Frits Bolkestein | |
|---|---|
 Bolkestein in 2007 | |
| European Commissioner [Portfolios] | |
| In office 16 September 1999 – 22 November 2004 | |
| President | Romano Prodi |
| Preceded by | Mario Monti as European Commissioner for Internal Market |
| Succeeded by | Charlie McCreevy as European Commissioner for Internal Market |
| President of the Liberal International | |
| In office 15 April 1996 – 18 April 2000 | |
| Preceded by | Sir David Steel |
| Succeeded by | Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck |
| Leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy | |
| In office 30 April 1990 – 30 July 1998 | |
| Deputy | See list
|
| Preceded by | Joris Voorhoeve |
| Succeeded by | Hans Dijkstal |
| Leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy in the House of Representatives | |
| In office 30 April 1990 – 30 July 1998 | |
| Preceded by | Joris Voorhoeve |
| Succeeded by | Hans Dijkstal |
| Minister of Defence | |
| In office 24 September 1988 – 7 November 1989 | |
| Prime Minister | Ruud Lubbers |
| Preceded by | Piet Bukman (ad interim) |
| Succeeded by | Relus ter Beek |
| State Secretary for Economic Affairs | |
| In office 5 November 1982 – 14 July 1986 Serving with Piet van Zeil | |
| Prime Minister | Ruud Lubbers |
| Preceded by | Wim Dik |
| Succeeded by | Enneüs Heerma |
| Member of the House of Representatives | |
| In office 14 September 1989 – 21 September 1999 | |
| In office 3 June 1986 – 24 September 1988 | |
| In office 16 January 1978 – 5 November 1982 | |
| Parliamentary group | People's Party for Freedom and Democracy |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Frederik Bolkestein 4 April 1933 Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Political party | People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (since 1975) |
| Relatives | Gerrit Bolkestein (grand-father) |
| Alma mater | University of Amsterdam (BSc, MA) London School of Economics (MSc) Leiden University (LLM) |
| Occupation |
|
| Website | www |
Frederik "Frits" Bolkestein (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈfreːdərɪk frɪts ˈbɔlkəstɛin] ; born 4 April 1933) is a Dutch retired politician and energy executive who served as Leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) from 1990 to 1998 and European Commissioner for Internal Market from 1999 until 2004 under Romano Prodi.
Bolkestein worked as a corporate director for Royal Dutch Shell from May 1960 until July 1976 and as a manager for an engineering company in Amsterdam from September 1976 until January 1978. Bolkestein became a member of the House of Representatives shortly after election of 1977 taking office on 16 January 1978 serving as a frontbencher and spokesman for Economic Affairs. After the election of 1982 Bolkestein was appointed as State Secretary for Economic Affairs in the Cabinet Lubbers I taking office on 5 November 1982. After the election of 1986 Bolkestein was not offered a cabinet post in the new cabinet and returned to the House of Representatives on 3 June 1986 serving as a frontbencher and spokesman for Foreign Affairs and International trade. Bolkestein was appointed as Minister of Defence in the Cabinet Lubbers II following a cabinet reshuffle taking office on 24 September 1988. After the election of 1989 Bolkestein again returned to the House of Representatives on 14 September 1989. Shortly after the election, party leader and parliamentary leader Joris Voorhoeve announced he was stepping down and Bolkestein announced his candidacy to succeed and was selected as his successor on 30 April 1990.
For the election of 1994, Bolkestein served as lijsttrekker (top candidate) and following a successful cabinet formation with Labour Leader Wim Kok and fellow Liberal Leader Hans van Mierlo formed the Cabinet Kok I with Bolkestein opting to remain as Parliamentary leader. Bolkestein also served as President of the Liberal International from 15 April 1996 until 18 April 2000. For the election of 1998 Bolkestein again served as lijsttrekker (top candidate) but shortly thereafter announced that he was stepping down on 30 July 1998 but continued to serve in the House of Representatives as a backbencher. In August 1999 Bolkestein was nominated as the next European Commissioner in the Prodi Commission, and was giving the heavy portfolios of Internal Market and Services and Taxation and Customs serving from 16 September 1999 until 22 November 2004.