Dutch minister resigns over cash deal with convicted drug dealer

The Dutch Justice Minister Ard van der Steur has quit in an ongoing scandal over a compensation payment paid out to a convicted drug dealer.

He becomes the third member of Mark Rutte’s government to resign over the issue.

'Ard, doe normaal' #steurdebat #vandersteur #rutte. pic.twitter.com/oKk8gbvMf0

— Merijn© (@MerijnAAA) January 26, 2017

It revolves around a €2m deal prosecutors reached with a drug trafficker, Cees Helman in 2001.

Dit is trouwens Cees Helman, de man van 4,7 miljoen die vanavond zeker weten een feestje houdt. met teven op stelten pic.twitter.com/woXDRlk1wg

— dievangerrits ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ (@samgerrits) March 9, 2015

It comes at a difficult time for Rutte’s government as The Freedom Party, led by anti-immigration politician Geert Wilders, is leading public opinion polls.

The Netherlands votes in a general election in March.