Dries van Agt
Andreas Antonius Maria ( Dries ) van Agt ( born February 2, 1931 in Geldrop ) is a Dutch politician of the Christian Democrats. He was Prime Minister from 1977 to 1982.
Life
Van Agt was born in 1931 as the son of a textile manufacturer in Geldrop (North Brabant). After graduating from the Augustinianum in Eindhoven, he studied law at the Catholic University of Nijmegen Radboud and received his PhD in 1955. Afterwards, he was a lawyer in Eindhoven until 1957 and then worked until 1962 in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, and then until 1968 the Ministry of Justice. From 1968 to 1971 he was Professor of Criminal Law at the Catholic University of Nijmegen.
1995-1996 he was Visiting Professor of International Relations at the University of Kyoto in Japan.
It is known van AGTs preference for cycling.
Policy
From 6 July 1971 to 11 May 1973, he was for the Catholic People's Party ( KVP ) Justice Minister in the Cabinet Biesheuvel and then in the Cabinet Den Uyl until December 19, 1977 appointed Deputy Prime Minister.
Van Agt was sometimes the focus of intense controversy, such as when he arbitrarily wanted the abortion clinic close Bloemenhove or forced to resign by his awkward appearance in the so-called " Menten Affair ', during which he almost. In 1972, he sparked outrage when he wanted to pardon three imprisoned in Breda Nazi war criminals. He provoked outrage when he described himself as " Aryans " in a press conference.
On 19 December 1977 he became Prime Minister of the Netherlands and stood up to the November 4, 1982 three cabinets before. In the second cabinet led to a renewed encounter with Joop den Uyl, who now had to serve as Vice- Premier and Minister of Social Affairs Super van Agt. The character and political differences and conflicts were so large that van Agt 1987 nor the access to the Uyls funeral of his family was denied.
From 1982 to 1983 van Agt was a deputy in the Second Chamber, and then to 1987, Commissioner of the Queen in the province of North Brabant. From 1987 to 1989 he represented the European Community in Japan and by 1995 in the U.S.. Since March 2009 he is involved in the newly formed Russell Tribunal on Palestine question. For several years he exposed himself as a fierce opponent of Israel and its policies towards Palestinians.