THE HAGUE--Member of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament Wassila Hachchi of the Democratic Party D66 has resigned. She is moving to the United States (US) to work for the campaign team of candidate in the US presidential elections Hillary Clinton.
Hachchi, a Member of the Permanent Committee for Kingdom Relations, sent her farewell letter to President of the Second Chamber Khadija Arib on Wednesday. D66 was aware that Hachchi wanted another challenge, preferably abroad, but still her sudden departure came as a surprise.
The 36-year-old Member of Parliament (MP) was not present in The Hague on the day of her resignation, as she is ill at home, recovering from a serious dog bite. She was not available for comment on Thursday.
Parliament President Arib thanked Hachchi for her valuable contributions during a debate on Wednesday, in absence of the liberal democrat. She specifically mentioned her role in the various Parliamentary enquiries including the 2014 enquiry on housing corporations. “I wish her much success in the US with a job which will influence the entire world, whatever the outcome may be,” Arib said.
Hachchi, who was elected into Parliament in June 2010, will be replaced by Salima Belhaj, currently the leader of the D66 party in the Rotterdam Municipal Council. Belhaj will be installed next week Tuesday. It is not known as yet whether she will take over the Kingdom relations portfolio from Hachchi.
Hachchi was well-liked by Dutch Caribbean politicians for her objective, balanced view regarding the relations within the Kingdom. She regularly defended the islands when one of her colleagues in the Second Chamber made a critical, harsh statement about the islands. She always pointed out that the overseas countries had an autonomous position that needed to be respected.
At the same time, Hachchi was often critical of Dutch Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk, whom she wanted to assume the role of coordinating Minister for the Caribbean Netherlands to ensure the wellbeing of the public entities Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba. The islands will surely miss her.
