Hans Dijkstal

Who was Hans Dijkstal?

Henri Frans "Hans" Dijkstal was a Dutch politician of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy. He served as a Member of the House of Representatives from November 11, 1982 until June 3, 1986 and from July 30, 1986 until August 22, 1994 when he became Minister of the Interior and Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands in the Cabinet Kok I. After the Dutch general election of 1998 incumbent Party leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy Frits Bolkestein announced his retirement and Dijkstal was elected his successor. He returned to the House of Representatives on May 19, 1998 and became the Parliamentary leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy in the House of Representatives and the Party leaders of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy on July 30, 1998. For the Dutch general election of 2002 he was the lijsttrekker, Dijkstal and Ad Melkert the Party leader of the Labour Party were the front runners to become the next Prime Minister, but the unexpected arrival of Pim Fortuyn of Livable Netherlands and later the Pim Fortuyn List, turned the polls. Fortuyn blamed the problems in the country on the Purple cabinets.