Jesse Klaver tapped as GroenLinks-PvdA leader, replacing Timmermans after election woes

Jesse Klaver was elected Monday as the new leader of the GroenLinks-PvdA party, taking over from Frans Timmermans, who announced his resignation on Wednesday after the party faced an expected loss of five seats in the Tweede Kamer.

The party’s twenty Tweede Kamer members voted anonymously during a morning caucus to select the new leader. Klaver’s election was allegedly widely anticipated. Discussions of possible leadership have reportedly frequently mentioned Klaver's name since plans for the GroenLinks-PvdA merger emerged.

In the days following the election results, other possible candidates, including Esmah Lahlah, Kati Piri, Marjolein Moorman, and Habtamu de Hoop, announced they would not pursue the role.

Klaver, 39, has been a member of the Tweede Kamer for GroenLinks since 2010 and has served as party leader since 2015. He played a central role in coalition negotiations after the 2017 and 2021 elections, although GroenLinks did not enter the cabinet in either instance. Klaver has been a driving force behind the merger of the two parties, which is now nearly complete on paper.

In 2023, Klaver stepped aside for Timmermans, as party leaders believed the former European Commissioner had the best chance of becoming prime minister. That plan was upended when the PVV emerged as the largest party, leaving GroenLinks-PvdA in opposition.