Caretaker junior social affairs minister Bas van ’t Wout is to succeed former economic affairs minister Eric Wiebes who stepped down over his role in the child benefits scandal, sources have confirmed a report by the Telegraaf on Monday.

Van ’t Wout (44) started his career as political assistant to Mark Rutte in his role as junior minister under then-prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende, and later headed the VVD parliamentary group.

Van ‘t Wout belongs to the prime minister’s political inner circle, the paper said, and is tipped for a role in the next cabinet should the VVD win the elections on March 17.