Sandra Palmen-Schlangen

Sandra Palmen-Schlangen (born 17 February 1972) is a Dutch jurist, civil servant and independent politician, formerly affiliated with New Social Contract (NSC). She was elected to the House of Representatives in the November 2023 general election. Since December 2024, she has served as State Secretary for Benefits Redress in the Schoof and Jetten cabinets. In this position, she is responsible for restorations following the childcare benefits scandal.

Early life and career Palmen was born on 17 February 1972 in Cuijk, and she studied tax economics at the School of Higher Commercial Education in Arnhem between 1991 and 1995. At the same time, she studied tax law at Leiden University from 1999 to 2001. The memo was released in October 2020 ahead of the Parliamentary Interrogation on Childcare Benefits, during which Palmen testified.

Political career Palmen joined New Social Contract (NSC) when it was founded ahead of the November 2023 general election by Pieter Omtzigt, who had helped uncover the childcare benefits scandal. She was elected to the House of Representatives as the party's fifth candidate.

NSC supports the establishment of a constitutional court, and she has criticized the Netherlands's ban on judicial constitutional review. The governing coalition, including NSC, agreed to pursue the creation of such a court. The House passed a motion by Palmen and Michiel van Nispen (SP) urging the government to adopt recommendations by Jos Silvis to seek legal advice from a range of law firms. Previously, the government had relied almost exclusively on the firm . Palmen proposed several adjustments to the social safety net with Mohammed Mohandis (GL/PvdA) to simplify the system and to make it more forgiving to those in poverty. Palmen opined that the operation had been erected too quickly, before the entirety of the scandal had become visible and before victims had given their input. An emergency committee requested by her predecessor concluded in January 2025 that the operation would take between 15 and 20 more years in its current approach and that government agencies were unsuitable to determine compensation because of their lack of generosity. They recommended that the recovery operation be handled mostly through the private Foundation (Equal) Worthy Recovery, established by Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands.

On 23 August 2025, NSC left the government and Palmen resigned. She returned to her position in the Schoof cabinet on 5 September 2025 as an independent politician.

House committee assignments Committee for Digital Affairs (chair) Committee for the Interior Committee for Justice and Security Temporary committee Fundamental rights and constitutional review Art committee Contact group Belgium Contact group Germany Committee for Asylum and Migration

Personal life As of 2024, Palmen lived in Leersum.

Electoral history

+ YearBodyPartyVotesResult.Party seatsIndividual 2023 House of Representatives New Social Contract 5 7,577 20