LEF – For the New Generation explained

LEF – For the New Generation
Native Name:	LEF – Voor de Nieuwe Generatie
Abbreviation:	LEF
Leader:	Daniël van Duijn
Founder:	Daniël van Duijn
Ideology:	Youth politics E-democracy Environmentalism^[1]
Country:	Netherlands
Colors:	Purple and black

LEF – For the New Generation (Dutch; Flemish: LEF – Voor de Nieuwe Generatie, in Dutch; Flemish pronounced as /lɛf voːr də ˈniʋə ɣeːnəˈraːtsi/), also known simply as LEF, is a political party in the Netherlands focused on youth interests. The party participated in the 2023 House of Representatives elections with Daniël van Duijn as lead candidate, but was unable to win a seat.^[2]

History

The party was founded by party leader Daniël van Duijn in 2020. It participated in the 2022 municipal election in Amsterdam and The Hague, but was unable to win a seat in either municipal council.^{[3] [4]}

The party participated in the 2023 Dutch general election with Van Duijn as its lead candidate. The party received 5,053 votes, not enough for a seat.^[5] They chose to campaign solely by performing campaign stunts.^[6] One of these had Van Duijn paste the party's poster on the windows of the studio from which Buitenhof was being live broadcast, thereby interrupting an interview with Party for the Animals party leader Esther Ouwehand. While doing this, Van Duijn exclaimed: "Climate is more important than Omtzigt!".^[7] Van Duijn also interrupted the final leaders' debate before the elections by stepping up onto the stage, yelling accusations of 'old politics', and told Dilan Yeşilgöz that her VVD party should 'never come to power again'. After this Van Duijn was arrested by police.^{[8] [9]} He was released the next day, on the condition that he would stay away from the House of Representatives on results evening.^[10]

Ideology

The party program of the 2023 House of Representative elections listed several key points, such as the implementation of a basic income, citizen councils, lowering the voting age to under 18, and compensating students with student debt. The party furthermore has a general focus on the younger generation, and advocates for stronger climate action.^[1]

Party leader Van Duijn made the news when it became clear that he had the party's most important program points tattooed on his forearm by renowned tattoo artist Henk Schiffmacher. It concerned the following points, regarding the 2022 municipal elections in Amsterdam and The Hague:^{[11] [12]}

• Enter basic income (Dutch; Flemish: basisinkomen invoeren)
• Loosening real estate (Dutch; Flemish: vastgoed losmaken)
• Exciting nightlife (Dutch; Flemish: bruisend nachtleven)
• Mental peace (Dutch; Flemish: mentale rust)
• Drugs safe (Dutch; Flemish: drugs veilig)
• Climate positive city (Dutch; Flemish: klimaatpositieve stad)
• Set up citizen councils (Dutch; Flemish: burgerraden opzetten)
• Slow down the city (Dutch; Flemish: stad onthaasten)
• Quality time (Dutch; Flemish: quali-tijd)
• Youth at the table (Dutch; Flemish: jeugd aan tafel)

Election results

Municipal elections

Election year	Municipal council
	Municipality	Votes	%	of overall seats won	+/−
2022
		848	0.26%		New
		1,618	0.89%		New

See also

• (formally LEF Association), a young people's party which contested in the 2010 election
• JONG, a party for youth interests which contested in the 2021 election
• Connect Wageningen, a local party for students, young adults, and internationals in Wageningen
• Student & Starter, a local party for students, young people, and first-time homeowners in Utrecht
• Student en Stad, a local students' party in Groningen
• Studenten Techniek In Politiek (STIP), a local students' party in Delft

External links

• Official website

Notes and References

1. Web site: Programma . Program . LEF . 2023-10-21. nl.
2. Web site: Proces verbaal over geldigheid en nummering kandidatenlijsten Tweede Kamerverkiezing 2023 . Official report on validity and numbering of candidate lists for the 2023 House of Representatives election . 125 . Kiesraad . 2023-10-13 . 2023-10-21 . nl.
3. Web site: Verkiezingsuitslagen voor de gemeente Amsterdam . Election results for the municipality of Amsterdam . Alle Cijfers . 12 August 2023 . 2023-10-26 . nl.
4. Web site: Verkiezingsuitslagen voor de gemeente Den Haag . Election results for the municipality of The Hague . Alle Cijfers . 12 August 2023 . 2023-10-30 . nl.
5. Web site: Uitslagen Tweede Kamer 2023 . Results House of Representatives 2023 . 2023-11-25 . . nl.
6. Web site: Van Bekkum . Dylan . 2023-11-15 . Lef-lijsttrekker Daniël van Duijn: 'Jongeren worden niet gehoord, niet serieus genomen en vissen achter het net' . LEF lead candidate Daniël van Duijn: 'Youths aren't being heard, not taken serious and are missing their opportunity' . 2023-11-19 . De Volkskrant . nl.
7. Web site: Programma Buitenhof verstoord door posterplakker op wankelende ladder: 'Creatief' . Buitenhof program disrupted by poster sticker on a tottering ladder: 'Creative' . . 2023-11-12 . 2023-11-12 . nl.
8. Web site: Demonstrant verstoort slotdebat van NOS . Protester interrupts final debate of NOS . 2023-11-21 . . 2023-11-22 . nl.
9. Web site: Politie houdt LEF-voorman aan die lijsttrekkersdebat verstoorde . Police arrests LEF frontman who interrupted party leaders debate . 2023-11-22 . . 2023-11-22 . nl.
10. Web site: Lijsttrekker die debat verstoorde is vrij maar moet uit buurt Tweede Kamer blijven . Party leader who disrupted debate is free but must stay away from House of Representatives . . 2023-11-22 . 2023-11-23 . nl.
11. Web site: Daniël is dol op politiek: de partijpunten staan op zijn arm getatoeëerd . Daniël loves politics: the party points are tattooed on his arm . Studio040 . 2023-09-28 . Wolters . Pleun . 2023-10-26 . nl.
12. Web site: LEF-lijsttrekker tatoeert partijpunten op arm: "Politiek heeft behoefte aan verbeeldingskracht" . LEF party leader tattoos party points on arm: "Politics needs imagination" . . 12 February 2022 . Olsthoorn . Ronald . 2023-10-26 . nl.