Uppelschoten (PVV) is the oldest ever to enter the House of Representatives: ‘Duty calls’

79-year-old Nico Uppelschoten (PVV) is preparing for a new job as a Member of Parliament. While he never wanted to qualify for this. “But duty calls,” he says in the Radio Drenthe program Cassata.

Due to the monster victory of the PVV, which will probably yield 37 – and after the distribution of the remaining seats – 38 seats, Uppelschoten is close to a House of Representatives seat. He was in position 39 on the PVV electoral list.

“I am the first reserve,” Uppelschoten is well aware of the situation. “Then it’s simple: it will be my turn later.” In the event of a cabinet participation by the PVV, MPs move on to the cabinet according to custom. This way, party leader Geert Wilders can become prime minister. And other PVV members may be ministers or state secretaries. Group members can also leave (temporarily) due to illness, pregnancy or other reasons.

Uppelschoten, currently a PVV member of the Drenthe Parliament, had a moment of realization during the results evening: I am no longer ineligible. “It was quite a shock.” On the other hand, the resident of Eelde does not want to avoid his responsibility. “You have to be able to adapt and say: I might have to do it after all.”