VVD MP Thom van Campen (35) elected as youngest-ever Dutch Parliament chair

VVD MP Thom van Campen was elected as the new chair of the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of Dutch Parliament. The 35-year-old's colleagues voted in Van Campen on Tuesday evening, making him the youngest person to ever hold the job. His election was with the help of left-wing party GroenLinks-PvdA, suggesting it was an olive branch to the VVD.

The D66 effectively won the recent Tweede Kamer election with a plurality of votes, and the centrists want to form a coalition with the CDA, VVD and GroenLinks-PvdA. But the right-wing VVD has thus far refused to work with the left-wing party.

In a brief first speech as the new chair, Van Campen expressed his gratitude. He then adjourned the session, having previously promised to keep meeting length to a minimum where possible.

The voting played out in three rounds, and it initially looked as if Van Campen would lose his bid for the chairmanship. The incumbent chair, PVV MP Martin Bosma, took 66 of the votes in that round, and GroenLinks-PvdA MP Tom van der Lee took 43, with Van Campen taking just 39.

In the second round, Bosma received 67 votes, Van Campen 49, and Van der Lee dropped to 32. The latter was then eliminated.

Van Campen received 79 votes in the last round, with a majority of 75 needed. He secured ten more votes than The incumbent chair, PVV MP Martin Bosma, who is now 61 years old. After his victory, the VVD member was immediately congratulated by Bosma and Van der Lee.

Van der Lee later revealed that GroenLinks-PvdA voted for Van Campen in the final round, suggesting that the VVD should now consider the left-wing party during the coalition formation process. VVD party leader Dilan Yeşilgöz has repeatedly stated that he does not want to form a Cabinet with GroenLinks-PvdA. It is not yet clear if Van Campen's victory will soften her stance.

Bosma said it was a "huge disappointment" that he will not remain chair for the next term. "I would have liked to continue," he told ANP. That said, he expected to lose going into the third round if he was forced to face Van Campen one-on-one.

"It's mainly a celebration for Thom now; I hope he makes something beautiful of it," said Van der Lee after the election. He said he understands that Bosma would find it a bitter defeat.

Despite the loss, Bosma will remain in the Tweede Kamer. "Back to committee debates, bad-mouthing the NPO," he said in reference to the Dutch public broadcasting system, Nederlandse Publiek Omroep. Bosma has represented his party on media issues in the past, and is a harsh critic of the NPO. The PVV member also said he predicts elections will have to be held in the Netherlands soon, and may make another bid for the chairmanship at that time.

Van Campen previously indicated he believes he has sufficient experience to perform well in the job, despite becoming the youngest Tweede Kamer chair on record. Van Campen became a member of the Tweede Kamer in 2021. He has represented his right-wing VVD on issues related to agriculture, nature, nitrogen, food quality, and European matters. As party secretary, Van Campen has also had oversight over the organization of his party.

During the debate, Van Campen promised to give a voice to those who often remain quiet, and to those members of parliament who are still searching for a voice. He also said he wants to continue in the same vein as Bosma.

The VVD politician studied journalism and international relations and has been politically active for most of his adult life. At 21, he served on the Zwolle City Council, becoming the VVD's faction leader after five years.

He took on a second job for over a year while on Council, working as a personal assistant to one of his party's members of parliament. Later, he became a political advisor to Tamara van Ark when she was the state secretary for social affairs and employment, and later when she became the medical care minister in Prime Minister Mark Rutte's third Cabinet.