Diederik Samsom

Diederik Samsom (* July 10, 1971 in Groningen) is a Dutch politician of the Partij van de Arbeid.

Life

Samsom grew up in Leeuwarden. He studied at the Technical University of Delft 1989-1997 Technical Physics ( Department of Nuclear Physics ). He became involved with Greenpeace and in 2002 was the first candidate of the Labour Party for the Second Chamber. In the same year he became director of green electricity retailer, True Energy, which was acquired by Eneco 2008.

Samsom is married and has a daughter and a son. He lives in Leiden.

Policy

In the 2002 elections, Samsom could reach no mandate. Since the 2003 parliamentary elections, he sits for Partij van de Arbeid ( PvdA) in the Second Chamber. The left wing of the party to be counted Samsom was defeated in 2008 in a crucial vote on the group's presidency Mariëtte Hamer. He achieved this position on 22 February 2012 after Job Cohen resigned as political leader. On March 16, 2012, he was elected by the party members to the group leaders and political leaders.

In the Dutch parliamentary elections in 2012 was Samsom top candidate ( lijsttrekker ) for the PvdA. The party was at 24.8 % of the vote and 38 seats ( 5.2 % - points or 8 seats compared to the 2010 election ) second strongest force behind the former ruling party VVD 26.6 % and 41 seats. End of October 2012, the VVD and the PvdA agreed on the formation of a grand coalition, but will not take over any government office in Samsom. Instead, he wants to continue to hold the office of the Presidents of the PvdA.