Gert-Jan Oplaat

Gert-Jan Oplaat
Oplaat in 2005
Member of the Senate
Incumbent
Assumed office
13 June 2023
Member of the House of Representatives
In office
19 May 1998 – 23 May 2002
In office
26 July 2002 – 30 November 2006
Personal details
Born (1964-11-22) 22 November 1964 (age 60)
Markelo, Netherlands
Political party
  • VVD (1989–2022)
  • BBB (2022–present)
Occupation
  • Entrepreneur
  • Consultant
  • Administrator

Gert-Jan Oplaat (born 22 November 1964) is a Dutch politician.

Career

After secondary education he became a member of an agricultural family business.[1] In 1994 he protested against the national manure and ammonia policies.[1]

In 1989 he joined the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD).[1] Between 1994 and 1998 he was a municipal councillor in Markelo.

He was elected in the 1998 general election.[1] He was his party's spokesman for agriculture.[1] In 2004 he presented a pamphlet arguing for a more right-conservative course, together with Geert Wilders.[1] His place on the candidate list was too low to be re-elected in the 2006 general election.

After leaving parliament he became a consultant, administrator in branche organisations and chairman of the regional chamber of commerce.[1]

Until 2014 he was chairman of the VVD provincial branch in Overijssel.

In 2022 he left the VVD because of discontent about its policies during the nitrogen crisis.[2] After being contacted by multiple parties, he joined the agrarian Farmer–Citizen Movement (BBB).[3] Oplaat was placed third on the BBB's candidate list for the 2023 Senate election and was elected, taking office on 13 June 2023.

Personal life

Oplaat is married. He performs as a cabaretier and singer.[1] He is a Knight in the Order of Orange-Nassau and a member of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands.

Electoral history

Electoral history of Gert-Jan Oplaat
Year Body Party Pos. Votes Result Ref.
Party seats Individual
1998 House of Representatives VVD 36 3,712 38 Won
2002 House of Representatives VVD 27 2,672 24 Lost
2003 House of Representatives VVD 23 3,219 28 Won
2006 House of Representatives VVD 26 2,601 22 Lost
2023 Senate BBB 3 16 Won

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "G.J. (Gert-Jan) Oplaat" (in Dutch). Parlement.com.
  2. ^ Pepijn van den Brink (June 13, 2022). "Oud-Kamerlid Gert-Jan Oplaat zegt VVD-lidmaatschap op om stikstofplannen" (in Dutch). RTV Oost.
  3. ^ "Oplaat (ex-VVD) stapt over naar BoerBurgerBeweging" (in Dutch). NOS. June 25, 2022. Archived from the original on July 3, 2022. Retrieved July 4, 2022.