Second Dutch minister resigns over Afghanistan evacuation scandal

Defence Minister Ank Bijleveld steps down following censure in parliament that also prompted foreign minister to quit.

The Dutch defence minister has resigned over the government’s handling of evacuations from Afghanistan, announcing her move one day after the Netherlands’ foreign minister stepped down.

Both high-profile figures were accused by legislators of bearing responsibility for the government’s slow response to the surge of the Taliban in Afghanistan and muddled management of evacuations.

Ank Bijleveld, who revealed her departure from office on Friday, had initially refused to quit but reconsidered following heavy criticism from members of her own Christian Democrats party.