He worked for Boston Consulting Group in the years 2013–16, initially as a junior consultant and later as a senior consultant. Erkens then studied at Columbia Business School, located in New York City, and during his studies also worked for a few months for the executive office of the Secretary-General of the United Nations. He returned to Boston Consulting Group in 2018 as a project manager after obtaining an MBA.[1] Erkens left that company in 2020.[2]
Erkens was the VVD's 18th candidate in the 2021 general election and helped write the election program.[3] He was elected with 4,043 preference votes and was sworn in to the House of Representatives on 31 March.[9] His specializations were climate, energy policy, and the Dutch Emissions Authority. In the House, Erkens said that Tata Steel's blast furnace in IJmuiden should become more sustainable. He argued for financially assisting the company and for partially nationalizing it if absolutely necessary.[10] He has also been an advocate of nuclear power to mitigate climate change.[11] In 2021, a motion by Erkens and Renske Leijten (SP) was adopted to investigate distance norms for new wind turbines to prevent nuisance to residents, and he supported a halt on their construction in the meantime.[12][13]
While global energy prices were steeply increasing, Erkens and Henri Bontenbal (CDA) proposed five measures to relieve consumers to Minister for Climate and Energy Policy Rob Jetten in October 2022. Their recommendations included mandating energy suppliers to offer fixed contracts, forbidding them to give discounts to new customers, and subjecting them to a yearly stress test as well as strengthening consumer protections in case of bankruptcy. The VVD and CDA had liberalized the energy market as part of the second Balkenende cabinet.[14] At the same time, the Netherlands tried to lower its reliance on Russian gas due to its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. To increase energy independence, Erkens presented a bill in February 2023 to extract more gas domestically from the North Sea even if it would be more expensive than importing.[15]
Following his re-election in November 2023, Erkens's portfolio was expanded to include climate, energy policy, defense, elections, and constitutional matters.[16] The House passed a motion by Erkens in February 2024 urging the government to plan for the construction of two nuclear reactors in addition to the two already in progress.[17] He also advocated for an electoral threshold of 2% in general elections, arguing that reducing the number of parliamentary groups, then at 15, would streamline debates and decision-making. Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations Judith Uitermark (NSC) opposed the proposal, and she stated that she would not incorporate it into her upcoming electoral reform.[18][19]
In August 2024, the National Political Index concluded that Erkens was the third most diligent House member from installation in 2023 to July 2024.[20][21]
Committee assignments
Committee for Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality
He lives in Kerkrade and has been married to his wife Samita, who is part of an Indian family residing in Switzerland, since 2020. They met each other in New York City and have a daughter.[2][4][23][24] Erkens is a kickboxer.[3]
^Joosten, Carla (20 November 2021). "Politici om in de gaten te houden" [Politicians to watch]. Elsevier Weekblad (in Dutch). Vol. 77, no. 46. pp. 34–35.
