Leader of the Christian Union explained

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

History

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
		Dr. Kars Veling (born 1948)	17 January 2001 – 12 November 2002	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	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	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	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	40–	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

External links

Official

Notes and References

1. News: Politiek leider van een partij. 2023-01-05. Parlement&Politiek.