SP International :: Representatives

Socialist Party MP Jan Marijnissen

J.G.C.A. Marijnissen was born on 8 October 1952 in Oss. After leaving school shortly before the exams, he worked in a number of factories in and around Oss. He then trained as a welder, working for ten years in the metal industry. Meanwhile he helped found the SP in Oss and, in 1975, became the Netherlands' youngest ever councillor. He remained a councillor until 1993, playing a leading role in many campaigns, such as that against polluting discharges from Diosynth. The SP's council representation in Oss has grown at every local election and is the biggest SP group in the country.

In 1987 Marijnissen became the party's first ever provincial assembly member, in North Brabant. A year later he became the SP's national president. Under his leadership the party has been transformed from "a federation of local branches" into a party with a clear national programme, nationally-organised activities and a national profile.

Since 1994, when the SP made the breakthrough which brought it into the national parliament, Marijnissen has been chair of the party's parliamentary group. He has written a number of books, Samenleven kan je niet alleen (1993), Tegenstemmen, een rood antwoord op Paars (1996) and Effe Dimmen! Een rebel in Den Haag. (1998). The second of these is available in English under the title Enough! A socialist bites back.

Jan Marijnissen is married with one daughter.

For address details see the Contact page.