Lilian Marijnissen

About Lilian Marijnissen

Lilian Marijnissen is a pioneer for a nationwide network of social legal services. She is a former member of the House of Representatives and party leader.

Her political career began at a young age. At 16, she was a candidate for the SP in Oss during the 2002 municipal elections and was elected with preferential votes. After her eighteenth birthday, she became a councilor. She studied political science at Radboud University Nijmegen and graduated in 2006. She also pursued a minor in conflict studies there. She completed her master’s in political theory at the University of Amsterdam.

Lilian started her career at the FNV union (campaign leader and collective bargaining negotiator for the collective agreement for employees in elderly care). Together with healthcare workers across the country, she led actions and negotiations for more colleagues and better care. She was also responsible for campaigns for better working conditions and higher wages in cleaning, at Schiphol, and for fair pay for working youth.

In 2017, she was elected as a member of the House of Representatives, was among other things a spokesperson for healthcare, and later became the chair of the SP faction and party leader. Lilian was party leader until December 2023.

Currently, Lilian is committed to ensuring good and timely access to justice for everyone in the Netherlands. ‘If people cannot claim their rights, injustice persists’ is her guiding principle. She does this as a pioneer for a nationwide network of social legal services.

Lilian has frequently written (opinion) pieces on topics such as social inequality, the public sector, privatization, healthcare, and housing. In December 2022, her book ‘De winst van eerlijk delen‘ was published, in which she advocates for democratizing society. Her political involvement and persistence have made her an influential figure in Dutch politics.

As a speaker, Lilian Marijnissen is known for her determination and passion. She continues to advocate for social justice and equality. Lilian makes complex topics understandable for everyone and knows how to inspire her audience.