Sylvana Simons (BIJ1) also turns her back on national politics. In the parliamentary elections on November 22, she will not be the party leader of the party that won one parliamentary seat under her leadership in the 2021 elections, she told de Volkskrant.
The immediate reason for Simons to stop is the departure of two Amsterdam city council members, who leave BIJ1 but take their council seat with them. In an interview with NRC, they complained about a “structurally unsafe working environment” within the party, and stated that Simons, as a political leader, did not do enough about it.
“I have to arm myself against false frames,” says Simons to de Volkskrant. “I can, but I don’t want to anymore.” In addition, health problems that she has been struggling with for some time also play a role. “I am also making this decision for the sake of my well-being. I look forward to rest.”