Dion Graus

Dion Jean Gilbert Graus (born 19 March 1967 in Heerlen) is a Dutch politician. He has been an MP on behalf of the Party for Freedom (Partij voor de Vrijheid, PVV) since 30 November 2006.

Dion Graus
D.J.G. Graus
Member of the House of Representatives
Incumbent
Assumed office 30 November 2006
Personal details
Born	Dion Jean Gilbert Graus (1967-03-19) 19 March 1967 (age 58) Heerlen
Nationality	Dutch
Political party	Party for Freedom
Occupation	Politician

Graus is a former car salesman and sales representative in veterinary products, and worked for the local Limburg television station TV Limburg.

Political career

He was first elected to the House in the 2006 general election, and he focused on matters of agriculture, animal rights, small and medium enterprises, public transport, aviation and rail transport.^[1]

Graus secured a sixth term in November 2023, when the PVV received a plurality in a general election, and his portfolio includes animal welfare and NVWA [nl].^[2] Through the backing of the PVV, a proposal passed the House in March 2024 to weaken an earlier amendment prescribing that animals should be able to exhibit natural behavior. Graus was the only member of his parliamentary group who voted in favor of an unsuccessful alternative proposal by the Party for the Animals (PvdD) that preserved the original amendment, which had been supported by the PVV in 2021, by defining natural behaviors.^[3] A motion by Graus and Ines Kostić (PvdD) was carried the same year urging the government to ban the trade and ownership of animals prohibited from breeding, such as pugs and Sphynx cats.^[4][5] He also proposed to neuter wolves, after the return of the species to the Netherlands had caused disturbances.^[6]

Controversy

In December 2006, stories in the Dutch media erupted accusing Graus of having a history of unpaid bills, fraud, lawsuits, disgruntled employers and abusive relations with women.^[7] The Dutch justice department later reported that three counts filed against Graus were dismissed, without going into details about the other accusations.^[8] In addition, the newspaper de Volkskrant on January 27, 2007 found several NRC allegations lacking substance e.g. the bills had been paid after all. The newspaper also reported that Graus had the full confidence of party leader Geert Wilders.^[9]

Electoral history

Electoral history of Dion Graus

Year	Body	Party		Pos.	Votes	Result		Ref.
						Party seats	Individual
2006	House of Representatives		Party for Freedom	6	1,296	9	Won	[10]
2010	House of Representatives		Party for Freedom	9	2,435	24	Won	[11]
2012	House of Representatives		Party for Freedom	11	2,387	15	Won	[12]
2017	House of Representatives		Party for Freedom	12	3,725	20	Won	[13]
2021	House of Representatives		Party for Freedom	13	1,194	17	Won	[14]
2023	House of Representatives		Party for Freedom	14	1,548	37	Won	[15]