About Hans van Mierlo
Henricus Antonius Franciscus Maria Oliva "Hans" van Mierlo (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈɦɑns fɑ ˈmiːrloː]; 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 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 an 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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