25 Facts About Fonda Sahla

Fonda Sahla was born on 29 May 1979 and is a Dutch politician of the social liberal party Democrats 66.

Fonda Sahla has served as a member of the House of Representatives from 2021 to 2023, initially as the temporary replacement of Rens Raemakers but later as the successor of Rob Jetten.

Fonda Sahla was elected to The Hague's municipal council in 2018 and participated in the March 2021 general election but was not directly elected.

Fonda Sahla has seven siblings, and her parents had immigrated to the Netherlands from Morocco as guest workers.

Fonda Sahla initially grew up in The Hague's Rivierenbuurt but moved to Transvaal at age seven.

Fonda Sahla went to an mbo school, which would later become ROC Mondriaan, and worked as a pharmacy assistant.

Fonda Sahla became involved in her community because of her experiences in education with her oldest son.

Fonda Sahla came under the impression that her son was not given the same opportunities as children on primary schools with less immigrants.

Fonda Sahla joined the parent council of primary school Het Galjoen around 2008 as well as the council of the umbrella organization consisting of about 50 schools.

Fonda Sahla sent a critical letter to Ingrid van Engelshoven, The Hague's alderwoman for education and a D66 member, in 2013, and this contact resulted in Sahla deciding to become politically active.

Fonda Sahla helped set up other neighborhood projects such as a group of mothers and office hours with the local police officer and with mental healthcare professionals, and she served as porch music project leader at the Residentie Orchestra starting in 2019.

Fonda Sahla first appeared on the ballot in the 2018 municipal elections as D66's fifth candidate in The Hague.

Fonda Sahla was elected to the city's municipal council and became D66's spokesperson for education, youth, and neighborhoods.

Fonda Sahla successfully called for an investigation into the availability of study spaces for students, saying that she had heard of students leaving the city in the weekends to look for a place to study.

Fonda Sahla pled for special education classes in regular schools and for addressing loneliness among youth.

In 2020, Fonda Sahla received the annual inspiration award from D66's Els Borst Netwerk.

Fonda Sahla has served on the board of the chapter of The Hague of that organization, which promotes gender equality within the party.

Fonda Sahla ran for member of parliament in the March 2021 general election, being placed 27th on D66's party list.

Fonda Sahla became the temporary replacement of MP Rens Raemakers when he went on sick leave in October 2021.

Fonda Sahla became the second hijab-wearing member of the House of Representatives in Dutch parliamentary history after Kauthar Bouchallikht.

Fonda Sahla's focus in the House was on youth care services, youth crime, youth protection, and the Participation Act, and she became a member of the Petitions Committee and the Committees for Education, Culture and Science; for Finance; for Health, Welfare and Sport; and for Justice and Security.

Fonda Sahla became a permanent member of parliament on 18 January 2022 before Raemakers returned from his sick leave, when Rob Jetten left the body to become a minister in the new fourth Rutte cabinet.

Fonda Sahla's specialties changed to youth care, preschool, long-term healthcare, and caregiving, and she became vice chair of the Committee for Social Affairs and Employment.

Fonda Sahla was supposed to be D66's sixth candidate in The Hague in the 2022 municipal elections, but decided to be one of her party's after her House membership had become permanent.

Fonda Sahla is a resident of The Hague's neighborhood Transvaal.