In 2025, Lidewij de Vos succeeded Thierry Baudet as the lead candidate (lijsttrekker) for the Dutch political party Forum voor Democratie (FVD). While De Vos became the public face of the party, Baudet transitioned to the second spot on the candidate list.

 

Lidewij de Vos Thierry Baudet

In 2025, Lidewij de Vos succeeded Thierry Baudet as the lead candidate (lijsttrekker) for the Dutch political party Forum voor Democratie (FVD). While De Vos became the public face of the party, Baudet transitioned to the second spot on the candidate list.

 

Key Details of Their Partnership

Political Shift: Baudet stepped aside as lead candidate in August 2025, a move he later jokingly referred to as "trolling," to allow De Vos to lead the party into the next elections.

Ideology: De Vos has stated that her views align closely with Baudet's, noting, "I think the same as Baudet; I just say it differently". She is often described as repeating his core messages.

Co-Authorship: Together, they co-authored the book Niemand in de Cockpit ("Nobody in the Cockpit"), which critiques the Dutch government's handling of the nitrogen crisis and the "establishment".

2026 Elections: Following the municipal elections on March 18, 2026, De Vos noted that FVD saw a resurgence in several municipalities. She remains the party's leader in the House of Representatives (Tweede Kamer), while Baudet focuses on broader ideological projects for the party.

Party Dynamics: Despite the change in leadership, analysts suggest Baudet still maintains significant influence over the party's direction.