André Rouvoet
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| André Rouvoet | |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office February 22, 2007 |
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| Prime Minister | Jan Peter Balkenende |
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| Preceded by | None |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office February 22, 2007 Serving with Wouter Bos |
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| Prime Minister | Jan Peter Balkenende |
| Preceded by | Gerrit Zalm |
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| In office November 12, 2002 – February 22, 2007 |
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| Preceded by | Kars Veling |
| Succeeded by | Arie Slob |
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| In office May 17, 1994 – February 22, 2007 |
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| Born | January 4, 1962 Hilversum, Netherlands |
| Birth name | André Rouvoet |
| Nationality | Dutch |
| Political party | CU |
| Spouse(s) | Liesbeth Rouvoet |
| Residence | Woerden, Netherlands |
| Alma mater | Vrije Universiteit (LL.M.) |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Religion | Reformed Protestant |
| Website | Ministry for Youth and Families |
André Rouvoet (born January 4, 1962) is a Dutch politician of the ChristianUnion party. And since February 22, 2007 Minister of Youth and Family and Deputy Prime Minister in the Cabinet Balkenende IV. He is political leader of the ChristianUnion since November 9, 2002.
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[edit] Career
[edit] Career before politics
Rouvoet was born in Hilversum. After attending a Protestant primary school in Hilversum, Rouvoet continued at a Protestant gymnasium, specializing in humanities until 1980. In 1981 he began to study law at the Vrije Universiteit of Amsterdam where he received his LL.M. degree in philosophy of law in 1986. During his study he became assistant to the RPF parliamentary party. He also was chairperson of the RPF branch in Hilversum and later in Maarssen.
Between 1986 and 1987 he combined working for the Foundation of Schools of Protestant Christian Children's Homes, and an assistantship at the RPF parliamentary party. After that he became an employee and later director (in 1989) of the Marnix van St. Aldegonde Foundation, the scientific foundation linked to the RPF, as such he was member of the committee on the party's election manifesto for 1989 elections. During this period he also taught political science at the Evangelical School for Journalism in Amersfoort.
[edit] Political career
In 1994 Rouvoet was heavily involved in the programmatic preparation of the election. He was editor of the party's election manifesto and the party's manifesto of principals. Rouvoet was also a candidate in these elections. The RPF won considerably and Rouvoet was elected to the House of Representatives. He immediately became secretary of the RPF political party. Rouvoet was member of the parliamentary research committee on the IRT-affair, which involved failures in a criminal investigation unit. In 1997 he was made fellow of the Marnix van Sint Aldegonde Foundation.
After 1998 elections Rouvoet became member of the presidium of the House of Representatives. In 2000 Rouvoet published the book "Politics with a Heart. a reflection on politics and morality". In 2001 the RPF united with another Protestant-Christian party, the GPV, to become the ChristenUnie. When its parliamentary party was formed Rouvoet became secretary of the parliamentary party. After the unexpected 2002 electoral defeat, Rouvoet became political leader of the ChristenUnie. He led the ChristenUnie in the 2003 elections, which also ended in defeat. Rouvoet did, however, receive the 2003 Thorbecke prize for eloquence and was elected "Politician of the Year 2004" by the parliamentary press.
In 2005 Rouvoet's star rose as his party, together with the LPF, Geert Wilders and the SP, were the only ones to oppose the European Constitution in the 2005 referendum. This proposal was subsequently rejected by the Dutch electorate, a week after the French had turned it down.
As a member of parliament, Rouvoet served as spokesperson for Justice, Finance, Health, Antillian and European Affairs. He was particularly involved in the debate on moral values and norms, which was initiated by Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende.
In 2007 he became Minister of Youth and Family and Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands. As minister he is responsible for Youth, Children and Family affairs. His post is one of the two newly formed 'programme ministers'. His office is housed at the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, but civil servants of other departments also work directly for the programme ministry. The ministry has a budget of its own, among which are the child benefits and youth care budget.
[edit] Trivia
- Rouvoet is an avid snooker player;
- His wife is a medical doctor, and he has four daughters and one son.
[edit] External links
- (Dutch) Official Parliamentary Biography
- (Dutch) www.andrerouvoet.nl
