Jan Marijnissen
Encyclopedia
Johannes Guillaume Christianus Andreas (Jan) Marijnissen (born October 8, 1952 in Oss
) is a Dutch
politician of the Socialist Party
(SP). He served as Parliamentary leader
in House of Representatives May 5, 1994 until June 20, 2008. He was a Member of the House of Representatives from May 17, 1994 until June 17, 2010.
He was a member of the Communist Unity Movement of the Netherlands (Marxist-Leninist)
in the early 1970s until in 1972 he became a member of what is now the Socialist Party. He worked as a benchman and welder
(1974–1985). He was a member of the city council
in Oss
(1976–1993), a member of the Provinciale Staten
in North Brabant
(1987–1989), and the political and parliamentary leader
of the Socialist Party (1994–2008).
Under his leadership, the Socialist Party became the third largest parliamentary party with the Dutch general elections of 2006
. He resigned as Party leader
and Parliamentary leader
in the House of Representatives on June 20, 2008 for health reasons.
. After leaving school shortly before the exams, he worked in a number of factories in and around Oss
. He then trained as a welder, working for ten years in the metal industry. Meanwhile he helped founding the SP in Oss and, in 1975, became the Netherlands' youngest councillor ever. He remained a councillor until 1993, playing a leading role in many campaigns, such as against polluting discharges. The SP's council representation in Oss has grown at every local election and is, as of 2005, the biggest stronghold of the Socialist Party in the Netherlands. Nicknamed "The Wizard of Oss", after his hometown, he became famous when he turned out to be one of the main architects of the Dutch vote that rejected the European Constitution in June 2005.
assembly member, in North Brabant
. A year later he became the SP's national president. Under his leadership the party has been transformed from "a federation of local branches" into a party with a clear national programme, nationally-organised activities and a national profile.
Since 1994, when the SP made the breakthrough which brought it into the House of Representatives, Marijnissen has been chairman of the party's parliamentary group. After gaining 2 out of the 150 parliamentary seats during this first breakthrough, support for him and his party has risen slowly but continuously. After 4 years of being in parliament, his Socialist Party went under his lead from 2 to 5 seats during the national elections of 1998
, which was followed by a growth towards 9 seats in 2002.
In 2003, after the 87 days term of Balkenende I
, the Socialist Party didn't manage to gain more seats than the year before and stayed at the same level with again 9 out of 150 seats. Although there was a slight rise in number of people who voted for the SP compared to a year before, a few weeks before the elections the polls suggested the SP might double.
After the 2004 elections a conflict arises between Jan Marijnissen and Ali Lazrak, when the latter refuses to conform to an agreement that requires all SP-politicians to donate part of their wages. Lazrak accused Marijnissen of dictatorial behavior, an attempt to settle the argument fails and Lazrak leaves the fraction
on 2 February 2004.
In February 2006 the party was polled on 9.5% of the electorate in the municipal elections
. After the untimely end of Balkenende II
and the minority government of Balkenende III
, the SP won 16 more seats in the 2006 elections
to a total of 25, becoming the third party of the Netherlands. Soon after, the party membership passed 50,000.
In 2006 a majority of Members of Parliament voted for his idea to build a National Historic Museum in the Netherlands. In 2007 the Minister of Culture decided the city Arnhem
would be its residence.
On 17 June 2008 Marijnissen announced his resignation as chairman of the SP group in the House of Representatives because of health reasons. However, he remains a member of the House of Representatives and chairman of the Socialist Party.
Marijnissen has been the chairman and leader in the parliament for the SP since 1989. He is said to appeal to the 'common man', because of his use of simple language. His appeal is also explained by some observers by his capacity of presenting himself as a valid, more social alternative for the PvdA, which moved into a more centrist third way
direction by advocating welfare reforms under the leadership of prime minister Wim Kok
and his so-called Purple Cabinets (1994-2002).
Critics of Marijnissen call his leadership style authoritarian, because he is presumed to have a tight grip on his party. They also disparage his stubborn, traditional leftist defence of the Dutch social security system despite pressures of globalisation. Some critics call Marijnissen a left-wing populist.
Oss
Oss is a municipality and a city in the southern Netherlands, in the province of Noord Brabant.- Population centres :-Transportation:* Railway stations: Oss, Oss West, Ravenstein- The city of Oss :...
) is a Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
politician of the Socialist Party
Socialist Party (Netherlands)
The Socialist Party is a democratic socialist political party in the Netherlands. After the 2006 general election, the Socialist Party became one of the major parties of the Netherlands with 25 seats of 150, an increase of 16 seats. The party was in opposition against the fourth Balkenende cabinet...
(SP). He served as Parliamentary leader
Parliamentary group leader
The leader or chairman of a parliamentary group holds an influential political post in a parliamentary system with strong party discipline...
in House of Representatives May 5, 1994 until June 20, 2008. He was a Member of the House of Representatives from May 17, 1994 until June 17, 2010.
He was a member of the Communist Unity Movement of the Netherlands (Marxist-Leninist)
Communist Unity Movement of the Netherlands (marxist-leninist)
Communist Unity Movement of the Netherlands was a communist organization in the Netherlands....
in the early 1970s until in 1972 he became a member of what is now the Socialist Party. He worked as a benchman and welder
Welder
A welder is a tradesman who specializes in welding materials together. The materials to be joined can be metals or varieties of plastic or polymer...
(1974–1985). He was a member of the city council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
in Oss
Oss
Oss is a municipality and a city in the southern Netherlands, in the province of Noord Brabant.- Population centres :-Transportation:* Railway stations: Oss, Oss West, Ravenstein- The city of Oss :...
(1976–1993), a member of the Provinciale Staten
States-Provincial
The States'-Provincial is the provincial parliament and legislative assembly in each of the Provinces of the Netherlands. It is elected for each province simultaneously once every four years and has the responsibility for matters of sub-national or regional importance...
in North Brabant
North Brabant
North Brabant , sometimes called Brabant, is a province of the Netherlands, located in the south of the country, bordered by Belgium in the south, the Meuse River in the north, Limburg in the east and Zeeland in the west.- History :...
(1987–1989), and the political and parliamentary leader
Parliamentary group leader
The leader or chairman of a parliamentary group holds an influential political post in a parliamentary system with strong party discipline...
of the Socialist Party (1994–2008).
Under his leadership, the Socialist Party became the third largest parliamentary party with the Dutch general elections of 2006
Dutch general election, 2006
The General Election to the House of Representatives of the States-General of the Netherlands was held in the Netherlands on November 22, 2006. And followed the call for new elections after the fall of the Second Balkenende cabinet....
. He resigned as Party leader
Party leader
In politics, the party leader is the most powerful official within a political party.The party leader is typically responsible for managing the party's relationship with the general public. As such, he or she will take a leading role in developing and communicating party policy, especially election...
and Parliamentary leader
Parliamentary group leader
The leader or chairman of a parliamentary group holds an influential political post in a parliamentary system with strong party discipline...
in the House of Representatives on June 20, 2008 for health reasons.
Early life
Marijnissen was born in the Dutch province of North BrabantNorth Brabant
North Brabant , sometimes called Brabant, is a province of the Netherlands, located in the south of the country, bordered by Belgium in the south, the Meuse River in the north, Limburg in the east and Zeeland in the west.- History :...
. After leaving school shortly before the exams, he worked in a number of factories in and around Oss
Oss
Oss is a municipality and a city in the southern Netherlands, in the province of Noord Brabant.- Population centres :-Transportation:* Railway stations: Oss, Oss West, Ravenstein- The city of Oss :...
. He then trained as a welder, working for ten years in the metal industry. Meanwhile he helped founding the SP in Oss and, in 1975, became the Netherlands' youngest councillor ever. He remained a councillor until 1993, playing a leading role in many campaigns, such as against polluting discharges. The SP's council representation in Oss has grown at every local election and is, as of 2005, the biggest stronghold of the Socialist Party in the Netherlands. Nicknamed "The Wizard of Oss", after his hometown, he became famous when he turned out to be one of the main architects of the Dutch vote that rejected the European Constitution in June 2005.
Politics
In 1987 Marijnissen became the party's first ever provincialStates-Provincial
The States'-Provincial is the provincial parliament and legislative assembly in each of the Provinces of the Netherlands. It is elected for each province simultaneously once every four years and has the responsibility for matters of sub-national or regional importance...
assembly member, in North Brabant
North Brabant
North Brabant , sometimes called Brabant, is a province of the Netherlands, located in the south of the country, bordered by Belgium in the south, the Meuse River in the north, Limburg in the east and Zeeland in the west.- History :...
. A year later he became the SP's national president. Under his leadership the party has been transformed from "a federation of local branches" into a party with a clear national programme, nationally-organised activities and a national profile.
Since 1994, when the SP made the breakthrough which brought it into the House of Representatives, Marijnissen has been chairman of the party's parliamentary group. After gaining 2 out of the 150 parliamentary seats during this first breakthrough, support for him and his party has risen slowly but continuously. After 4 years of being in parliament, his Socialist Party went under his lead from 2 to 5 seats during the national elections of 1998
Dutch general election, 1998
The General Election to the House of Representatives of the States-General of the Netherlands was held in the Netherlands on 6 May 1998.-Result:...
, which was followed by a growth towards 9 seats in 2002.
In 2003, after the 87 days term of Balkenende I
First Balkenende cabinet
The first cabinet of Jan Peter Balkenende was in office in the Netherlands from 22 July 2002 until 16 October of the same year. The term of 87 days was the shortest since the fifth cabinet of Hendrikus Colijn .Following the 15 May 2002...
, the Socialist Party didn't manage to gain more seats than the year before and stayed at the same level with again 9 out of 150 seats. Although there was a slight rise in number of people who voted for the SP compared to a year before, a few weeks before the elections the polls suggested the SP might double.
After the 2004 elections a conflict arises between Jan Marijnissen and Ali Lazrak, when the latter refuses to conform to an agreement that requires all SP-politicians to donate part of their wages. Lazrak accused Marijnissen of dictatorial behavior, an attempt to settle the argument fails and Lazrak leaves the fraction
Fraction (politics)
A parliamentary group, parliamentary party, or parliamentary caucus is a group consisting of members of the same political party or electoral fusion of parties in a legislative assembly such as a parliament or a city council. Parliamentary groups correspond to party caucuses and conferences in the...
on 2 February 2004.
In February 2006 the party was polled on 9.5% of the electorate in the municipal elections
Dutch municipal elections, 2006
The Dutch municipal elections of 2006 were held on March 7, 2006. About 11.8 million people could vote in 419 municipalities. Due to local redistricting, 15 municipalities have already held elections in January 2006 and 24 municipalities will hold elections in November 2006...
. After the untimely end of Balkenende II
Second Balkenende cabinet
The second cabinet of Jan Peter Balkenende of the Netherlands formed on 27 May 2003. It consisted of three political parties: People's Party for Freedom and Democracy , Christian Democratic Appeal , and Democrats 66 , which is the smallest of the three.On 29 June 2006, D66 dropped its support for...
and the minority government of Balkenende III
Third Balkenende cabinet
The third Balkenende cabinet was formed on 7 July 2006 after a crisis in and the subsequent resignation of the second Balkenende cabinet. This demissionary minority cabinet of Christian Democratic Appeal and People's Party for Freedom and Democracy was negotiated by former prime minister Ruud...
, the SP won 16 more seats in the 2006 elections
Dutch general election, 2006
The General Election to the House of Representatives of the States-General of the Netherlands was held in the Netherlands on November 22, 2006. And followed the call for new elections after the fall of the Second Balkenende cabinet....
to a total of 25, becoming the third party of the Netherlands. Soon after, the party membership passed 50,000.
In 2006 a majority of Members of Parliament voted for his idea to build a National Historic Museum in the Netherlands. In 2007 the Minister of Culture decided the city Arnhem
Arnhem
Arnhem is a city and municipality, situated in the eastern part of the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of Gelderland and located near the river Nederrijn as well as near the St. Jansbeek, which was the source of the city's development. Arnhem has 146,095 residents as one of the...
would be its residence.
On 17 June 2008 Marijnissen announced his resignation as chairman of the SP group in the House of Representatives because of health reasons. However, he remains a member of the House of Representatives and chairman of the Socialist Party.
Marijnissen has been the chairman and leader in the parliament for the SP since 1989. He is said to appeal to the 'common man', because of his use of simple language. His appeal is also explained by some observers by his capacity of presenting himself as a valid, more social alternative for the PvdA, which moved into a more centrist third way
Third way (centrism)
The Third Way refers to various political positions which try to reconcile right-wing and left-wing politics by advocating a varying synthesis of right-wing economic and left-wing social policies. Third Way approaches are commonly viewed from within the first- and second-way perspectives as...
direction by advocating welfare reforms under the leadership of prime minister Wim Kok
Wim Kok
Willem "Wim" Kok ; born September 29, 1938) is a retired Dutch politician of the Labour Party . He served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from August 22, 1994 until July 22, 2002....
and his so-called Purple Cabinets (1994-2002).
Critics of Marijnissen call his leadership style authoritarian, because he is presumed to have a tight grip on his party. They also disparage his stubborn, traditional leftist defence of the Dutch social security system despite pressures of globalisation. Some critics call Marijnissen a left-wing populist.
Works
- Samenleven kan je niet alleen (You can't live together alone), SP, (1993). (ISBN 9-0801-7771-7)
- Tegenstemmen, een rood antwoord op Paars (Voting against, a red answer to Purple), (Amsterdam/Antwerp: L.J. Veen, 1996). (ISBN 9-0254-0860-5). This book is also available in English under the title Enough! A socialist bites back. In 2006 three new English chapters were added with summaries of conclusion in his latter books. In 2007 the book became available in Greece under the title Αρκετά!. (Athens: Antilogos, 2007). (ISBN 978-960-89490-4-1)
- Effe Dimmen! Een rebel in Den Haag. (Amsterdam/Antwerp: L.J. Veen, 1998). (ISBN 9-0204-5766-7).
- De laatste oorlog: Gesprekken over de nieuwe wereldorde (The last war), (Amsterdam/Antwerp: L.J. Veen, 2000). (ISBN 9-0204-6022-6). Co-authored with Karel Glastra van Loon. A series of interviews with experts as Lord Carrington, Sir Michael Rose, Hans van den Broek, Noam Chomsky, Rob de Wijk en Georgi Arbatov on international conflicts with special attention to the role of the Dutch in these conflicts.
- Schrale Rijkdom: De erfenis van acht jaar Paars (Poor Richness), (Ketch-up Press, 2002). (ISBN 9-0771-3301-1).
- Nieuw Optimisme (New Optimism), (Aspekt, 2003).
- Hoe dan, Jan (But how, Jan?), (Amsterdam/Antwerp: L.J. Veen, 2005). Two Dutch journalist wrote a question/ answer style book about how Marijnissen's ideas could become reality.
- Waar historie huis houdt (Where history lives), (Rap, 2005). In addition to his plea for a National Historic Museum for the Netherlands, Jan Marijnissen reveals his interest in history and the importance of history to a land and its culture.