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Freek Jansen

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Frederik Jan Harm "Freek" Jansen (born 6 December 1992) is a Dutch politician who served as a member of the House of Representatives (2021–2024) for the far-right Forum for Democracy (FvD) party. He previously chaired the FvD youth wing, the Jongerenorganisatie Forum voor Democratie (2017–2021).

Freek Jansen
Jansen in 2021
Member of the House of Representatives
In office
31 March 2021 – 16 January 2024
Succeeded byPepijn van Houwelingen
Chair of the youth wing of Forum for Democracy
In office
2017–2021
Personal details
Born
Frederik Jan Harm Jansen[1]

(1992-12-06) 6 December 1992 (age 31)
Oldebroek, Netherlands
Political partyForum for Democracy
ResidenceThe Hague
Alma materUniversity of Amsterdam

Jansen studied political science and joined Forum for Democracy in 2016, when it became a political party from a think tank. He established its youth wing the following year and became its chair on 1 April 2017. Jansen also assisted the party's House caucus. Reports about extremist messages by members of the youth wing in 2020 led to criticism of Jansen and caused a split within FvD. Jansen became a member of the House of Representatives after he was elected in the 2021 general election. He was reelected in 2023, before he stepped down in January 2024, ceding his seat to Pepijn van Houwelingen.

Early life and non-political career

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Jansen was born in 1992 in the Gelderland town of Oldebroek and grew up there.[2][3] He studied political science at the University of Amsterdam starting in 2011.[4] Jansen is an IT professional, and his first job was as an assistant to the clerk of the municipality of Westland.[5][6]

Politics

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Jansen assisted Forum for Democracy when it transitioned into a political party in 2016. At that point, the organization had already been in existence as a think tank for a number of years.[5] Jansen had first met party leader Thierry Baudet in September 2012 after Baudet's HJ Schoo-lezing, an annual lecture.[7] Jansen founded the FvD's youth wing in 2017 and started serving as its chair.[8] That same year, he also joined Forum for Democracy's caucus in the House of Representatives.[9][1]

When Forum for Democracy received a plurality of the votes in the 2019 provincial elections, Jansen co-wrote Baudet's victory speech.[10] He also ran for Member of the European Parliament in the 2019 election, ranking sixth on the party list, but he was not elected due to FvD winning three seats.[11] It was revealed the following year that Jansen had helped arrange a controversial 2017 meeting between Baudet, Jansen, white supremacist Jared Taylor, and the Dutch alt-right association Erkenbrand.[7] Besides, news magazine HP/De Tijd reported that his former superior at the Westland local council had written in a statement of defense for a labor dispute that Jansen had downplayed the Holocaust and had lauded the economic policies of Nazi Germany. Forum for Democracy called the statements "ridiculous and defamatory".[12]

Extremist messages and 2021 general election

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In April 2020, HP/De Tijd published an article about members of Forum for Democracy's youth wing being worried about right-wing extremist ideas that were expressed in WhatsApp group chats. In response, three members were expelled due to unacceptable statements and another three were suspended. The youth wing also expelled at least five whistleblowers.[13][14] Forum for Democracy announced in October 2020 that Jansen would be the party's seventh candidate in the 2021 general election.[15]

Newspaper Het Parool wrote the following month that antisemitic, Nazi, and homophobic thoughts were still being held and expressed by members of the FvD's youth wing.[14] Its board started an internal investigation and suspended itself in the meantime. Jansen reacted by saying that there was no place in the organization for "racist and antisemitic ideas".[16][17] Forum for Democracy politician Annabel Nanninga called the youth wing's response "too little too late" and called for the division to be reorganized, while Baudet continued to express his support for Jansen.[18] Shortly after, Forum for Democracy announced that Jansen had given up his spot on the party list for the 2021 election.[19]

After a number of prominent FvD members had left the party because of the controversy and Baudet had retained control over the party, a new party list for the 2021 general election was presented in late December. Jansen returned as the party's seventh candidate, and he was elected in March with 4,331 preference votes.[20][21] Thierry Baudet and Theo Hiddema stated that they were among the people who had voted for Jansen.[22]

House of Representatives

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Jansen was sworn into the House of Representatives on 31 March 2021. In the House, his specialities are education, youth, climate, innovation, digital affairs, and defense, and he is on the Committees for Defense, for Digital Affairs, for Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, for Infrastructure and Water Management, for Kingdom Relations, for Public Expenditure, and for Social Affairs and Employment.[2][23] Jansen stayed on as chair of the Forum for Democracy youth wing until September 2021, and he joined FvD's board as treasurer in November.[24][25][26] He has advocated expanding the military, saying that spending on it should far exceed the NATO norm of 2% of GDP.[27] Jansen was reprimanded in October 2022 by the House of Representatives for refusing to disclose his position as board member of publisher Amsterdam Media Group, while Baudet was suspended.[28] The House's integrity body advised the following year to suspend Jansen along with Baudet and Van Meijeren for one week for omitting roles at a meal-kit delivery service on their disclosure forms.[29]

In early 2022, Jansen declined a seat in the States of Overijssel, which was offered to him as there was a vacancy and he had been FvD's lijstduwer in the 2019 provincial elections. Jansen accepting the seat would have compelled him to relocate to the province.[30][31] Jansen received a second term in the House after he was re-elected in 2023 as Forum for Democracy's second candidate.[32] He temporarily stepped down on 16 January 2024 to make room for Pepijn van Houwelingen to serve on the body. NOS reported that such a temporary switch unrelated to health reasons had not occurred in the House since 1977.[33][34] Jansen was Forum for Democracy's second candidate in the June 2024 European Parliament election, but the party did not secure any seats.[35]

Political views

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In speeches, Jansen has complained about a moral weakening of Western civilization.[36] He has said that people have become slaves of a financial system based on debt, that society suffers from consumerism and social isolation, and that mass immigration is causing the replacement of the population by people who do not share Western culture.[6] Jansen has called immigration an "insane demographic experiment", of which young people will experience the consequences.[9] During a debate in the House of Representatives, he decried the (by his own count) four million immigrants who had entered the Netherlands after World War II. Jansen said that without them the Netherlands would not be suffering from crime, street disturbances, a housing shortage, and overcrowded classrooms and hospitals (the latter during the COVID-19 pandemic). Furthermore, he said that "there would be conviviality and trust", that "you would not have to look over your shoulder while using an ATM", and that "girls could walk alone on the streets carefree".[37] Earlier, he had also stated that children are being raised as slaves, unable to say what they think and unable to fight for what they care about because of political correctness.[6][38]

Jansen has said that civilization must be saved from its downfall and that there is a choice between going under and fighting for a renaissance.[9][36] He believes this latter option requires a community stronger in unity with an urge to dominate.[6][36] Trouw reported that Jansen has used references to the alt-right.[15]

Personal life

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While in parliament, Jansen moved from The Hague to Amsterdam.[2]

Electoral history

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Electoral history of Freek Jansen
Year Body Party Pos. Votes Result Ref.
Party seats Individual
2021 House of Representatives Forum for Democracy 7 4,331 8 Won [39]
2023 House of Representatives Forum for Democracy 2 3,456 3 Won [32]
2024 European Parliament Forum for Democracy 2 2,954 0 Lost [35]

References

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  1. ^ a b "F.J.H. (Freek) Jansen MA". Parlement.com (in Dutch). Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "Freek Jansen". Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal. 31 March 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  3. ^ Van Raaij, Ben (23 November 2020). "Freek Jansen, de vriend en vertrouweling die Baudet ten val bracht" [Freek Jansen, the friend and confidant who brought down Baudet]. de Volkskrant (in Dutch). Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  4. ^ Strikkers, Henk (23 March 2021). "24 oud-UvA'ers in nieuwe Tweede Kamer" [24 former UvA students in the new House of Representatives]. Folia (in Dutch). Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  5. ^ a b Joosten, Carla (3 August 2018). "Achter de schermen bij Forum voor Democratie" [Behind the scenes at Forum for Democracy]. EW (in Dutch). Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d De Koning, Petra (23 November 2020). "Freek Jansen: strateeg met radicale ideeën en grote invloed op Baudet" [Freek Jansen: strategist with radical ideas and a lot of influence on Baudet]. NRC (in Dutch). Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  7. ^ a b Botje, Harm Ede; Cohen, Mischa (2020). Mijn meningen zijn feiten: De wording van Thierry Baudet [My opinions are facts: The making of Thierry Baudet] (in Dutch). Amsterdam: Uitgeverij Atlas Contact. pp. 230 and 264. ISBN 978-90-450-4114-8. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  8. ^ Rutten, Rik (17 November 2020). "Jongerentak FVD royeert kritische leden" [FvD's youth wing expels critical members]. NRC (in Dutch). Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  9. ^ a b c Hendrickx, Frank (22 April 2019). "Nieuwe stresstest voor Forum voor Democratie" [New stress test for Forum for Democracy]. de Volkskrant (in Dutch). Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  10. ^ Rutten, Rik (3 November 2021). "Coronascepsis jaagt kiezers Forum voor Democratie weg" [Corona skepticism drives away Forum for Democracy voters]. NRC (in Dutch). Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  11. ^ "Uitslag Europees Parlementsverkiezing 2019" [Results 2019 European Parliament election] (PDF). Kiesraad (in Dutch). 4 June 2019. p. 22. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  12. ^ Van Dijk, Ton F. (26 May 2020). "Rechterhand Baudet 'relativeerde' Holocaust" [Baudet's right-hand man 'downplayed' the Holocaust]. HP/De Tijd (in Dutch). Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  13. ^ "Jongerenpartij FvD royeert leden die rechts-extremisme aankaartten" [FvD youth wing expels three members who raised concerns about right-wing extremism]. NOS (in Dutch). 17 November 2020. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  14. ^ a b Botje, Harm Ede; Cohen, Mischa (21 November 2020). "Nazifoto's geen bezwaar bij de jongeren van Forum voor Democratie" [Nazi pictures no problem at Forum for Democracy youth]. Het Parool (in Dutch). Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  15. ^ a b Boersema, Wendelmoet (1 November 2020). "Liever dan over corona hebben Baudet en zijn Forum-kandidaten het over Europa, klimaat en immigratie" [Baudet and his Forum candidates rather talk about Europe, climate, and immigration than about corona]. Trouw (in Dutch). Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  16. ^ "Coördinatoren jongeren FvD uit functie gezet na ophef over 'antisemitisch en homofobe' appberichten" [FvD youth wing coordinators removed from office after controversy about 'antisemitic and homophobic' WhatsAppp messages]. AD (in Dutch). 22 November 2020. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  17. ^ "Bestuur FVD-jongeren trekt zich terug in onderzoek naar antisemitische appjes" [FvD youth wing's board suspended itself from investigation into antisemitic WhatsApp messages]. NU.nl (in Dutch). 22 November 2020. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  18. ^ Keultjes, Hanneke (22 November 2020). "Onenigheid binnen FvD over aanpak jongerentak: van 'uitstekend optreden' tot 'too little, too late'" [Disagreement within FvD about response youth wing: from 'excellent reaction' to 'too little, too late']. AD (in Dutch). Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  19. ^ "Ook FvD-senator Cliteur legt taken neer, Nanninga haalt hard uit naar Baudet" [FvD Senator Cliteur also resigns, Nanninga lashes out to Baudet]. de Volkskrant (in Dutch). 24 November 2020. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  20. ^ Keultjes, Hanneke (26 December 2020). "Nieuwe kandidatenlijst van FvD: Van Haga op 2, Jansen op 7" [New FvD party list: Van Haga second, Jansen seventh]. Het Parool (in Dutch). Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  21. ^ "Uitslag Tweede Kamerverkiezing 17 maart 2021 Proces-verbaal" [Results general election 17 March 2021 Report] (PDF). Kiesraad (in Dutch). 29 March 2021. pp. 14 and 157. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  22. ^ Hermans, Iris (18 March 2021). "Zetel voor radicale FVD'er Freek Jansen leidt nu al tot frustratie én euforie" [Seat for radical FvD member Freek Jansen is already causing frustration and enthusiasm]. Metro (in Dutch). Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  23. ^ "Tweede Kamer" [House of Representatives]. FVD (in Dutch). Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  24. ^ "Onze organisatie" [Our organization]. JFVD (in Dutch). Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  25. ^ "JFVD Congres 2021 - Dag van de vrijheid" [2021 JFVD Congress - Freedom day]. JFVD (in Dutch). 5 September 2021. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  26. ^ Botje, Harm Ede; Cohen, Mischa (19 November 2021). "Forum voor Democratie heeft zijn masker afgezet: de 'juisten' zijn nu over" [Forum for Democracy has taken off its mask: We are now left with the 'right ones']. Het Parool (in Dutch). Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  27. ^ Jansen, Freek (December 2021). "'Samenwerken is prima, maar het mag nooit ten koste gaan van je eigen soevereiniteit'" ['Cooperating is fine, but it should never be at the expense of your own sovereignty']. Militaire Courant (Interview) (in Dutch). No. 14. Interviewed by Niels Roelen. p. 20.
  28. ^ Knoop, Bas (18 October 2022). "Kamer schorst steeds verder radicaliserende Baudet om nevenfuncties" [House suspends increasingly radicalized Baudet due to secondary positions]. FD. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  29. ^ Wieringa, Rein (7 November 2023). "Integriteitscollege adviseert een week schorsing voor Baudet, Van Meijeren en Jansen" [Integrity body advises one-week suspension for Baudet, Van Meijeren, and Jansen]. NRC (in Dutch). Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  30. ^ Van den Brink, Pepijn (6 April 2022). "Geen opvolger voor Forum-afsplitser, zetel in Overijsselse Staten blijft leeg" [No successor of former Forum member, seat in the States of Overijssel remains vacant]. RTV Oost (in Dutch). Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  31. ^ "'Doe alleen een gooi naar zetel in Staten als je er tijd voor hebt'" ['Only run for the States if you have enough time for it']. Tubantia. 22 March 2022. p. 2.
  32. ^ a b "Proces-verbaal van de uitslag van de verkiezing van de Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal 2023 d.d. 4 december 2023" [Report of the results of the election of the House of Representatives on 4 December 2023] (PDF). Dutch Electoral Council (in Dutch). 4 December 2023. pp. 45–102, 213. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  33. ^ "Ongebruikelijke wissel bij FvD: Van Houwelingen vervangt Jansen tijdelijk als Kamerlid" [Unusual change at FvD: Van Houwelingen will temporarily replace Jansen as member of parliament]. NOS (in Dutch). 2 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  34. ^ "Afscheid Kamerlid Freek Jansen" [Farewell MP Freek Jansen]. House of Representatives (Press release) (in Dutch). 16 January 2024. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  35. ^ a b "Proces-verbaal centraal stembureau uitslag verkiezing Europees Parlement Model P22-1" [Central electoral council report of the results of the election of the European Parliament Model P22-1] (PDF). Dutch Electoral Council (in Dutch). 19 June 2024. pp. 8, 48–49. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  36. ^ a b c Wendelmoet, Boersema (15 June 2019). "De hechte vriendschap tussen de Forumpopulist en de SGP-mannenbroeder" [The close friendship between the Forum populist and the SGP brother]. Trouw (in Dutch). Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  37. ^ Kuijper, Sjirk (10 December 2021). "Een land voor 'mensen die hier altijd zijn geweest': het fascisme werpt z'n boreale boerka af" [A country for 'people who have always been here': Fascism gets rid of it boreal burqa]. Nederlands Dagblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  38. ^ Hendrickx, Frank (11 June 2019). "'Wij gaan onze beschaving redden': jonge aanhangers Baudet dromen van strijd met gevestigde orde" ['We are going to save our civilization': young Baudet supporters dream about fight with status quo]. De Morgen (in Dutch). Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  39. ^ "Proces-verbaal verkiezingsuitslag Tweede Kamer 2021" [Report of the election results House of Representatives 2021] (PDF). Dutch Electoral Council (in Dutch). 29 March 2021. pp. 145–146. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
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