Jimmy Dijk Explained

Jimmy Dijk
Office:Leader of the Socialist Party
Term Start:13 December 2023
Predecessor:Lilian Marijnissen
Office1:Leader of the Socialist Party in the House of Representatives
Term Start1:13 December 2023
Predecessor1:Lilian Marijnissen
Office2:Member of the House of Representatives
Term Start2:20 April 2023
Birthname:Jimmy Pieter Dijk
Birth Date:3 November 1985
Birth Place:Oldenzijl, Netherlands
Party:Socialist Party
Residence:Groningen, Netherlands
Alma Mater:University of Groningen
Occupation:Politician, facilitator

Jimmy Pieter Dijk (born 3 November 1985) is a Dutch politician of the Socialist Party (SP). Since 20 April 2023, he has been a member of the House of Representatives. On 13 December 2023, he succeeded Lilian Marijnissen as party leader of the SP. Dijk previously served as a member of the municipal council of Groningen from 2010 to 2023.[1]

Biography

Dijk was born and grew up in Oldenzijl, Groningen. He attended in Warffum and studied sociology at the University of Groningen. After his graduation, he worked as a bartender.

In September 2010, Dijk became a member of the municipal council of Groningen as a temporary replacement for the departing . In January 2013, he succeeded as the leader of the SP group in the municipal council.[2] Among other achievenments, he strengthened the position of tenants living in poor conditions.[3]

Next to his council work, Dijk had also been active for the SP as a campaign leader and a member of the party board.[4] In the 2021 Dutch general election, he was listed tenth on the candidate list of the SP. The party only received votes for nine seats, and he was therefore not elected into the House of Representatives. In April 2023, Dijk joined the House of Representatives after Maarten Hijink vacated his seat, becoming the party spokesperson for health.[5] After taking office, he committed to preventing the closure of hospitals, such as those in Zutphen and Heerlen.[6]

Dijk succeeded Lilian Marijnissen as leader of the SP when she stepped down in December 2023 due to disappointing election results. In his first speech as party leader, Dijk said the party's focus would be on class struggle, opining that it is necessary to combat tension and division resulting from the dominance of neoliberal thought in the Netherlands since the 1990s.[7] Besides serving as the SP's parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives, he is the party's spokesperson for healthcare, finances, and Europe.[8]

Electoral history

Year! scope="col" rowspan=2
BodyPartyVotesResult.
Party seatsIndividual
2017House of RepresentativesSocialist Partystyle=text-align:right 35style=text-align:right 1,086style=text-align:right 14[9]
2021House of RepresentativesSocialist Partystyle=text-align:right 10style=text-align:right 1,757style=text-align:right 9[10]
2023House of RepresentativesSocialist Partystyle=text-align:right 4style=text-align:right 2,633style=text-align:right 5[11]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2023-12-12 . Is Jimmy Dijk uit Groningen klaar om de SP te leiden? Dit zeggen zijn voor- en tegenstanders profiel . 2023-12-13 . Dagblad van het Noorden . nl-NL.
  2. Web site: 2023-12-05 . SP fractievoorzitter Groningen verlaat gemeenteraad . 2023-12-13 . SP fractievoorzitter Groningen verlaat gemeenteraad . nl.
  3. Web site: 2018-05-09 . Anti-schimmelbrigade om problemen in Groningen op te lossen . 2023-12-13 . Dagblad van het Noorden . nl-NL.
  4. Web site: Jimmy Dijk (SP) verruilt Groningse raad na 12,5 jaar voor Tweede Kamer . 2023-12-13 . nl-NL.
  5. Web site: 2023-04-18 . SP-Kamerlid Maarten Hijink stopt ermee vanwege wissel op gezinsleven . 2023-12-13 . nos.nl . nl.
  6. Web site: De Stentor . 2023-12-13 . De Stentor.
  7. News: SP richt zich onder Jimmy Dijk weer helemaal op de klassenstrijd . 2 March 2024 . 3 March 2024 . nl . . SP will again be fully focused on class struggle under Jimmy Dijk .
  8. Web site: Kamerleden . . 23 June 2024 . nl . Members of parliament .
  9. Web site: Uitslag Tweede Kamerverkiezing 2017 (getekend exemplaar) . Dutch Electoral Council . nl . 21 December 2023 . PDF . 21 March 2017 . Results House of Representatives 2017 (signed example) . 68–76, 204 .
  10. Web site: Proces-verbaal verkiezingsuitslag Tweede Kamer 2021 . Dutch Electoral Council . nl . 21 December 2023 . PDF . 29 March 2021 . Report of the election results House of Representatives 2021 . 106–110, 231 .
  11. Web site: Proces-verbaal van de uitslag van de verkiezing van de Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal 2023 d.d. 4 december 2023 . Dutch Electoral Council . nl . 21 December 2023 . PDF . 4 December 2023 . Report of the results of the election of the House of Representatives on 4 December 2023 . 41–42 .