Dutch Labour Party leader Job Cohen resigns

[News_Editor]

Dutch Labour Party leader Job Cohen resigns

2012-02-20 22:04:58 GMT+7 (ICT)

THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS (BNO NEWS) -- Former Amsterdam Mayor Job Cohen on Monday announced he will resign as the leader of the Labour Party (PvdA), which has been hit hard in opinion polls since the last general election in June 2010.

Cohen resigned his position as mayor of Amsterdam in March 2010 to become the top candidate for the Labour Party in the 2010 general election and was officially elected as the party's leader a month later. The Labour Party won 30 seats during the election, but Cohen faced increasing criticism for not being high-profile enough.

"Nearly two years ago I made the transition to national politics because I wanted to contribute from that position to a decent society, in which as many people as possible - regardless of their origin or background - get what they deserve," Cohen said in a statement released by the Labour Party. "I regret to conclude that I was unsuccessful to put this road to a decent society in a credible limelight in the political and media reality of The Hague."

Cohen said he would resign as party leader immediately and will not return to parliament as a member of the House of Representatives. "The social democracy can and will give direction to a necessary reform of society," he said. "A reform that enables us to offer a perspective of the future. Offering people perspective, especially in these times of crisis, that is the task of the Labour Party. And when you cannot effectively contribute to this, you should resign."

Cohen faced a storm of criticism earlier this month when he highlighted similarities between the Labour Party and the Socialist Party, which has risen quickly in opinion polls with its party leader Emile Roemer. A recent poll published by pollster Maurice de Hond estimated that the Socialist Party - which currently has 15 seats in parliament - would win 33 seats if elections were held today.

The Labour Party won 30 seats in the general election in 2010, making it the second-largest party, but has dropped to 14 seats in De Hond's most recent poll. Despite finishing second in the most recent elections, the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (PVV) - which won 31 seats - was able to form a government with the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), with the Party for Freedom (PVV) offering support but holding no cabinet seats.

It was not immediately clear who would replace Cohen as party leader.

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