23 Facts About Leonie Vestering

Leonie Vestering was born on 13 March 1984 and is a Dutch politician of the Party for the Animals.

Leonie Vestering campaigned against circus animals, and she was a member of the States of Flevoland and the Almere municipal council.

Leonie Vestering was born in 1984 in the North Holland town Uithoorn and studied classical music at a music school and middle management.

Leonie Vestering served on the board of the anti-fur foundation Bont voor Dieren between 2014 and 2019.

Leonie Vestering participated in the 2015 provincial election in Flevoland as the Party for the Animals's lead candidate.

Leonie Vestering won a seat in the States of Flevoland and was sworn in in March 2015 as caucus leader.

Leonie Vestering was 23rd on the PvdD's party list for the 2017 general election, received 591 votes, and was not elected.

Leonie Vestering became a member of the Almere municipal council and the caucus leader of the Party for the Animals after appearing first on the party list during the 2018 municipal election.

Leonie Vestering was re-elected to the States of Flevoland the following year, again as the party's lead candidate.

Leonie Vestering filed another criminal complaint in the summer of 2019 against Staatsbosbeheer, when about 150 horses in the nature reserve Oostvaardersplassen were held in a field without shade.

Leonie Vestering had been the 18th candidate of the Party for the Animals in that year's European Parliament election, supporting a Dutch withdrawal from the European Union.

Leonie Vestering became a project coordinator of her party's caucus in the House of Representatives in 2020.

Leonie Vestering ran for member of parliament again in the 2021 general election, being placed third on the PvdD's party list.

Leonie Vestering stopped as caucus leader in the States of Flevoland and the Almere council in December 2020 after the list had been announced, and she resigned from both political bodies the following month.

Leonie Vestering clarified that her amendment would mainly regulate farm animals after concerns that it would have large effects on keeping pets.

Leonie Vestering criticized those steps, saying that the parliament's decision was ignored in favor of industry self-regulation.

Leonie Vestering's amendment was replaced by a less strict version in the next House term.

Leonie Vestering commented on the future of farming when the cabinet set goals to significantly reduce reactive nitrogen emissions, of which the sector is a major contributor, following a decision by the Council of State on the issue.

Leonie Vestering said that many farmers would have to seek a different profession and that livestock farming in the Netherlands would end, a development she lauded.

Leonie Vestering went on sick leave starting 9 May 2023 and was temporarily replaced by Eva Akerboom.

Leonie Vestering mentioned she had discovered the importance of good health following a life-threatening illness the year before after having been infected by a flesh-eating bacteria, from which she had recovered well.

Leonie Vestering declined to provide further comment on the struggle, but she did mention she had involved House Speaker Vera Bergkamp after the situation within the caucus had derailed.

On 14 September 2023, when the Party for the Animals presented its party list for the election, Leonie Vestering stated she had turned down the second spot.