational background. Reports in De Volkskrant revealed that she had presented a master’s degree in public administration from Leiden University on her LinkedIn profile, a claim that was inaccurate. She holds a propedeuse – a preliminary certificate – in public administration from The Hague University of Applied Sciences but did not complete the admission process for the master’s program at Leiden. Multiple iterations of her CV and LinkedIn profiles had implied completion of a university degree.

When initially questioned by the media, Van Berkel provided differing explanations and updated her LinkedIn profile on three occasions, according to NL Times. Although D66 acknowledged internal awareness of her incomplete studies, De Telegraaf reported that she had as well provided inaccurate information to the General Administrative Service (ABD) during her application to join the Executive Board of the UWV, a Dutch employment insurance agency.

The opposition swiftly reacted to the unfolding situation. JA21 leader Joost Eerdmans publicly called for Van Berkel’s immediate withdrawal. Jetten emphasized the importance of credibility for ministers and state secretaries, particularly within a minority coalition government where securing support for legislation requires broad consensus. “We saw today that some opposition parties raised concerns, and that can hinder an effective role as state secretary,” he stated, as reported by NL Times.

Jetten described Van Berkel’s decision as “a brave and courageous one,” adding that it followed a joint discussion about the situation. He noted that Van Berkel had been transparent with D66 regarding her incomplete studies and had also disclosed this information in interviews. However, he acknowledged that this did not prevent the emergence of new questions and public outcry, according to NOS.

Van Berkel herself stated that the ensuing debate would distract from the important tasks facing the incoming cabinet. She emphasized that it was never her intention to misrepresent her qualifications. She has also announced her resignation from her seat in the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of the Dutch Parliament, believing she could no longer effectively fulfill that role given the circumstances, Vandaag Inside reported.

Jetten indicated he hopes to identify a new candidate for the position of state secretary of Finance this week. The planned swearing-in of the new cabinet remains scheduled for next Monday, though the search for a replacement introduces a new challenge in the final stages of government formation, NOS reported.

The Netherlands is bracing for a prolonged period of job losses driven by the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI), according to outgoing VNO-NCW chair Ingrid Thijssen. Her warning, issued during her farewell address as head of the major employers’ organization, suggests a structural shift in the labor market that extends beyond temporary economic headwinds.

Thijssen cautioned that while rising energy and wage costs are currently forcing companies, particularly those internationally competitive, to reorganize and reduce staff, the impact of AI will be far more significant and enduring. “Companies can absorb rising costs through reorganizations,” she stated in interviews with De Telegraaf and reported by Financieel Management, “but the development of AI continues and that will really be quite severe.”

The anticipated job displacement isn’t expected to be uniform. Thijssen foresees a mismatch between sectors, with job losses occurring in some areas while personnel shortages persist in others. This dynamic necessitates large-scale retraining and upskilling initiatives, a capability where the Netherlands has historically lagged, according to Thijssen. “It doesn’t imply we’re too late, but something really needs to happen,” she said.

The concerns echo broader anxieties about the impact of AI on employment. Reports from NU.nl indicate that Dutch companies are already undergoing rapid reorganizations, fueled by economic uncertainty and the rise of AI, alongside revenue shortfalls. De Ondernemer reports that humanoids could be deployed within five years, potentially impacting a wide range of jobs.

However, the scale of the potential “ontslaggolf” (dismissal wave) remains a subject of debate. While Thijssen emphasizes the structural nature of AI-driven job losses, some analysts suggest that current layoffs are primarily attributable to economic pressures.

Despite the challenging outlook, Thijssen expressed optimism that a new Dutch cabinet could implement measures to improve the investment climate and provide businesses with greater stability. The need for a proactive response is underscored by the potential for significant disruption across multiple sectors, requiring a coordinated effort to mitigate the negative consequences and capitalize on new opportunities.