A newly elected district councilwoman in Rotterdam has been expelled from her own party just days after her victory because she allegedly rigged her campaign photo to look more glamorous.
In a controversy that has drawn attention far beyond local politics, Patricia Reichman, 59, was elected in March to represent the Blijdorp-Bergpolder-Liskwartier district on behalf of the Leefbaar Rotterdam party.
What should have marked the beginning of her mandate, though, quickly turned into a political embarrassment for the party, culminating in her expulsion.
The decision came after a series of questions emerged about Reichman’s campaign techniques and personal situation.
The first issue to attract public attention was a photograph she provided to a neighbourhood newspaper. In it, she appeared significantly younger and more polished than in her official image on the municipal candidate list. The contrast prompted speculation that the photo had been heavily edited or generated using artificial intelligence.
Reichman denied any manipulation beyond a simple technical adjustment. She explained that the original image was low resolution and had been processed using an online tool to improve its quality. The result, she insisted, was still a genuine representation of her.
“When I’m out and about with my son, people often assume I’m his girlfriend,” she said. “I hear it all the time, that I look remarkably young for my age.”
While the explanation raised some scepticism, it was ultimately not the only concern.
More serious for her party were reports questioning whether Reichman actually lives in the district she was elected to represent.
Although she is officially registered in Blijdorp, multiple sources cited by Dutch newspaper AD suggested she resides in another Rotterdam neighbourhood, where she owns a property. Reichman rejected these claims, maintaining that her registered address is her primary residence.
Faced with these controversies, Leefbaar Rotterdam moved quickly to distance itself. Party officials described the situation as “painful” and stated that trust had been undermined. They asked Reichman to voluntarily give up her seat but she refused.
Following her refusal, the party proceeded to expel her. In a statement, it made clear that it no longer considered her able to represent its values, particularly given the discrepancies between the information she provided and the reality now being reported. Reichman will therefore continue her mandate as an independent councillor.
The episode highlights the fragile nature of trust in local politics, where candidates are often vetted largely on the basis of the information they provide themselves. It also illustrates how quickly relatively minor issues, such as a questionable campaign photo, can escalate when combined with more serious concerns.
For Leefbaar Rotterdam, the situation is an awkward reminder that even at the district level, political image and credibility remain closely intertwined.
For Reichman, it means beginning her term not as a party representative but already at odds with the organisation that brought her into office.
