Leader of the Democrats 66

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The Leader of the Democrats 66 is the most senior politician within the Democrats 66 (Dutch : Democraten 66, D66) party in the Netherlands. The post is currently held by Rob Jetten who was elected on 12 August 2023 and led the party into the 2023 Dutch general election. Jetten previously served as parliamentary leader of D66 in the House of Representatives from 2018 to 2021 and as Minister for Climate and Energy in the fourth Rutte government.

Contents

History

The Leaders outwardly act as the 'figurehead' and the main representative of the party. Within the party, they must ensure political consensus. At election time, the leader is always the lead candidate of the party list. In the Democrats 66, the leader is often the parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives. Some Democrats 66 leaders became a Minister in a cabinet.

Leaders

LeaderTerm of officeAge as leaderPosition(s) as leaderFurther position(s) Professional
background 		Lead candidate
Hans van Mierlo (1966).jpg Hans van Mierlo
(1931–2010)		14 September 1966 –
1 September 1973
(6 years, 352 days) [1] 		35–42 Chairman of
the Democrats 66
(1966–1967)
Member of the House
of Representatives
(1967–1977, 1986–1994)
Parliamentary leader in the
House of Representatives
(1967–1973, 1986–1994)
Member of the Senate
(1983–1986)
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Deputy Prime Minister
(1994–1998)		 Minister of Defence
(1981–1982)
Member of the House
of Representatives
(1998)
Minister of State
(1998–2011)		Journalist 1967
1971
1972
1986
1989
1994
Jan Terlouw 1981 (1).jpg Dr.
Jan Terlouw
(born 1931)		1 September 1973 –
8 September 1982
(9 years, 7 days) [1] 		41–50 Member of the House
of Representatives
(1971–1981)
Parliamentary leader in the
House of Representatives
(1973–1981)
Minister of Economic Affairs
Deputy Prime Minister
(1981–1982)		 Queen's Commissioner
of Gelderland
(1991–1996)
Member of the Senate
(1999–2003)		 Nuclear physicist
Astrophysicist
Mathematician
Researcher
Author
professor		 1977
1981
1982
Laurens Jan Brinkhorst 1981 (1).jpg Laurens Jan
Brinkhorst
(born 1937)		8 September 1982 –
10 November 1982
(63 days) [1] 		45 Member of the House
of Representatives
(1977–1982)
Parliamentary leader in the
House of Representatives
(1981–1982)		 State Secretary for
Foreign Affairs
(1973–1977)
Ambassador of the
European Union
to Japan
(1982–1987)
Member of the
European Parliament
(1994–1999)
Minister of Agriculture,
Nature and Fisheries
(1999–2002)
Minister of Economic Affairs
(2003–2006)
Deputy Prime Minister
(2005–2006)		Lawyer
Researcher
Professor
Maarten Engwirda 1982 (1).jpg Maarten
Engwirda
(born 1943)		10 November 1982 –
25 January 1986
(3 years, 76 days) [1] 		39–42 Member of the House
of Representatives
(1977–1989)
Parliamentary leader in the
House of Representatives
(1982–1986)		 Member of the House
of Representatives
(1971–1972)
Member of the
European Parliament
(1971–1973)
Member of the European
Court of Auditors
(1996–2011)		Economist
Mathematician
civil servant
H.A.F.M.O. van Mierlo, minister van Defensie.jpg Hans van Mierlo
(1931–2010)		25 January 1986 –
15 February 1998
(12 years, 21 days) [1] 		54–66 Chairman of
the Democrats 66
(1966–1967)
Member of the House
of Representatives
(1967–1977, 1986–1994)
Parliamentary leader in the
House of Representatives
(1967–1973, 1986–1994)
Member of the Senate
(1983–1986)
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Deputy Prime Minister
(1994–1998)		 Minister of Defence
(1981–1982)
Member of the House
of Representatives
(1998)
Minister of State
(1998–2011)		Journalist 1967
1971
1972
1986
1989
1994
Els Borst februari 2002.jpg Dr.
Els Borst
(1932–2014)		15 February 1998 –
30 May 1998
(104 days) [1] 		65–66 Minister of Health,
Welfare and Sport
(1994–2002)
Member of the House
of Representatives
(1998)
Parliamentary leader in the
House of Representatives
(1998)		 Deputy Prime Minister
(1998–2002)
Minister of State
(2012–2014)		Physician
Researcher
Hospital administrator
Professor		 1998
Thom de Graaf 2009.jpg Thom de Graaf
(born 1957)		30 May 1998 –
22 January 2003
(4 years, 237 days) [1] 		40–45 Member of the House
of Representatives
(1994–2003)
Parliamentary leader in the
House of Representatives
(1998–2003)		 Parliamentary leader in the
House of Representatives
(1997–1998)
Minister without Portfolio
for the Interior
Deputy Prime Minister
(2003–2005)
Mayor of Nijmegen
(2007–2012)
Member of the Senate
(2011–2018)
Parliamentary leader
in the Senate
(2015–2018)
Vice-President of
the Council of State
(since 2018)		 Jurist
Researcher
Civil servant		 2002
2003
Boris Dittrich cropped.jpg Boris Dittrich
(born 1955)		22 January 2003 –
3 February 2006
(3 years, 12 days) [1] 		47–50 Member of the House
of Representatives
(1994–2006)
Parliamentary leader in the
House of Representatives
(2003–2006)		 Member of the Senate
(since 2019)		Lawyer
Judge
Activist
Vacant
(3 February 2006 – 24 June 2006)
[Note]
Alexander-pechtold (cropped).jpg Alexander
Pechtold
(born 1965)		24 June 2006 –
6 October 2018
(12 years, 104 days) [1] 		40–52 Member of the House
of Representatives
(2006–2018)
Parliamentary leader in the
House of Representatives
(2006–2018)		 Chairman of
the Democrats 66
(2002–2005)
Mayor of Wageningen
(2003–2005)
Minister without Portfolio
for the Interior
(2005–2006)		 Auctioneer
Art historian
Civil servant		 2006
2010
2012
2017
Vacant
(6 October 2018 – 4 September 2020)
[Note]
Portretfoto Sigrid Kaag 2018 01 (crop).jpg Sigrid Kaag
(born 1961)		4 September 2020 –
12 August 2023
(2 years, 342 days) [1] 		58–61 Minister for Foreign Trade
and Development
Cooperation
(2017–2021)
Member of the House
of Representatives
(2021–2022)
Parliamentary leader in the
House of Representatives
(2021, 2021–2022)
Minister of Foreign Affairs
(2021)
Minister of Finance
(2022–2024)

Deputy Prime Minister
(2022–2024)

 United Nations Special
Coordinator for Lebanon
(2015–2017)
United Nations Special
Coordinator for Syria
(2013–2014)
Minister of Foreign Affairs
(2018)
United Nations
Senior Humanitarian
and Reconstruction
Coordinator for Gaza
(since 2024)		Diplomat
Civil servant		 2021
220107Rob Jetten16 (cropped).jpg Rob Jetten
(born 1987)		12 August 2023 –
Incumbent
(1 year, 120 days) [1] 		36–37 Minister for Climate
and Energy Policy
(2022–2024)
Member of the House
of Representatives
(since 2023)
Parliamentary leader in the
House of Representatives
(since 2023)
Minister of Finance
(2024)
Deputy Prime Minister
(2024)		 Member of the House
of Representatives
(2017–2022)
Parliamentary leader in the
House of Representatives
(2018–2021, 2021)		 Political consultant 2023
Note After Boris Dittrich stepped down Lousewies van der Laan took over as Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives. The 2006 Democrats 66 leadership election elected Alexander Pechtold as lead candidate for the 2006 general election on 24 June 2006.
Note After Alexander Pechtold stepped down Rob Jetten took over as parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives on 10 October 2018.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Politiek leider van een partij". Parlement&Politiek. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
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