André Rouvoet

André Rouvoet
Member of the House of Representatives
In office June 17, 2010 – May 17, 2011
Succeeded by	Carola Schouten
Parliamentary leader - ChristianUnion House of Representatives
In office June 10, 2010 – April 28, 2011
Preceded by	Arie Slob
Succeeded by	Arie Slob
Minister of Education, Culture and Science
In office February 23, 2010 – October 14, 2010
Prime Minister	Jan Peter Balkenende
Preceded by	Ronald Plasterk
Succeeded by	Marja van Bijsterveldt
Minister of Youth and Family
In office February 22, 2007 – October 14, 2010
Prime Minister	Jan Peter Balkenende
Preceded by	None
Succeeded by	None
Deputy Prime Minister
In office February 22, 2007 – October 14, 2010 Serving with Wouter Bos (2007-2010)
Prime Minister	Jan Peter Balkenende
Preceded by	Gerrit Zalm
Succeeded by	Maxime Verhagen
Parliamentary leader - ChristianUnion House of Representatives
In office November 12, 2002 – February 22, 2007
Preceded by	Kars Veling
Succeeded by	Arie Slob
Member of the House of Representatives
In office May 17, 1994 – February 22, 2007
Personal details
Born	André Rouvoet January 4, 1962 (1962-01-04) Hilversum, Netherlands
Nationality	Dutch
Political party	Reformatory Political Federation (1985-2001) ChristianUnion (since 2001)
Spouse(s)	Liesbeth Rouvoet
Residence	Woerden, Netherlands
Alma mater	Vrije Universiteit (LL.M.)
Occupation	Politician Civil servant Teacher
Religion	Reformed Protestant
Website	Official site

André Rouvoet (born January 4, 1962) is a former Dutch politician of the ChristianUnion (CU). First as a member of the RPF until the party merged with the Reformed Political League (GPV) to form the ChristianUnion. He served as a Member of the House of Representatives from May 17, 1994 until February 22, 2007. When the ChristianUnion Party leader Kars Veling retired Rouvoet unexpected became the new Party leader and the Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives serving from November 12, 2002 until February 22, 2007, when he became Minister of Youth and Family and Deputy Prime Minister serving from February 22, 2007 until October 14, 2010 in the Cabinet Balkenende IV. He returned to the House of Representatives on June 17, 2010 and again as Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives. On April 29, 2011 he announced his retirement from politics, he is succeeded as Party leader and as the Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives by Arie Slob.

He was the party leader of the ChristianUnion from November 9, 2002 until April 28, 2011.

Biography

Early life

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 Reformatory Political Federation party. He also was chairperson of the Reformatory Political Federation 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.

Politics

In Dutch general election of 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 Dutch general election of 1998 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 Reformatory Political Federation united with another Protestant-Christian party, the Reformed Political League, to become the ChristianUnion. When its parliamentary party was formed Rouvoet became secretary of the parliamentary party. After the unexpected

Dutch general election of 2002, Rouvoet became party leader of the ChristianUnion. He led the ChristianUnion in the Dutch general election of 2003, which also ended in defeat. Rouvoet did, however, receive the 2003 Johan Rudolph 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 Pim Fortuyn List, Geert Wilders and the Socialist Party, 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.

Trivia

• Rouvoet is an avid snooker player;
• His wife is a medical doctor, and he has four daughters and one son.

Decorations

• Order of Orange-Nassau
  • Officer (December 3, 2010)

External links

• (Dutch) Mr. A. (André) Rouvoet (Parlement & Politiek)
• (Dutch) André Rouvoet (Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal)

Party political offices
Preceded by Kars Veling	Party leader ChristianUnion 2002-2011	Succeeded by Arie Slob
Preceded by Kars Veling	Parliamentary leader – ChristianUnion House of Representatives 2002-2007	Succeeded by Arie Slob
Preceded by Arie Slob	Parliamentary leader – ChristianUnion House of Representatives 2010-2011	Succeeded by Arie Slob
Government offices
Preceded by None	Minister for Youth and Families 2007-2010	Succeeded by None
Preceded by Ronald Plasterk	Minister of Education, Culture and Science 2010	Succeeded by Marja van Bijsterveldt