Hans Dijkstal
Henri Frans "Hans" Dijkstal (28 February 1943 – 9 May 2010) was a Dutch politician of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD).
Dijkstal a financial adviser by occupation, was elected as a Member of the House of Representatives on 11 November 1982 after the Dutch general election of 1982, serving until 3 June 1986 and from 30 July 1986 until 22 August 1994. After the Dutch general election of 1994 he became Minister of the Interior and Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands in the Cabinet Kok I. After the Dutch general election of 1998 incumbent Party leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy Frits Bolkestein announced his retirement and Dijkstal was elected his successor. He returned to the House of Representatives on 19 May 1998 and became the Parliamentary leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy in the House of Representatives and the Party leaders of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy on 30 July 1998. For the Dutch general election of 2002 he was the lijsttrekker (top candidate), Dijkstal and Ad Melkert the Party leader of the Labour Party were the front runners to become the next Prime Minister, but the unexpected arrival of Pim Fortuyn of Livable Netherlands (LN) and later the Pim Fortuyn List (LPF), turned the polls. Fortuyn blamed the problems in the country on the Purple cabinets (in which both Dijkstal and Melkert served as ministers). Fortuyn depicted Dijkstal and Melkert as two bureaucrats who didn't understand the feelings and problems among the population. After a heated campaign a mere days before the election, Fortuyn was assassinated in Hilversum. The People's Party for Freedom and Democracy suffered a big defeat in the election losing fourteen seats, Dijkstal accepted responsibility for the defeat and sequentially left national politics. He resigned as 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 on 16 May 2002 and gave up his seat in the House of Representatives on 1 September 2002.[1]
Biography
Early life
Dijkstal was born in Port Said, Egypt, where his father and grandfather worked in shipping. He was able to speak fluent Arabic before moving to the Netherlands at age five. He made a career as financial advisor, taught management courses, and was council member for the city of Wassenaar and an alderman.
Politics
In 1982 he was first elected to the House of Representatives. He took over the leadership of the VVD faction from Frits Bolkestein in 1998. Dijkstal was the lijsttrekker for the VVD party in the 2002 parliamentary elections, that turned out disastrous for the party. Afterwards, he retired from active politics. But when his former party started taking a heavy stance on 'allochtonen' (immigrants and their children) he teamed up with former politicians from a wide range of other parties in protest, to strive for a more tolerant society, under the name "Een Land Een Samenleving" ('One Country One Society').[2]
Family
On 29 July 1966 he married Anneke Dijkstal and became the father of two daughters.[3]
Personal
Furthermore, he was a fan and admirer of Star Trek.[4] Hans Dijkstal died on 9 May 2010 after a long fight against bone cancer, he was 67.[5][6]
Decorations
| Honours | ||||
|
Officer of the Order of Oranje-Nassau | Netherlands | 30 October 1998 | |
References
- ^ Template:Nl Het vrolijke, beminnelijke oliemannetje van Paars, NRC Handelsblad, 11 May 2002
- ^ Template:Nl VVD trekt ten strijde tegen Fortuyn, Volkskrant, 18 March 2002
- ^ Template:Nl Hans Dijkstal, Nova TV, 25 March 2004
- ^ Template:Nl Gesprek over de nieuwe Startrek-film, NOS, 4 May 2009
- ^ Template:Nl VVD'er Hans Dijkstal (67) overleden, NOS, 10 May 2010
- ^ Template:Nl Hans Dijkstal (67) overleden, Volkskrant, 10 May 2010
External links
- Official
- Template:Nl icon H.F. (Hans) Dijkstal Parlement & Politiek
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
- 1943 births
- 2010 deaths
- Aldermen of Wassenaar
- Deaths from cancer in the Netherlands
- Deaths from bone cancer
- Deputy Prime Ministers of the Netherlands
- Dutch agnostics
- Dutch corporate directors
- Dutch nonprofit executives
- Dutch nonprofit directors
- Dutch educators
- Dutch saxophonists
- Financial advisors
- Science fiction fans
- Members of the House of Representatives (Netherlands)
- Ministers of the Interior of the Netherlands
- Municipal councillors in the Netherlands
- Leaders of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
- Officers of the Order of Orange-Nassau
- People from Port Said
- People's Party for Freedom and Democracy politicians
- University of Amsterdam alumni