paroolAug 28, 2026, 12:23

Naomi Italiaander steps down as JA21 Amsterdam councilor

Naomi Italiaander has resigned from her position as a JA21 city councilor in Amsterdam to prioritize her career in the cyber security sector. Her council seat will be filled by Stef Keij, who was the next person on the party's election list.

Naomi Italiaander has announced her resignation from the Amsterdam city council as a member of the JA21 party. The announcement was made on social media, noting that Italiaander intends to focus on her professional career as a sales director for an international cyber security firm. Her departure was described as regrettable by the JA21 faction, which expressed respect for her decision despite the loss of a prominent colleague.

Italiaander originally gained her seat in the council as a popular candidate during the elections, where she secured enough preference votes to bypass the second candidate on the party list. With her exit, the seat will now be filled by Stef Keij, who was originally second on the list. Prior to her political career, Italiaander worked extensively as a journalist and columnist for various media outlets and was a recognized figure within Jewish circles in Amsterdam.

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Based on reporting by parool. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.

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