Hans Wiegel

Hans Wiegel (born July 16, 1941) is a Dutch politician and member of the liberal People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD). He has been member of both the Higher and Lower house of Dutch Parliament, Minister of the Interior and Queen's Commissioner.

Biography

Before Politics

After completing the gymnasium-b in Hilversum in 1959, Wiegel studied law at the University of Amsterdam. In the same year he switched to political science. He had not finished his study in 1965, when he stopped studying to focus on politics. Wiegel has been active within the youth wing of the VVD, the JOVD, of which he had been a member since 1961. In 1963 he was appointed to its national board and in 1965-1966 he was chairman.

Political career

In 1967 Wiegel was elected in to the lower house of the Dutch parliament. In 1971, when he was only thirty years old, he became the leader of the party. In 1977 he negotiated the formation of the first cabinet van Agt, in this cabinet he became minister of Internal Affairs and vice-prime minister. During his period as minister of Internal Affairs, Wiegel prepared the constitutional revision of 1983.

Wiegel led the VVD in 1972, the 1977 and 1981 elections. During his leadership the VVD's orientation shifted away from the upper class and towards the middle class and educated workers; this led to electoral success.

Twenty years after leaving national politics, Wiegel is still mentioned often as a potential prime-minister. He still is very popular among VVD-partymembers in the Netherlands. He has 'threatened' to return to national politics a number of times, usually resulting in the VVD going up in the polls.

His opponents admonish this behaviour, implying that he is just trying to keep himself from being forgotten.

After National Politics

In 1982 Wiegel left national politics. He was awarded honorary membership of the VVD and became Queen's Commissioner (Governor) of the Province of Friesland. He held that position until 1994. In 1986 Wiegel was asked to return to the ministry of the interior; he refused, however.

In 1994 he became chairman of the Dutch association of healthcare insurers. In 1995 he was elected to the higher house of parliament. 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 House in 2000, soon after the night of Wiegel. In 2005, in an ironic twist of fate, Wiegel's second wife died in a car crash, just as his first wife did.

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.

Comeback (or not)

In October 2005 the local branch of the VVD 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 the party leader Jozias van Aartsen stated in January 2006 that Wiegel most likely will be the VVD's prime minister candidate for the 2007 elections.In the last years the dutch press has speculated - he rarely responds to rumors - whether Wiegel will make a comeback.

On March 8 2006, the day after a poor showing of the VVD in the Dutch municipal elections, Wiegel issued a press statement to the effect that he will not return to Dutch politics again.

Miscellaneous facts

*In 1980 Wiegel's first wife Pien Frederiks died in a car crash. Two years later he was remarried, to Marianne Frederiks, the sister of his first wife. Tragically, in 2005 also Marianne died in a car crash.
*During a public debate with social-democrat Den Uyl, he said in criticism of Den Uyl's financial policy: "Santa Claus exists. Look, he's over there!" (Pointing to Den Uyl).
*When during a public debate somebody yelled "Asshole" at him, he replied "How nice of you to introduce yourself. My name is Hans Wiegel."

External links

* [http://www.parlement.com/9291000/biof/01542 Extensive biography in Dutch]
* [http://www.eerstekamer.nl/9324000/1f/j9vvgh5ihkk7kof/vg09llcz55yq Biography in Dutch] related to his position in the Upper House position