Haya Victoria van Someren-Downer (born Gerarda Victoria Downer; 5 July 1926 – 12 November 1980) was a Dutch politician of the

People's Party for Freedom and Democracy The People's Party for Freedom and Democracy ( nl, Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie ; VVD) is a conservative-liberal Andeweg, R. and G. Irwin ''Politics and Governance in the Netherlands'', Basingstoke (Palgrave) p.49 political party in ...

(VVD) and journalist. She was a Member of the House of Representatives from 20 March 1959 until 1 October 1968. She was the

party chair from 29 March 1969 until 15 March 1975. She became a Member of the Senate on 17 September 1974 and on 5 June 1976 she succeeded

Harm van Riel Harm van Riel (18 February 1907 – 13 December 1980) was a Dutch politician of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and businessman. Career He served as a Member of the Senate from 6 November 1956 until 5 June 1963, and from 2 J ...

as the

Parliamentary leader A parliamentary leader is a political title or a descriptive term used in various countries to designate the person leading a parliamentary group or caucus in a legislative body, whether it be a national or sub-national legislature. They are the ...

of the

in the

Senate A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...

after he retired. She died on 12 November 1980 from

cancer Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Possible signs and symptoms include a lump, abnormal b ...

at the age of 54.DOWNER, Gerarda Victoria (1926-1980)
Historici.nl, February 10, 2012

Decorations

References

External links

;Official *
H.V. (Haya) van Someren-Downer
Parlement & Politiek *
H.V. van Someren-Downer (VVD)
Eerste Kamer der Staten-Generaal {{DEFAULTSORT:Someren, Haya van 1926 births 1980 deaths Chairmen of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy Deaths from cancer in the Netherlands Dutch newspaper editors Dutch political journalists Dutch reporters and correspondents Knights of the Order of the Netherlands Lion Members of the House of Representatives (Netherlands) Members of the Senate (Netherlands) Members of the Provincial Council of South Holland Journalists from Amsterdam People's Party for Freedom and Democracy politicians Remonstrants University of Amsterdam alumni Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam alumni Politicians from Amsterdam Writers from Rotterdam 20th-century Dutch journalists 20th-century Dutch women politicians 20th-century Dutch politicians 20th-century Dutch women writers