“If you start a new combination, it also has to be led by someone new,” Klaver told the paper. He claims that he “would have liked” to become party leader, but in the end it seemed “unwise”. ‘For me, the cooperation between GroenLinks and PvdA symbolizes that politicians can finally override their own interests for once. Maintaining one’s partisan interests has long held back progress. I hope my move will give voters confidence that we are truly willing to set aside our personal ambitions for something bigger.”
Klaver says he will be available “to make the GroenLinks-PvdA combination a success.” This means that “if the party so wishes” it sees a place on the electoral list.