Ivo Opstelten

Ivo Willem Opstelten (born January 31, 1944) is a Dutch politician of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD). He is the Minister of Security and Justice in the Cabinet Rutte since October 14, 2010.

He has served as Mayor of seven different Municipalities. Most recently as Acting Mayor of Tilburg from November 4, 2009 until July 16, 2010. He was Mayor of Utrecht from November 1, 1992 until February 16, 1999 when he became Mayor of Rotterdam which he served for nearly ten years until January 1, 2009. He was the Party Chair of People's Party for Freedom and Democracy between March 31, 2008 and October 14, 2010.^[1]

Biography

Early life

He studied law at Leiden University, where he specialised in constitutional and public law. He graduated end 1969 and worked from 1970 to 1972 at the municipality of Vlaardingen, before starting a long-term career as Mayor.

Politics

In 1972 he began as Mayor of Dalen, at the age of 28 the youngest Mayor of the Netherlands. In 1977 he became Mayor of Doorn. In 1980 he became the Mayor of Delfzijl, in 1983 he became Acting Mayor of Beerta because of the pregnancy of Mayor Hanneke Jagersma, a position he held for four months. In 1992 he made the switch to the fourth largest Municipality of the Netherlands Utrecht. In 1999 he was nominated as Mayor of Rotterdam the second city of the Netherlands. In 2002 he was praised for his handling of the aftermath of the assassination of politician Pim Fortuyn. He served as Mayor of Rotterdam for ten years. He resigned on January 1, 2009. He was succeeded by Ahmed Aboutaleb. On March 31, 2008 he was elected as the new Party Chair of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy. On November 6, 2009 it was announced by Wim van de Donk, the Queen's Commissioner of North Brabant, that Opstelten had accepted the position as Acting Mayor of Tilburg after Mayor Ruud Vreeman's resignation was sought by the City council of Tilburg.

Ivo Opstelten is also one of the politicians who support banning foreigners from The Netherlands' many coffee shops where cannabis products are freely sold. The government proposes having a "wietpas", or weed pass, and a Dutch id card to enter to buy their wares, thus eliminating tourists.

Trivia

Ivo Opstelten is married; he and his wife, Mariette Dutilh, have four children.

Decorations

• Order of Orange-Nassau
  • Officer (April 29, 2004)

References

External links

• (Dutch) Mr. I.W. (Ivo) Opstelten (Parlement & Politiek)