Three UvA students competing for a seat in House of Representatives
The elections are always a tense affair, but these three UvA students and researchers will be following the polls with even keener interest in the days to come. On 29 October, they’ll see their own names on the ballot paper – so here’s a chance to get to know them.
Bjorn Beijnon
“In 2019, when FvD won the provincial elections, I joined Volt because I was alarmed by the momentum of populist politics. I was looking for a radically progressive counter-voice. At the time Volt wasn’t yet much of a presence in national politics, but it was already on my radar thanks to the European elections.”
Name: Bjorn Beijnon
Party: Volt (No. 5)
Age: 31
UvA: PhD researcher on the influence of major US tech companies
Residence: Den Bosch
Political role model: Jacinda Ardern (former Prime Minister of New Zealand)
“Although on education I also recognised a lot of my own views in a party like D66, it was Volt’s emphasis on European unity that really spoke to me. In recent years so much has revolved around the individual – a neoliberal worldview in which we no longer look out for one another. But I believe Europe needs a shared, unambiguous message to bring about change. Together we’re stronger.”
“I’ve been working in education for a long time and I see that The Hague has no clear vision on this issue. Everyone ends up disappointed as a result. And I’m not only talking about the budget cuts – which of course concern me too – but also about the lack of vision on the funding of higher education. I think we should be looking far more at qualitative standards, at the impact education has on society, and less at quantitative criteria such as the number of diplomas and publications.”
Scapegoat
“I also find it deeply worrying how international students are now being turned into scapegoats. In recent years not enough housing has been built, while at the same time universities were told to actively recruit foreign students to secure a stable flow of funding. The imbalance that has now arisen isn’t the students’ fault – yet their social safety is what’s at risk.”
“Standing as a candidate isn’t because I’ve always dreamt of a political career; it just feels like the logical next step. I’ve realised that, through my experience, I have specific knowledge which I think could be valuable in politics. A future as party leader? I honestly don’t know. When I see what Laurens Dassen goes through… it’s quite a sacrifice. For now it’s simply about building up to the election and running a campaign. Luckily I’m not very active on social media, that helps my peace of mind. I’m focusing instead on what I’m good at: writing opinion pieces, handing out flyers, connecting people.”
Name: Shadi Nikshomar
Party: GroenLinks/PvdA (No. 40)
Age: 22
UvA: Master’s student in Philosophy
Residence: Almere
Political role model: Zohran Mamdani (New York mayoral candidate)
Shadi Nikshomar
“I was just fourteen when I first campaigned in a GroenLinks jacket in my neighbourhood. I was too young to be a member at the time, but my personal background gave me huge motivation. I lived with my mother, who came to the Netherlands as a political refugee from Iran and became chronically ill here. Fortunately, there is a social safety net here, but because I was the one at home with the best understanding of Dutch, all official letters from the municipality ended up with me. When I applied for household assistance for her, it was initially denied. I ended up writing an appeal – and won. When my neighbour heard about it, she also asked for my help with her own appeal.”
“That experience taught me something important: yes, the Netherlands is a wealthy country, but it’s also a place where some people rely on the literacy of a thirteen-year-old just to access basic needs. I believe we focus too much on what people are entitled to and too little on what they actually need. That’s why I joined GroenLinks, a party committed to making government accessible and looking beyond the rules.”
Nonsensical legislation
“I believe politics is very personal, and there isn’t just one right way to engage in it. That’s why it’s important to have a variety of styles and types of people represented in the House of Representatives. I know from personal experience what happens when the system doesn’t match reality, and I bring that perspective with me. Social welfare policy is currently largely determined by people who have never been involved in implementing the rules. This leads to skewed, nonsensical legislation. I think we need more people in parliament who understand what these rules mean in practice.”
“As for higher education, I fear that continuing studies is gradually becoming unaffordable. Jobs in education are at risk, and the future of scientific talent is uncertain, even though that talent is precisely what we need to tackle societal problems. Investing in education isn’t about buying books, it’s about investing in people, in our future. If we keep cutting funding, we’re damaging our own chances. We need to have the courage to look at the long term.”
Name: Lamba Neshan
Party: DENK (No. 33)
Age: 22
UvA: Bachelor’s student in Law
Residence: Dordrecht
Political role model: Stephan van Baarle (parliamentary leader of DENK)
Lamba Neshan
“I joined DENK because I see it as the party most actively committed to fighting racism and discrimination. I’ve experienced it myself at school. I remember once sitting in class when a video featuring Hitler was shown. Afterwards, the teacher implied that I must have something against Jewish people, and that’s why I wasn’t paying attention. I was one of the few students of colour at the school and not yet verbally strong enough to defend myself, but I found it deeply hurtful. That was a defining moment that motivated me to get involved in politics.”
“I’m currently placed at number 33, so winning a seat might not be immediately realistic. Yet I’m one hundred percent convinced that I have the qualities needed. In terms of experience, I can’t compare to MPs who have been in parliament for twenty years, but that could also be my strength. I am a young woman, and there aren’t enough represented in politics at the moment. My age allows me to contribute to the diversity we want to see in the House of Representatives.”
First female parliamentary leader
“If I make it into parliament, I will focus fully on equality of opportunity and justice, especially in education. Young people are the future, so that’s where we need to start. Many young people struggle to find internships because of their surname or background, and that’s where we need to intervene. For example, the government could offer a guaranteed internship and exercise more oversight over the companies and institutions responsible for allocating positions.”
“My fellow students have reacted with pride to my candidacy. The UvA is, of course, known for the many actions and protests in support of Palestinians. As DENK is the party most actively engaged in this, I’ve noticed we’ve become increasingly popular among young people in recent years. As for my own political future, I dream without limits. If I don’t make it this time, I’m convinced there will come a day when I become an MP. And perhaps one day I could even become the party’s first female parliamentary leader, that’s definitely something I’d welcome.”
