Politics · Netherlands · 9 hrs ago
Frans Weekers challenges VVD leadership pick for Senate race
Frans Weekers wants to lead the VVD list for the Dutch Senate, challenging the party leadership’s choice of former minister Micky Adriaansens.
Weekers, a former state secretary for finance, says he wants to change the party’s political direction and make it more liberal.
He argues that no party should be ruled out of cooperation, criticizing the VVD for excluding some parties during the election campaign.
Weekers says many members are leaving the VVD and that he wants to help party leader Dilan Yesilgöz.
His announcement comes as the minority government has not secured support for its tax plan, amid disagreements over which opposition parties to work with.
VVD members are due to vote online from 9 to 15 December, with the list leader to be announced on 16 December.
Former Dutch state secretary Frans Weekers is seeking to become the VVD’s lead candidate for the Senate.
His candidacy challenges the party leadership’s choice of former minister Micky Adriaansens.
Weekers says he wants to help party leader Dilan Yesilgöz make the VVD more liberal and return it to the right course.
He opposes ruling out any party from cooperation and criticized the VVD’s election campaign for excluding parties including Pro.
VVD members are due to vote online from 9 to 15 December, with the lead candidate to be announced on 16 December.
- Who
- Former state secretary Frans Weekers, a VVD member, is seeking the role. Former minister Micky Adriaansens is the party leadership’s preferred candidate.
- What
- Weekers is challenging the party leadership’s choice to become the VVD’s lead candidate for the Senate.
- When
- He announced his candidacy on Sunday evening, 8 November 2026. Members are scheduled to vote from 9 to 15 December.
- Where
- The Netherlands; Weekers announced his candidacy on the television programme Pauw & De Wit.
- Why
- He says he wants to help make the VVD more liberal and return it to the right course, including by not excluding any party from cooperation.
Frans Weekers
VVD party leadership
Lead candidate
Frans Weekers
Weekers is seeking the role and challenging the leadership’s choice.
VVD party leadership
The leadership has put forward former minister Micky Adriaansens.
Political direction
Frans Weekers
Weekers says the VVD should return to a more liberal course and no party should be ruled out of cooperation.
VVD party leadership
Not stated
Weekers announced on Pauw & De Wit that he wants to become the VVD’s lead candidate for the Senate.
VVD members are scheduled to vote online to choose the lead candidate.
The lead candidate is scheduled to be announced.
- Candidate
- Frans Weekers
- Party leadership’s choice
- Micky Adriaansens
- Role sought
- VVD lead candidate for the Senate
- Online member vote
- 9–15 December 2026
- Announcement
- 16 December 2026
4 sources
Frans Weekers wil VVD leiden in Eerste Kamer, tegen wens partijtop in
Frans Weekers wil tegen wens partijtop in VVD-lijsttrekker Eerste Kamer worden
Frans Weekers wil VVD-koers veranderen en stelt zich kandidaat voor Eerste Kamer
Frans Weekers gaat strijd aan om VVD-lijsttrekkerschap, gaat tegen keus partijtop in
What people are saying
terugbrengen naar de juiste koers
geen enkele partij meer wordt uitgesloten
Sommigen vinden de VVD op de bagagedrager van D66 zitten, anderen vinden het de PVV-light.