The CDA member withdrew early due to exhaustion. “My health is good at the moment. At the same time I realized that I have to make choices if I want things to stay that way.’ After his retirement, he will work as Director of Communications and Marketing at Firda, the school resulting from the merger of ROC Friese Poort and Friesland College. Van der Molen also focused on House education on behalf of the CDA.
Mona Keijzer, Evert Jan Slootweg
Now that Van der Molen’s post has become vacant, Mona Keijzer is the first to be contacted to ask if she would like to fill the post. She was seventh on the electoral list and Van der Molen was ninth. She was also offered a position earlier, after Wopke Hoekstra joined the cabinet, but she declined. Next, Evert Jan Slootweg is the next candidate. He was previously a Member of Parliament and recently replaced Anne Kuik on maternity leave.
Burnt factory
Van der Molen is by no means the only politician suffering from burnout-like complaints. Party for the Animals leader Esther Ouwehand is currently at home due to overload. Previously, former CDA member Pieter Omtzigt, D66 member Rens Raemakers and VVD member Ockje Tellegen were also expected to stay at home. The latter decided not to return last October.
Ministers also struggled with overburdening in their jobs, including Rutte III ministers Bas Van ‘t Wout (Economic Affairs) and Bruno Bruins (Medical). Bruins collapsed during a corona debate and was replaced by Tamara van Ark. She herself later resigned due to persistent neck ailments.