Yesilgöz: "Yes, I am" the VVD lead candidate at next elections
VVD leader Dilan Yesilgöz says she wants to be the party's lead candidate again, after a two-hour meeting with critical members in Veghel.
VVD leader Dilan Yesilgöz wants to be the party's lead candidate (lijsttrekker) again at the next elections. Asked in an interview, after a party meeting in Veghel, whether she is the next VVD lead candidate, she answered: "Yes, that's me." She has led the party since August 2023, when she succeeded Mark Rutte.
The meeting was with critical VVD members from Noord-Brabant. Yesilgöz and parliamentary leader Brekelmans answered questions for two hours in front of about 150 members. Yesilgöz called the meeting "very good".
Yesilgöz said she does not like the criticism, "not as a person either", but that unrest in a party "is of all times". She said she has been through it as a councillor, MP and minister. "We are a party that likes to debate, and then we move on," she said. She called the impression that the VVD was rolling out a left-wing agenda unjustified, and said the media give the VVD disproportionate attention.
On working with Pro, the party led by Klaver, Yesilgöz said: "We do want to work with Pro, but not without the right." She meant the right-wing party JA21. She later added that cooperation with Pro alone may be possible on "parts", such as the nitrogen plans (stikstofplannen).
A VVD congress is scheduled for the end of November.
JA21 (Juiste Antwoord 2021)
A Dutch right-wing party, founded in December 2020 after a split in Forum voor Democratie (FvD), by Joost Eerdmans and Annabel Nanninga. It is critical of the European Union and of immigration, and favours lower taxes.
Pro
The political party led by Klaver. It participates in national political negotiations and discussions on specific policies, such as the nitrogen plans.