Skip to main content
Home

Main navigation

  • Top stories
  • Health
  • Crime
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Weird
  • 1-1-2
Politics
Diederik Samsom
Lodewijk Asscher
Tweede Kamer
PvdA
Khadija Arib
Mark Rutte
Wednesday, 14 December 2016 - 08:33
Share this:
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
  • reddit

Fmr Labour leader leaves parliament to standing ovation

Former PvdA leader Diederik Samsom said goodbye to Dutch parliament on Tuesday. He left the Tweede Kamer to loud applause, with many parliamentarians standing on their feet, NOS reports.

Samsom is leaving after he lost the election for PvdA leader to current Deputy Prime Minister Lodewijk Asscher. Kamer president Khadija Arib read his farewell letter to the parliamentarians.

Samsom wrote that he is disappointed and sad, but mostly thankful for the 15 years that he was able to serve in Hague politics. "That is not a right but a privelage." He also addressed Prime Minister Mark Rutte, with whom he's been working very closely together since the formation of the PvdA-VVD coalition in 2012. According to Samsom, the cooperation between the two of them worked so well because of a rare combination of maximum disagreement and maximum confidence.

The former PvdA leader finally said that he is removing the "restricting Hague corset" with some relief and that he will stay out of politics for the time being.

Kamer President Arib called Samsom's departure an emotional goodbye. She praised him for his enthusiasm, intelligence, boundless energy and perseverance. Arib called Samsom a fighter, who has a great future ahead of him.

After leaving the Tweede Kamer, Rutte said that he and Samosm disagreed on many fronts over the past four years, but never once was he cheated by him. "An agreement with him is an agreement. In politics at least that is very important, but even more so in such a complicated coalition in which two parties two parties that actually have nothing in common, have to work together." Rutte said. "He is incredibly passionate; the country has a very good politician in him."

Waarom profiteren #VVD en #PvdA niet van hun mooie eindlijst?https://t.co/Rw7i0jGsoB pic.twitter.com/LiQBnLnF87

— de Volkskrant (@volkskrant) December 13, 2016

Follow us:

Latest stories

  • Official shell counting day: Counting seashells on Dutch beaches for science
  • Cabinet wants to make industry more sustainable more quickly
  • Lawsuit against 41-year-old sperm donor who fathered more than 500 children worldwide
  • Scientist Rebellion blocked private jet area; 80 XR climate activists arrested
  • Over 340 municipalities refuse to implement energy surcharge for low-income households for Cabinet
  • No further consequences for air traffic due to XR protest at Eindhoven Airport

Top stories

  • Extinction Rebellion protesters enter grounds of Eindhoven Airport, blocking private jet area
  • The Netherlands moves clocks forward 1 hour overnight
  • Code yellow for squalls along the coast and in Zuid-Limburg
  • The Netherlands' modern day Robin Hood helping tenants fight greedy landlords
  • Deliveroo couriers are salaried employees, not freelancers, Supreme Court rules
  • 7-year-old girl killed in accident with Utrecht city bus; Boy, 5, seriously hurt

© 2012-2023, NL Times, All rights reserved.

Footer menu

  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Partner content