Bert de Vries

Who is Bert de Vries?

Berend "Bert" de Vries is a retired Dutch politician of the Christian Democratic Appeal. He served as a Member of the House of Representatives from November 21, 1978 until November 7, 1989. After the Dutch general election of 1982 the Christian Democratic Appeal lost 3 seats and incumbent Prime Minister Dries van Agt unexpectedly announced that he was stepping down. After a short cabinet formation a new cabinet was formed; De Vries became the new Parliamentary leader of the Christian Democratic Appeal in the House of Representatives on November 4, 1982 after Ruud Lubbers became Prime Minister. He served as Parliamentary leader until November 7, 1989; with a short brake from May 22, 1986 until July 15, 1986 following the Dutch general election of 1986 when Lubbers temporarily resumed the function for the cabinet formation which formed the Cabinet Lubbers II. After the Dutch general election of 1989 De Vries became Minister of Social Affairs and Employment in the Cabinet Lubbers III on November 7, 1989 and served until August 22, 1994. He served as acting Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Fisheries from September 19, 1990 until September 27, 1990 after the resignation of Gerrit Braks. He later served as Party Chair of the Christian Democratic Appeal from October 10, 2001 until November 2, 2002 after the resignation of Marnix van Rij.