Mei Li Vos elected Senate chair, surprising ruling coalition parties

Mei Li Vos of GroenLinks-PvdA has been elected as the new Chair of the Senate, unexpectedly winning against candidates from the ruling coalition parties VVD and BBB. The election was described by senators as non-political, focusing on Vos's technical ability to preside, which she demonstrated as interim chair. BBB's candidate, Ilona Lagas, received only fourteen votes in the first round, leading to her withdrawal. Vos secured 39 votes in the second round, a victory attributed to a lack of support for the BBB candidate and a preference among some right-wing senators for Vos's proven neutrality over the VVD's candidate.