Hans van Mierlo

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His Excellency Hans van Mierlo
Van Mierlo in 1981
Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands
In office 22 August 1994 – 3 August 1998 Serving with Hans Dijkstal
Prime Minister	Wim Kok
Preceded by	Wim Kok
Succeeded by	Annemarie Jorritsma Els Borst
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office 22 August 1994 – 3 August 1998
Prime Minister	Wim Kok
Preceded by	Pieter Kooijmans
Succeeded by	Jozias van Aartsen
Senator of the Netherlands
In office 13 September 1983 – 4 June 1986
Minister of Defence
In office 11 September 1981 – 4 November 1982
Prime Minister	Dries van Agt
Preceded by	Pieter de Geus
Succeeded by	Job de Ruiter
Leader of the Democrats 66 in the House of Representatives
In office 3 June 1986 – 22 August 1994
Preceded by	Maarten Engwirda
Succeeded by	Gerrit-Jan Wolffensperger
In office 23 February 1967 – 1 September 1973
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Jan Terlouw
Member of the House of Representatives
In office 19 May 1998 – 18 August 1998
In office 3 June 1986 – 22 August 1994
In office 23 February 1967 – 8 June 1977
Leader of the Democrats 66
In office 25 January 1986 – 15 February 1998
Preceded by	Maarten Engwirda
Succeeded by	Els Borst
In office 14 October 1966 – 1 September 1973
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Jan Terlouw
Chairman of the Democrats 66
In office 14 October 1966 – 16 February 1967
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Gerben Ringnalda
Personal details
Born	Henricus Antonius Franciscus Maria Oliva van Mierlo (1931-08-18)18 August 1931 Breda, Netherlands
Died	11 March 2010(2010-03-11) (aged 78) Amsterdam, Netherlands
Political party	Democrats 66 (from 1966)
Spouses	Anna Los ​ ​ (m. 1961; div. 1963)​ Olla van Maasdijk ​ ​ (m. 1964; div. 1984)​ Connie Palmen ​ (m. 2009)​
Domestic partner(s)	Gretta Nieuwenhuizen (1985–1986) Aafke van der Made (1987–1997) Connie Palmen (1999–2009)
Children	2 daughters and 1 son
Alma mater	Radboud University Nijmegen (LL.B., LL.M.)
Occupation	Politician · Journalist · Editor · Author · Political pundit · Nonprofit director · Television producer
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	Netherlands
Branch/service	Royal Netherlands Army
Years of service	1952–1954 (Conscription) 1954–1961 (Reserve)
Rank	Sergeant
Unit	Regiment van Heutsz

Henricus Antonius Franciscus Maria Oliva "Hans" van Mierlo (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈɦɑns fɑ ˈmiːrloː];^[a] 18 August 1931 – 11 March 2010) was a Dutch politician and journalist who co-founded Democrats 66 (D66).

Van Mierlo studied Law at the Radboud University Nijmegen obtaining a Master of Laws degree and worked as a journalist and editor for the Algemeen Handelsblad from August 1960 until January 1967. In October 1966 Van Mierlo was one of the co-founders of the Democrats 66 (initially abbreviated D'66) party, and became its first party leader and lead candidate for the 1967 general election. Van Mierlo was elected to the House of Representatives and became parliamentary leader on 23 February 1967. For the 1971 and 1972 general elections Van Mierlo served again as lead candidate. On 1 September 1973 Van Mierlo unexpectedly announced he was stepping down as party leader, stating that he would not stand for the 1977 general election but would continue to serve in the House of Representatives as a frontbencher until the end of the parliamentary term.

Van Mierlo semi-retired from active politics and became active in the public sector as a non-profit director, and worked as a television producer for the VARA from January 1980 until September 1981. After the 1981 general election, Van Mierlo was appointed as Minister of Defence in the Van Agt II cabinet taking office on 11 September 1981. The cabinet fell just seven months into its term on 12 May 1982 and was replaced by the caretaker Van Agt III cabinet with Van Mierlo continuing his position and shortly thereafter announced that he would not not stand for the 1982 general election. Van Mierlo continued to be active in politics and was elected to the Senate in the 1983 Senate election, serving as a frontbencher and spokesperson for foreign affairs. For the 1986 general election Van Mierlo again served as lead candidate and returned to the House of Representatives as parliamentary leader on 3 June 1986. For the 1989 and 1994 general elections Van Mierlo once again served as lead candidate, and following a successful cabinet formation with Labour Party leader Wim Kok and People's Party for Freedom and Democracy leader Frits Bolkestein formed the Kok I cabinet, with Van Mierlo appointed as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, taking office on 22 August 1994. In March 1997 Van Mierlo announced that he was stepping down as leader a second time but that he would stand for the 1998 general election. After a cabinet formation, Van Mierlo was asked to continue to serve in the new cabinet in a different function, but declined and returned to the House of Representatives on 19 May 1998. Shortly after the installation of the Kok II cabinet, Van Mierlo announced his retirement and resigned from the House of Representatives on 18 August 1998.

Van Mierlo retired from active politics at 67 and again became active in the public sector as a non-profit director and served as a diplomat for several economic and diplomatic delegations on behalf of the government, and continued to be active as a advocate and lobbyist for more European integration, republican issues and government reforms. Van Mierlo was known for his abilities as a skilful debater and effective negotiator. Van Mierlo was granted the honorary title of Minister of State on 24 October 1998 and continued to comment on political affairs as a statesman until his death in March 2010 from the complications of a Hepatitis C infection at the age of 78.
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