Kaag for (vice)president

Suddenly you were there. On screen. Initially a bit hesitant, is that womanly? You didn't have to. That political arena, was that really something for you? You had a top job in diplomacy, that Hague intrigue seemed nothing to you. Have you seen Borgen? It was exactly the same there. I believe that is the lesson that Sheryl Sandberg tries to teach us. That we shouldn't park those bears on the road, but that we should believe in ourselves. We women (sorry if I am engaging in internalized sexism, not at all 2021) seem to look more at what we cannot do while men quickly pat themselves on the back and say ‘bring it on’.

But you did it. You became the party leader of D66. I don't know if you had a spin doctor, but if one exists, I would say: keep it that way. You were unfilled. Not in terms of knowledge, but in terms of PR plan. No rehearsed one-liners for you, no football teams being used for metaphors. Just factual knowledge, an extremely good mind and above all... civility. Listening to others, letting people finish speaking, not tearing down someone else's policy in the hope of freeing up a seat for yourself. Just being. Being smart. Being involved. Being strict. Being nervous (I am in love with that little twitch above your lip when you go into debate with Geert Wilders), being free (your dance on the table), being real.

You are going to start the formation dance today and I am betting on Sigrid Kaag for vice president. You deserve it.