Frans Weisglas

Frans Weisglas
Speaker of the House of Representatives
In office
16 May 2002  30 November 2006
Preceded by Jeltje van Nieuwenhoven
Succeeded by Gerdi Verbeet
Member of the House of Representatives
In office
16 September 1982  30 November 2006
Personal details
Born Frans Willy Weisglas
(1946-08-08) 8 August 1946
The Hague, Netherlands
Nationality Dutch
Political party People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (since 1967)
Spouse(s) Nynke Weisglas-Kuperus (m. 1973)
Residence Rotterdam, Netherlands
Alma mater Erasmus University Rotterdam (Master of Economics)
Occupation Politician
Diplomat
Civil servant
Website Official site

Frans Willy Weisglas (born 8 August 1946) is a retired Dutch politician of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD). He served as President of the House of Representatives from 16 May 2002 until 30 November 2006 and a Member of the House of Representatives from 16 September 1982 until 30 November 2006.[1]

Biography

Early life

Weisglas studied economics at the Erasmus University, in Rotterdam, obtaining a degree in 1970.

Politics

After his graduation, he worked for some years for the Dutch foreign service, being part of the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the United Nations (1970–1977). He then worked as a secretary to the Dutch Minister for Development Cooperation (1978–1981). In 1982, he became an elected member of the House of Representatives, where he focused on foreign and European affairs.

In 2002, Weisglas was elected President of the House, after Jeltje van Nieuwenhoven of the Labour Party stepped down. He was the first President of the House to be elected and re-elected (2003) by a democratic vote among parliamentarians.

On 15 August 2006 he announced that he would not be a candidate in the 2006 Dutch general election, ending his 24-year-old career as a politician. His last day as President of the House was on 29 November 2006.[2]

Trivia

He is an ambassador for Terre des hommes.

Decorations

National honours
Ribbon bar Honour Date & Comment
Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion 28 April 1995
Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau 29 November 2006
Foreign honours
Ribbon bar Honour Date & Comment
Grand Cross of the Order of the Oak Crown (Luxembourg) 24 April 2006
Commander of Order of Leopold (Belgium) 4 July 2006
Grand Cordon of Order of Independence (Jordan) 30 October 2006

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Frans Weisglas.
Political offices
Preceded by
Jeltje van Nieuwenhoven
Speaker of the House of Representatives
2002–2006
Succeeded by
Gerdi Verbeet


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