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Dutch minister resigns over cash deal with convicted drug dealer

Dutch minister resigns over cash deal with convicted drug dealer

Netherlands

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.

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