Party of the Animals leader Esther Ouwehand temporarily leaves the House of Representatives due to health problems due to overload. The party reports that on Tuesday on her website. During her absence, the party chairmanship will be held by PvdD MP Christine Teunissen.
old hand writes in a statement on Twitter that it is “hard for her not to be able to work with you on our important mission for a while”. She said she had a burnout earlier in 2015 and now she wants to intervene more quickly to prevent more serious health problems. Ouwehand says she is looking forward to continuing to fight with you for a liveable one after her recovery [a]earth – which starts with an end to factory farming”.
Also read this interview with Esther Ouwehand from 2020: ‘We are open to a green and progressive government’
Leave period
The seat thus released is temporarily occupied by Eva Akerboom. She will take over Teunissen’s portfolio. Akerboom was in seventh place in the last parliamentary elections, the Party for the Animals won six seats. Since then she has worked as a communications officer for the party. Previously, she was a temporary member of parliament during the maternity leave of Femke Merel van Kooten-Arissen – and at the age of 26 was the youngest member of parliament.
The Elections Act stipulates that MPs may take a maximum leave of sixteen weeks in the event of illness. “Ouwehand expects to be able to recover well during this period and to be able to return to the Chamber at the end of January,” the party writes. Since 2006, Ouwehand has been a member of the House for the Party for the Animals. She succeeded Marianne Thieme as party leader in 2019.