Editing Marianne Thieme

Marianne Louise Thieme, born on the 6th of March 1972 in Ede, the Netherlands, is a Dutch politician representing the Party for the Animals (Partij voor de Dieren). She has been Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives since 23 November 2006 and a Member of Parliament since November 30th 2006. Thieme is a jurist by education, an animal rights activist, and an author.

== Political Career ==

In October 2002 she and other animal protectionists founded the Party for Animals (Partij voor de Dieren). During the Dutch general election of 2003 the party gained 50.000 votes (0.5%), but not a seat in the House of Representatives.

In February 2004 she was nominated to become the party's leader for the European Parliament election of 2004. This time the party gained 153.000 votes (3.2%), three times as much as in the 2003 Dutch general election. During the Dutch general election of 2006, the Party for Animals gained 179,988 votes (1.8%), enough for two seats in the Dutch parliament. The party became the world's first party to gain parliamentary seats with an agenda focused primarily on animal rights.

== Education ==

Thieme attended pre-university education at Dag Avond College in Arnhem, on a level comparable to normal secondary school in England. She studied French Language & Culture at Sorbonne University in Paris, as well as Dutch Law at Erasmus University Rotterdam, where she focused mainly on Administrative Law.

== External Links ==

http://www.tweedekamer.nl/kamerleden/alle_kamerleden/thieme_marianne_louise/index.jsp 
http://www.partyfortheanimals.nl/index.php/about-us/who-are-we/marianne-thieme