Lidewij de Vos to become the new lead candidate for Forum for Democracy in the 29 October general election

Lidewij de Vos to become the new lead candidate for Forum for Democracy in the 29 October general election. 

FVD founder Thierry Baudet moves to second place.

Thierry Baudet has said,  

"I am enthusiastic and full of confidence. With all my heart and soul I remain involved in FVD, and I will also once again enter the House of Representatives with full commitment. I will continue to dedicate myself 100% to the party, but because of polarised opinions about me and a media blockade that has lasted for five years, I am at this moment mainly standing in the way of new growth. That is partly my own fault – I’m too much of a free-thinker, too outspoken – but also partly the result of framing and being denied any goodwill. Even though we were often proven right on substance – in our criticism of the Covid policy, in our analysis of the sabotage of Nord Stream, the costs of climate policy, the absurdity of nitrogen policy and the dramatic effects of immigration – since the Covid period we have never again been given a real platform. Then you notice that you are no longer effective as the face of the party. The movement is far more important than my ego or personal position. I never built Forum for Democracy because I myself wanted to be in the spotlight; it was and is about the Netherlands. And Lidewij is an excellent successor, with composure, her own style, a great deal of expertise and surprising debating skills. With her at the helm I expect Forum for Democracy to achieve a fantastic result in the election and to accomplish a great deal for our voters and for the Netherlands!"

Lidewij de Vos (1997) is a chemist, neuroscientist and violinist. While doing her master’s degree she worked at the research department of the Erasmus Medical Centre in Rotterdam. She has been involved with Forum for Democracy since its very beginning and has worked for the FVD parliamentary group in the House of Representatives since 2021. Together with Thierry Baudet she co-authored the book No One in the Cockpit (2023), in which the Netherlands’ nitrogen policy is dismantled on scientific grounds. In 2025 she replaced Thierry Baudet during his paternity leave: as an MP she campaigned for the abolition of climate and nitrogen regulations, for an end to mass immigration and for the restoration of rationality in politics.

Lidewij de Vos has said, 

“It is a particularly great honour and a task of magnitude to be the lead candidate of the largest membership party in the Netherlands. I will take on this role as a team player and, together with Thierry, Frederik Jansen, Gideon van Meijeren, Pepijn van Houwelingen, Ralf Dekker and the many others in our party, advance our agenda of political renewal. As a woman I am daily aware of the insecurity that is partly the result of mass immigration. As a chemist I know how nonsensical the climate and nitrogen policy is. And as a violinist I feel deeply connected with the unparalleled European civilisation we want to preserve and strengthen. I am bursting with energy and hugely looking forward to the campaign. On to 29 October!”