Jean Rummenie

An agricultural engineer, Rummenie had an extensive career at the Ministry of Agriculture. Besides roles in The Hague, he served as an agricultural attaché in Hungary, Poland, the United States, Argentina, Indonesia and Mexico. He was involved in negotiations to allow Dutch products to be sold internationally.^[3]

Rummenie ran for the House of Representatives in November 2023 as the eighth candidate of the Farmer–Citizen Movement (BBB). He was not elected, as his party secured seven seats.^[3][4] After the PVV, VVD, NSC, and BBB formed the Schoof cabinet, Rummenie was sworn in as State Secretary for Fisheries, Food Security and Nature on 2 July 2024.^[3][5] His portfolio includes fisheries, horticulture, NVWA, inspections, nature, biodiversity, and Staatsbosbeheer.^[6]

He outlined a plan to mitigate wolf-related nuisances following their re-settlement in the Netherlands years earlier, where they are protected under the Berne Convention. Rummenie suggested killing wolves that exhibit aggressive behavior toward humans or repeatedly attack protected livestock, and he proposed forming a team to assist farmers with installing fencing.^[7]