Overview
- Resigning a week before national elections, Koffeman said the party now prioritizes ‘people issues’ such as the war in Gaza over animal welfare.
- The party confirmed he will continue in the Dutch Senate without party affiliation.
- Party leader Esther Ouwehand downplayed the departure, saying the party is evolving and noting she learned of his decision via media reports.
- Party figures dispute his characterization, asserting that safeguarding animals remains the party’s top priority.
- Recent shifts, including support for higher defense spending in response to Russian aggression, triggered earlier defections and the launch of Vrede voor Dieren, and some commentators view Koffeman’s timing as a calculated campaign move.