Gerdi Verbeet

Gerdi Verbeet
Speaker of the House of Representatives
In office
6 December 2006 – 20 September 2012
Preceded by Frans Weisglas
Succeeded by Anouchka van Miltenburg
Member of the House of Representatives
In office
26 July 2002 – 19 September 2012
Member of the House of Representatives
In office
11 December 2001 – 22 May 2002
Personal details
Born Gerardina Alida Verbeet
(1951-04-18) April 18, 1951
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Nationality Dutch
Political party Labour Party
Spouse(s) First husband (divorced)
Wim Meijer (m. 2010)
Residence Amsterdam, Netherlands
Occupation Politician
Political consultant
Teacher

Gerardina Alida "Gerdi" Verbeet (born 18 April 1951) is a Dutch politician of the Labour Party (PvdA). She was the Speaker of the House of Representatives from 6 December 2006 until 19 September 2012; the second Speaker elected independently by the House, after predecessor Frans Weisglas. She served as a Member of the House of Representatives from 26 July 2002 until 19 September 2012 and previously from 11 December 2001 until 22 May 2002.[1]

Biography

Early life

Verbeet attended the Gymnasium in Amsterdam and began a study in social geography, which she did not finish. Instead she studied Dutch language and literature and worked as a teacher.

Politics

Between 1994 and 2001 she was political advisor of State Secretary Tineke Netelenbos and the parliamentary leader Ad Melkert.

On 23 May 2001 she became a Member of the House of Representatives, filling the vacancy left by Rob van Gijzel. In the Dutch general election of 2002 she was not re-elected, but in July 2002 she re-entered the House of Representatives, filling the vacancy left by Eveline Herfkens. In the Dutch general election of 2003 and 2006 she was able to retain her seat. In the House of Representatives, Verbeet concentrated on sport, policy regarding elderly people, and state pensions.

On 6 December 2006 she was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives, defeating ministers Maria van der Hoeven of the Christian Democratic Appeal and Henk Kamp of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy. She is the second female Speaker, after Jeltje van Nieuwenhoven, and the second Speaker elected in independent elections, after Frans Weisglas. Verbeet was reelected as Speaker on 22 June 2010, after the general elections of 9 June.

On 2 May 2012 Verbeet made known that she would not stand for re-election as a member of the House of Representatives and speaker for the Dutch general election of 2012 and would retire from active politics.[2][3]

Personal

Verbeet is divorced from her first husband and remarried in 2010 with fellow Labour Party politician Wim Meijer after a relationship of three years. She has two sons; two stepdaughters and three grandchildren and lives in Amsterdam.

Decorations

References

  1. ↑ (in Dutch) Gerdi Verbeet herkozen als kamervoorzitter, NU.nl, 22 June 2010
  2. ↑ (in Dutch) Kamervoorzitter Verbeet verlaat Tweede Kamer, NU.nl, May 2, 2012
  3. ↑ (in Dutch) Kamervoorzitter Verbeet vertrekt, NOS, May 2, 2012
  4. ↑ (in Dutch) Lintje voor vertrekkende Verbeet, NOS, September 19, 2012
Political offices
Preceded by
Frans Weisglas		 Speaker of the House of Representatives
2006–2012		 Succeeded by
Anouchka van Miltenburg
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