Arda Gerkens
Biography
Arda Gerkens (1965) lives in Haarlem and was a Member of Parliament for the SP from 2002 to 2010. Since May, 2013 she has represented the SP in the Senate. Prior to that she was a member of the district council of Amsterdam Zeeburg and chair of the SP’s Amsterdam branch. From 2011 to 2014 Arda was director of HCC, an organisation for Dutch computer users which provides advice and support. She has also worked as a teacher in the Netherlands education system. Since 2015 she had been director of the EOKM, an organisation to protect children from on-line sexual abuse.
'I chose the SP because that is the party which works with people, not over people’s heads.’
In the Senate Arda is responsible for Economic Affairs, Public Health, Relations within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Arda: 'In the Senate we look at what the effects of a law are. In addition to its judicial quality, we judge a law on its enforceability and feasibility. In short, on what the law will achieve and what it will mean for people. My efforts are directed towards looking with the people at these aspects of a law.’