Atzo Nicolaï

Atzo Nicolaï
Minister for Government Reform and Kingdom Relations (Netherlands)
In office 7 July 2006 – 22 February 2007
Prime Minister	Jan Peter Balkenende
Preceded by	Alexander Pechtold
Succeeded by	None
State Secretary for Foreign Affairs
In office 22 July 2002 – 7 July 2006
Prime Minister	Jan Peter Balkenende
Preceded by	Dick Benschop
Succeeded by	Frans Timmermans
Member of the House of Representatives
In office 30 November 2006 – 31 May 2011
In office 30 January 2003 – 27 May 2003
In office 19 May 1998 – 22 July 2002
Personal details
Born	Atzo Nicolaï 22 February 1960 Delft, Netherlands
Nationality	Dutch
Political party	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
Residence	Amstelveen, Netherlands
Alma mater	Vrije Universiteit (LL.M., M.Sc)
Occupation	Politician Civil servant Jurist Corporate director

Atzo Nicolaï (born 22 February 1960) is a retired Dutch politician of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD). He served as a member of the House of Representatives from 19 May 1998 until 22 July 2002 when he became State Secretary for Foreign Affairs in the Cabinets Balkenende I and II. He again had a short stint as an MP following the Dutch general election of 2003 serving from 30 January 2003 until 27 May 2003. He became Minister for Government Reform and Kingdom Relations in the Cabinet Balkenende III serving from 7 July 2006 until 22 February 2007 following the resignation of Alexander Pechtold. After the Dutch general election of 2006 Nicolaï returned to the House of Representatives and took office on 30 November 2006. Following the Dutch general election of 2010 Nicolaï became a likely candidate as Minister of Foreign Affairs during the cabinet formation of 2010 but his appointment was blocked by the coalition partner Party for Freedom (PVV). Nicolaï resigned as an MP on 31 May 2011. Next day he became a member of the board of directors of the chemical multinational DSM.^[1]

Decorations

• Order of Orange-Nassau
  • Officer (11 April 2007)

References

• (Dutch) Parlement.com biography

1. (Dutch) VVD-Kamerlid Atzo Nicolaï verlaat Tweede Kamer, Elsevier, April 26, 2011