AMSTERDAM (BNO NEWS) — Amsterdam mayor Job Cohen on Friday resigned his position as mayor and announced his candidacy for leader of the Dutch Labour Party.

Earlier on Friday, former Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Wouter Bos, who was also the Dutch Labour Party leader, announced he would leave politics to spend more time with his family. He recommended that Cohen should take over as party leader.

Cohen, during a 3 p.m. news conference, said he would resign his position as mayor with immediate effect. “It’s the best position I ever had in my life,” Cohen said. He apologized for his sudden departure.