Frans Weekers challenges VVD pick to lead party in Senate

Former state secretary Frans Weekers wants to be the VVD's lead candidate (lijsttrekker) for the Eerste Kamer, the Senate. He is defying the party leadership, which has put forward former minister Micky Adriaansens. Weekers said on Sunday that Halbe Zijlstra and Johan Remkes, among others, support him. He still has to be formally nominated.

Weekers says he wants to bring the VVD "back on the right track". He criticised the VVD for ruling out parties, including Pro, in advance during the election campaign.

Weekers says the party is doing badly and many members are leaving. "Some say the VVD is riding on D66's coat-tails, others say it's PVV-lite," he said. He says he wants to help party leader Dilan Yesilgöz make the VVD more liberal again.

He was state secretary of Finance in the Rutte I and II cabinets.

If Weekers goes ahead, party members decide who becomes lead candidate. The result will be announced on 16 December.

Weekers said on Sunday evening that he expects the VVD branches in Limburg and North Brabant to nominate him. He also named Jan van Zanen, the mayor of The Hague and VVD chairman from 2003 to 2008, among his supporters.

What happens next

• If Weekers goes ahead with his candidacy, party members decide who becomes lead candidate.
• Members can vote online between 9 and 15 December.
• The result will be announced on 16 December.