Bonne Zijlstra: Difference between revisions

Jump to navigation Jump to search
No edit summary
mNo edit summary
 
(17 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{wip}}
{{wip}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
  | honorific_prefix  = {{wpl|Excellency|His Excellency}}
  | honorific-suffix = [[Euclean Parliament|MEP]]
| name              = Bonne Zijlstra
  | image              = Jens Stoltenberg February 2015.jpg
| native_name        = <!--The person's name in their own language, if different.-->
| native_name_lang  = <!--ISO 639-1 code, e.g., "fr" for French. If more than one, use {{lang}} in |native_name= instead.-->
| honorific_suffix  =
  | image              = Jens Stoltenberg 2020.jpg
  | image_size        = 180px
  | image_size        = 180px
| image_upright      =
  | caption             = Zijlstra in 2013
| smallimage        = <!--If this is specified, "image" should not be.-->
  | office            = [[Euclean Parliament|Member of the Euclean Parliament]]
| smallimage_alt    =
| alt                =
  | caption           = Zijlstra in 2020
| order              = 1st
  | office            = President of the Euclean Community
  | status            = <!--If this is specified, overrides Incumbent.-->
  | status            = <!--If this is specified, overrides Incumbent.-->
  | term_start        = 1 December 2007
  | term_start        = [[2019 Euclean Parliament election|13 July 2004]]
  | term_end          = 30 November 2012
  | term_end          = <!-- Add data only when the actual term has ended, not for terms which will end in the future. (Per usage guideline.) -->
| alongside          = <!--For two or more people serving in the same position from the same district. (e.g. United States Senators.)-->
  | constituency1     = [[Alsland|Delland]]
  | monarch            =
  | office2            =  [[President of the Euclean Community]]
| president          =
  | term_start2       =  1 December 2007
| governor_general  =
  | term_end2         =  30 November 2012
| primeminister      =
  | successor2        =  [[Alexandre Lévesque]]
| taoiseach          =
  | office3            =  [[President of Alsland]]
| chancellor        =
  | term_start3       25 April 1992
| governor          =
  | term_end3        = 25 April 2000
| co-leader          =
  | predecessor3      = [[Tonnis Miedema]]
| vicepresident     =
  | successor3        = [[Steffen Hauke]]
| viceprimeminister  =
  | office4            =  [[Minister-President of Delland]]
| deputy            =
  | term_start4       18 October 1990
| lieutenant        =
  | term_end4        = 3 October 1991
| vicechair          =
  | predecessor4      = [[Alsland|Severyn Gaastra]]
| succeeding        = <!--For President-elect or equivalent-->
  | successor4        = [[Alsland|Peke Ringnalda]]
| parliamentarygroup =
  | office5           = [[Social Democratic Workers' Party (Alsland)|Leader of the Social Democratic Workers' Party]]  
| constituency      =
  | term_start5      18 August 2022
| majority          =
  | term_end5         =  
| predecessor        =
  | predecessor5      = [[Social Democratic Workers' Party (Alsland)|Astrid Keskula]]
| successor          = [[Alexandre Lévesque]]
  | successor5       =  
| prior_term        =
  | birth_date     =  {{Birth date and age|1960|01|11}}
| order2            =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
  | birth_place    = [[Wottested]], [[Alsland]]
  | office2            =  Prime Minister of Alsland
| term_start2        =  26 April 2000
| term_end2          =  15 June 2004
| alongside2        =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| monarch2          =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| president2        =  [[Michiel Huisman]]
  | governor_general2  =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| primeminister2    =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| chancellor2       =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
  | taoiseach2        =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| governor2         =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| co-leader2        =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| vicepresident2    =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| viceprimeminister2 = 
| deputy2            =  Martina Scott <br> Erika Kellner
| lieutenant2        =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| vicechair2        =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| succeeding2        =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| predecessor2      =  [[List of Prime Ministers of Alsland|Adalbrecht Brötzmann]]
  | successor2        =  [[List of Prime Ministers of Alsland|Martina Scott]]
| parliamentarygroup2=
| constituency2      = 
| majority2          =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| prior_term2        =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| order3            =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
  | office3            =  [[Cabinet of Alsland|Secretary of Foreign Affairs]]
  | term_start3       4 May 1995
  | term_end3         =  30 December 1999
| alongside3         = <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| monarch3          =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| president3        =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| governor_general3  =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| primeminister3    =  Adalbrecht Brötzmann
| chancellor3        =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| taoiseach3        =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| governor3          =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| co-leader3        =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| vicepresident3    =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| viceprimeminister3 =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| deputy3            =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| lieutenant3        =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| vicechair3        =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| succeeding3        =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
  | predecessor3      = Olrik Rijpstra
  | successor3         =  Jappichje Nicolai
| parliamentarygroup3=  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| constituency3      =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| majority3          =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| prior_term3       = <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| order4            =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
  | office4            =  Leader of the Social Democrats in Delland
  | term_start4       21 December 2020
  | term_end4         = 
| alongside4         = <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| monarch4          =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| president4        =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| governor_general4  =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| primeminister4    = 
| chancellor4        =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| taoiseach4        =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| governor4          =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| co-leader4        =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| vicepresident4    =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| viceprimeminister4 =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| deputy4            =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| lieutenant4        =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| vicechair4        =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| succeeding4        =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
  | predecessor4      = Addik Kuiken
  | successor4         = 
| parliamentarygroup4=  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| constituency4      =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| majority4          =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| prior_term4       = <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| term_start5        =  4 May 1994
  | term_end5          =  15 June 2004
| predecessor5      =  Seine De Haan
| successor5        =  Sjoerd De Ruiter
| office6           = Member of [[House of Representatives (Alsland)|House of Representatives]]
  | term_start6        26 April 2015
  | term_end6         =
  | constituency6      = [[Delland]]
| majority5          =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| prior_term5        =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| term_start7        =  4 May 1988
| term_end7          =  15 June 2004
| alongside6        =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| monarch6          =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| president6        =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| governor_general6  =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| primeminister6    = 
| chancellor6        =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| taoiseach6        =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| governor6          =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| co-leader6        =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| vicepresident6    =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| viceprimeminister6 =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| deputy6            =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| lieutenant6        =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| vicechair6        =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| succeeding6        =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| predecessor6      = 
| successor6        = 
| parliamentarygroup6=  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| constituency7      =  [[Delland]]
  | majority6          =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| prior_term6       =  <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| pronunciation  =  
  | birth_name     =  
  | birth_date      = {{Birth date and age|1960|01|11}}
  | birth_place    = [[Yndyk]]
  | death_date      =  <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
  | death_date      =  <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
  | death_place    =  
  | death_place    =  
Line 157: Line 37:
  | resting_place_coordinates =  
  | resting_place_coordinates =  
  | citizenship    =  
  | citizenship    =  
  | nationality    = Alsland
  | father = [[Lieuwe Zijlstra]]
| party          = [[Social Democrats in Delland]]
  | nationality    = Alslandic
  | otherparty      = <!--For additional political affiliations-->
  | party          = [[Social Democratic Workers' Party (Alsland)|Social Democratic Party]] (since 1987)
  | height          = <!-- "X cm", "X m"  or "X ft Y in" plus optional reference (conversions are automatic) -->
  | otherparty         = [[National Bloc (Alsland)|National Bloc]] (until 1987)
| spouse          =
  | residence      = [[Wottested]]
| partner        =  [[Sanderke Zijlstra]]
| relations      =
| children        = 1
| parents        =  <!-- overrides mother and father parameters -->
| mother          =  <!-- may be used (optionally with father parameter) in place of parents parameter (displays "Parent(s)" as label) -->
  | father         = <!-- may be used (optionally with mother parameter) in place of parents parameter (displays "Parent(s)" as label) -->
| relatives      =
  | residence      =  
  | education      =  
  | education      =  
| alma_mater      =
| occupation      =
| profession      =
| known_for      =
| salary          =
| net_worth      =  <!-- Net worth should be supported with a citation from a reliable source -->
| cabinet        =
| committees      =
| portfolio      =
| awards          =  <!-- For civilian awards - appears as "Awards" if |mawards= is not set -->
| blank1          =
| data1          =
| blank2          =
| data2          =
| blank3          =
| data3          =
| blank4          =
| data4          =
| blank5          =
| data5          =
| signature      = Zijlstra Signature.png
| signature_alt  =
| website        =
}}
}}
'''Bonne Zijlstra''' (Born January 11, 1960) is an Alish politician who served as President of the [[Euclean Community]] from 2007 to 2012 and served as Prime Minister of Alsland from 2000 to 2004. Zijlstra was elected as President in 2007 following the Treaty of Maredoux which established the role of the President of the Euclean Community. Zijlstra was the first person to serve as the President of the Euclean Community following the Treaty of Maredoux.
'''Bonne Zijlstra''' (born January 11, 1960) is an Alslandic politician who served as President of the [[Euclean Community]] from 2007 to 2012. As a member of the [[Social Democratic Workers' Party (Alsland)|Social Democratic Party]], he served as the 10th [[President of Alsland]] from 1992 to 2000, and as a [[Euclean Parliament|Member of the Euclean Parliament]] from 2004 to 2007 and again from 2014 to present.  


Zijlstra perviously served as Prime Minister of Alsland from 2000 to 2004. He became Prime Minister following the [[Progressive Alliance (Alsland)|Progressive Alliance]]'s landslide victory in the [[2000 Alish General Election|2000 General Election]]. He resigned from his position following a car accident which also killed his son. He also resigned from the House of Representatives and as leader of the SDyD. He later won election in 2015 as a member of the House of Representatives.
Born in [[Wottested]] to politician and later [[Premier of Alsland]] from 1974 to 1975, [[Lieuwe Zijlstra]] and his wife. Zijlstra graduated from the [[University of Rahu]] with a degree in corporate law. Whilst in university he joined the [[National Bloc (Alsland)|National Bloc]] and organised the party's leftist youth wing during his studies. He left the party in 1987 after it adopted more right-wing policies and briefly supported the [[Alslandic Section of the Workers' International]]. Zijlstra briefly worked as lawyer for [[Sikma FÛ]] before being selected as the Premier candidate for the [[Social Democratic Workers' Party (Alsland)|Social Democratic Party]] ahead of the [[Dellish Community|1990 election]] which Zijlstra won. He was Premier of Delland from 1990 until 1991 when he resigned to run for [[President of Alsland]] which he would hold between 1992 and 2000, upon his election he was the youngest non-royal head of state and the youngest President of Alsland. After stepping down from the Presidency Zijlstra was elected as a Member of the Euclean Parliament in 2004 until 2007 when he became the 1st [[President of the Euclean Community]] after the [[Treaty of Maredoux]]. Zijlstra was President until 2012 when he completed his term, afterwards he briefly worked as a spokesperson for the {{wpl|European Federation|euclofederalist}} [[Euclean Community|New Euclea]] before re-entering politics after returning to the [[Euclean Parliament]] in 2014. In 2023 Zijlstra re-entered domestic politics by assuming the Presidency of the [[Constitutional Convention (Alsland)|Constitutional Convention]] and becoming the leader of the Social Democratic Party.


Despite not holding a domestic position for 23 years, Zijlstra remains an influential figure within Alsland with a political career spanning over three decades. He remains the only leftist President of Alsland to have won a regularly scheduled election and win re-election. He is an outspoken supporter of the [[Euclean Community]] being reformed into a single federal state.
==Early Life==
==Early Life==
Zijlstra was born on January 11 1960 in [[Yndyk]] to [[Tsjimke Zijlstra]] (1921-1998), a Senator from [[Delland]] and [[Sus Zijlstra]] (1930-2009). His father was a prominent member of the [[List of political parties in Alsland|Conservative Party]] and served as Secretary of Foreign Affairs, a position Bonne would later serve in, from 1970 to 1975. Zijlstra's parents divorced in 1975 and Bonne's mother was given full custody of him in 1976. Zijlstra enrolled at the [[University of Wottested]] in 1978 and graduated with a degree in History and Politics.
Bonne Zijlstra was born on January 11 1960 in [[Wottested]] to [[Lieuwe Zijlstra]] (1921-1998), a Senator from [[Middewald]] and Haakje Zijlstra (1930-2009). His father was a prominent member of the [[National Bloc (Alsland)|National Bloc]] and served as Economic Affairs minister in 4 governments between 1968 and 1974. Lieuwe became [[Premier of Alsland]] on 19 July 1974 after the resignation of [[Sotiro Kivi]]. His appointment was a compromise between the leftist factions of the Bloc and the conservative factions led by then president [[Pierke de Leeuw]] who had a fractuous relationship with Zijlstra over policy disputes. After the Bloc suffered losses at the [[1974 Alslandic legislative election|1974 election]], Zijlstra faced calls to resign from the conservative wings but ultimately remained as Premier until stepping down on 1 March 1975. During his father's Premiership, Bonne and his mother and twin sister lived in the family's apartment in [[Wottested]] whilst Lieuwe lived at the Premier's official residence in Yndyk. During this time Lieuwe reportedly had an extra-marital affair with a female aide which contributed to his political downfall shortly after the news emerged. Lieuwe and Haakje separated in 1977 and Haakje emigrated to [[Cassier]] following a smear campaign by Lieuwe's supporters. Following a controversial custody battle, Zijlstra and his sister remained in Alsland although both cut ties with their parents upon reaching adulthood.


Zijlstra joined the [[List of political parties in Alsland|Social Democrats in Delland]] (SDyD) in 1979 and rose through the ranks of the party. He was encouraged to run for Delland's Provincial Assembly in 1984 and ran unsuccessfully being defeated by the Conservative Candidate. Zijlstra spoke at the SDyD's Annual conference in [[Rikertsted]] in 1987 where he gained the attention of the party's leader [[Ynse Vos]].
In 1979 Zijlstra officially joined the {{wpl|big tent}} [[National Bloc (Alsland)|National Bloc]] as a supporter of the party's leftist base of support. Whilst attending the [[University of Rahu]], Zijlstra helped organise the party's student groups particularly leftist oriented groups who had an alliance with the [[Democratic Young Pioneers of Alsland]] on the campus. The two groups helped organise a sit in of the University's student union during protests against the governments of [[Illimar Rootare]] and [[Albert Kass]] who oriented the national party in a right-wing direction. Zijlstra spoke at the National Bloc's conference in 1982 where he criticised Kass in particular who became President shortly before the conference. Him and other youth groups of the Bloc were barred from voting for a successor to Kass over fears it could empower the [[Alslandic Section of the Workers' International]] who were in government with the Bloc.
==Early Political Career==
==Early career==
Zijlstra was encouraged to run in Delland for the House of Representatives in the 1990 General Election and agreed. In 1988 Brocht Bakker, an SDyD member of the House of Representatives resigned due to health reasons and Zijlstra was chosen to replace him by the Minister-President of Delland, [[Retse Jongbloed]]. Zijlstra's first speech to the House of Representatives came on 10 May 1988 during a debate on Environmental Conservation. Zijlstra's speech gained praise from most political parties in the country.
*Lawyer for defence company Sikma FÛ
 
*Avoids national service bc of "medical issues", widely believed to be a result of interference by Lieuwe
In the run up to the 1990 General Election, Zijlstra was a key figure in Delland and subsequently had media attention during the campaign. The Progressive Alliance won in a landslide and Zijlstra was elected. Zijlstra was considered for Secretary of Education although this suggestion was turned down by [[List of Prime Ministers of Alsland|Adalbrecht Brötzmann]] citing Zijlstra's inexperience in the subject.
*Leaves the Bloc
 
===Premier of Delland===
In 1990 Zijlstra married [[Sanderke Zijlstra|Sanderke Sikma]] and they later gave birth to their first son, Tsjakke, later that year. Zijlstra was appointed to the House of Representatives' committee on Foreign Affairs and later became chair of the committee in 1993.  
*Election
 
*Coalition w/ASAY
In 1994 the leader of the SDyD, Dillon Dijkstra, resigned as party leader. In the ensuing Leadership contest Zijlstra, who represented the Centre-left of the party gained enough support to become the party's leader. Zijlstra promised a wide range of changes and support for the SDyD surged from 1995 to 2000 even overtaking the ruling SdA at the time.
*Policies
==Foreign Secretary of Alsland==
*Resignation
Zijlstra was appointed as Foreign Secretary in 1995 following the 1995 General Election when his predecessor Olrik Rijpstra lost re-election. Zijlstra's appointment to the role was largely seen as a move by Adalbrecht Brötzmann to make sure Zijlstra didn't try to replace him.
==President of Alsland==
*TBD
*Election
*TBD
*Presidency
*TBD
*Conflict w/ Hauschka
*TBD
*1998 election
Zijlstra resigned in April 1999 following a disagreement with him and Brötzmann over foreign policy issues. Zijlstra criticised Brötzmann following his resignation during a statement to the House of Representatives drawing off Brötzmann's unpopularity at the time.
*Kaljurand Premiership
 
*Posthuma Premiership
==Prime Minister of Alsland==
*Retirement
Zijlstra became Prime Minister on 26 April 2000 following the 2000 General Election where he led the SDyD to a landslide victory and the Progressive Alliance formed a majority in the House for the second time in Alish History. Zijlstra throughout his tenure as Prime Minister was popular with polls consistently suggesting that the Progressive Alliance and the SDyD would end up as the largest bloc in 2005.
===Domestic policy===
*TBD
*TBD
*TBD
*TBD
*TBD
===Foreign policy===
*TBD
*TBD
*TBD
*TBD
*TBD
===Resignation===
[[File:Zijlstra Car Crash.jpg|thumb|right|180px|Zijlstra was injured and his son was killed in a car accident preceding his resignation]]
On 13 June 2004 at 17:53, Zijlstra and his son Tsjakke along with a security officer and a driver were exiting the House of Representatives building and travelling towards the Kerstplak when a Yndyk Public bus crashed into their car. The car then partially flipped onto it's left side. The bus then crashed into a tree although nobody on the bus was hurt. Zijlstra's right leg was broken and his son was severely injured. The driver of the car and Zijlstra's Security officer were also both injured.
 
Pedestrians on the Kerstplak were the first to reach the car and help pull Zijlstra from the wreck. Zijlstra's police escort stopped all traffic on the Kerstplak and rumours were spread that the crash was an assassination attempt on Zijlstra. Passengers on the bus were escorted away and questioned by police about 10 minutes after the crash. Zijlstra's son Tsjakke who had been sitting on the right side of the car next to the impact site following the impact was unable to be freed from the damaged car and had to be cut out which took nearly 4 hours. Tsjakke was cut out of the car at 21:37 and was pronounced dead shortly after this, it is likely that Tsjakke was killed on impact
 
Zijlstra was taken to [[Siemen Hartmann memorial Hospital]] where he was discharged the next day. The head of Yndyk Metropolitan Police confirmed on the next day that the crash was not an attempted assassination. Zijlstra informed Martina Scott and members of the SDyD that he would be resign on the 15th. At 3pm the next day an aide to Zijlstra confirmed that he would be resigning on the 15th to the Press.
 
Zijlstra officially resigned on the 15th and was succeeded by Martina Scott. Zijlstra and his family returned to their home in Delland and Tsjakke's funeral was held on the 20th of June.
 
An investigation into the crash later found that there were serious design flaws with the exit onto the Kerstplak which created a blind spot. The exit was closed and rebuilt in 2005. The investigation also cleared the driver of the bus of any wrongdoing after reviewing security footage of the crash which showed their attempt to swerve to avoid the car.
 
Zijlstra had fully recovered by December but said he would not be running in the 2005 General Election. Zijlstra following his premiership became more involved in Euclean politics.
==President of the Euclean Community==
==President of the Euclean Community==
*TBD
*Election
==MEP==
*Election
*Policies & support for issues
*President of Alsland constitutional conventional
==Political positions==
==Personal life==
==Personal life==
[[Category: Alsland]][[Category:Euclean Community]]
Zijlstra's domestic partner is TV presenter and actress Sanderke Lautenbach. They have 2 children and live in [[Wottested]]. He currently is a member of the [[Socialist Alternative for Euclea]].
[[Category:Alslandic people]][[Category:Euclean Community]]

Latest revision as of 12:21, 15 May 2023

Bonne Zijlstra
Jens Stoltenberg February 2015.jpg
Zijlstra in 2013
Member of the Euclean Parliament
Assumed office
13 July 2004
ConstituencyDelland
President of the Euclean Community
In office
1 December 2007 – 30 November 2012
Succeeded byAlexandre Lévesque
President of Alsland
In office
25 April 1992 – 25 April 2000
Preceded byTonnis Miedema
Succeeded bySteffen Hauke
Minister-President of Delland
In office
18 October 1990 – 3 October 1991
Preceded bySeveryn Gaastra
Succeeded byPeke Ringnalda
Leader of the Social Democratic Workers' Party
Assumed office
18 August 2022
Preceded byAstrid Keskula
Personal details
Born (1960-01-11) January 11, 1960 (age 64)
Wottested, Alsland
NationalityAlslandic
Political partySocial Democratic Party (since 1987)
Other political
affiliations
National Bloc (until 1987)
Parent
ResidenceWottested

Bonne Zijlstra (born January 11, 1960) is an Alslandic politician who served as President of the Euclean Community from 2007 to 2012. As a member of the Social Democratic Party, he served as the 10th President of Alsland from 1992 to 2000, and as a Member of the Euclean Parliament from 2004 to 2007 and again from 2014 to present.

Born in Wottested to politician and later Premier of Alsland from 1974 to 1975, Lieuwe Zijlstra and his wife. Zijlstra graduated from the University of Rahu with a degree in corporate law. Whilst in university he joined the National Bloc and organised the party's leftist youth wing during his studies. He left the party in 1987 after it adopted more right-wing policies and briefly supported the Alslandic Section of the Workers' International. Zijlstra briefly worked as lawyer for Sikma FÛ before being selected as the Premier candidate for the Social Democratic Party ahead of the 1990 election which Zijlstra won. He was Premier of Delland from 1990 until 1991 when he resigned to run for President of Alsland which he would hold between 1992 and 2000, upon his election he was the youngest non-royal head of state and the youngest President of Alsland. After stepping down from the Presidency Zijlstra was elected as a Member of the Euclean Parliament in 2004 until 2007 when he became the 1st President of the Euclean Community after the Treaty of Maredoux. Zijlstra was President until 2012 when he completed his term, afterwards he briefly worked as a spokesperson for the euclofederalist New Euclea before re-entering politics after returning to the Euclean Parliament in 2014. In 2023 Zijlstra re-entered domestic politics by assuming the Presidency of the Constitutional Convention and becoming the leader of the Social Democratic Party.

Despite not holding a domestic position for 23 years, Zijlstra remains an influential figure within Alsland with a political career spanning over three decades. He remains the only leftist President of Alsland to have won a regularly scheduled election and win re-election. He is an outspoken supporter of the Euclean Community being reformed into a single federal state.

Early Life

Bonne Zijlstra was born on January 11 1960 in Wottested to Lieuwe Zijlstra (1921-1998), a Senator from Middewald and Haakje Zijlstra (1930-2009). His father was a prominent member of the National Bloc and served as Economic Affairs minister in 4 governments between 1968 and 1974. Lieuwe became Premier of Alsland on 19 July 1974 after the resignation of Sotiro Kivi. His appointment was a compromise between the leftist factions of the Bloc and the conservative factions led by then president Pierke de Leeuw who had a fractuous relationship with Zijlstra over policy disputes. After the Bloc suffered losses at the 1974 election, Zijlstra faced calls to resign from the conservative wings but ultimately remained as Premier until stepping down on 1 March 1975. During his father's Premiership, Bonne and his mother and twin sister lived in the family's apartment in Wottested whilst Lieuwe lived at the Premier's official residence in Yndyk. During this time Lieuwe reportedly had an extra-marital affair with a female aide which contributed to his political downfall shortly after the news emerged. Lieuwe and Haakje separated in 1977 and Haakje emigrated to Cassier following a smear campaign by Lieuwe's supporters. Following a controversial custody battle, Zijlstra and his sister remained in Alsland although both cut ties with their parents upon reaching adulthood.

In 1979 Zijlstra officially joined the big tent National Bloc as a supporter of the party's leftist base of support. Whilst attending the University of Rahu, Zijlstra helped organise the party's student groups particularly leftist oriented groups who had an alliance with the Democratic Young Pioneers of Alsland on the campus. The two groups helped organise a sit in of the University's student union during protests against the governments of Illimar Rootare and Albert Kass who oriented the national party in a right-wing direction. Zijlstra spoke at the National Bloc's conference in 1982 where he criticised Kass in particular who became President shortly before the conference. Him and other youth groups of the Bloc were barred from voting for a successor to Kass over fears it could empower the Alslandic Section of the Workers' International who were in government with the Bloc.

Early career

  • Lawyer for defence company Sikma FÛ
  • Avoids national service bc of "medical issues", widely believed to be a result of interference by Lieuwe
  • Leaves the Bloc

Premier of Delland

  • Election
  • Coalition w/ASAY
  • Policies
  • Resignation

President of Alsland

  • Election
  • Presidency
  • Conflict w/ Hauschka
  • 1998 election
  • Kaljurand Premiership
  • Posthuma Premiership
  • Retirement

President of the Euclean Community

  • Election

MEP

  • Election
  • Policies & support for issues
  • President of Alsland constitutional conventional

Political positions

Personal life

Zijlstra's domestic partner is TV presenter and actress Sanderke Lautenbach. They have 2 children and live in Wottested. He currently is a member of the Socialist Alternative for Euclea.