Haya van Someren

Haya Victoria van Someren-Downer (born Gerarda Victoria Downer; 5 July 1926 – 12 November 1980) was a Dutch politician of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and journalist.

Haya van Someren
Haya van Someren in 1963
Parliamentary leader in the Senate
In office 3 June 1976 – 12 November 1980
Preceded by	Harm van Riel
Succeeded by	Guus Zoutendijk
Parliamentary group	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
Member of the Senate
In office 17 September 1974 – 12 November 1980
Parliamentary group	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
Chairwoman of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
In office 29 March 1969 – 15 March 1975
Leader	See list Edzo Toxopeus (1969) Molly Geertsema (1969–1971) Hans Wiegel (1971–1975)
Preceded by	Kornelis van der Pols
Succeeded by	Frits Korthals Altes
Member of the House of Representatives
In office 20 March 1959 – 1 October 1968
Parliamentary group	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
Personal details
Born	Gerarda Victoria Downer (1926-07-05)5 July 1926 Amsterdam, Netherlands
Died	12 November 1980(1980-11-12) (aged 54) Rotterdam, Netherlands
Cause of death	Cancer
Political party	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (from 1948)
Spouse	Jan van Someren ​ (m. 1954)​
Children	1 son
Alma mater	University of Amsterdam (Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Social Science)
Occupation	Politician · Journalist · Editor

She was a Member of the House of Representatives from 20 March 1959 until 1 October 1968. She was the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy party chair from 29 March 1969 until 15 March 1975. She became a Member of the Senate on 17 September 1974 and on 5 June 1976 she succeeded Harm van Riel as the Parliamentary leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy in the Senate after he retired. She died on 12 November 1980 from cancer at the age of 54.^[1][2]

Decorations

Honours
Ribbon bar	Honour	Country	Date	Comment
	Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion	Netherlands	10 December 1968

References

1. (in Dutch) Haya van Someren (1926-1980), Absolutefacts.nl, May 25, 2005
2. (in Dutch) DOWNER, Gerarda Victoria (1926-1980), Historici.nl, February 10, 2012

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Haya van Someren.

Official

• (in Dutch) H.V. (Haya) van Someren-Downer Parlement & Politiek
• (in Dutch) H.V. van Someren-Downer (VVD) Eerste Kamer der Staten-Generaal

Party political offices
Preceded by Kornelis van der Pols	Chairwoman of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy 1969–1975	Succeeded by Frits Korthals Altes
Preceded by Harm van Riel	Parliamentary leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy in the Senate 1976–1980	Succeeded by Guus Zoutendijk