(Adnkronos) – The Dutch left-wing coalition formed by the Greens and Labour has chosen 39-year-old Jesse Klaver as its new leader, following the resignation of former European Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans, who stepped down after last week’s electoral collapse, in which he secured only 20 seats (5 fewer than in 2023). “Sometimes leadership means taking a step back, but sometimes you also have to step forward when the situation demands it. That’s what I did today,” Klaver declared after being appointed without opposition.
Young and very active on social media, Klaver had already been leader of the Greens (GroenLinks) and Timmermans’ right-hand man for the past two years. Born to a Dutch-Indonesian mother and a father of Moroccan origin, he grew up in a working-class neighbourhood of Roosendaal and is considered the face of the new progressive generation. “The Netherlands is a country of immigrants. I am the product of that immigration,” he declared in a 2017 interview, presenting his inclusive and pro-European vision, in contrast to the nationalist stance of far-right leader Geert Wilders.
Klaver, whom many compare to former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for style and communication, cites John F. Kennedy (with whom Jesse Feras Klaver also shares initials) as his main source of inspiration – he keeps a mug on his desk with the former US president’s quote “One person can make a difference, and everyone should try” (“One person can make a difference, everyone should try”). In his home country, he is recognized for a strong ability to mobilize young audiences with large rallies and creative digital campaigns, qualities that during the Covid-19 pandemic allowed him to consolidate a solid base of support among progressive voters.
