Eric Wiebes

His Excellency
Eric Wiebes
Minister of Economic Affairs
and Climate Policy
Assumed office
26 October 2017
Prime Minister Mark Rutte
Preceded by Henk Kamp
State secretary for Finance
In office
4 February 2014 – 26 October 2017
Prime Minister Mark Rutte
Preceded by Frans Weekers
Succeeded by Menno Snel
Personal details
Born (1963-03-12) 12 March 1963
Delft, Netherlands
Nationality Dutch
Political party People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
Children 2
Alma mater Delft University of Technology
European Institute of Business
Administration

Eric Derk Wiebes (born 12 March 1963) is a Dutch politician, consultant and civil servant of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) serving as Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy in the Third Rutte cabinet, in office since 26 October 2017. He previously served as State secretary for the Ministry of Finance in the Second Rutte cabinet from 2014 until 2017. Wiebes earlier served on the executive board of the municipality of Amsterdam between 2010 and 2014, holding the portfolio concerning traffic, ICT and infrastructure.[1]

Early life and career

Wiebes was born in Delft but grew up in Muiderberg. His father, a nuclear physicist , died when he was nine years old.[2] He completed his VWO (secondary education) in nearby Bussum, graduating in 1981. He continued his studies the same year at Delft University of Technology studying mechanical engineering. In 1986 he obtained an engineer's degree, having specialized himself in policy functions concerning government.[1] Wiebes then started working in the private sector, being employed at Shell, McKinsey & Company, and OC&C Strategy Consultants between 1987 and 2004. In 1991 he earned an MBA degree in business administration at INSEAD in Fontainebleau, France. From 2004 until 2010 he was employed at the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the last three years of which he was deputy secretary-general.[1]

Political career

Wiebes discussed his future career together with MP Willibrord van Beek. Van Beek advised taking up a position as alderman. Wiebes declined two offers from smaller municipalities which he deemed not challenging enough.[2] In 2010 the municipality of Amsterdam was searching for a new alderman from the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy. Eric van der Burg, the local party leader, informed if Van Beek knew a candidate, Van Beek then advised choosing Wiebes.[2] Prime Minister Mark Rutte put Wiebes name forward as well.[3] Wiebes accepted the offer. As alderman in Amsterdam Wiebes dealt with problematic topics such as the municipal ICT, air quality, construction of the new Noord/Zuidlijn metro-line, and the local taxi-market.[3]

On 30 January 2014 Frans Weekers resigned as Secretary of Finance. As successor to Weekers Wiebes was tasked with solving the problems at the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration.[4] He entered office on 4 February.[1]

In May 2015, after an investigation of a committee of the European Parliament on a tax deal the Netherlands made with Starbucks, Wiebes stated that the Netherlands was not a tax haven.[5]

On 26 October 2017, Wiebes was appointed Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Policy in the Third Rutte cabinet.[1][6]

Personal life

Wiebes has two children.[2] He is an atheist.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Ir. E.D. (Eric) Wiebes MBA" (in Dutch). Parlement.com. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Hugo Logtenberg, Bas Soetenhorst (3 February 2014). "Eric Wiebes: zeer intelligent en met een lenige geest" (in Dutch). Het Parool. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  3. 1 2 Jeroen Visser (3 February 2014). "Eric Wiebes: uitstekende probleemoplosser en 'ook nog een leuke vent'" (in Dutch). de Volkskrant. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  4. ↑ Laura Klompenhouwer (4 February 2014). "De nieuwe man op Financiën. Wie is Wiebes en wat staat hem te doen?" (in Dutch). NRC Handelsblad. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  5. ↑ "Nederland is volgens staatssecretaris Wiebes geen belastingparadijs" (in Dutch). NU.nl. 29 May 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  6. ↑ "Dit zijn de ministers van het kabinet Rutte III" (in Dutch). Het Parool. 26 October 2017. Archived from the original on 6 November 2017.
  7. ↑ Tom Reijner (3 February 2014). "VVD'er Eric Wiebes 'doet niet aan politiek gekonkel'". Elsevier. Archived from the original on 2 March 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
Political offices
Preceded by
Frans Weekers		 State secretary for Finance
2014–2017		 Succeeded by
Menno Snel
Preceded by
Henk Kamp		 Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy
2017–present		 Incumbent
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