Paul Smeulders (Dutch pronunciation: [pʌul ˈsmøːldərs]; born 15 July 1987) is a Dutch politician of GroenLinks.
Paul Smeulders | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Smeulders in 2020 | |
| Member of the House of Representatives | |
| In office 6 June 2018 – 30 March 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Linda Voortman |
| Alderman of Arnhem | |
| Assumed office 2022 | |
| Alderman of Helmond | |
| In office 2014–2018 | |
| Member of the Provincial Council of North Brabant | |
| In office 2011–2014 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Paul Smeulders 15 July 1987 Helmond, Netherlands |
| Political party | GroenLinks |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation | Politician |
Education and career
editBorn in Helmond, Smeulders studied public administration successively at the Avans University of Applied Sciences and Tilburg University between 2004 and 2010. He worked as a public affairs adviser at Vereniging Natuurmonumenten, and he became a member of the Provincial Council of North Brabant in 2011, serving as GroenLinks's parliamentary leader.[1] Smeulders left the council in 2014 to become alderman for finances, sustainability, and land in Helmond.[1][2]
He did not secure a seat in the House of Representatives in the 2017 general election, but he was appointed to the body in June 2018 to succeed Linda Voortman.[3] Smeulders lost his bid for re-election in 2021, bringing his membership of the House to an end on 30 March.[4][5] He was appointed alderman for finances, housing, and refugees in Arnhem the following year after having formed the municipality's executive as (in)formateur.[2][6] He announced in 2024 that Arnhem would house 1,700 asylum seekers for the next 30 years – 980 more than required by the national government – and he signaled that refugees were welcome.[7]
References
edit- ^ a b "Biografie, onderwijs en loopbaan van Paul Smeulders" [Biography, education, and career of Paul Smeulders]. House of Representatives (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 24 January 2021 – via Wayback Machine.
- ^ a b "Paul Smeulders". Municipality of Arnhem (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 2 December 2023 – via Wayback Machine.
- ^ Van Otterdijk, Frits (24 April 2018). "Jongensdroom van Paul Smeulders komt uit, hij wordt Tweede Kamerlid: 'Brabant op de kaart zetten'" ['Boyhood dream of Paul Smeulders materializes, he will become a member of parliament: 'Putting Brabant on the map']. Omroep Brabant (in Dutch). Retrieved 7 May 2024.
- ^ Van der Venne, Freek (23 March 2021). "Voorkeursstemmen geteld, Paul Smeulders nu echt weg uit Tweede Kamer" [Preference votes counted, Paul Smeulders will definitively depart from the House of Representatives]. Omroep Brabant (in Dutch). Retrieved 7 May 2024.
- ^ "Tweede Kamerleden nemen afscheid" [House of Representatives members say farewell]. House of Representatives (Press release) (in Dutch). 29 March 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
- ^ Veth, Huibert (1 June 2022). "Het is rond: Arnhem heeft een uiterst linkse coalitie met zes partijen" [It is finished: Arnhem has a far-left coalition with six parties]. Omroep Gelderland (in Dutch). Retrieved 7 May 2024.
- ^ Smeulders, Paul (7 May 2024). "Minder asielzoekers? Arnhem wil er juist veel meer. 'Vreselijk zoals ze in Den Haag spreken over vluchtelingen'" [Fewer asylum seekers? Arnhem wants more. 'It is terrible how refugees are being talked about in The Hague']. Trouw (in Dutch). Interviewed by Johan van Heerde. Retrieved 7 May 2024.