Leader of the Christian Union

Christian Union

The Leader of the Christian Union is the most senior politician within the Christian Union (Dutch: ChristenUnie, CU) in the Netherlands. The post is currently held by Mirjam Bikker, who succeeded Gert-Jan Segers in 2023.[1]

## History

[edit]

The leaders outwardly act as the 'figurehead' and the main representative of the party. Within the party, they must ensure political consensus. At election time the leader is always the lead candidate of the party list. Outside election time the leader can serve as the opposition leader. In the Christian Union the leader is often the parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives. One Christian Union leader became a Minister in a cabinet.

Leader  | Term of office  | Age as leader  | Position(s) as leader  | Further position(s)  | Former
affiliation  | Professional
background | Church  | Lead candidate

|
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|
|
|
|
|
|

|  | Dr.
Kars Veling
(born 1948) | 17 January 2001 –
12 November 2002
(1 year, 299 days)[1] | 52–54  | Member of the Senate
(1991–2002)
Member of the House
of Representatives
(2002)
Parliamentary leader in the
House of Representatives
(2002) | Parliamentary leader
in the Senate
(1991–1999) | Reformed Political
League | Theologian
Historian
Teacher  | Reformed Churches
Liberated | 2002
|  | André Rouvoet
(born 1962) | 12 November 2002 –
28 April 2011
(8 years, 167 days)[1] | 40–49  | Member of the House
of Representatives
(1994–2007, 2010–2011)
Parliamentary leader in the
House of Representatives
(2002–2007, 2010–2011)
Minister for Youth Policy
and Family Policy
Deputy Prime Minister
(2007–2010)
Minister of Education,
Culture and Science
(2010) |  | Reformatory Political
Federation | Jurist
Political consultant
Researcher
Teacher  | Christian Reformed
Churches | 2003
2006
2010
|  | Arie Slob
(born 1961) | 28 April 2011 –
10 November 2015
(4 years, 196 days)[1] | 49–53  | Member of the House
of Representatives
(2002–2015)
Parliamentary leader in the
House of Representatives
(2011–2015) | Member of the House
of Representatives
(2001–2002)
Parliamentary leader in the
House of Representatives
(2007–2010)
Minister for Primary and
Secondary Education
and Media
(2017–2022) | Reformed Political
League | Teacher
School administrator | Reformed Churches
Liberated | 2012
|  | Gert-Jan
Segers
(born 1969) | 10 November 2015 –
17 January 2023
(7 years, 68 days)[1] | 46–53  | Member of the House
of Representatives
(2012–2023)
Parliamentary leader in the
House of Representatives
(2015–2023) |  | Reformatory Political
Federation | Political scientist
Researcher
Nonprofit director
Author  | Protestant Church | 2017
2021
|  | Mirjam Bikker
(born 1982) | 17 January 2023 –
Incumbent
(2 years, 92 days)[1] | 40–42 | Member of the House
of Representatives
(since 2021)
Parliamentary leader in the
House of Representatives
(since 2023) | Member of the Senate
(2015–2016, 2016–2021)
Parliamentary leader
in the Senate
(2019–2021) |  | Jurist  | Protestant Church
(Reformed Association) | 2023

## References

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1. ^ a b c d e f "Politiek leider van een partij". Parlement&Politiek. Retrieved 5 January 2023.

## External links

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Official

* (in Dutch) Official website