THE HAGUE - The Member of Parliament Machiel de Graaf is leaving the political arena, becoming the latest member of the Dutch House of Representatives' Kingdom Relations Committee to do so.
Although he rarely attended committee meetings, the PVV (Party for Freedom) member consistently presented a motion during the annual budget debate for Kingdom Relations and the BES Fund, aimed at breaking ties with the Caribbean islands, although these motions had little chance of success. Notably, he argued for Bonaire to build a small nuclear power plant instead of increasing its use of solar and wind energy.
De Graaf has been a member of the Dutch House of Representatives since 2012. After the upcoming elections, he will work as a trauma therapist. He stated, "There are many people walking around with old pain such as trauma or PTSD. I want to guide and help these people make life lighter and more bearable."
It was previously reported that committee members Van den Berg (CDA), Wuite (D66), Kuiken (PvdA), Simons (BIJ1), Tunahan Kuzu (DenK), Roelof Bisschop (SGP), and Liane de Haan are also leaving The Hague.