Sebastian Kruis (born 1989) is a Colombian-born Dutch politician of the Party for Freedom (PVV). He was elected member of the European Parliament in 2024.[1] He served as a member of the municipal council of The Hague for almost 6 years until his election as MEP.[2]
Sebastian Kruis | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2024 | |
| Member of the European Parliament | |
| Assumed office 16 July 2024 | |
| Parliamentary group | Patriots for Europe |
| Constituency | Netherlands |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1989 (age 34–35) Medellín, Colombia |
| Political party | Party for Freedom |
| Other political affiliations | Identity and Democracy Party |
Early life and career
editKruis was born in 1989 in Medellín, Colombia, and was left in a foster home by his addicted biological mother. He was adopted by a couple in Zoetermeer in the Netherlands at the age of nine months.[3] In a 2022 interview, Kruis explained that he was initially unable to locate his biological family due to misconducts within the international adoption system before learning that his parents were both drug addicts and homeless at the time of his birth. He subsequently located his mother in Colombia and said the experience was a factor that motivated his interest in politics and social issues. After leaving secondary school, Kruis was a social worker and later a property manager.[4][5]
He joined the PVV at the age of 17 in 2006 as a volunteer for the party on the day he was criticized by his school for a presentation he gave about immigration.[3][6] He began working for the national PVV in 2011 as a press officer, and succeeded Vicky Maeijer as member of the Provincial Council of South Holland in 2014.[3] Kruis ran for the European Parliament in the June 2024 election as the PVV's fourth candidate. The party won six seats, and Kruis was sworn in on 16 July.[7]
European Parliament committees
edit- Committee on International Trade
- Committee on Petitions
- Delegation for relations with the countries of the Andean Community
- Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (substitute)
- Delegation to the EU–Türkiye Joint Parliamentary Committee (substitute)[8]
Electoral history
edit| Year | Body | Party | Pos. | Votes | Result | Ref. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party seats | Individual | |||||||
| 2021 | House of Representatives | Party for Freedom | 48 | 93 | 17 | Lost | [9] | |
| 2024 | European Parliament | Party for Freedom | 4 | 9,243 | 6 | Won | [7] | |
References
edit- ^ "Raadslid Sebastian Kruis (PVV) wordt Europarlementariër: 'Vanuit de EU kunnen we een verschil maken'". Stadsomroep Den Haag. June 15, 2024.
- ^ "PVV'er Sebastian Kruis gaat Europa in en neemt z'n oude straathondje mee: 'Ben verslaafd aan dat beestje'". Algemeen Dagblad. June 18, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Adoptie is het mooiste wat Sebastian Kruis overkwam: Het heeft me een toekomst gegeven. En een moeder". Algemeen Dagblad. July 17, 2019.
- ^ "Sebastian Kruis (PVV) went looking for his biological mother: 'fortunately the adoption file was correct'". Retrieved 2024-07-26.
- ^ "Sebastian Kruis, PVV: 'If you keep building, people will continue to settle here'". Retrieved 2024-07-26.
- ^ "Interview met Sebastian Kruis". Actueelnieuws.org. May 28, 2021.
- ^ 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. 23–24, 42. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ "10th parliamentary term | Sebastian KRUIS". European Parliament. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ "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. 20–21. Retrieved 21 December 2023.