Nebahat Albayrak loses Dutch party leadership

ROTTERDAM

Politicians of Turkish origin in the Netherlands were disappointed as their colleague Nebahat Albayrak lost the Dutch Labor Party leadership with eight percent of votes in a members’ poll on March 17, Anatolia news agency reported.

Meanwhile, Diederik Samson has been elected the new leader of the Labor Party with 54 percent of the vote in the first round of a members’ poll. “To be honest, I was expected more votes [for Albayrak]. I am a bit disappointed,” said Metin Çelik, another deputy of Turkish origin in Dutch Parliament. Çelik said the results should be respected. Emine Bozkurt, a Labor Party deputy in the European Parliament said she also supported Albayrak but will support Samson from now on. On March 19, the parliamentary party will appoint Samson as their new leader.