Rob Jetten, leader of the D66 party, is currently contending for the most seats in the recent Dutch election, competing against Geert Wilders. Jetten, 38, previously served as climate minister in a government led by Mark Rutte.
Early Life and Political Path
Jetten grew up in the southern province of Brabant. He identifies as openly gay and is engaged to Argentine hockey player Nicolás Keenan, with their wedding scheduled for next year. As a child, he expressed an interest in politics.
He supported the centrist D66 party, which defines itself as progressive and socially liberal. Before his parliamentary career, Jetten worked for the Dutch rail network ProRail. He was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) in 2017.
Tenure as Climate Minister
Jetten served as climate minister under former Prime Minister Mark Rutte. During his time as minister, Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine led to a rise in energy prices. A parliamentary colleague raised a complaint regarding his stance on climate-related matters.
Previous Election and Public Image
In 2023, Jetten led D66's election campaign, which resulted in the party securing nine seats. This followed a previous election where his predecessor, Sigrid Kaag, had led the party to second place behind Rutte. At the time, some of Jetten's media appearances were subject to criticism, with one critic referring to him as "Robot Jetten."
Five years ago, Jetten posted a video where he read out homophobic messages he had received, to underscore the significance of an international day against homophobia. He has not centered his political identity on his private life.
Recent Election Campaign Highlights
During the recent campaign, D66's position moved from fifth place in terms of public standing. Jetten appeared frequently on television. When Geert Wilders cancelled a campaign appearance due to security concerns, Jetten took his place. He also participated in a TV quiz show titled "The Smartest Person," which had been recorded months prior.
D66 was not part of an 11-month coalition government that collapsed in June. This collapse occurred when Wilders' party withdrew following a disagreement over migration policy.
Jetten campaigned with the slogan "Het kan wel," a phrase similar to Barack Obama's "Yes, we can." He made accusations against Wilders, stating he was "sowing division."
The outcome of Wednesday's election remains undeclared. If his party emerges with the most seats, Jetten could become the Netherlands' first openly gay prime minister.