In September 2001, the CDA political leadership changed hands from an experienced politician Jaap de Hoop Scheffer to a young and inexperienced assistant Jan Peter Balkenende. The party was sagging to a small minority in the polls, Balkenende had been a professor in Amsterdam and had research leadership of the CDA party. In this period came the attacks on America of 9/11. The political atmosphere changed for the worse with a novice in The Haque running for some seats in Dutch parliament: Pim Fortuyn. His party made great headway in local elections in Rotterdam by gaining a majority vote of 37%. The political assassination on May 6, 2002 of Pim Fortuyn shook the nation on its foundation. The ruling Labor party in the purple coalition could not provide the answers. The voters returned in great numbers to the old party CDA and swept Balkenende in a leadership position to form a new coalition government.
Having become the 2nd largest party, Pim Fortuyn's inexperienced members chosen to parliament were invited to join and deliver new ministers. This was a recept for many political headaches and gave Balkenende more than he could handle. It's logical that Balkenende left the Foreign Affairs to his old party leader Jaap de Hoop Scheffer. JdHS was known to be more to the party right, had made a poor showing in Screbenica days after the massacre to be seen partying with the Royal Prince Alexander in Bosnia with the Dutch troops. I'm absolutely very disappointed in the policy leadership in regards to Iraq, the involvement of the Dutch government with George Bush and the likes. Furthermore, he did a terrible job as Secretary-General of NATO and the War in Afghanistan.
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."
To answer your question: no, he will not be involved in the present day political debate. I always considered JdHS as the bad architect of Iraq policy. He was on friendly terms with Condoleeza Rice and the Bush family. The present Minister of Foreign Affairs will take responsibility (even resignation) for past events. Usually the number of years gone by limits his political liability.
