Finance Min.: Rotterdam mayor should run for Labour leadership

Finance Minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem thinks that Rotterdam Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb should immediately present himself as candidate for leadership of the PvdA, he said to RTL Z. Last week the Rotterdam mayor said that he would run, but only if current leader Diederik Samsom does not. "I find it a strange argument", Dijsselbloem said to the broadcaster, referring to Aboutaleb waiting to see whether Samsom will run or not. "I think it's clear that Aboutaleb has the ambition to pull the car and also wants to add ideals. And then there's also the moment to just say so. You should not wait until the ring is empty before you enter the ring." He added that you have to take risks to get party leadership, not wait for it to be handed to you. Dijsselbloem also said that should Samsom run for party leadership again, he would vote for him. He calls Samsom an "exceptional and inspiring leader for the PvdA".