▁III ▁on ▁ 7 ▁November ▁ 1 9 8 9 ▁and ▁Br ink man ▁was ▁selected ▁as ▁the ▁Parliament ary ▁leader ▁of ▁the ▁Christian ▁Democratic ▁App e al ▁in ▁the ▁House ▁of ▁Representatives ▁that ▁same ▁day . ▁In ▁December ▁ 1 9 9 3 ▁the ▁Le ader ▁of ▁the ▁Christian ▁Democratic ▁App e al ▁Lub bers ▁announced ▁he ▁was ▁ste pping ▁down ▁as ▁Le ader ▁and ▁that ▁he ▁wouldn ' t ▁stand ▁for ▁the ▁election ▁of ▁ 1 9 9 4 , ▁the ▁Christian ▁Democratic ▁App e al ▁leadership ▁approached ▁Br ink man ▁as ▁a ▁candidate ▁to ▁succeed ▁him , ▁Br ink man ▁accepted ▁and ▁became ▁the ▁Le ader ▁of ▁the ▁Christian ▁Democratic ▁App e al ▁and ▁L ijst tre k ker ▁( top ▁candidate ) ▁for ▁the ▁election , ▁taking ▁office ▁on ▁ 2 9 ▁January ▁ 1 9 9 4 . ▁The ▁Christian ▁Democratic ▁App e al ▁suffered ▁a ▁big ▁loss , ▁losing ▁ 2 0 ▁seats ▁and ▁fell ▁back ▁as ▁the ▁second ▁largest ▁party ▁and ▁now ▁had ▁ 3 4 ▁seats ▁in ▁the ▁House ▁of ▁Representatives . ▁On ▁ 1 6 ▁August ▁ 1 9 9 4 ▁Br ink man ▁announced ▁he ▁was ▁ste pping ▁down ▁as ▁Le ader ▁and ▁Parliament ary ▁leader ▁taking ▁responsibility ▁for ▁the ▁defeat ▁but ▁continued ▁to ▁serve ▁in ▁the ▁House ▁of ▁Representatives ▁as ▁a ▁front ben cher ▁chair ing ▁the ▁parliament ary ▁committee ▁for ▁Kingdom ▁Rel ations . ▁ ▁In ▁March ▁ 1 9 9 5 ▁Br ink man ▁was ▁nominated ▁as ▁Chair man ▁of