Twelve candidates have come forward to compete for the leadership of the Christian Democrats and six of them will be included on the shortlist as official candidates on Monday, a spokesman told Nos television on Sunday.

Farm minister Henk Bleker, social affairs minister Liesbeth Spies and parliamentary party leader Sybrand Haersma Buma are among the hopefuls. Six of the names have not been made public.
This is the first time ordinary CDA members will have been able to vote for their leader.