Kees van der Staaij
Encyclopedia
Cornelis Gerrit "Kees" van der Staaij (ˈkeːs vɐn dər ˈstaːj) born September 12, 1968) is a Dutch
politician of the Reformed Political Party
(SGP). As a member of the Reformed Political Party
(Staatkundig Gereformeerde Partij) he has been an MP since May 19, 1998. He focuses on matters of general affairs, judiciary
, home affairs, Kingdom relations
, foreign affairs
, the European Union
, development aid
, the Dutch defense, public health
, welfare
, sports, immigration
and political asylum
.
He has also been Party leader
since March 27, 2010 and Parliamentary group leader
in the House of Representatives since May 10, 2010.
and studied law at Leiden University
, specialising in constitutional
and administrative law
. He felt attracted to politics and became a member of the Reformed Political Party in 1986.
as well as Parliamentary leader
in both cases succeeding Bas van der Vlies
. He was leading his party ('lijsttrekker
') in the general election of 2010
.
. He is a member of the Old Reformed Churches in the Netherlands, which is an orthodox Reformed church. He lives in Benthuizen
.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
politician of the Reformed Political Party
Reformed Political Party
The Reformed Political Party is an orthodox Protestant Dutch political party. The term Reformed is not a reference to political reform, but is a synonym for Calvinist. The SGP is the oldest political party in the Netherlands in its current form, and for its entire existence has been in opposition...
(SGP). As a member of the Reformed Political Party
Reformed Political Party
The Reformed Political Party is an orthodox Protestant Dutch political party. The term Reformed is not a reference to political reform, but is a synonym for Calvinist. The SGP is the oldest political party in the Netherlands in its current form, and for its entire existence has been in opposition...
(Staatkundig Gereformeerde Partij) he has been an MP since May 19, 1998. He focuses on matters of general affairs, judiciary
Judiciary
The judiciary is the system of courts that interprets and applies the law in the name of the state. The judiciary also provides a mechanism for the resolution of disputes...
, home affairs, Kingdom relations
Kingdom of the Netherlands
The Kingdom of the Netherlands is a sovereign state and constitutional monarchy with territory in Western Europe and in the Caribbean. The four parts of the Kingdom—Aruba, Curaçao, the Netherlands, and Sint Maarten—are referred to as "countries", and participate on a basis of equality...
, foreign affairs
Foreign Affairs
Foreign Affairs is an American magazine and website on international relations and U.S. foreign policy published since 1922 by the Council on Foreign Relations six times annually...
, the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
, development aid
Development aid
Development aid or development cooperation is aid given by governments and other agencies to support the economic, environmental, social and political development of developing countries.It is distinguished...
, the Dutch defense, public health
Public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
, welfare
Welfare
Welfare refers to a broad discourse which may hold certain implications regarding the provision of a minimal level of wellbeing and social support for all citizens without the stigma of charity. This is termed "social solidarity"...
, sports, immigration
Immigration
Immigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
and political asylum
Right of asylum
Right of asylum is an ancient juridical notion, under which a person persecuted for political opinions or religious beliefs in his or her own country may be protected by another sovereign authority, a foreign country, or church sanctuaries...
.
He has also been Party leader
Party leader
In politics, the party leader is the most powerful official within a political party.The party leader is typically responsible for managing the party's relationship with the general public. As such, he or she will take a leading role in developing and communicating party policy, especially election...
since March 27, 2010 and Parliamentary group leader
Parliamentary group leader
The leader or chairman of a parliamentary group holds an influential political post in a parliamentary system with strong party discipline...
in the House of Representatives since May 10, 2010.
Early life
Van der Staaij is born in the province of South HollandSouth Holland
South Holland is a province situated on the North Sea in the western part of the Netherlands. The provincial capital is The Hague and its largest city is Rotterdam.South Holland is one of the most densely populated and industrialised areas in the world...
and studied law at Leiden University
Leiden University
Leiden University , located in the city of Leiden, is the oldest university in the Netherlands. The university was founded in 1575 by William, Prince of Orange, leader of the Dutch Revolt in the Eighty Years' War. The royal Dutch House of Orange-Nassau and Leiden University still have a close...
, specialising in constitutional
Constitutional law
Constitutional law is the body of law which defines the relationship of different entities within a state, namely, the executive, the legislature and the judiciary....
and administrative law
Administrative law
Administrative law is the body of law that governs the activities of administrative agencies of government. Government agency action can include rulemaking, adjudication, or the enforcement of a specific regulatory agenda. Administrative law is considered a branch of public law...
. He felt attracted to politics and became a member of the Reformed Political Party in 1986.
Politics
After several jobs in the Council of State of the Netherlands, he was elected to the House of Representatives in 1998. In 2010 he has become party leaderParty leader
In politics, the party leader is the most powerful official within a political party.The party leader is typically responsible for managing the party's relationship with the general public. As such, he or she will take a leading role in developing and communicating party policy, especially election...
as well as Parliamentary leader
Parliamentary group leader
The leader or chairman of a parliamentary group holds an influential political post in a parliamentary system with strong party discipline...
in both cases succeeding Bas van der Vlies
Bas van der Vlies
Bastiaan Johannis van der Vlies is a former Dutch politician of the Reformed Political Party . He was a member of the House of Representatives of the Netherlands from June 10, 1981 until June 17, 2010. However, this does not make him the longest serving MP, Duymaer van Twist served for almost 45...
. He was leading his party ('lijsttrekker
Lijsttrekker
Lijsttrekker is a Dutch term for the top candidate of a party on a party list. He or she is almost always the party's political leader. After an election, this person usually leads the party's faction in the States-General, or serves in a senior position in the Cabinet if his party is part of...
') in the general election of 2010
Dutch general election, 2010
The 2010 Dutch general election was held on Wednesday, 9 June 2010. After the fall of the cabinet Balkenende IV on 20 February, Queen Beatrix accepted the resignation of the Labour Party ministers on 23 February...
.
Personal life
Kees van der Staaij is married and has two adopted children from ColombiaColombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
. He is a member of the Old Reformed Churches in the Netherlands, which is an orthodox Reformed church. He lives in Benthuizen
Benthuizen
Benthuizen is a village in the Dutch province of South Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Rijnwoude, and lies about 4 km east of Zoetermeer.In 2001, the town of Benthuizen had 3215 inhabitants...
.