MP Emile Roemer is set to take over the leadership of the Socialist Party from Agnes Kant, who quit on Thursday following the party’s poor showing in the local elections.

A number of leading SP MPs have come out in favour of Roemer, who was the only candidate for the job when nominations closed at 2pm on Friday.
‘He has thirty years experience within the SP. He is the right man for the job,’ said MP Harry van Bommel.
Roemer, a former teacher, has been an MP since 2006 and is the SP’s spokesman on transport issues.
He is 47, married and has two daughters. Before becoming an MP, he was active for the SP in Noord-Brabant province.
Marijnissen
Kant took over from Jan Marijnissen who resigned in 2008 for health reasons. He is considered to be the main motor behind the party’s success.
The SP took 25 seats at the last general election. According to an opinion poll earlier this week, the party will have just 11 after the next election.