Candidate with fake degrees nearly appointed deputy finance minister in the Netherlands
In the Netherlands, Natalie van Berkel, who only completed secondary school, was nearly appointed as deputy finance minister under the quota for national minorities. She falsified her résumé by claiming to have a master's degree in Public Administration from Leiden University and a master's degree in Law from Erasmus University Rotterdam. Van Berkel was supposed to oversee taxation but concealed her assets and paid half the taxes she was required to.
The candidate misrepresented her educational background, causing a significant scandal. Although tasked with supervising the tax system, she herself violated tax regulations by underpaying. This raises serious questions about the vetting process for appointments to such critical government positions.
This incident may prompt stricter verification of candidates' qualifications and increased scrutiny of public officials, highlighting the need for integrity and transparency in government appointments.
