The leader of the ruling party in the Netherlands became a name of Turkish origin

Dilan Yeşilgöz, the justice minister of Turkish origin, will take the leadership position of the party of Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who has decided to leave politics in the Netherlands.

In the statement of the Conservative Party of People’s Freedom and Democracy (VVD), it was indicated that Yeşilgöz will lead the party in the elections to be held in November. The 46-year-old politician of Turkish origin will be the first woman to lead the VVD in national elections and, if elected, the first female prime minister in Dutch history.

Rutte, the longest-serving prime minister of the Netherlands, announced last month that he was leaving politics after the government fell as a result of a disagreement over refugee policy.

DECISION ON THE SCARF GENERATED DISCUSSION

Yeşilgöz, who immigrated to the Netherlands from Ankara at the age of 8, was appointed Dutch Minister of State for Economic Affairs and Climate Policy in 2021 and has served as Minister of Security and Justice since last year.

Yeşilgöz sparked controversy in June with his claim that the country’s new dress code prohibits uniformed police officers from wearing and accessories containing religious symbols such as headscarves, crosses or kippahs.

Yeşilgöz announced that this issue, which has been discussed for a long time, was included in the dress code. Yeşilgöz’s opposition to the proposal to allow the wearing of headscarves over the uniform and his statement that he would not allow such a practice while in office provoked a reaction from some quarters.