Socialist MP out after 16 years
Socialist Party MP, Jan de Wit, is calling it quits. The 68-year-old De Wit decided to retire on April 1st 2014, after almost 16 years of politics. De Wit is among one of the longest serving MP's in the current cabinet, referring to his chairmanship of the 'De Wit' committee as the highlight of his parliamentary work.
The 'De Wit' committee investigated the banking crisis and the government financial aid to ING and ABN Amro. De Wit, lawyer and prosecutor by trade, started his political career in his hometown, Heerlen. The SP fraction in Heerlen is now among the largest in the Netherlands. From 1982 to 1996 De Wit served on the City Council as a board member. In 1998 he started his parliamentary career. The SP MP focused on justice and social affairs and will be succeeded by 31-year-old fellow party member Michiel van Nispen. The soon to retire MP is known to be always available to his coworkers and volunteers. His wife, Riet, who is a popular SP alderman in Heerlen herself, will retire at the same time. The De Wits have been members of the SP since its early years in the seventies.
