Hans Wiegel

Hans Wiegel
Hans Wiegel in 1977
Member of the Social and Economic Council
In office 1 February 1994 – 1 February 2012
Chairman	See list Theo Quené (1994–1996) Klaas de Vries (1996–1998) Herman Wijffels (1999–2006) Alexander Rinnooy Kan (2006–2012)
Member of the Senate
In office 13 June 1995 – 1 April 2000
Parliamentary group	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
Queen's Commissioner of Friesland
In office 16 June 1982 – 1 February 1994
Monarch	Beatrix
Preceded by	Hedzer Rijpstra
Succeeded by	Loek Hermans
Deputy Prime Minister
In office 19 December 1977 – 11 September 1981
Prime Minister	Dries van Agt
Preceded by	Gaius de Gaay Fortman
Succeeded by	Joop den Uyl Jan Terlouw
Minister of the Interior
In office 19 December 1977 – 11 September 1981
Prime Minister	Dries van Agt
Preceded by	Gaius de Gaay Fortman
Succeeded by	Ed van Thijn
Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives
In office 25 August 1981 – 20 April 1982
Preceded by	Koos Rietkerk
Succeeded by	Ed Nijpels
In office 6 July 1971 – 19 December 1977
Preceded by	Molly Geertsema
Succeeded by	Koos Rietkerk
Parliamentary group	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
Leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
In office 1 July 1971 – 20 April 1982
Deputy	See list Molly Geertsema (1971–1973) Harm van Riel (1973–1976) Haya van Someren (1976–1980) Koos Rietkerk (1977–1982)
Preceded by	Molly Geertsema
Succeeded by	Ed Nijpels
Member of the House of Representatives
In office 25 August 1981 – 1 May 1982
In office 18 April 1967 – 19 December 1977
Parliamentary group	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
Personal details
Born	Hans Wiegel (1941-07-16) 16 July 1941 Amsterdam, Netherlands
Political party	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (from 1963)
Spouse(s)	Pien Frederiks ​ ​ (m. 1973; died 1980)​ Marianne Frederiks ​ ​ (m. 1982; died 2005)​
Domestic partner	Madelon Spoor (2006–2010)
Children	Erik Wiegel (born 1975) Marieke Wiegel (born 1977)
Residence(s)	Oudega, Netherlands The Hague, Netherlands
Alma mater	University of Amsterdam (Bachelor of Social Science)
Occupation	Politician · Businessman · Corporate director · Nonprofit director · Trade association executive · Education administrator · Lobbyist · Political pundit · Columnist · Editor · Author
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Hans Wiegel (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈɦɑns ˈʋiɣəl]; born 16 July 1941) is a retired Dutch politician of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and businessman.

Wiegel attended the Municipality Gymnasium in Hilversum from June 1953 until June 1959 and applied at the University of Amsterdam in July 1959 majoring in Law before switching to Political science and obtained an Bachelor of Social Science degree in July 1962. Wiegel served as Chairman of the Executive Board of the political youth organisation Youth Organisation Freedom and Democracy (JOVD) from November 1965 until October 1966.

Wiegel became a Member of the House of Representatives after Mike Keyzer was appointed as State Secretary for Transport and Water Management in the Cabinet De Jong following the election of 1967, taking office on 18 April 1967 serving as a frontbencher and spokesperson for Civil Service, Local Government Affairs and deputy spokesperson for Provincial Government Affairs. After the election of 1971 the Leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy and Parliamentary leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy in the House of Representatives Molly Geertsema was appointed as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior in the Cabinet Biesheuvel I and announced he was stepping down as Leader, the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy leadership approached Wiegel as his successor, Wiegel accepted and became the Leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy, taking office on 1 July 1971 and became Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives, taking office on 6 July 1971. For the election of 1972 Wiegel served as Lijsttrekker (top candidate). The People's Party for Freedom and Democracy made a small win, gaining 6 seats and now had 22 seats in the House of Representatives. For the election of 1977 Wiegel served again as Lijsttrekker. The People's Party for Freedom and Democracy made another small win, gaining 6 seats and now had 28 seats in the House of Representatives. Following several failed cabinet formation attempts by incumbent Prime Minister and Leader of the Labour Party Joop den Uyl Wiegel struck a deal with the Leader of the Christian Democratic Appeal Dries van Agt to form a new cabinet. The following cabinet formation of 1977 resulted in a coalition agreement between the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy and the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) which formed the Cabinet Van Agt–Wiegel with Wiegel appointed as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, taking office on 19 December 1977. For the election of 1981 Wiegel served for a third and final time as Lijsttrekker. The People's Party for Freedom and Democracy suffered a small loss, losing 2 seat and now had 26 seats in the House of Representatives. Wiegel subsequently returned as a Member of the House of Representatives and as Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives, taking office on 25 August 1981. The Cabinet Van Agt-Wiegel was replaced by the Cabinet Van Agt II following the cabinet formation of 1981 on 11 September 1981.

On 20 April 1982 Wiegel was nominated as the next Queen's Commissioner of Friesland and announced he was stepping down as Leader and Parliamentary leader and endorsed rising star Ed Nijpels as his successor and continued to serve in the House of Representatives as a backbencher, he resigned as Member of the House of Representatives on 1 May 1982 and was installed as Queen's Commissioner, serving from 16 June 1982 until 1 February 1994. Wiegel also became active in the private sector and public sector and occupied numerous seats as a corporate director and nonprofit director on several boards of directors and supervisory boards (ABN AMRO, Achmea, Douwe Egberts, Fries Museum, Tresoar, Fries Scheepvaart Museum, Grontmij, NOB and the Royal Tichelaar Makkum) and served on several state commissions and councils on behalf of the government (Advisory Council for Spatial Planning, Staatsbosbeheer and the Social and Economic Council). After the death of Minister of the Interior Koos Rietkerk on 20 February 1986 Wiegel was approached to succeed him in Cabinet Lubbers I but per his own request asked not to be considered for a cabinet post. Wiegel also worked as a trade association executive for the Brewing association serving as Chairman of the Executive Board from August 1984 until November 2012 and the Healthcare Insurance organisation serving as Chairman of the Executive Board from February 1994 tot January 1995 and the Healthcare Insurance association serving as Chairman of the Executive Board from January 1995 until February 2012 and the Travel Companies association serving as Chairman of the Executive Board from May 1994 until June 1995 and for the Industry and Employers confederation (VNO-NCW) serving as Vice Chairman of the Executive Board from May 2008 until February 2012. Wiegel was elected as a Member of the Senate after the Senate election of 1995, taking office on 13 June 1995 serving as a frontbencher chairing the parliamentary committee for General Affairs and the parliamentary committee for the Interior and spokesperson for General Affairs, the Interior, Civil Service, Local Government Affairs, Provincial Government Affairs, Governmental Reforms and the Royal Family. On 18 May 1999 Wiegel voted against his parliamentary group by voting against a proposed constitutional revision by the Cabinet Kok II that would make national referendums possible, coalition partner Democrats 66 (D66) saw this as an indirect motion of no confidence from the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy and the following crisis resulted in Prime Minister Wim Kok announcing the resignation of the cabinet. In March 2000 Wiegel unexpectedly announced his retirement from national politics and resigned as Member of the Senate on 1 April 2000. Wiegel retired after spending 33 years in national politics but remained active in the private sector and public sector and continued to occupy numerous seats as a corporate director and nonprofit director on several boards of directors and supervisory boards (Nationale Vacaturebank, Ronald McDonald House Charities and the Energy Research Centre) and as an advocate and lobbyist for the private sector and as a mediator for coalition agreements and a political pundit and columnist for De Telegraaf, Algemeen Dagblad and WNL.

Wiegel is known for his abilities as a debater and negotiator. Wiegel continues to comment on political affairs as of 2024 and holds the distinction as the youngest-serving Leader and Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives at the age of 29 years, 350 days and the youngest-serving Deputy Prime Minister at the age of 36 years, 146 days.

Early life

Parliamentary leader of the Labour Party Joop den Uyl and Parliamentary leader Hans Wiegel during a financial debate in the House of Representatives on 22 June 1972.

Trade union leader Wim Kok and Parliamentary leader Hans Wiegel during a meeting in Hilversum on 9 March 1974.

President of Cameroon Ahmadou Ahidjo and Deputy Prime Minister Hans Wiegel during a meeting at the Catshuis on 5 July 1979.

Deputy Prime Minister Hans Wiegel and Prime Minister Dries van Agt during an economic debate in the House of Representatives on 9 October 1979.

Hans Wiegel was born on 16 July 1941 in Amsterdam in the Province of North Holland in a secular family as the only son of Wilhelm Wiegel III (born 21 March 1913 in Amsterdam) and Sophia Maria Alberdina Smolenaars (born 3 November 1915 in Cimahi in the Dutch East Indies). After completing gymnasium in Hilversum in 1959, Wiegel started studying law at the University of Amsterdam. After a couple of months he switched his major to political science and earned a Candidate degree in 1965. He decided not to pursue a master's degree. Instead, he became involved in politics. Wiegel has been active within the youth wing of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy, the Youth Organisation Freedom and Democracy, of which he had been a member since 1961. In 1963 he was appointed to its national board and served as Chairman from 1965 until 1966.

Politics

In 1967 Wiegel was elected as a Member of the House of Representatives. In 1971, when he was only thirty years old, he became the Leader of his party. During the period of the Cabinet Den Uyl Wiegel acted as the main Leader of the Opposition against the Cabinet and Prime Minister Joop den Uyl. In 1977 he negotiated the formation of the Cabinet Van Agt-Wiegel, in this cabinet he became Minister of the Interior and Deputy Prime Minister, Wiegel prepared the constitutional revision of 1983.

In 1995 he was elected as a Member of the Senate. In 1999 Wiegel caused a short cabinet crisis by voting against the constitutional revision that would make national referendums possible. This crisis is called the Night of Wiegel. Wiegel left the Senate in 2000, soon after the Night of Wiegel. Wiegel led the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy in Dutch general election of 1972, Dutch general election of 1977, and Dutch General Election of 1981. During his leadership the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy orientation shifted away from the upper class and towards the middle class and educated workers; this led to electoral success.

In 1982 Wiegel left national politics. He was awarded honorary membership of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy and became Queen's Commissioner of Friesland from 16 June 1982 until 1 February 1994. During his period as Queen's Commissioner Wiegel became known as the "Oracle of Diever", because he played an important role advising the VVD and commenting on events in national politics. In 1986 Wiegel was asked to return to the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations; he refused, however.

Possible return to politics

On the evening of 6 May 2002 in Leeuwarden, he would be meeting with Pim Fortuyn, who saw in Wiegel a suitable Prime Minister. Earlier that day, however Fortuyn was assassinated in Hilversum.

In October 2005 the local branch of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy in Alphen aan den Rijn called all other local branches to sign a petition to get Wiegel back in active politics. More than 90% of the branches supported this petition. Wiegel wanted to announce whether he is making a comeback or not in March/April 2006. However then leader Jozias van Aartsen stated in January 2006 that Wiegel most likely will be the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy's candidate for Prime Minister in the 2007 elections. In the last years the Dutch press has speculated – he rarely responds to rumors – whether Wiegel will make a comeback.

On 8 March 2006, the day after a poor showing of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy in the Dutch municipal elections of 2006, Wiegel issued a press statement to the effect that he will not return to Dutch politics again.

On 22 November 2007 Wiegel was announced that he should go to the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy in a broad liberal movement together with the Party for Freedom of Geert Wilders, Rita Verdonk's Proud of the Netherlands and the Democrats 66. Besides Rita Verdonk none of these parties favor of this plan. On 15 September 2009 he repeated these words in the morning bulletin Goodmorning Netherlands Wiegel then called his party should seek cooperation with the Party for Freedom.

Thirty years after leaving national politics, Wiegel is still mentioned often as a potential Prime Minister. He still is very popular among People's Party for Freedom and Democracy party members in the Netherlands. He has 'threatened' to return to national politics a number of times, usually resulting in the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy going up in the polls. His opponents admonish this behaviour, implying that he is just trying to keep himself from being forgotten.

On 12 April 2010 during a broadcast of the Dutch TV program De Wereld Draait Door Wiegel humoristic joked to be the best Prime Minister the Netherlands never had. That view was shared by politician Joost Eerdmans on Wiegel's seventieth birthday. On 29 May 2012 in an interview with the Algemeen Dagblad he expressed criticism on the agreement the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy and the Christian Democratic Appeal made with the Democrats 66, GreenLeft and ChristianUnion on the budgetary crisis and called it "a serious strategic error".

Personal

Wiegel married his first wife Jacqueline Francina "Pien" Frederiks (born 9 September 1954) on 1 June 1973. He had two children with her, Erik (born 1975) and Marieke (born 1977). On 6 November 1980 tragedy struck when Pien Frederiks died of complications from suffering a car crash, she was twenty-six years old. She left her two young children behind Erik (five) and Marieke (three). On 7 April 1982 Wiegel quietly remarried to his late wife's older sister Marianne Frederiks (born 21 September 1951). On 6 January 2005 tragedy struck again for the now sixty-three-year-old Wiegel when, in a sad twist of fate, Marianne Frederiks died in a car crash at the age of fifty-three. From 2006 until 2010 Wiegel had a relation with Madelon Spoor. Wiegel currently lives in a farm in Oudega, a small town in the municipality Súdwest-Fryslân in the Province of Friesland, he also owns a Pied-à-terre in The Hague.

On 6 August 2019 Wiegel announced that he had suffered a light stroke at his home and that he would be undergoing rehabilitation in the next few months.

Decorations

Honours
Ribbon bar	Honour	Country	Date	Comment
	Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion	Netherlands	26 October 1981
	Grand Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau	Netherlands	20 January 1994	Elevated from Commander (28 April 1989)
	Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown	Belgium	1998
	Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Civil Merit	Spain	2002
Awards
Ribbon bar	Awards	Organization	Date	Comment
	Honorary Member	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy	14 May 1982

External links

Official

• (in Dutch) H. (Hans) Wiegel Parlement & Politiek
• (in Dutch) H. Wiegel (VVD) Eerste Kamer der Staten-Generaal