Nora Achahbar

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Nora Achahbar

| birth_name = Nora Achahbar

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1982|06|21|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Sidi Slimane, Morocco

| party = NSC (2023–present)

| occupation = {{hlist|Politician|judge|lawyer|public prosecutor}}

| citizenship = {{hlist|Morocco|Netherlands}}

| office1 = State Secretary for Benefits and Customs

| minister1 = Eelco Heinen

| primeminister1 = Dick Schoof

| predecessor1 = Aukje de Vries

| successor1 = Sandra Palmen

| termstart1 = 2 July 2024

| term_end1 = 15 November 2024

| alma_mater = Leiden University

| children = 2

}}

Nora Achahbar ({{IPA|nl|ˈnoːraː ˈɑɕaːbɑr|lang}};{{cite web |title=WEBINAR Officier van justitie: van sollicitatie tot functie, 12 maart 2024 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch/UUpHsSSRGr4?t=204 |website=YouTube |access-date=16 November 2024}}{{cite web |title=Nora Achahbar: beoogd staatssecretaris van Financiën (Toeslagen en hersteloperatie toeslagenaffaire) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch/MMRTGzjAPpY?t=3 |website=YouTube |publisher=Nieuw Sociaal Contract |access-date=16 November 2024}} born 21 June 1982) is a Dutch jurist, judge and politician of the New Social Contract (NSC) party. She served as State Secretary for Benefits and Customs in the Schoof cabinet between July and November 2024.

Early life and career

Achahbar was born in Sidi Slimane, Morocco. Her father moved to the Netherlands as a guest worker aged 18, working as a cook in The Hague. Achahbar grew up at the edge of its {{ill|Schilderswijk|nl|Schilderswijk (Den Haag)}} neighborhood, and she described her childhood in poverty in an interview to Trouw.{{Cite news |url = https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2024/11/15/bij-toeslagenouders-slaat-het-vertrek-van-achahbar-in-als-een-bom-a4873354 |url-access = subscription |date = 15 November 2024 |last = De Haan |first = Marko |access-date = 15 November 2024 |language = nl |website = NRC |title = Bij toeslagenouders slaat het vertrek van Achahbar in als een bom |trans-title = Victims of childcare benefits scandals are shocked by Achahbar's departure }}{{Cite interview |url = https://www.trouw.nl/politiek/staatssecretaris-toeslagen-nora-achahbar-nsc-het-is-niet-raar-dat-mensen-wantrouwend-zijn~b6b07686/ |url-access = subscription |date = 10 September 2024 |interviewer = Esther Lammers |last = Achahbar |first = Nora |access-date = 14 September 2024 |language = nl |website = Trouw |title = Staatssecretaris Toeslagen Nora Achahbar (NSC): 'Het is niet raar dat mensen wantrouwend zijn' |trans-title = State Secretary for Benefits and Customs Nora Achahbar (NSC): 'It is not surprising that people have become distrustful' }} She graduated high school with a VWO diploma and went on to study Dutch law at Leiden University.{{Cite news |url = https://www.ad.nl/politiek/als-dochter-van-een-gastarbeider-had-nora-achahbar-nsc-moeite-met-de-woorden-integratieprobleem~af57fda5/ |url-access = subscription |date = 15 November 2024 |last = Van Soest |first = Hans |access-date = 16 November 2024 |language = nl |website = Algemeen Dagblad |title = Als dochter van een gastarbeider had Nora Achahbar (NSC) moeite met de woorden 'integratieprobleem' |trans-title = As the daughter of a migrant worker, Nora Achahbar (NSC) had difficulties with the words 'integration issue' }} She was an intern for the parliamentary group of Democrats 66 and the {{ill|Council for the Judiciary|nl|Raad voor de rechtspraak}}, and she subsequently worked as a judge ad hoc in a Haarlem court, a police detective in Leiden, and a lawyer. For ten years, Achahbar served as a public prosecutor in The Hague, where she dealt with cases related to fraud, terrorism, violent crime, and burglary.{{Cite news |url = https://www.trouw.nl/politiek/racistische-uitspraken-werden-de-gedreven-achahbar-te-veel~bef6f32f/ |url-access = subscription |date = 15 November 2024 |last = Frijns |first = Roelant |access-date = 17 November 2024 |language = nl |website = Trouw |title = 'Racistische uitspraken' werden de gedreven Achahbar te veel |trans-title = 'Racist remarks' were too much for the ambitious Achahbar }} Simultaneously, she was a judge ad hoc specialized in administrative and criminal law in the period 2020–2021.{{Cite news |url = https://www.rtl.nl/nieuws/politiek/artikel/5480639/staatssecretaris-achahbar-stapt-op-vanwege-integratiediscussie |date = 15 November 2024 |access-date = 17 November 2024 |language = nl |website = RTL Nieuws |title = Staatssecretaris Achahbar kondigt vertrek aan vanwege integratiediscussie binnen kabinet |trans-title = State Secretary Achahbar announces departure because of integration debate within cabinet }}

State Secretary for Benefits and Customs

Achahbar joined the newly established political party New Social Contract, and she ran for the House of Representatives as its 26th candidate in the November 2023 general election. She did not enter the House, as the party secured 20 seats. After the PVV, VVD, NSC, and BBB formed the Schoof cabinet, Achahbar was sworn in as State Secretary for Benefits and Customs on 2 July 2024.{{Cite news |url = https://nos.nl/collectie/13962/artikel/2524390-nora-achahbar-gaat-voor-nsc-het-toeslagendossier-beheren |date = 13 June 2024 |access-date = 13 June 2024 |language = nl |website = NOS |title = Nora Achahbar gaat voor NSC het toeslagendossier beheren |trans-title = Nora Achahbar will manage the benefits portfolio for NSC }}{{Cite news |url = https://nos.nl/collectie/13962/artikel/2527025-ministers-en-staatssecretarissen-kabinet-schoof-beedigd |date = 2 July 2024 |access-date = 2 July 2024 |language = nl |website = NOS |title = Ministers en staatssecretarissen kabinet-Schoof beëdigd |trans-title = Ministers and state secretaries of Schoof cabinet sworn in }} Her portfolio includes the aftermath of the Dutch childcare benefits scandal and reforms to the benefits system.{{Cite web |url = https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/regering/bewindspersonen/nora-achahbar |website = Government of the Netherlands |language = nl |access-date = 5 July 2024 |title = Nora Achahbar }} The cabinet aimed to finish the recovery operation for the scandal's victims by 2027 despite a slow pace of procedures. Achahbar criticized the myriad of compensation schemes. She established an emergency committee to advise on a new centralized recovery approach that would look beyond just financial compensation.{{Cite news |url = https://www.volkskrant.nl/politiek/staatssecretaris-zet-in-op-totaalherstel-van-toeslagenaffaire~baa5fc75/ |date = 6 November 2024 |last1 = Hendrickx |first1 = Frank |last2 = Huisman |first2 = Charlotte |access-date = 6 November 2024 |language = nl |website = de Volkskrant |title = Staatssecretaris zet in op 'totaalherstel' van toeslagenaffaire: 'Het kan zo niet langer' |trans-title = State secretary focuses on 'comprehensive recovery' from childcare benefits scandal: 'This can't continue' }}{{Cite news |url = https://www.trouw.nl/politiek/spoedcommissie-moet-afhandeling-toeslagenaffaire-versnellen~b3755638/ |url-access = subscription |date = 6 November 2024 |last = Lammers |first = Esther |access-date = 6 November 2024 |language = nl |website = Trouw |title = Spoedcommissie moet afhandeling toeslagenaffaire versnellen |trans-title = Emergency committee should speed up recovery from the childcare benefits scandal }}

On 11 November 2024, when the Council of Ministers discussed the Amsterdam attacks, in which supporters of the Israeli football club Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C. were targeted, Achahbar reportedly considered some remarks offensive, radical, and potentially racist. Prime Minister Dick Schoof said after the council meeting that the events pointed to a broader integration issue, and State Secretary Jurgen Nobel stated that a significant portion of Islamic youth did not endorse Dutch norms and values.{{Cite news |url = https://www.volkskrant.nl/nieuws-achtergrond/premier-schoof-ziet-groot-probleem-met-de-integratie-hun-gedrag-is-schokkend-moreel-volstrekt-ontaard~bdd2bafd/ |date = 11 November 2024 |last = Du Pré |first = Raoul |access-date = 11 November 2024 |language = nl |website = de Volkskrant |title = Premier Schoof ziet groot probleem met de integratie: 'Hun gedrag is schokkend, moreel volstrekt ontaard' |trans-title = Prime Minister Schoof observes major issue with integration: 'Their behavior is shocking, completely morally corrupt' }}{{Cite news |url = https://www.volkskrant.nl/politiek/integratiedebat-brengt-verdeeld-kabinet-schoof-aan-het-wankelen~b22509cf/ |date = 15 November 2024 |last1 = Hendrickx |first1 = Frank |last2 = Du Pré |first2 = Raoul |access-date = 16 November 2024 |language = nl |website = de Volkskrant |title = Integratiedebat brengt verdeeld kabinet-Schoof aan het wankelen |trans-title = Integration debate causes divided Schoof cabinet to shake }} Achahbar announced on 15 November to the Council that she would resign as state secretary. Her intended resignation triggered crisis talks to prevent a cabinet collapse between the cabinet and leaders of the four coalition parties, who finally agreed that other cabinet members of NSC would stay on.{{Cite news |url = https://nos.nl/artikel/2544660-val-kabinet-afgewend-achahbar-vertrekt-andere-nsc-ers-blijven-in-kabinet |date = 15 November 2024 |access-date = 15 November 2024 |language = nl |website = NOS |title = Val kabinet afgewend: Achahbar vertrekt, andere NSC'ers blijven in kabinet |trans-title = Cabinet collapse prevented: Achahbar will depart, other NSC members will remain in the cabinet }} In a letter, Achahbar cited "polarizing interactions during the past weeks" as the cause of her resignation, which was granted the same day.{{Cite news |url = https://nos.nl/liveblog/2544610-premier-zwijgt-over-wat-er-is-gezegd-maar-bezweert-geen-sprake-van-racisme#UPDATE-container-82013205 |date = 15 November 2024 |access-date = 16 November 2024 |language = nl |website = NOS |title = Koning verleent ontslag aan Achahbar |trans-title = King grants Achahbar's resignation }}{{Cite news |url = https://nos.nl/liveblog/2544610-premier-zwijgt-over-wat-er-is-gezegd-maar-bezweert-geen-sprake-van-racisme#UPDATE-container-82013445 |date = 15 November 2024 |access-date = 16 November 2024 |language = nl |website = NOS |title = Achahbar: kan door polariserende omgangsvormen niet verder als staatssecretaris |trans-title = Achahbar: Cannot continue as state secretary due to polarizing interactions }} She later denied that her departure was because of racism, and she said that some remarks that circulated were incorrect.{{Cite news |url = https://www.nu.nl/politiek/6336051/oud-staatssecretaris-achahbar-ontkent-dat-ze-is-opgestapt-vanwege-racisme.html |date = 19 November 2024 |access-date = 20 November 2024 |language = nl |website = NU.nl |title = Oud-staatssecretaris Achahbar ontkent dat ze is opgestapt vanwege racisme |trans-title = Former State Secretary Achahbar denies that she stepped down because of racism }} She did mention that public comments about integration issues as well as State Secretary Chris Jansen declaring that he continued to support a speech by Geert Wilders about wanting fewer Moroccan people in the Netherlands contributed to her dissatisfaction.{{Cite news |url = https://www.nu.nl/politiek/6336051/oud-staatssecretaris-achahbar-ontkent-dat-ze-is-opgestapt-vanwege-racisme.html |date = 19 November 2024 |access-date = 24 November 2024 |language = nl |website = NU.nl |title = Oud-staatssecretaris Achahbar ontkent dat ze is opgestapt vanwege racisme |trans-title = Former state secretary Achahbar denies racism being the cause of her resignation }}

Electoral history

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" border=2 cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 style="border: 1px #aaa solid; font-size: 90%; text-align:center;" \|+ {{sronly\|Electoral history of Nora Achahbar}} ! scope="col" rowspan=2 \|Year ! scope="col" rowspan=2 \|Body ! scope="col" colspan=2 rowspan=2 \|Party ! scope="col" rowspan=2 \|{{abbr\|2=Position on the party list\|Pos.}} ! scope="col" rowspan=2 \|Votes ! scope="colgroup" colspan=2 \|Result ! scope="col" rowspan=2 class="unsortable" \|{{abbr\|2=References\|Ref}}.
scope="col" \|Party seats ! scope="col" \|Individual
scope="row" \| 2023 \| House of Representatives \| style="background-color:{{party color\|New Social Contract}};"\| \| New Social Contract \| style=text-align:right \| 26 \| style=text-align:right \| 1,373 \| style=text-align:right \| 20 \| {{no2\|Lost}} \| {{Cite magazine \|magazine = Staatscourant \|url = https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/stcrt-2024-119.pdf \|via = Overheid.nl \|language = nl \|access-date = 13 June 2024 \|date = 24 January 2024 \|volume = 2024 \|number = 119 \|title = Model P 22-1: Proces-verbaal van de uitslag van de verkiezing van de Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal \|trans-title = Model P 22–1: Report of the results of the election of the House of Representatives \|pages = 143–144 }}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" border=2 cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 style="border: 1px #aaa solid; font-size: 90%; text-align:center;"

|+ {{sronly|Electoral history of Nora Achahbar}}

! scope="col" rowspan=2 |Year

! scope="col" rowspan=2 |Body

! scope="col" colspan=2 rowspan=2 |Party

! scope="col" rowspan=2 |{{abbr|2=Position on the party list|Pos.}}

! scope="col" rowspan=2 |Votes

! scope="colgroup" colspan=2 |Result

! scope="col" rowspan=2 class="unsortable" |{{abbr|2=References|Ref}}.

scope="col" |Party seats

! scope="col" |Individual

scope="row" | 2023

| House of Representatives

| style="background-color:{{party color|New Social Contract}};"|

| New Social Contract

| style=text-align:right | 26

| style=text-align:right | 1,373

| style=text-align:right | 20

| {{no2|Lost}}

| {{Cite magazine |magazine = Staatscourant |url = https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/stcrt-2024-119.pdf |via = Overheid.nl |language = nl |access-date = 13 June 2024 |date = 24 January 2024 |volume = 2024 |number = 119 |title = Model P 22-1: Proces-verbaal van de uitslag van de verkiezing van de Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal |trans-title = Model P 22–1: Report of the results of the election of the House of Representatives |pages = 143–144 }}

References

{{s-ttl|title=State Secretary for Benefits and Customs|years=2024}}

Category:Living people

Category:1982 births

Category:New Social Contract politicians

Category:Lawyers from The Hague

Category:Politicians from The Hague

Category:21st-century Dutch politicians

Category:21st-century Dutch women politicians

Category:21st-century Dutch lawyers

Category:21st-century Dutch women lawyers

Category:21st-century Dutch judges

Category:Dutch prosecutors

Category:People from Sidi Slimane

Category:Moroccan emigrants to the Netherlands

Category:State Secretaries for Finance of the Netherlands

Category:Leiden University alumni