It is not the ambition of VVD celebrity Edith Schippers to succeed Mark Rutte, but she does not rule anything out, she says in a video distributed by VVD.

In the video, Schippers announces that she is running as VVD party leader in the Senate elections. The NOS reported this yesterday and has now confirmed it. “I can find everything from the sidelines, but I prefer taking part,” she says.

“The Senate is just a little bit further away from current affairs, from the issues of the day,” she adds. In her opinion, it is important for the Senate to examine whether the solutions that have been devised work in practice. Schippers emphasizes that membership in the Senate costs one day per week and that she will continue to work at DSM for the remaining days. She is Chair of the Board of Directors of DSM Europe.

“Not involved in decisions about DSM in the Senate”

In the video, Schippers also says she wants to be transparent about what she does outside of her MP membership. If the Senate discusses DSM, she leaves it to her colleagues and does not want to take part in decisions. In her opinion, the situation is different for the economy in general, for example the business climate. “Then it’s important that I contribute my experience there.”

The 58-year-old Schippers was, among other things, health minister and member of the Bundestag for the VVD. Many VVD members see her as the ideal long-term successor to party leader and Prime Minister Rutte (55). The Senate is elected by the Provincial Council. The state elections are due on March 15 next year and the Senate more than two months later.