Paul Blokhuis

His Excellency
Paul Blokhuis
State Secretary for Health, Welfare and Sport
Prime Minister Mark Rutte
Preceded by Martin van Rijn
Personal details
Nationality Dutch
Political party Christian Union

Paulus "Paul" Blokhuis (born 14 November 1963) is a Dutch politician the Christian Union[1] serving as State Secretary for Health, Welfare and Sports in the Third Rutte cabinet since 2017.

Biography

Education

Paul Blokhuis is born in Zuidhorn as son of the Dutch-reformed reverend Bert Blokhuis, in the countryside in the north of the Netherlands and was raised in Wezep and Schiedam. He has seven siblings, including the music expert and journalist Leo Blokhuis and twin brother Fred Blokhuis, reverend.[2]

Blokhuis studied history at Leiden University. In 1990 he started as employee of the RPF faction in the House of Representatives, en later worked for the Christian Union, a merger of the small-Christian parties RPF and GPV.[3] He developed himself as specialist on infrastructure and water management, social policy and economy. Between 1988 and 1993, he was also the Chairman of RPF-jongeren, the youth wing of RPF, which expanded under his chairmanship. He was Chairman of the ChristenUnie-electoral associations in Wapenveld-Heerde and Woerden.[4]

Local politics

Starting in 1998, Blokhuis was representing the Christian Union in two city council committees in Apeldoorn. In 2003, he was placed 19th on the list of candidates for the House of Representatives for the party - not an electable position given its small voter base. Blokhuis was however elected in the States-Provincial for Gelderland (2003-2006). He was leader of the party at the Dutch municipal elections of 2006 in Apeldoorn, where they had three representatives elected, and Blokhuis became alderman with Welfare, Health, Services and Facilities in his portfolio.[5] After the elections of 2010, he continued in this position.

Blokhuis resigned on 9 February 2012 together with three other eldermen after the publication of a report on the loss of millions by the municipality in selling property. His resignation was accepted on 10 March, but two weeks later, he was re-appointed after new negotiations for a coalition.

In 2016 he was involved in discussions around the permission for more gambling machines in the city, which he objected to. As a majority of the municipal council was in favor of the decision, he noted an official objection in the records but retained his position.[6]

National

On 26 October 2017, after the finalization of the negotiations on a coalition including the Christian Union for the national government, Blokhuis was announced as State Secretary for Health, Welfare and Sports in the Third Rutte Cabinet. His portfolio includes Mental Healthcare, Veteran Affairs and Wellness Promotion.

References

  1. ↑ Ministerie van Algemene Zaken. "CV". www.rijksoverheid.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2018-01-03.
  2. ↑ "Familiegesprek met de broers Blokhuis - NOS Met het Oog Op Morgen". NPO Radio 1 (in Dutch). Retrieved 2018-01-03.
  3. ↑ "Profiel: Paul Blokhuis (ChristenUnie), staatssecretaris Volksgezondheid, Welzijn en Sport | NU - Het laatste nieuws het eerst op NU.nl". www.nu.nl. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
  4. ↑ Pubble.nl. "Oud-Wapenvelder Paul Blokhuis staatssecretaris in nieuw kabinet". VeluwsNieuws. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
  5. ↑ "Blokhuis vindt wethouderschap 'prachtige baan". www.destentor.nl (in Dutch). 2006-11-03. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
  6. ↑ De Stentor. "Wethouder fel tegen meer gokkasten in Apeldoorn". www.destentor.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2018-01-03.
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