Frans Timmermans resigns from key EU Commission job in bid to become next Dutch PM

A lot’s going to change in the Netherlands, many well known politicians are leaving their jobs at the same time.

This is the best summary I could come up with:

Frans Timmermans, the man tasked with spearheading the EU's ambitious climate policies, has resigned from the Commission to return to Dutch politics in the hope of becoming the country's next prime minister.

The alliance is currently leading in the polls with aggregator EU Elects favouring them with 17.1% of the votes, ahead of the centre-right VVD party of departing Prime Minister Mark Rutte.

"I thank Frans Timmermans for his passionate and tireless work to make the European Green Deal a reality," Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement issued on Tuesday.

"Thanks to his excellent contribution and strong personal engagement, we have made great strides towards meeting the EU's objectives to become the first climate-neutral continent, and towards raising the levels of climate ambition globally," she added.

Timmermans announced his intention to run on behalf of a left-wing alliance of socialists and greens in the upcoming Dutch general election in July, following the unexpected collapse of Prime Minister Mark Rutte's coalition government.

His appointment means the EU's climate policies will remain in the hands of a socialist, despite the scathing criticism of the main right-leaning European political group to which von der Leyen belongs towards the environmental initiatives led by Timmermans.

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