Career
He has been an Member of Parliament since 30 November 2006. He has also been party leader since 5 March 2010. He went to a teacher education (pedagogy) school in his youth.
From 1986 until 1992, he was a teacher at an elementary school in Beuningen.
From 1992 until 2002 he was a teacher at a school in his place of birth, Boxmeer. In 1994 he was elected to the municipal council in Boxmeer.
In 2002 he became an alderman. From 1980 until 2007 he was chairman of the Socialist Party in Boxmeer.
On 13 March 2010 he was elected as the SP "lijsttrekker" (top candidate) for the Dutch general election of 2010.
He was also "lijsttrekker" for the Dutch election of 2012. Personal life
He has been married to Aimée Roemer since 1986 and has two daughters.