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Benk Korthals
Benk Korthals in 2011
Chairman of the People's Party
for Freedom and Democracy

In office
22 May 2011 – 14 June 2014
Leader Mark Rutte
Preceded by Ivo Opstelten
Succeeded by Henry Keizer
Minister of Defence

In office
22 July 2002 – 12 December 2002
Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende
Preceded by Frank de Grave
Succeeded by Henk Kamp
Minister of Justice

In office
3 August 1998 – 22 July 2002
Prime Minister Wim Kok
Preceded by Winnie Sorgdrager
Succeeded by Piet Hein Donner
Member of the House of Representatives

In office
23 May 2002 – 22 July 2002

In office
16 September 1982 – 3 August 1998
Personal details
Born Albert Hendrik Korthals
5 October 1944(1944-10-05) (age 80)
Voorschoten, Netherlands
Nationality Dutch
Political party People's Party for
Freedom and Democracy

(from 1977)
Spouse(s) Alexandra Stemerding (m. 1977)
Children 3 children
Residence Rotterdam, Netherlands
Alma mater Leiden University
(Bachelor of Laws, Master of Laws)
Occupation Politician · Jurist · Lawyer · Prosecutor
Military service
Allegiance  Netherlands
Service/branch Royal Netherlands Navy
Years of service 1963–1965 (Conscription)
1965–1975 (Reserve)
Rank Lieutenant (J.G.)
Unit Naval squadron
Battles/wars Cold War

Albert Hendrik "Benk" Korthals (born 5 October 1944) is a retired Dutch politician of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and jurist. Korthals attended the Gymnasium Leiden from June 1957 until June 1963 and applied at the Leiden University in June 1967 majoring in law and obtaining a Bachelor of Laws degree before graduating with a Master of Laws degree in July 1973. Korthals worked as a lawyer and prosecutor in Rotterdam from January 1974 until August 1998. Korthals was elected as a Member of the House of Representatives after the election of 1982, taking office on 16 September 1982. After the election of 1998 Korthals was appointed as Minister of Justice in the Cabinet Kok II, taking office on 3 August 1998. After the election of 2002 Korthals returned as a Member of the House of Representatives, taking office on 23 May 2002. Following the cabinet formation of 2002 Korthals was appointment as Minister of Defence in the Cabinet Balkenende I, taking office on 22 July 2002. On 12 December 2002 Korthals resigned following the conclusions of a parliamentary inquiry report into a construction fraud investigation that was mishandled by him while serving as Minister of Justice. Korthals also served as Chairman of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy from 22 May 2011 until 14 June 2014.[1][2][3][4]

Decorations[]

Honours
Ribbon bar Honour Country Date Comment
Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion Netherlands 28 April 1995
Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau Netherlands 3 July 2003
Commemorative Medal for Advancing Latvia's Membership to NATO Latvia 19 March 2004

References[]

  1. (in Dutch) Jezuïetenonderwijs had veel invloed op samenleving Archived March 9, 2012, at the Wayback Machine., Kerknieuws.nl, 15 April 2009
  2. (in Dutch) Benk Korthals voorgedragen als nieuwe VVD-voorzitter, Volkskrant, 17 March 2011
  3. (in Dutch) Benk Korthals nieuwe voorzitter VVD, RTL Nederland, 22 April 2011
  4. (in Dutch) Benk Korthals nieuwe voorzitter VVD Archived 2012-10-11 at the Wayback Machine., Telegraaf, 22 April 2011

External links[]

Official
Party political offices
Preceded by
Ivo Opstelten
Chairman of the People's Party
for Freedom and Democracy

2011–2014
Succeeded by
Henry Keizer
Political offices
Preceded by
Winnie Sorgdrager
Minister of Justice
1998–2002
Succeeded by
Piet Hein Donner
Preceded by
Frank de Grave
Minister of Defence
2002
Succeeded by
Henk Kamp

Template:Ministers of Justice of the Netherlands Template:First Balkenende cabinet Template:Second Kok cabinet

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