2023 Speaker of the Dutch House of Representatives election
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On 14 December 2023, the House of Representatives of the Netherlands elected its Speaker for the 2023–2028 term. The election was held three weeks after the 2023 general election. Incumbent Speaker Vera Bergkamp (D66) retired from politics.
Martin Bosma of the Party for Freedom was elected in the second round with 75 votes.
Candidates[edit]
Two members of the House of Representatives declared their candidacy.[1]
On 8 December, 59 year old Tom van der Lee, a member of the GroenLinks–PvdA group, became the first to announce his candidacy for the speakership. In his public application letter, he expressed his desire to bridge the gap between citizens and politicians and enhance the legislative process. He also cited his impartial unifying leadership, having worked as campaign director of Oxfam Novib and head of information of GroenLinks. Van der Lee, who has been a member of the House of Representatives since 2017, rose to prominence as chairman of the parliamentary inquiry into natural gas extraction Groningen.[2][3]
On 10 December, 59 year old Martin Bosma, a member of the Party for Freedom (PVV) group, announced his candidacy for the speakership, having previously been a candidate in 2016 and 2021. Bosma has been a member of the House of Representatives since 2006, and a deputy speaker since 2010. In this capacity, he has chaired many parliamentary debates, and he is praised for his tight chairmanship. However, there are also concerns about his polarising politics and his failure to distance himself from his party leader Geert Wilders' past statements.[4][3]
Acting speaker Roelien Kamminga (VVD) was also seen as a potential candidate, but declined to stand for election.[5][1]
Procedure[edit]
The newly elected House of Representatives settled on a profile for the next Speaker on 6 December 2023. Members could apply for the position until 12 December. The voting took place on 14 December, in two rounds. Voting took place by secret ballot.[5][6]
Results[edit]
| Candidate | Party | First round | Second round | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Votes | % | |||
| Martin Bosma | PVV | 71 | 48.97 | 75 | 51.37 | |
| Tom van der Lee | GL/PvdA | 61 | 42.07 | 66 | 45.21 | |
| Roelien Kamminga | VVD | 12 | 8.28 | 5 | 3.42 | |
| Raymond de Roon | PVV | 1 | 0.69 | |||
| Total | 145 | 100.00 | 146 | 100.00 | ||
| Valid votes | 145 | 97.97 | 146 | 98.65 | ||
| Invalid/blank votes | 3 | 2.03 | 2 | 1.35 | ||
| Total votes | 148 | 100.00 | 148 | 100.00 | ||
| Registered voters/turnout | 150 | 98.67 | 150 | 98.67 | ||
| Source: NOS | ||||||
Martin Bosma, a member of the Party for Freedom, was elected in the second round with 75 votes.[7]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Twee kandidaten voor Kamervoorzitterschap: Bosma en Van der Lee". NOS (in Dutch). 12 December 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
- ^ "Van der Lee (GroenLinks-PvdA) stelt zich kandidaat als Kamervoorzitter". NOS (in Dutch). 8 December 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
- ^ a b "Vanavond op tv: Wie gaat de Kamer voorzitten? • De verwachtingen van een PVV-kiezer • In bevrijd gebied in Oekraïne". Nieuwsuur (in Dutch). 10 December 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
- ^ "PVV-Kamerlid Martin Bosma wil voorzitter Tweede Kamer worden". NOS (in Dutch). 10 December 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
- ^ a b "Kamer gaat voorzitter kiezen, drie namen genoemd als kanshebbers". NOS (in Dutch). 6 December 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
- ^ "Verkiezing voorzitter Tweede Kamer". Parlement.com (in Dutch). Retrieved 12 December 2023.
- ^ "PVV-Kamerlid Martin Bosma nieuwe voorzitter van de Tweede Kamer". NOS (in Dutch). 14 December 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2023.