Leonie Vestering
Member of the House of Representatives
In office
11 August 2023 – 26 September 2023
Succeeded byEva Akerboom
In office
31 March 2021 – 8 May 2023
Succeeded byEva Akerboom
Member of the States of Flevoland
In office
26 March 2015 – 27 January 2021[1]
Succeeded bySylvia Kers
Member of the Almere municipal council
In office
29 March 2018[2] – 21 January 2021[3]
Succeeded byMartine Puhl
Personal details
Born (1984-03-13) 13 March 1984
Uithoorn, Netherlands
Political partyParty for the Animals
Children2

Leonie Vestering (born 13 March 1984) is a Dutch politician of the Party for the Animals (PvdD). She campaigned against circus animals, and she was a member of the States of Flevoland and the Almere municipal council. Vestering was elected to the House of Representatives in 2021 and resigned in September 2023 in response to a conflict within her party.

Early life and career

Vestering was born in 1984 in the North Holland town Uithoorn and studied classical music at a music school and middle management.[4][5][6] She worked at the CSR foundation MVO Nederland.[5]

Starting in 2009, she was the director of the organization Wilde Dieren de Tent Uit (Wild animals out of the tent), that opposed circus animals.[5] Circus performances by wild mammals in the Netherlands were prohibited in 2015.[7] Because of this, the organization was dissolved.[8] Vestering also served on the board of the anti-fur foundation Bont voor Dieren (Fur for animals) between 2014 and 2019.[9][10]

Politics

Regional and local

She participated in the 2015 provincial election in Flevoland as the Party for the Animals's lead candidate.[11] Vestering won a seat in the States of Flevoland and was sworn in in March 2015 as caucus leader. There, she raised concerns about hunting geese.[12] She also filed a criminal complaint for sex with animals after television program Rambam had shown how a zoo keeper was masturbating a dolphin at Dolfinarium Harderwijk. The public prosecutor's office decided not to prosecute, calling it part of an animal breeding program.[13] Vestering subsequently argued for prohibiting shows involving dolphins.[5] She was 23rd on the PvdD's party list for the 2017 general election, received 591 votes, and was not elected.[14]

Vestering became a member of the Almere municipal council and the caucus leader of the Party for the Animals after appearing first on the party list during the 2018 municipal election.[15][16] She was re-elected to the States of Flevoland the following year, again as the party's lead candidate.[17] Vestering filed another criminal complaint in the summer of 2019 against Staatsbosbeheer, when about 150 horses in the nature reserve Oostvaardersplassen were held in a field without shade.[18] She had also been the 18th candidate of the Party for the Animals in that year's European Parliament election, supporting a Dutch withdrawal from the European Union.[19] She became a project coordinator of her party's caucus in the House of Representatives in 2020.[4]

House of Representatives (2021–2023)

Vestering ran for member of parliament (MP) again in the 2021 general election, being placed third on the PvdD's party list.[20] She stopped as caucus leader in the States of Flevoland and the Almere council in December 2020 after the list had been announced, and she resigned from both political bodies the following month.[16][1][21] Vestering was elected with 6,992 preference votes as one of six Party for the Animals members of parliament, and she was sworn into office on 31 March.[22] In the House, she is a member of the Committee for Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, and she is her party's spokesperson for cattle farming, agriculture, zoonoses, the human impact on the nitrogen cycle, the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, pesticides, animal rights, food, nature, biodiversity, and wild animals.[23][24]

In May 2021, she filed an amendment to the Animal Act, which was passed by both houses of parliament and says that animals should be able to show their natural behavior when in captivity.[25] Vestering clarified that her amendment would mainly regulate farm animals after concerns that it would have large effects on keeping pets.[26] A legal review requested by the cabinet concluded that its language was too vague and that such a major reform of the agricultural sector would not be achievable within a year. Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality Piet Adema subsequently announced in late 2022 that its implementation would be postponed to 2024. Furthermore, he planned to draft a covenant with the sector and nature conservation organizations in the meantime and to send it to parliament as a replacement of the amendment. Vestering criticized those steps, saying that the parliament's decision was ignored in favor of industry self-regulation.[27] Vestering also commented on the future of farming when the cabinet set goals to significantly reduce reactive nitrogen emissions, of which the sector is a major contributor, following a decision by the Council of State on the issue. She said that many farmers would have to seek a different profession and that livestock farming in the Netherlands would end, a development she lauded.[28] In September 2023, a motion by Vestering and Laura Bromet (GroenLinks) was carried that called on Minister Adema to vote against a ten-year renewal of a permit of the European Union to allow the usage of systemic herbicide and crop desiccant glyphosate amidst concerns of carcinogenicity and adverse effects on biodiversity.[29] A majority of the House subsequently reprimanded Adema when he announced he would instead abstain from the vote.[30]

Vestering went on sick leave starting 9 May 2023 and was temporarily replaced by Eva Akerboom.[31] In a statement, Vestering said her leave was on the advice of a physician based on her working conditions. She mentioned she had discovered the importance of good health following a life-threatening illness the year before after having been infected by a flesh-eating bacteria, from which she had recovered well.[32] Vestering returned to the House on 11 August.[31] The month before, the fourth Rutte cabinet had collapsed, resulting in a November snap election. A crisis broke out within the Party for the Animals on 9 September when its board reversed its decision to renominate Esther Ouwehand as the party's lead candidate due to alleged integrity violations. Vestering reacted that these should be carefully investigated. She announced on 12 September that she would resign, saying she could no longer fight for animal rights under the circumstances.[33][34] She declined to provide further comment on the struggle, but she did mention she had involved House Speaker Vera Bergkamp after the situation within the caucus had derailed.[35] The NRC reported that Ouwehand had been ignoring Vestering completely for a year following a disagreement about the composition of the caucus.[36] On 14 September 2023, when the Party for the Animals presented its party list for the election, Vestering stated she had turned down the second spot.[37] Her resignation went into effect on 26 September, and she was again succeeded by Eva Akerboom.[38]

Personal life

Vestering lives in Almere, is married, and has a daughter and a son.[5][23] She can play the French horn.[39]

References

  1. 1 2 "Benoemingen Provinciale Staten 27 januari 2021" [Appointments states-provincial 27 January 2021]. Provincie Flevoland (Press release) (in Dutch). 27 January 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  2. ↑ "Notulen van het plenaire gedeelte van de Politieke Markt, gemeente Almere, gehouden op 29 maart 2018, aanvang 20.00 uur in het Stadhuis, Stadhuisplein 1, Almere" [Minutes of the plenary part of the Political Market, Almere municipality, held on 29 March 2018, starting at 20:00 in city hall, Stadhuisplein 1, Almere]. Raad van Almere (in Dutch). 29 March 2018. p. 5. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  3. ↑ "613e Politieke Markt" [613rd Political Market]. Raad van Almere (in Dutch). 21 January 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  4. 1 2 "L. (Leonie) Vestering". Parlement.com (in Dutch). Parlementair Documentatie Centrum. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Oomen, Eefje (23 April 2016). "Al dit jaar verbod op shows met dolfijnen" [Prohibiting shows with dolphins this year]. Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). pp. 10–11.
  6. ↑ "Kandidatenlijst Tweede Kamerverkiezingen 17 maart 2021" [Party list general election 17 March 2021]. Partij voor de Dieren (in Dutch). Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  7. ↑ "Wilde dieren in het circus binnenkort verboden" [Wild animals soon prohibited in circuses]. NOS (in Dutch). 13 December 2014. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  8. ↑ "Circusdierenbeschermers heffen zichzelf op" [Anti-circus animal organization is dissolved]. De Telegraaf (in Dutch). ANP. 10 September 2015. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  9. ↑ "Jaarverslag 2014" [2014 Annual Report] (in Dutch). Bont voor Dieren. p. 22. Retrieved 19 January 2021 – via Issuu.
  10. ↑ "Jaarverslag 2019" [2019 Annual Report] (PDF). Bont voor Dieren (in Dutch). p. 7. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  11. ↑ "Leonie Vestering provincielijsttrekker" [Leonie Vestering provincial lead candidate]. De Stentor (in Dutch). 2 December 2014.
  12. ↑ "PvdD: Flevoland is te soepel met schieten ganzen" [PvdD: Flevoland is too lenient for goose hunting]. De Stentor (in Dutch). 13 October 2015. p. 6.
  13. ↑ "OM: Geen ontucht met dolfijnen Harderwijk" [Public prosecutor's office: No sexual abuse of dolphins Harderwijk]. Dagblad van het Noorden (in Dutch). 12 March 2016. p. 6.
  14. ↑ "Uitslag Tweede Kamerverkiezing 2017 (getekend exemplaar)" [Results House of Representatives election 2017 (signed copy)] (PDF). Kiesraad (in Dutch). 21 March 2017. pp. 128–129. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  15. ↑ "Partij voor de Dieren doet mee aan gemeenteraadsverkiezingen". Omroep Flevoland (in Dutch). 23 October 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  16. 1 2 "Luijendijk nieuwe fractieleider Partij voor de Dieren" [Luijendijk new caucus leader Party for the Animals]. Omroep Flevoland (in Dutch). 17 December 2020. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  17. ↑ Stegenga, Herre (13 December 2018). "Weinig nieuwe gezichten bij lijsttrekkers in Flevoland" [Few new faces among Flevoland lead candidate]. De Stentor (in Dutch). Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  18. ↑ Stegenga, Herre (26 July 2019). "Groeiende bezorgdheid over konikpaarden in Oostvaardersplassen: 'Regel gewoon beschutting!'" [Growing concerns about Konik horses in Oostvaardersplassen: 'Just provide shelter!']. De Stentor (in Dutch). Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  19. ↑ "Stemwijzer Europa: dit zijn de Flevolandse kandidaten" [Vote compass Europe: these are the candidates from Flevoland]. Omroep Flevoland (in Dutch). 21 May 2019. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  20. ↑ Verlaan, Jos (15 November 2020). "Ook de Partij voor de Dieren kiest voor nieuwe gezichten" [Party for the Animals chooses as well for new faces]. nrc.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  21. ↑ "Raadslid Vestering wacht Kamerverkiezingen niet af, stopt nu al in Almere" [Council member Vestering does not await general election, already quits in Almere]. Omroep Flevoland (in Dutch). 22 January 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  22. ↑ "Tweede Kamer 17 maart 2021" [House of Representatives 17 March 2021]. Kiesraad (in Dutch). Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  23. 1 2 "Leonie Vestering". Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal. 31 March 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  24. ↑ "Leonie Vestering". Partij voor de Dieren (in Dutch). Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  25. ↑ "Commotie over dierenwet: 'Denk niet dat huisdiereigenaren zich zorgen hoeven te maken'" [Commotion about animal law: 'I don't think that pet owners should be worried']. NOS (in Dutch). 2 June 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  26. ↑ Mulder, Merlin (2 June 2021). "Nieuwe Dierenwet: honden straks niet meer aangelijnd?" [New Animal Act: No dogs on a leash anymore in the future?]. Noordhollands Dagblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  27. ↑ König, Eppo (10 November 2022). "Minister Adema schoffeert de Kamer, vindt de Partij voor de Dieren" [Minister Adema insults the House according to the Party for the Animals]. NRC (in Dutch). Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  28. ↑ "'Veel boeren moeten iets anders gaan doen'" ['Many farmers will have to do something else']. BNR Nieuwsradio (in Dutch). 6 September 2022. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  29. ↑ "Dutch parliament urges cabinet to vote against glyphosate re-approval". Euractiv. 8 September 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  30. ↑ "Kamer tikt minister Adema op de vingers: 'Stem tegen bestrijdingsmiddel glyfosaat'" [House reprimand Minister Adema: 'Vote against herbicide glyphosate']. NOS. 12 October 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  31. 1 2 "Van den Brink, Vedder-Monaster en Akerboom benoemd tot Tweede Kamerlid" [Van den Brink, Vedder-Monaster, and Akerboom appointed as members of the House of Representatives]. Kiesraad (Press release) (in Dutch). 10 May 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  32. ↑ "Kamerlid Partij voor de Dieren legt werk tijdelijk neer vanwege gezondheid" [Party of the Animals House member goes on sick leave]. NOS (in Dutch). 8 May 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  33. ↑ ""Pijn en verdriet" bij PvdD-Kamerlid Vestering door ruzie in partij" ["Pain and grief" for PvdD Member of Parliament Vestering due to party struggle]. Omroep Flevoland (in Dutch). 11 September 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  34. ↑ Vissers, Petra (12 September 2023). "Leonie Vestering stopt als Kamerlid bij beschadigde Partij voor de Dieren" [Leonie Vestering steps down as member of parliament of damaged Party for the Animals]. Trouw. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  35. ↑ Muller, Mike; Winterman, Peter (12 September 2023). "Kamervoorzitter Bergkamp ingeschakeld bij ruzie in dierenpartij" [House Speaker Bergkamp called in for struggle animal rights party]. De Telegraaf (in Dutch). Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  36. ↑ De Koning, Petra; König, Eppo (17 September 2023). "De andere kant van Esther Ouwehand" [Ester Ouwehand's other side]. NRC (in Dutch). Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  37. ↑ De Koning, Petra (14 September 2023). "Ook PvdD-Kamerlid Eva van Esch stopt ermee" [PvdD Member of Parliament Eva van Esch quits too]. NRC (in Dutch). Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  38. ↑ "Afscheid Kamerlid Leonie Vestering" [Farewell of House member Leonie Vestering]. Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal (Press release) (in Dutch). 26 September 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  39. ↑ Van den Berg, Jurgen; Vestering, Leonie (4 March 2021). "Leonie Vestering (Partij voor de Dieren) wil de Kamer in" [Leonie Vestering (Party for the Animals) wants to enter the House]. NOS Radio 1 Journaal (in Dutch). NPO Radio 1. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
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