Jul 14, 2023 at 04:20 Update: 10 minutes ago
Outgoing minister Rob Jetten (Climate and Energy) wants to succeed Sigrid Kaag as party leader and party leader of D66. In AD says Jetten that it is time for a new generation “that carries less of that past with it and tries to solve things openly and uninhibitedly”.
As party leader, 36-year-old Jetten does not want to change the substantive course of his party, he says in conversation with the newspaper. As far as he is concerned, D66 must above all be “recognizable”. “Really stand for the democratic rule of law, freedoms and moral leadership”, he says.
Group chairman Jan Paternotte announced yesterday that he would not be available. D66 leader and outgoing minister Sigrid Kaag (Finance) announced that same morning that he would leave politics. Kaag, who is under heavy security due to serious threats, says her work is too stressful for her family.
Robbert Dijkgraaf (Education) is also mentioned as a possible candidate. D66 wants to organize party leader elections for a successor in the short term. Candidates can apply next week.
Receive notifications about news about the elections to the House of RepresentativesStay informed with notifications
Jetten was Alexander Pechtold’s dream successor
In 2018, the then 31-year-old Jetten was promoted as party chairman after quickly making a career in the party. He was then a member of parliament for more than a year and before that he was chairman of the Nijmegen municipal council. The politician had to prove himself as the successor to Alexander Pechtold, who in twelve years had grown into the undisputed party leader and made D66 important again in The Hague after a difficult period.
Two years later, Jetten did not put himself forward as party leader to make room for Sigrid Kaag, who had made himself popular within the party as Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation. His support was rewarded. During the formation, Jetten joined the negotiations as a second to Kaag. In the recently fallen Rutte IV cabinet, he became Minister for Climate and Energy.
“A few years ago it felt very good for me to put that step aside for Sigrid,” says Jetten now. “I thought: great, a top diplomat with so much international experience who can play a good role for D66. I have now learned a lot in this ministry. Now I am ready.”
In 2020, Jetten did not apply to make way for Kaag. Photo: BrunoPress
Jetten was seen as a ‘climate drama player’ in his time as a Member of Parliament
Even in his time as a Member of Parliament, Jetten profiled himself on the theme of climate change. It earned him the nickname “climate drama” after Klaas Dijkhoff of the VVD called him that. Jetten even had T-shirts printed with that text.
“The climate crisis is one of the greatest threats to the entire planet,” says Jetten to the AD. He wants to make the economy greener, thus providing more employment and reducing energy bills.
D66 is not the only party that has to look for a list leader for the upcoming elections. Earlier, outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte (VVD) announced that he would leave politics. CDA leader Wopke Hoekstra is also no longer available for the list leader. He will remain politically active for the time being.
2:25 Play button
2023-07-14 02:20:00
#Rob #Jetten #succeed #Kaag #party #leader #D66 #Politics
