Henk Korthals
Hendrik Albertus "Henk" Korthals (born July 3, 1911 in Dordrecht , South Holland Province , † November 3, 1976 in Tarrytown , New York ) was a Dutch politician of the Liberal State Party (LSP), the Partij van de Vrijheid (PvdV) and later the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), who as a member of the States General Second chamber with issues of European cooperation, economic and defense and an as chairman commission of inquiry with the Dutch government policy during the German occupation from 1940 to 1945 employed. After the war he was in the cabinet of Prime Minister Jan de Quay 1959-1963 Minister of Transport and Water Management and Deputy Prime Minister and sat down in the period of economic growth for the strengthening of road one.
In 1963, Korthals was considered a possible successor to Pieter Oud as chairman of the VVD, but declined to run in order to avoid a dispute with Harm van Riel . He belonged to the progressive wing of his party and tried to reach a consensus within the party.
Life
Studies, journalist and ministerial official
Korthals attended the public elementary school between 1917 and 1923 and the community high school in Dordrecht from 1923 to 1929 and began studying economics and political science at the Netherlands Economische Hogeschool on September 18, 1929 , which he did on May 14 Graduated in 1936. He then took up a job as a journalist for the daily newspaper Nieuwe Rotterdamsche Courant (NRC) and worked there as an editor until October 1940 .
During this time he joined the Liberal State Party (LSP), which since 1938 adopted the addition of de Vrijheidsbond . Between 1935 and 1937 he was a member of the main board of the Bond van Jonge-Liberalen , the party's youth association, and was then chairman of this youth organization from 1937 to 1940. In addition, between 1938 and 1946 he was a member of the main board of the Liberal State Party de Vrijheidsbond .
In October 1940, Korthals became an employee of the department for medium-sized enterprises in the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Shipping and was then between 1942 and 1945 an employee in the departmental secretariat of the Directorate for Trade and Industry in this ministry and at the same time from 1942 to 1945 Vice-Secretary of the University of Applied Sciences for Commerce and Industry (College van Handel en Nijverheid) . During the time of the occupation of the Netherlands by the German Wehrmacht , he was also temporarily editor of the illegal newspaper Slaet op den Trommele .
After the end of the Second World War , Korthals returned to the daily newspaper Nieuwe Rotterdamsche Courant in May 1945 and was political editor there until December 1945.
Member of the Second Chamber and European Parliament
On November 20, 1945, Korthals became a member of the Second Chamber of the States General for the first time as a candidate for the Liberal State Party and represented the Partij van de Vrijheid (PvdV) there from March 14, 1946, and most recently between January 24, 1948 and May 19, 1959 the Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie (VVD). He was also a member of the board of the PvdV between April 27, 1946 and January 1948 and was also secretary of the PvdV faction in the Second Chamber of the States General from May 28, 1946 to June 1948 . For a time he was also one of the editors-in-chief of the party-affiliated newspaper Vrij . In addition, he was also involved in local politics and was between September 2, 1946 and September 6, 1949 and again from November 28, 1949 to September 2, 1958 a member of the local council of Voorschoten .
In 1948 Korthals became a member of the main board of the VVD and belonged to it until 1950. He also acted between April 1948 and January 1954 as editor-in-chief of Vrijheid en Democratie , a weekly newspaper owned by the VVD. In addition, he became secretary of the VVD parliamentary group in the Second Chamber on July 15, 1948 and held this function until July 1952. Subsequently, Korthals, who in 1949 became honorary member and honorary chairman of the VVD youth organization JOVD (Jongerenorganisatie Vrijheid en Democratie) , was vice-chairman of the VVD parliamentary group in the Second Chamber of the States General between July 1952 and May 19, 1959.
He was also a member of the Joint Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) between September 10, 1952 and January 1, 1958 as a representative of the States General and then from January 1, 1958 to May 19, 1959 for the States General Member of the European Parliament . During this time he was also Vice-Chairman of the Liberal Group in the European Parliament.
On April 29, 1953, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Order of the Dutch Lion for his longstanding service.
Vice Prime Minister, Minister and Member of the Council of State
On May 19, 1959, Korthals was Prime Minister Jan de Quay Vice Prime Minister (Viceminister-President) and Minister for Transport and Water Management (Minister van Verkeer en Waterstaat) and held these offices until July 24, 1963. He sat in the Period of economic growth for a strengthening of road construction. In addition, between May 19 and September 1, 1959, he temporarily held the post of Minister for Overseas Affairs (Minister van Zaken Overzee ad Interim) and in this respect headed the liquidation of the ministry, which was dissolved on August 18, 1959. From September 1, 1959 to July 24, 1963, he was appointed Minister for coordinating the affairs of Suriname and the Netherlands Antilles .
After leaving the government, he was appointed commander of the Order of Orange-Nassau on July 27, 1963 . In 1963, Korthals was considered a possible successor to Pieter Oud as chairman of the VVD, but declined to run in order to avoid a dispute with Harm van Riel. He belonged to the progressive wing of his party and tried to reach a consensus within the party. Ultimately, however, Edzo Toxopeus was elected Oud's successor as political leader (Politiek Leider) of the VVD.
By royal decision of March 5, 1964, Korthals became a member of the Council of State ( Raad van State ) and was a member of this constitutional body to advise the government between April 1, 1964 and his death on November 3, 1976.
His marriage to Marie Cécile “Mieke” Hamming, which he entered into on May 7, 1940 in Leiden , resulted in two daughters and two sons, including Albertus Hendrikus “Benk” Korthals , who was also a member of the Second Chamber and Minister of Justice and Defense.
Web links
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Korthals, Henk |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Korthals, Hendrik Albertus (full name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Dutch politician and journalist |
| DATE OF BIRTH | July 3, 1911 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Dordrecht , South Holland Province |
| DATE OF DEATH | 3rd November 1976 |
| Place of death | Tarrytown , New York |