Lead candidate

Dutch term for a lead candidate in an election In politics, a lead candidate (German: Spitzenkandidat; Dutch: lijsttrekker, lit. 'list puller') is the candidate placed first on a party list. In parliamentary systems, it is often the party's nominee for the position of head of government, and the party chair or party leader. Usage by country Voting ballot for the 2017 Dutch general election, with each party's lead candidate listed at the top Netherlands In the Netherlands, which uses a system of open-list proportional representation, the lead candidates in elections for the House of Representatives are almost always the parties' political leaders. When elected, the lead candidate usually becomes the party's parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives. When a coalition is formed, the lead candidates of the member parties almost always become senior ministers in the Cabinet, requiring them to vacate their seats in parliament. Traditionally, the lead candidate of the largest party in the governing coalition becomes Prime Minister. An exception came following the 2023 Dutch general election. PVV leader Geert Wilders did not become part of the government, let alone lead it, the