Frans Timmermans, the Vice-President of the European Commission, has stepped down from his role to pursue the position of Prime Minister in the Netherlands.

This resignation did not catch Brussels by surprise, as Frans Timmermans had already announced his intention to run for the leadership of the Dutch government last month.

Ursula von der Leyen expressed gratitude to Timmermans for his years of service within the European Union and took the opportunity to announce that his successor in the role would be Slovakian Maroš Šefčovič.

Originally scheduled for 2025, the legislative elections in the Netherlands were brought forward due to the collapse of the center-right coalition government led by Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who subsequently announced his withdrawal from political life.

At 62 years old, Timmermans now emerges as the leading candidate for the Dutch left.

“Frans Timmermans has been selected as the head of the GroenLinks-PvdA list for the legislative elections on November 22, 2023,” stated the GreenLeft party in a press release.

The election is set to take place on November 22.

Source: with agencies