Jesse Klaver

Jesse Feras Klaver (born 1 May 1986) is a Dutch politician who has served as leader of GroenLinks–PvdA in the House of Representatives since 2025, a member of the House of Representatives since 2010 and Leader of GroenLinks since 2015. Prior to this, he chaired the youth union of the Christian National Trade Union Federation from 2009 to 2010.

Early life

Jesse Feras Klaver was born on 1 May 1986 in Roosendaal. His father has a Riffian-Moroccan background and his mother has a mixed Dutch and Indonesian background. He grew up in a social housing project without the presence of his father. His grandparents played a large role in his upbringing. Between 1999 and 2004, he attended the VMBO at the Waldorf school Michael College in Prinsenbeek.

Between 2006 and 2009, he was member of the board of DWARS, the youth organization of GroenLinks. First, he was duo-chair for organization matters, later he was secretary and then he was elected chair. As chair, he supported the "freedom-loving course set by Femke Halsema" against the more communitarian elements within the party. In addition to serving in this function, he studied social work at the Avans and the transition program for the master political science at the University of Amsterdam. He quit the transition program before finishing it.

On 17 September 2009, he was elected chair of the youth union of the CNV. As chair he announced he would put less emphasis on the Christian character of the CNV. He supported raising the retirement age to 67. On 1 December 2009, he was appointed to the Social and Economic Council. Being 23 years old, he was the youngest member ever to sit on this council. In addition to chairing the CNV youth union, he co-authored the 2010 GroenLinks election manifesto; he was member of the board of the Christian Social Youth Congress and he was founder of the climate NGO Youth Copenhagen Coalition.