René Claassen

René Adrianus Bernardus Claassen (born 13 July 1971) is a Dutch politician. Representing the Party for Freedom (PVV), he was a member of the Provincial Council of Limburg starting in 2019, and he has served as a member of the House of Representatives since the 2023 Dutch general election. In 2026, Claassen left the PVV parliamentary group along with six other MPs to found the Markuszower Group.

Early life and healthcare career Claassen was born in Heerlen's Zuyderland Hospital on 13 July 1971. His father was a member of the Labour Party and a senior union leader of Abvakabo.

Claassen completed his nursing training in the late 1980s, and he worked as a hospital nurse for over twenty years, successively in a pediatric ward and an intensive care unit. He was employed by the Zuyderland Hospital for most of that period.

Political career In a 2024 interview, Claassen described that he was inspired by the rise of right-wing politician Pim Fortuyn. Poverty was rising in Heerlen as a result of the closure of coal mines in the region, and Claassen believe those issues could only be solved by the political right. When the House was considering to expand a pilot program to legalize the cultivation and supply of cannabis, Claassen instead proposed to put it on hold. His motion was not supported by a majority. Claassen introduced two motions in an attempt to prevent the closure of the emergency department and the intensive care unit of the Zuyderland Hospital. Healthcare minister Fleur Agema (PVV) advised against them, and she was unable to keep the departments open.

On 20 January 2026, Claassen left the PVV with six other MPs over disagreements about Geert Wilders's leadership and the party's direction. They formed the Markuszower Group.

House committee memberships Committee for Finance Committee for Health, Welfare and Sport Committee for European Affairs (vice chair) Committee for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature

Electoral history

+ YearBodyPartyVotesResult.Party seatsIndividual 2021 House of Representatives Party for Freedom 31 657 17 2023 6 3,764 37 2025 7 1,919 26