Klaas de Vries (politician)
Encyclopedia
Klaas George de Vries is a member of the Dutch House of Representatives for the PvdA. De Vries has had a long political career: he has been a member of parliament for more than 15 years, he has been a minister, and was involved in forming both Kok cabinets.
in the Catholic Heerlen
between 1949 and 1955, De Vries attended to the Grotius College since 1955. He graduated Gymnasium
-alpha in 1961. In the period 1961-62 he attended Hamline University in St. Paul
(Minnesota
, USA) where he studied Liberal Arts
. In 1962 he returned to the Netherlands
to study law at the University of Utrecht. He graduated in 1968. In the same year De Vries joined the PvdA. Between 1968 and 1971 De Vries worked for the ministry of Justice. Between 1970 and 1971 De Vries was member of the Delft
City Council, for the PvdA. After the 1971 he became chairperson of the PvdA-branch in Delft. In 1971 De Vries became research fellow at the Erasmus University Rotterdam, researching Administrative Law.
specialist of the parliamentary party. He was chairperson of the Defence Committee of parliament between 1978 and 1981. He also served in the North-Atlantic Assembly. Between 1981 and 1988 he was member of the board of the PvdA parliamentary party. Between 1981 and 1986 De Vries was member of the Presidium of the House. Between 1986 and 1988 he was vice-chairperson of parliamentary party. During this period De Vries also chaired the parliamentary research committee on building subsidies. In 1988 De Vries became director of the Association of Dutch Municipalities. In 1994 De Vries informateur
of the first Kok cabinet
. He became chair of the Social-Economic Council
in 1996.
In 1998 De Vries was informateur of the second Kok cabinet
. In 1998 he became Minister of Social Affairs and Employment. When minister Apotheker left the cabinet in 1999, De Vries temporarily took over as Minister of Agriculture, Fishery and Environmental Conservation. In 2000, when minister Peper
left the cabinet, De Vries became Minister of Home Affairs. As Minister of Home Affairs, De Vries initiated several government reform programs. Nationally he initiated the temporary referendum
law. Locally he was responsible for the revision of the number of municipalities, the revision of the system of municipal government (the 'dualisering') and the constitutional revision that would allow an elected mayor. In 2002 De Vries returned to parliament. He contested in the 2002 PvdA leadership election
, which he lost to Wouter Bos
. He entered originally because no one would oppose Bos, who was sure to win.
In parliament De Vries plays a leading role in Home Affairs and Government Reform. He chairs the Parliamentary Committee which revises the parliamentary research procedures and the PvdA Committee on democratic renewal.
on December 10, 2002 He is also a Knight of the Order of the Dutch Lion
.
Career before politics
After attending a protestant grammar schoolGrammar school
A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and some other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching classical languages but more recently an academically-oriented secondary school.The original purpose of mediaeval...
in the Catholic Heerlen
Heerlen
Heerlen is a city and a municipality in the southeastern Netherlands. The municipality is the second largest in the province of Limburg. It forms part of Parkstad Limburg, , an agglomeration of about 220,000 inhabitants.After its early Roman beginnings and a rather modest medieval period, Heerlen...
between 1949 and 1955, De Vries attended to the Grotius College since 1955. He graduated Gymnasium
Gymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
-alpha in 1961. In the period 1961-62 he attended Hamline University in St. Paul
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city...
(Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, USA) where he studied Liberal Arts
Liberal arts
The term liberal arts refers to those subjects which in classical antiquity were considered essential for a free citizen to study. Grammar, Rhetoric and Logic were the core liberal arts. In medieval times these subjects were extended to include mathematics, geometry, music and astronomy...
. In 1962 he returned to the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
to study law at the University of Utrecht. He graduated in 1968. In the same year De Vries joined the PvdA. Between 1968 and 1971 De Vries worked for the ministry of Justice. Between 1970 and 1971 De Vries was member of the Delft
Delft
Delft is a city and municipality in the province of South Holland , the Netherlands. It is located between Rotterdam and The Hague....
City Council, for the PvdA. After the 1971 he became chairperson of the PvdA-branch in Delft. In 1971 De Vries became research fellow at the Erasmus University Rotterdam, researching Administrative Law.
Political career
In 1973 De Vries gave up his scientific career to become a member of the Dutch House of Representatives. Initially De Vries was the DefenseDefense (military)
Defense has several uses in the sphere of military application.Personal defense implies measures taken by individual soldiers in protecting themselves whether by use of protective materials such as armor, or field construction of trenches or a bunker, or by using weapons that prevent the enemy...
specialist of the parliamentary party. He was chairperson of the Defence Committee of parliament between 1978 and 1981. He also served in the North-Atlantic Assembly. Between 1981 and 1988 he was member of the board of the PvdA parliamentary party. Between 1981 and 1986 De Vries was member of the Presidium of the House. Between 1986 and 1988 he was vice-chairperson of parliamentary party. During this period De Vries also chaired the parliamentary research committee on building subsidies. In 1988 De Vries became director of the Association of Dutch Municipalities. In 1994 De Vries informateur
Formateur
A formateur is a politician who is appointed by the head of state to lead the formation of a coalition government, after either a general election or the collapse of a previous government. The role of the formateur is especially important in the politics of Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg,...
of the first Kok cabinet
First cabinet of Wim Kok
The First cabinet of Wim Kok , also called the "Purple Coalition" because of its social-democrat and liberal components, was a Dutch government formed by the political parties PVDA, VVD and D66. D66 had won its greatest political victory with the slogan that the Christian Democratic Appeal should...
. He became chair of the Social-Economic Council
Social-Economic Council
The Sociaal-Economische Raad is a major economic advisory council of the Dutch government. Formally it heads a system of sector-based regulatory organizations. It represents the social partners trade unions and employers' organizations...
in 1996.
In 1998 De Vries was informateur of the second Kok cabinet
Second cabinet of Wim Kok
The Second cabinet of Wim Kok was the government of the Netherlands headed by Prime Minister Wim Kok during 1998 to 2002.After the elections to the House of Representatives on 6 May 1998, the allocation of the 150 seats was:...
. In 1998 he became Minister of Social Affairs and Employment. When minister Apotheker left the cabinet in 1999, De Vries temporarily took over as Minister of Agriculture, Fishery and Environmental Conservation. In 2000, when minister Peper
Bram Peper
Abraham Peper is a Dutch sociologist and former politician. Peper was Mayor of Rotterdam and Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations and is member of the Dutch Labour Party ....
left the cabinet, De Vries became Minister of Home Affairs. As Minister of Home Affairs, De Vries initiated several government reform programs. Nationally he initiated the temporary referendum
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
law. Locally he was responsible for the revision of the number of municipalities, the revision of the system of municipal government (the 'dualisering') and the constitutional revision that would allow an elected mayor. In 2002 De Vries returned to parliament. He contested in the 2002 PvdA leadership election
2002 PvdA leadership election
Between 6 and November 12, 2002 the 60,000 members of the Dutch social-democratic Labour Party could vote for their preferred candidate for top candidate for the 2003 general election....
, which he lost to Wouter Bos
Wouter Bos
Wouter Jacob Bos is a Dutch management consultant and former politician of the Labour Party . He was Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister in the Cabinet Balkenende IV from February 22, 2007 till February 23, 2010...
. He entered originally because no one would oppose Bos, who was sure to win.
In parliament De Vries plays a leading role in Home Affairs and Government Reform. He chairs the Parliamentary Committee which revises the parliamentary research procedures and the PvdA Committee on democratic renewal.
Honors
De Vries is was appointed an Officer of the Order of Orange-NassauOrder of Orange-Nassau
The Order of Orange-Nassau is a military and civil order of the Netherlands which was created on 4 April 1892 by the Queen regent Emma of the Netherlands, acting on behalf of her under-age daughter Queen Wilhelmina. The Order is a chivalry order open to "everyone who have earned special merits for...
on December 10, 2002 He is also a Knight of the Order of the Dutch Lion
Order of the Dutch Lion
The Order of the Netherlands Lion is an order of the Netherlands which was first created on 29 September 1815 by King William I of the Netherlands....
.