Maxime Verhagen

Maxime Verhagen
Minister of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation
Incumbent
Assumed office October 14, 2010
Prime Minister	Mark Rutte
Preceded by	Maria van der Hoeven and Gerda Verburg
Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands
Incumbent
Assumed office October 14, 2010
Prime Minister	Mark Rutte
Preceded by	André Rouvoet
Parliamentary leader - Christian Democratic Appeal House of Representatives
In office June 10, 2010 – October 14, 2010
Preceded by	Pieter van Geel
Succeeded by	Sybrand van Haersma Buma
Member of the House of Representatives
In office June 17, 2010 – October 14, 2010
Minister for Development Cooperation
In office February 23, 2010 – October 14, 2010
Prime Minister	Jan Peter Balkenende
Preceded by	Bert Koenders
Succeeded by	None
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office February 22, 2007 – October 14, 2010
Prime Minister	Jan Peter Balkenende
Preceded by	Ben Bot
Succeeded by	Uri Rosenthal
Parliamentary leader - Christian Democratic Appeal House of Representatives
In office July 11, 2002 – February 22, 2007
Preceded by	Jan Peter Balkenende
Succeeded by	Pieter van Geel
Member of the House of Representatives
In office May 17, 1994 – February 22, 2007
Member of the European Parliament for the Netherlands
In office July 25, 1989 – July 19, 1994
Personal details
Born	Maxime Jacques Marcel Verhagen September 14, 1956 (1956-09-14) Maastricht, Netherlands
Nationality	Dutch
Political party	Christian Democratic Appeal
Spouse(s)	Annemieke Beijlevelt (sinds 1984)
Residence	Voorburg, Netherlands
Alma mater	Leiden University (M.A. in History)
Occupation	Politician Civil servant
Religion	Roman Catholic
Website	Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation

Maxime Jacques Marcel Verhagen (born September 14, 1956) is a Dutch politician in the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) party. He is the Minister of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation and Deputy Prime Minister since October 14, 2010 in the Cabinet Rutte.

He previously served as a Member of the European Parliament for the Netherlands from July 25, 1989 until July 19, 1994 representing the European People's Party. And a Member of the House of Representatives from May 17, 1994 until February 22, 2007. When CDA Party leader and Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives Jan Peter Balkenende became Prime Minister Verhagen succeed him as the Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives during the Cabinets Balkenende I, II en III, during that time he became the unofficial Deputy leader of the CDA. He became the Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Cabinet Balkenende IV serving from February 22, 2007 until October 14, 2010, he also served as Minister for Development Cooperation following the resignation from Bert Koenders. After the Dutch general election of 2010 CDA Party leader Jan Peter Balkenende resigned and Verhagen became the new Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives. After the 2010 Dutch cabinet formation Verhagen and People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) Party leader Mark Rutte made a coalition agreement with the Party for Freedom (PVV) of Party for Freedom. Verhagen became Minister of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation and Deputy Prime Minister in the new cabinet.

Early life and education

Maxime Jacques Marcel Verhagen was born in Maastricht. He studied at Leiden University where he obtained an M.A. degree in History in 1986. For a brief period during his college years, Verhagen was associated with both left-wing radicalism and the right-leaning People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD). He joined the CDA in 1976.

Politics

Maxime Verhagen and then United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in 2007.

Maxime Verhagen, Mark Rutte and Geert Wilders in 2010.

Maxime Verhagen at the inauguration of the Cabinet Rutte in 2010.

Verhagen started working for the CDA and was elected to the city council of Oegstgeest. He served as a Member of the European Parliament from 25 July 1989 to 19 July 1994. On 17 May 1994, he was elected to the House of Representatives of the Netherlands. On 11 July 2002 he became CDA parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives. After became Minister of Foreign Affairs in the fourth Balkenende cabinet in 2007, he was succeeded in that position by Pieter van Geel. After the resignation of the Labour Party ministers, he became interim Minister for Development Cooperation.

The Christian Democratic Appeal did badly in the general election of 2010, and the then Christian Democratic Appeal Party leader and Prime Minister, Jan Peter Balkenende, resigned the same day. Verhagen replaced him as leader of the Christian Democratic Appeal parliamentary party.

Since 14 October 2010, he has been the Minister of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation and Deputy Prime Minister in the Rutte cabinet.

At the request of gay rights groups, Verhagen called upon the Nuncio to the Netherlands, Monsignor François Bacqué, to respond to accusations that the Roman Catholic Church opposed homosexual rights. He later expressed concern at the lifting of the excommunication of controversial bishop Richard Williamson, a member of the Society of Saint Pius X.

Despite the disaster in Fukishima Verhagen is pleading for more nucleair powerstations in the Netherlands.

Decorations

• Order of Bernardo O'Higgins
  • Grand Officer (2007)
• Decoration of Merit
  • Gold (2010)

External links

• (Dutch) Drs. M.J.M. (Maxime) Verhagen (Parlement & Politiek)

Preceded by Jan Peter Balkenende	Parliamentary leader – Christian Democratic Appeal House of Representatives 2002-2003	Succeeded by Jan Peter Balkenende
Preceded by Jan Peter Balkenende	Parliamentary leader – Christian Democratic Appeal House of Representatives 2003-2006	Succeeded by Jan Peter Balkenende
Preceded by Jan Peter Balkenende	Parliamentary leader – Christian Democratic Appeal House of Representatives 2007	Succeeded by Pieter van Geel
Preceded by Pieter van Geel	Parliamentary leader – Christian Democratic Appeal House of Representatives 2010	Succeeded by Sybrand van Haersma Buma
Government offices
Preceded by Ben Bot	Minister of Foreign Affairs 2007-2010	Succeeded by Uri Rosenthal
Preceded by Bert Koenders	Minister for Development Cooperation 2010	Succeeded by None
Preceded by Maria van der Hoeven and Gerda Verburg	Minister of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation 2010-	Succeeded by Incumbent