EU Green Deal chief Frans Timmermans will leave the European Commission to run in the Dutch election, local media reported on Thursday, according to Politico.
The Netherlands will head to the polls in November. Long-time Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced his departure from politics earlier this month following his government’s collapse.
Members of Timmermans’ Labor Party recently voted to fight in the upcoming election together with the Dutch Greens.
This morning, Timmermans told NOS that he would run as a candidate to lead the joint list. He’s expected to make a formal announcement later today.
De Volkskrant reported that he has already informed Commission President Ursula von der Leyen of his imminent departure.
Timmermans has served in the Commission since 2014. In 2019, he became executive vice president in charge of the European Green Deal.