Khadija Arib reelected as lower house president

Khadija Arib (PvdA) will be the president of the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of Dutch parliament, for the next governing period. Until 10:00 a.m. this morning parliamentarians could present themselves as candidate for the presidency, Arib was the only one to do so. She will be officially appointed on Wednesday, NOS reports.

Arib took the post of Kamer president in January last year, when her predecessor Anouchka van Miltenburg (VVD) resigned in the aftermath of the Teeven-deal. Arib quickly acquired authority and respect both inside and outside the Tweede Kamer, according to the broadcaster.

In her application letter Arib wrote that the government is still too reluctant to give information to the Kamer, despite being obligated to do so in the Constitution. Arib calls the fulfillment of that obligation a concern. Over the past time she worked to improve it, but she wants to make further agreements with the government on this matter. She also called it important that the Tweede Kamer be able to continue unhindered during the upcoming renovations of the Binnenhof. As chairman she considers her duty not only to maintain order, but also to create a pleasant climate in which to meet.

Except for a short break, Arib has been in the Tweede Kamer since 1998. In the parliamentary election on March 15th she was the PvdA's number 2 candidate, right behind party leader Lodewijk Asscher.

According to NOS, this is the first time since 2002 that a Kamer president runs unopposed.