Another MP resigns: VVD’er leaves for Uber management position

Yet another parliamentarian is leaving the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of Dutch parliament, before his term is up. VVD MP Bart de Liefde announced his resignation. He will soon be working as a manager at taxi platform Uber. Just a week ago D66 parliamentarian Wassila Hachchi resigned to go campaigning for U.S. presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, causing a bit of a stir in the Kamer. It may seem that MP's are leaving the Kamer en masse, but according to broadcaster NOS, the number of parliamentarians leaving before the four-year term is over is still below average, if only just. De Liefde is the 34th MP to resign since the last election, the average is 35. Thirteen of the early leavers moved into the Cabinet, including Prime Minister Mark Rutte, Finance Jeroen Dijsselbloem and Justice Minister Ard van der Steur. The others wen off to be mayors, enter the business world or stepped down due to a scandal or affair. De Liefde was in the Kamer for more than 5 years and active for the VVD for more than 10. In a statement he said that it is time "to take a new path." "I have with my heart and soul, and with pleasure, worked for the public good", he said "I am thankful to the party for all the opportunities I've been given, but after twelve years of politics, it is time to take a new path." De Liefde sat in the Tweede Kamer for the VVD from 2010. He was spokesperson for IT, consumer policy, telecom and horticulture. Before that he was councilor in The Hague and an employee in the VVD Tweede Kamer faction. He will be leaving the Kamer in three weeks. VVD leader Halbe Zijlstra stated that he respects De Liefde's departure. "We are grateful for his efforts and wish him every success in his new position." According to NOS, Remco Bosma will likely be De Liefde's successor. Also on the list are former State Secretary Frans Weekers and departed MP Mark Verheijen, but it seems unlikely that they will return to the Hague.