Bos announced his resignation totally unexpectedly on Friday. He wants to have more time for his family in the coming years. He is no longer available for any political function.
Amsterdam Mayor Job Cohen is succeeding Bos. Cohen will become the PvdA's front-runner for the general elections on 9 June. Should the party win the elections, Cohen is virtually certain to be the next premier.
The decision by Bos came as such a surprise that even within his party, practically nobody knew about it. Last-minute speculation about some drama occurring within his private life was quickly crushed when Bos said he simply wanted to see his young children grow up.
Following a career at Shell, Bos entered politics as a somewhat timid 35-year-old in 1998. He became Finance State Secretary in 2000.
In November 2002, after 'old politics' had lost heavily to maverick Pim Fortuyn, the youngster mounted the throne left behind by ousted PvdA leader Ad Melkert, who left politics as well as the country following the party's dramatic defeat in the May 2002 general elections. Bos turned out to be a favourite with the press, which helped the PvdA to make a remarkable comeback in subsequent elections.
Since last month's collapse of the government the polls have picked up again for the PvdA. Bos refused to extend the Dutch mission in Uruzgan, causing a breach with the Christian democrats (CDA).
For more: Dutch news - PvdA Leader Bos Resigns, Succeeded by Cohen
Amsterdam Mayor Job Cohen is succeeding Bos. Cohen will become the PvdA's front-runner for the general elections on 9 June. Should the party win the elections, Cohen is virtually certain to be the next premier.
The decision by Bos came as such a surprise that even within his party, practically nobody knew about it. Last-minute speculation about some drama occurring within his private life was quickly crushed when Bos said he simply wanted to see his young children grow up.
Following a career at Shell, Bos entered politics as a somewhat timid 35-year-old in 1998. He became Finance State Secretary in 2000.
In November 2002, after 'old politics' had lost heavily to maverick Pim Fortuyn, the youngster mounted the throne left behind by ousted PvdA leader Ad Melkert, who left politics as well as the country following the party's dramatic defeat in the May 2002 general elections. Bos turned out to be a favourite with the press, which helped the PvdA to make a remarkable comeback in subsequent elections.
Since last month's collapse of the government the polls have picked up again for the PvdA. Bos refused to extend the Dutch mission in Uruzgan, causing a breach with the Christian democrats (CDA).
For more: Dutch news - PvdA Leader Bos Resigns, Succeeded by Cohen
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