Democrats 66 (D66) parliamentary group leader Rob Jetten arrives for a meeting with the Dutch House Speaker and parliamentary group leaders in The Hague, Netherlands, on November 4th. Photograph: Sem van der Wal/ANP/AFP via Getty Images
Rob Jetten entered politics as a teenager determined to heal social divisions after some of his football team-mates were convicted for setting an Islamic school on fire.
Now, at 38, he is attempting to replicate that at a national level following a brief and chaotic experiment with a government led by the far right. If he succeeds in forming a coalition, Jetten would become the Netherlands’ youngest premier – and the first who is openly gay.
The liberal politician last month propelled his left-leaning D66 party from fifth to first with a message of hope and unity emulating Barack Obama, including his campaign slogan Het kan wél (“It is possible” or “Yes we can”).
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