Christian Democrat MP Mona Keijzer, sacked as junior economic affairs minister at the weekend after telling the Telegraaf newspaper she had doubts about the coronavirus pass system, has quit national politics altogether.

Keijzer, who will remain a member of the party, said she would stand down as an MP to ensure she did not become a divisive element within the party. ‘The Christian Democratic way is too dear to me for that,’ she said in a declaration on Twitter.

Keijzer said she had doubts about ‘logic, the effectiveness and the proportionality’ of the coronavirus measures for some time. ‘Continuing as we are is not an option,’ she said.

Prime minister Mark Rutte said in a statement that he had taken the decision to sack Keijzer following discussions with the economic affairs minister and the three deputy prime ministers – who represent the three other parties in cabinet alongside Rutte’s VVD.

The interview was published on Saturday, the day the coronavirus pass came into widespread use in the Netherlands, replacing social distancing and a number of other measures.