Marianne Thieme
Encyclopedia
Marianne Louise Thieme is a Dutch
politician of the Party for the Animals
(Partij voor de Dieren). She has been Parliamentary leader
in the House of Representatives since November 23, 2006 and an MP since November 30, 2006.
A jurist by education and an animal rights
activist and author by occupation.
. After that she studied from 1991 to 1992 at the Sorbonne
in Paris
, France
. From 1992 she studied law
at Erasmus University Rotterdam with a specialization in administrative law
. During this time she became a vegetarian. Her interest in animal rights motivated her to start studying law. Thieme graduated in 1997.
From 1998 to 2001 Marianne Thieme worked at research agengy B&A Group in The Hague
. Between 2001 and 2004 she was policy official at Bont voor Dieren (Fur for Animals, a Dutch anti-fur
animal welfare
foundation
). Until November 2006 she was the general manager of Stichting Wakker Dier (a Dutch animal welfare foundation against industrial agriculture
).
the party gained 50.000 votes (0.5%), but not a seat in the House of Representatives.
In February 2004 she was nominated to become the party's lijsttrekker
(party leader) for the European Parliament election of 2004
. This time the party gained 153.000 votes (3.2%), three times as much as in the 2002 Dutch general election. Still the number of votes was not enough to obtain a seat in the European Parliament
.
During the Dutch general election of 2006
the Party for Animals gained 179,988 votes (1.8%), enough for two seats in the Dutch parliament. The party became the world's first party to gain parliamentary seats with an agenda focused primarily on animal rights.
Marianne Thieme always concludes her speeches in Parliament with the phrase "Voorts zijn wij van mening dat er een einde moet komen aan de bio-industrie." ("Furthermore we are of the opinion that factory farming
has to be ended."), referencing Cato the Elder
's famous conclusion of his speeches with Carthago delenda est
.
in 2006 "because [it is] a church with compassion and care for our planet."
Marianne Thieme has a daughter (Annika, born 2002) and lives in Maarssen. On 6 November 2008 she married Organic farmer Jaap Korteweg from Langeweg, with whom she had a second daughter (Irma, born 2009).
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 Party for the Animals
Party for the Animals
The Party for the Animals is a political party in the Netherlands.Among its main goals are animal rights and animal welfare, though it claims not to be a single-issue party...
(Partij voor de Dieren). She has been 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 since November 23, 2006 and an MP since November 30, 2006.
A jurist by education and an animal rights
Animal rights
Animal rights, also known as animal liberation, is the idea that the most basic interests of non-human animals should be afforded the same consideration as the similar interests of human beings...
activist and author by occupation.
Life before politics
Marianne Thieme studied at the Duno College in DoorwerthDoorwerth
Doorwerth is a village in the Dutch province of Gelderland. It is located in the municipality of Renkum, about 8 km west of Arnhem.-History:The valley of the Seelbeek has been in residential use since prehistoric times...
. After that she studied from 1991 to 1992 at the Sorbonne
Sorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. From 1992 she studied law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
at Erasmus University Rotterdam with a specialization in administrative law
Administrative law
Administrative law is the body of law that governs the activities of administrative agencies of government. Government agency action can include rulemaking, adjudication, or the enforcement of a specific regulatory agenda. Administrative law is considered a branch of public law...
. During this time she became a vegetarian. Her interest in animal rights motivated her to start studying law. Thieme graduated in 1997.
From 1998 to 2001 Marianne Thieme worked at research agengy B&A Group in The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
. Between 2001 and 2004 she was policy official at Bont voor Dieren (Fur for Animals, a Dutch anti-fur
Fur clothing
Fur clothing is clothing made of the fur of animals. Fur is one of the oldest forms of clothing; thought to have been widely used as hominids first expanded outside of Africa. Some view fur as luxurious and warm; others reject it due to moral beliefs...
animal welfare
Animal welfare
Animal welfare is the physical and psychological well-being of animals.The term animal welfare can also mean human concern for animal welfare or a position in a debate on animal ethics and animal rights...
foundation
Foundation (charity)
A foundation is a legal categorization of nonprofit organizations that will typically either donate funds and support to other organizations, or provide the source of funding for its own charitable purposes....
). Until November 2006 she was the general manager of Stichting Wakker Dier (a Dutch animal welfare foundation against industrial agriculture
Industrial agriculture
Industrial farming is a form of modern farming that refers to the industrialized production of livestock, poultry, fish, and crops. The methods of industrial agriculture are technoscientific, economic, and political...
).
Political life
In October 2002 she and other animal protectionists founded the Party for Animals (Partij voor de Dieren). During the Dutch general election of 2003Dutch general election, 2003
The General Election to the House of Representatives of the States-General of the Netherlands was held in the Netherlands on January 22, 2003.-Background:...
the party gained 50.000 votes (0.5%), but not a seat in the House of Representatives.
In February 2004 she was nominated to become the party's lijsttrekker
Lijsttrekker
Lijsttrekker is a Dutch term for the top candidate of a party on a party list. He or she is almost always the party's political leader. After an election, this person usually leads the party's faction in the States-General, or serves in a senior position in the Cabinet if his party is part of...
(party leader) for the European Parliament election of 2004
European Parliament election, 2004
Elections to the European Parliament were held from 10 June 2004 to 13 June 2004 in the 25 member states of the European Union, using varying election days according to local custom...
. This time the party gained 153.000 votes (3.2%), three times as much as in the 2002 Dutch general election. Still the number of votes was not enough to obtain a seat in the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
.
During the Dutch general election 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....
the Party for Animals gained 179,988 votes (1.8%), enough for two seats in the Dutch parliament. The party became the world's first party to gain parliamentary seats with an agenda focused primarily on animal rights.
Marianne Thieme always concludes her speeches in Parliament with the phrase "Voorts zijn wij van mening dat er een einde moet komen aan de bio-industrie." ("Furthermore we are of the opinion that factory farming
Factory farming
Factory farming is a term referring to the process of raising livestock in confinement at high stocking density, where a farm operates as a factory — a practice typical in industrial farming by agribusinesses. The main products of this industry are meat, milk and eggs for human consumption...
has to be ended."), referencing Cato the Elder
Cato the Elder
Marcus Porcius Cato was a Roman statesman, commonly referred to as Censorius , Sapiens , Priscus , or Major, Cato the Elder, or Cato the Censor, to distinguish him from his great-grandson, Cato the Younger.He came of an ancient Plebeian family who all were noted for some...
's famous conclusion of his speeches with Carthago delenda est
Carthago delenda est
"Carthago delenda est" or the fuller "Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam" or "Ceterum autem censeo, Carthaginem esse delendam" are Latin political phrases which were popular in the Roman Republic during the latter years of the Punic Wars against Carthage...
.
Private life
She became a Seventh-day AdventistSeventh-day Adventist Church
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the original seventh day of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath, and by its emphasis on the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ...
in 2006 "because [it is] a church with compassion and care for our planet."
Marianne Thieme has a daughter (Annika, born 2002) and lives in Maarssen. On 6 November 2008 she married Organic farmer Jaap Korteweg from Langeweg, with whom she had a second daughter (Irma, born 2009).
External links
- Meat the Truth (2007) documentary, DVD, book Marianne Thieme's weblog House of Representatives biography