DWARS launches alternative election Politician of the Year

It's that time again: a political award with only male nominations. For Politician of the Year 2018, five men are the final contenders. DWARS, GroenLinkse Youth think this is out of date. Julia Matser, president of DWARS: "Already, DWARS had to make a own election for Best Director because only men were nominated, and so now it appears to be needed again. All this while we have an incredible number of fantastic female politicians!" That is why today, 17 December 2018, DWARS is launching an alternative election of Politician of the Year 2018, expressing our appreciation for the top female politicians we see as the best politicians of 2018.

Our nominees are:

Lilian Marijnissen (SP)

Lilian Marijnissen has been SP's parliamentary group leader in the House of Representatives since December 2017. In her first full year as group leader, Lilian Marijnissen has shown herself to be a strong politician. With her clear language and decisive stance, she is a pleasant sound in the chamber. She also does not shy away from cooperation with other left-wing parties, contributing to a powerful opposition.

Carola Schouten (Christian Union)

Carola Schouten is minister of agriculture, nature and food quality and deputy prime minister in the Rutte III cabinet: as minister, she champions circularity, animal welfare and nature-inclusive agriculture. She shows vision and willpower for thorough greening in the agricultural sector.

Judith Sargentini (GroenLinks)

Judith Sargentini is an MEP on behalf of the European Greens. With her report on the crumbling of Hungarian democracy, she showed herself as a protector of democratic values in the European Union this year, and triggered a unprecedented vote by the European Parliament in favour of the Article 7 procedure. Her report resulted in hate campaigns and the spreading of lies by Orbán and his associates: In doing so, Sargentini also showed herself to be a strong personality who is not afraid to fight for what she believes in.

Khadija Arib (PvdA)

Khadija Arib is the Speaker of the House of Representatives and MP for the PvdA. As one of the longest-serving MPs, Khadija Arib knows the ins and outs of The Hague like no other. As chairman, she is sometimes strict but always fair, and shows heart for the work of the House and her MPs. She also shows herself receptive to complaints and suggestions from citizens: when she received letters and e-mails complaining about the harsh tone in the Chamber, she took action and requested the Chamber to moderate their tone.

Sigrid Kaag (D66)

Sigrid Kaag is minister for foreign trade and development cooperation for D66 in the Rutte III cabinet. In her Abel Herzberg lecture, she spoke out about divisiveness and rising populism. In her lecture, she called for a clearer response to the "noise of the voice of fear". As a top diplomat with extensive international experience, she shows herself as the face we lack among (male) foreign ministers.

Voting is possible until Monday, December 24, 2018.

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