During a conversation with AD journalist Jeroen Schmale, Queen Máxima indicated that she has doubts about whether or not to continue UN work.
Schmale spoke to the queen in Colombia, where she highlighted the topic of financial inclusion from Sunday to Wednesday. Asked about the continuation of her mandate (which expires in September), she said the following: “When I started this work, around 40 percent of the world’s population had access to financial services, in 2021 independent data showed that the percentage is 76 percent. And this year I expect that 80 percent of people will be able to pay, save, borrow and take out insurance. We have made incredible progress, but that does not mean the work is done. Because in some fragile states nothing is yet happening in this area.”
“The question is what my added value is, I am thinking about that. Even now that there are many organizations that can continue this work. And there are other matters that may need my attention more.”
Dilemma
Máxima’s dilemma comes as no surprise to me. In recent years, her role as a UN advocate has increasingly focused on topics such as digital money and digital IDs. These things are desperately needed in certain countries to achieve financial inclusion. At the same time, there are many concerns and questions about these topics in the Netherlands. Although no major studies have been conducted, support for Máxima’s UN work – partly due to all kinds of videos taken out of context – seemed to decline. Her membership of the ‘Stewardship Board of the World Economic Forum System Initiative on Shaping the Future of Financial and Monetary Systems’ was a thorn in the side for critics.
Now that a large part of the good work (which is promoting financial inclusion!) has been completed, it looks like the Queen will make a career move. You can bet that if a royal doubt is expressed, everything has already been discussed and arranged behind the scenes.
To be continued!
