Top PvdA figures quit after contentious congress, claim party abandoned social democracy

Hans Adriani, provincial leader of the PvdA in Utrecht, announced his resignation from the party following a turbulent congress in Nieuwegein, citing dissatisfaction with the party’s political course, according to RTV Utrecht.

Adriani, who was a PvdA member for 23 years and served nearly a decade as alderman in Nieuwegein, said the congress was the final blow. He claimed the party’s core social-democratic values “have left the party.”

According to Adriani, the PvdA historically stood for supporting those in need and resisted “the rat race of escalating polarization.” On LinkedIn, he wrote, “The new majority seems to want to view the world only in terms of Good and Wrong, where anyone who disagrees with their own righteousness is quickly deemed Wrong or at least booed.”

Though he did not specify the precise issue that triggered his resignation, much of the congress attention focused on the Middle East conflict. PvdA MP Kati Piri introduced a motion calling for a full arms embargo on Israel, which sparked intense internal debate. A broad majority of GroenLinks and PvdA members supported temporarily stopping arms exports to Israel, though the motion failed in the Dutch parliament.

Noortje Flink has taken over as chair of the Utrecht PvdA faction. She and fellow provincial council member Wilma de Boer-Leijsma say they support the national party’s direction and plan to find a new faction member after the summer recess. Flink expressed sadness over Adriani’s departure and thanked him for his work “towards a social and fair province,” especially on affordable housing.

The congress exposed deep divisions within the PvdA, with several prominent figures also condemning the party’s turn and resigning or threatening to quit, according to De Telegraaf. Rob Oudkerk, former Amsterdam alderman, bluntly declared, “The PvdA is dead.” He criticized the party’s overwhelming focus on the Middle East conflict, calling it “immoral and shameful,” and predicted voters would collectively abandon the party. “This is no longer a party that wants to do good for the Netherlands,” Oudkerk said.

Reshma Roopram, former alderman who had a prominent role at the congress, said she is quitting her membership. “Here it ends,” she said. “We tried to pull the party back to the center as true social democrats, but the party has been hijacked by radical left forces. Their views are so extreme I conclude this is no longer a party for ordinary people.”

Holocaust survivor Samuel de Leeuw (83) also quit his PvdA membership after 65 years, citing feelings of “sadness, bewilderment, and disgust.” His father was arrested and later murdered in Auschwitz during World War II.

Other senior figures also voiced dismay. Former PvdA leaders Job Cohen, Lodewijk Asscher, and Ad Melkert, along with ex-House Speaker Gerdi Verbeet, attempted to moderate the party’s stance, particularly opposing the full arms embargo motion.

Melkert criticized equating Israel’s defense system with offensive weapons as a “twisted argument” that fails international law. He condemned how dissenters were booed and insulted. Cohen, who reportedly attended the congress in an attempt to ease tensions, disagreed with claims that the party is dead but acknowledged, 'The old PvdA is dead. It is time to refresh ourselves.'