Diederik Samsom
Diederik Maarten Samsom (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈdidəˌrɪk ˈmaːrtən ˈsɑmsɔm] ⓘ; born 10 July 1971) is a Dutch environmentalist and retired politician who was the Labour Party (Partij van de Arbeid PvdA) from 2012 to 2016. He was the first leader in the 70-year history of the PvdA to have been voted out of his position by party members. He later served as head of cabinet for First Vice-President of the European Commission Frans Timmermans and his successor Wopke Hoekstra.
Diederik Samsom | |
|---|---|
Samsom in July 2012 | |
| Leader of the Labour Party in the House of Representatives | |
| In office 20 March 2012 – 12 December 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Job Cohen |
| Succeeded by | Attje Kuiken |
| Leader of the Labour Party | |
| In office 20 March 2012 – 10 December 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Job Cohen |
| Succeeded by | Lodewijk Asscher |
| Member of the House of Representatives | |
| In office 30 January 2003 – 14 December 2016 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Diederik Maarten Samsom 10 July 1971 Groningen, Netherlands |
| Political party | Labour Party |
| Spouse | Tineke (Divorced) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Delft University of Technology (ir.) |
Elected to the House of Representatives between 30 January 2003 and 14 December 2016, he was elected PvdA parliamentary leader as well as party leader on 16 March 2012. He lost the Labour Party leadership election to Lodewijk Asscher in December 2016. Before his election to the House of Representatives he was CEO of a green energy company and a campaigner for Greenpeace Netherlands.