#new pm

In recent years, as D66 leader, the Netherlands’ future Prime Minister Rob Jetten harshly criticized United States president Donald Trump. Jetten called Trump a “convicted criminal,” a “misogynist,” and “a danger to international security,” among other statements. Less than a week before being sworn in as Prime Minister, Jetten does not intend to retract those statements, he told RTL Nieuws this week. On the television program WNL in April 2025, Jetten called Trump a “danger to international security and the global economy.” The D66 leader also refused to congratulate Trump on his re-election in November 2024, calling him a “misogynist,” and a “convicted criminal” who “openly flirts with dictators.” Jetten, who is expected to become the prime minister on Monday, will not retract those statements. He told RTL that the Netherlands and the United States are friends. “Especially in a friendship, you are allowed to be critical of each other if you think things are unacceptable.” Jetten said that he called Trump a “convicted criminal” based on a ruling by an American judge. “When we meet in person, there will be a lot to discuss.” He will likely have to take a more diplomatic tone as Prime Minister, but he may not have to change his tune entirely. European sentiment has shifted from viewing the United States as an unflinching ally, towards clear concerns about the reliability of the U.S. as a partner under the Trump administration.

Conservative Bart De Wever was sworn in Monday as Belgium's new prime minister, after striking a hard-fought coalition deal that moves the country to the right. Struck late Friday after seven months of tortuous negotiations, the agreement makes De Wever the first nationalist from Dutch-speaking Flanders to be named Belgian premier. A law-and-order candidate whose coalition has already promised to crack down on irregular migration, De Wever's rise to power reinforces a marked right-wing shift in European politics. The 54-year-old, who in recent years has backed off on calls for Flanders to become an independent country, took the oath of office before King Philippe, in a ceremony at the royal palace in Brussels. From there, he is to head straight to a gathering of EU leaders a few blocks away, for talks on defence and transatlantic relations.

Garry Conille was sworn in as Haiti's prime minister on Monday, promising to "deliver" for the impoverished Caribbean nation grappling with overlapping security, humanitarian and political crises. Conille was appointed by the transitional presidential council running the country following the resignation in April of Prime Minister Ariel Henry, as gang violence surged. "Let's get to work and I assure you that we will deliver what we promised," the 58-year-old said at the ceremony at the Villa d'Accueil, an official government building in the capital Port-au-Prince. His swearing-in empowers him to form a government in consultation with the council, its head, Edgard Leblanc Fils, said. "We are counting on Dr. Conille to implement the policies agreed with the presidential council, in order to address the problem of insecurity in particular, as well as to improve the country's economy, reform its institutions and hold credible, democratic and free elections by the end of 2025," he added. A medical doctor by training, Conille had served as Haiti's premier for a short period in 2011-2012, and was until recently regional director for UN aid agency UNICEF.

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New Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has said his government will mobilise to keep the world committed to helping Ukraine. He said it hurts him to hear Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have to keep trying to persuade world leaders of the need to continue supporting Kyiv’s struggle against Russian aggression. He said it will be a priority for his coalition government to persuade leaders that they need to continue to help Ukraine defend itself, and that is also in the interests of the free world. Mr Tusk was making his policy speech in parliament on Tuesday, a day after politicians chose him as the new prime minister. The centrist leader, who was previously prime minister from 2007-2014, returns as the head of a broad alliance that spans the ideological spectrum from left-wing via his own Civic Platform party to more conservative parties.

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Liz Truss insisted the UK will “ride out the storm” of the worst cost of living crisis in a generation as she launched her premiership with a brutal cabinet clear-out.

In her first address as prime minister in Downing Street, she pledged to be “hands on” in urgently tackling the energy crisis with plans to freeze bills expected within days, as her survival in No 10 depends on them.

Truss is expected to announce plans to freeze energy bills at about £2,500 a year until 2024 in the first major act of her premiership – but is unlikely to claw back the cost through customers’ future bills, leaving the taxpayer to pick it up instead.

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