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Edzo Toxopeus

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Edzo Toxopeus
Toxopeus in 1966
Member of the
Council of State
In office
1 November 1980 – 1 March 1988
Vice PresidentWillem Scholten
Queen's Commissioner
of Groningen
In office
16 February 1970 – 1 November 1980
MonarchsJuliana (1970–1980)
Beatrix (1980)
Preceded byCees Fock
Succeeded byHenk Vonhoff
President of the
Liberal International
In office
15 April 1966 – 25 April 1970
Preceded byGiovanni Malagodi
Succeeded byGaston Thorn
Parliamentary leader in the
House of Representatives
In office
12 March 1966 – 1 October 1969
Preceded byMolly Geertsema
Succeeded byMolly Geertsema
In office
2 July 1963 – 24 July 1963
Preceded byRoelof Zegering Hadders
Succeeded byMolly Geertsema
Parliamentary groupPeople's Party for
Freedom and Democracy
Leader of the People's Party
for Freedom and Democracy
In office
30 March 1963 – 1 October 1969
Deputy
See list
Preceded byPieter Oud
Succeeded byMolly Geertsema
Minister of the Interior
In office
19 May 1959 – 14 April 1965
Prime MinisterJan de Quay (1959–1963)
Victor Marijnen (1963–1965)
Preceded byTeun Struycken
Interior, Property
and Public Sector Organisations
Succeeded byJan Smallenbroek
Member of the House
of Representatives
In office
21 September 1965 – 1 November 1969
In office
2 July 1963 – 24 July 1963
In office
6 November 1956 – 19 May 1959
Parliamentary groupPeople's Party for
Freedom and Democracy
Personal details
Born
Edzo Hendrik Toxopeus

(1918-02-19)19 February 1918
Amersfoort, Netherlands
Died23 August 2009(2009-08-23) (aged 91)
Oegstgeest, Netherlands
Political partyPeople's Party for
Freedom and Democracy

(from 1948)
Other political
affiliations
Freedom Party (1946–1948)
Spouse
Alberta Ufkes
(m. 1944; died 2005)
Children1 son and 1 daughter
Alma materUtrecht University
(LL.B., LL.M.)
OccupationPolitician · Diplomat · Jurist · Lawyer · Businessperson · Corporate director · Nonprofit director · Lobbyist
Military service
Allegiance Netherlands
Branch/serviceRoyal Netherlands Army
Years of service1944–1945 (Active duty)
1945–1948 (Reserve)
Rank Lieutenant
Battles/wars

Edzo Hendrik Toxopeus (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈɛtsoː ˈɦɛndrɪk tɔksoːˈpeːjʏs]; 19 February 1918 – 23 August 2009) was a Dutch politician and diplomat of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and jurist.

Toxopeus studied Law at the Utrecht University obtaining a Master of Laws degree. Toxopeus worked as a paralegal in Breda from July 1942 until October 1944 and worked as a military lawyer in the Royal Netherlands Army from November 1944 until August 1945. Toxopeus worked as a criminal defense lawyer in Breda from August 1945 until May 1959. Toxopeus became as a Member of the House of Representatives shortly after the election of 1956 when the number of seats was increased from 100 to 150 on 6 November 1956 and served as a frontbencher and spokesperson for Law Enforcement and Spatial Planning.

After the election of 1959 Toxopeus was appointed as Minister of the Interior in the Cabinet De Quay taking office on 19 May 1959. Shortly before an upcoming election Party Leader and Parliamentary leader Pieter Oud announced his retirement and Toxopeus announced his candidacy to succeed him and was selected as his successor on 30 March 1963. For the election of 1963 Toxopeus served as Lijsttrekker (top candidate) and following a cabinet formation the coalition continued and Toxopeus retained his position in the Cabinet Marijnen. The Cabinet Marijnen fell just 19 months into its term and was replaced by the Cabinet Cals on 14 April 1965. Toxopeus returned to the House of Representatives on 21 September 1965 but against custom didn't take over as Parliamentary leader immediately and instead served as a frontbencher chairing the House Committee on the Interior and served as deputy parliamentary leader and spokesperson for General Affairs before taking over as Parliamentary leader on 12 March 1966. Toxopeus also served as President of the Liberal International from 15 April 1966 until 25 April 1970. For the election of 1967 Toxopeus again Lijsttrekker and following a successful cabinet formation with the Catholics formed the Cabinet De Jong with Toxopeus opting to remain as Parliamentary leader. On 1 October 1969 Toxopeus unexpectedly announced he was stepping down as Leader but continued to serve in the House of Representatives as a backbencher until his resignation on 1 November 1969.

Toxopeus continued to be active in politics and in January 1970 was nominated as the next Queen's Commissioner of Groningen serving from 16 February 1970 until 1 November 1980. Toxopeus also became active in the private and public sectors as a corporate and non-profit director and served on several state commissions and councils on behalf of the government. In October 1970 Toxopeus was nominated as a Member of the Council of State serving from 1 November 1980 until 1 March 1988. Toxopeus retired from active politics at 70 but continued to be active as an advocate and lobbyist for more European integration and served as an occasional diplomat for economic and diplomatic delegations for the European Union. Toxopeus was known for his abilities as a skillful manager and effective negotiator. Toxopeus granted the honorary title of Minister of State on 22 January 1985 and continued to comment on political affairs as a statesman until his death in August 2009 at the age of 91. He holds the distinction as the longest-serving Minister of the Interior after World War II with 5 years, 330 days.

Early life

[edit]

After earning his diploma in Breda he studied at the Utrecht University. He gained the master's degree in 1942. From 1942-1959 he was an established lawyer in Breda. From October 1944 to August 1945 he was head of the legal department of the military commission at Breda. From 1949-1959 he served as VVD member on Breda's municipal council. From 1956-1959 he was a Member of the House of Representatives.

Politics

[edit]

As Minister of the Interior Toxopeus introduced several major reforms to the civil service, including major increase to salaries, improvements to employment conditions and the free Saturday was implemented in 1961.

From 1970-1980 he was Queen's Commissioner of Groningen. Until 1988 he was a member of the Dutch Council of State.

Following the formation of the Cabinet Van Agt-Wiegel Toxopeus was asked to become Minister of Finance but he refused.

Death

[edit]

Toxopeus died on 23 August 2009, at age 91.[1][2]

Decorations

[edit]
Honours
Ribbon bar Honour Country Date Comment
Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown Belgium 15 March 1960
Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour France 12 February 1961
Grand Officer of the Order of the Oak Crown Luxembourg 1 May 1963
Grand Cross of the Order of Merit Portugal 4 April 1964
Grand Cross of the Order of Merit Germany 30 January 1965
Grand Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau Netherlands 10 December 1980 Elevated from Commander (20 April 1965)
Commander of the Order of the Netherlands Lion Netherlands 22 January 1985 Elevated from Knight (1 November 1969)
Awards
Ribbon bar Awards Organization Date Comment
Honorary Member People's Party for
Freedom and Democracy
28 February 1970
Honorific Titles
Ribbon bar Honour Country Date Comment
Minister of State Netherlands 22 January 1985 Style of Excellency

References

[edit]
[edit]
Official
Party political offices
Preceded by Leader of the People's Party
for Freedom and Democracy

1963–1969
Succeeded by
Preceded by Lijsttrekker of the People's Party for
Freedom and Democracy

19631967
Succeeded by
Preceded by Parliamentary leader of the
People's Party for
Freedom and Democracy

in the House of Representatives

1963
1966–1969
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Preceded by President of the Liberal International
1966–1970
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by
Teun Struycken
as Minister of the Interior, Property
and Public Sector Organisations
Minister of the Interior
1959–1965
Succeeded by
Preceded by Queen's Commissioner of Groningen
1970–1980
Succeeded by