Ivo Opstelten

Ivo Willem Opstelten ( born January 31, 1944 in Rotterdam) is a Dutch politician. Opstelten is since November 5, 2012 Minister of Security and Justice of the Netherlands in the Cabinet Rutte II

From early 1999 to January 2009 was Opstelten mayor of the city of Rotterdam. Since the spring of 2008 to 2010, he served as leader of the liberal party VVD. From October 2010 to 2012, he was Minister of Security and Justice in the Cabinet Rutte I.

Career

Opstelten was born the son of a banker. After visiting the Lyceum in Emmen Opstelten studied until 1969 at the Rijksuniversiteit Leiden law with a focus on constitutional law and public law.

One of two years as a magistrate in the municipality of Vlaardingen followed in 1972, the election for mayor of the municipality Drentsche Dalen. In 1977, he held the same position in the community Doorn and 1980 as mayor to Delfzijl. From 1987 to 1992 he was Secretary of State for public order and safety in the Dutch Ministry of the Interior.

To November 1, 1992 Opstelten returned to local politics and was mayor of the city of Utrecht. Of 16 February 1999 to 1 January 2009, he was mayor of his hometown of Rotterdam.

Having already served as deputy chairman of his party VVD from 1986 until May 1993, he was elected to succeed the retiring Jan van Zanen in the post of party chairman on 31 May 2008.