International

The SP delegation in the Group of the United European Left-Nordic Green Left (GUE-NGL) in the European Parliament will, in the coming session, consist of current MEP Erik Meijer and the newly-elected Kartika Liotard, a result confirmed yesterday by the Election Council.

Ms. Liotard was number three on the SP’s list, after Erik Meijer and René Roovers. The SP’s ruling Party Council had chosen Mr. Roovers for second place on the grounds of his greater experience within the Parliament, experience gained in the four years that he worked as a policy adviser to Mr Meijer during the previous session. Now that the voters have, by a clear majority, indicated their preference for Kartika Liotard, the party and candidates have met and Ms Liotard’s acceptance of the voters’ decision has been confirmed.

Liotard is a lawyer who is currently employed by the Ministry of Agriculture.

René Roovers will continue to work as a policy adviser to the SP’s enhanced team. The SP’s executive praised his contribution to the successful campaign and his solidarity with the result of the election in the face of his personal disappointment at not being elected to office.