Global InformationHans Wiegel information
Hans Wiegel | |
|---|---|
 Wiegel in 1977 | |
| Member of the Social and Economic Council | |
| In office 1 February 1994 – 1 February 2012 | |
| Chairman | See list
|
| 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
|
| 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 16 July 1941 Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Political party | People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (from 1963) |
| Spouses | Pien Frederiks (26)
(m. 1973; died 1980)Marianne Frederiks (53)
(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 · Businessperson · Corporate director · Nonprofit director · Trade association executive · Lobbyist · Political pundit · Columnist · Author |
| Signature |  |
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 studied Law at the University of Amsterdam before switching to Political science obtaining a Bachelor of Social Science degree and worked as a freelance political pundit from July 1965 until April 1967. Wiegel also served as chairman of the political youth organisation JOVD from November 1965 until October 1966. Wiegel became a Member of the House of Representatives shortly after election of 1967 taking office on 18 April 1967 serving as a frontbencher and spokesperson for Local Government Affairs. After the election of 1971 Party Leader and Parliamentary leader Molly Geertsema was appointed as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior in the Cabinet Biesheuvel I announced he was stepping down and Wiegel was anonymously selected as his successor taking office on 1 July 1971. For the elections of 1972 and 1977 Wiegel served as Lijsttrekker (top candidate) and following a successful cabinet formation with Christian-democratic Leader Dries van Agt 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 again served as Lijsttrekker but the following cabinet formation resulted in a coalition between the Christian-democrats and Labour Party and he returned to the House of Representatives as Parliamentary leader on 25 August 1981. In April 1982 Wiegel unexpectedly announced he was stepping down as Leader following his nomination as the next Queen's Commissioner of Friesland and endorsed rising star Ed Nijpels as his successor and was installed Queen's Commissioner serving from 16 June 1982 until 1 February 1994. Wiegel also became active in the private and public sectors as a corporate and non-profit director and served on several state commissions and councils on behalf of the government, and worked as a trade association executive serving as Chairman of the Dutch Brewers association from August 1984 until November 2012, the Dutch Healthcare Insurance association from February 1994 until February 2012 and the Dutch Travel Companies association from May 1994 until June 1995 and as vice chairman of the Industry and Employers confederation (VNO-NCW) from May 2008 until February 2012. Wiegel continued to be active in politics and was elected as a Member of the Senate after the Senate election of 1995 taking office on 13 June 1995 serving as a frontbencher and chairing the parliamentary committees for General Affairs and the Interior and as spokesperson for the Interior, Governmental Reforms and the Royal Family. In March 2000 Wiegel unexpectedly announced his retirement and resigned from the Senate on 1 April 2000.
Wiegel semi-retired from active politics at 58 but continued to be active in the private and public sectors as a corporate and non-profit director and lobbyist, and worked as a occasional mediator for coalition agreements and political crisis's and as a political pundit and columnist for De Telegraaf, Algemeen Dagblad and WNL. Wiegel was known for his abilities as a skillful debater and effective negotiator and continued to comment on political affairs as a statesman until he suffered a minor stroke in August 2019 which forced him to undergo rehabilitation. He holds the distinction as the second youngest-serving Party Leader and Parliamentary leader at the age of 29 years, 350 days and the youngest-serving Deputy Prime Minister at the age of 36 years, 146 days.[1]
- ^ (in Dutch) Wiegel houdt belofte van terugkeer levend, Trouw, 24 February 2005