Lidewij de Vos named lead candidate for Forum for Democracy, replaces Thierry Baudet
Lidewij de Vos will serve as the lead candidate for Forum for Democracy (FVD) in the upcoming Tweede Kamer elections on October 29, replacing party founder Thierry Baudet, who has held the top spot as party chairman since the party’s inception.
De Vos said she is honored by the appointment. “It is a particularly great honor and a responsibility of magnitude to be lead candidate of the largest member party in the Netherlands,” she said in a statement. She added that she aims to advance the party and pursue renewal.
Baudet will remain FVD party chairman but move to the second position on the electoral list, NU.nl reported. He told the press that he believes his leadership has hindered the party’s growth due to “polarized opinions” about him and “a media blockade lasting five years.” He acknowledged that some of the issues were his own doing but said they were also partly caused by framing and being denied opportunities.
Baudet expressed confidence in De Vos’s leadership. “FVD with De Vos as lead candidate and parliamentary leader will achieve a fantastic result in the elections and accomplish a great deal for FVD voters and for the Netherlands,” he said.
De Vos will also replace Baudet as parliamentary leader in the Tweede Kamer starting next week, taking over the seat from Pepijn van Houwelingen. She previously served in the Kamer from January to April as Baudet’s temporary substitute and has also worked as a policy officer for the party. At 28 years old, De Vos is currently the youngest lead candidate among sitting Tweede Kamer parties.
