PvdA-leader Rotterdam steps down

PvdA-leader Hamit Karakus stepped down from his position in Rotterdam on Monday due to the heavy blows the party had to take during the municipal council elections. The party dropped from 14 to eight seats. As well as leader of the party in Rotterdam, Karakus was also alderman for the council. From this position, he will will also step down. Earlier, Karakus said he would stay on in the party after the elections, but after "a few sleepless nights" he decided to leave anyway. He is the second PvdA leader to leave after the elections of 19 March. In Amsterdam, Pieter Hilhorst, whose political career was short-lived at only a year-and-a-half, also resigned after the party's loss came as an "unbelievable blow."