Franciscus Max "Franc" Weerwind (born 22 September 1964) is a Dutch politician of Democrats 66 (D66) who served as minister for legal protection in the cabinet of Prime Minister Mark Rutte from January 2022 until July 2024.[1]
Franc Weerwind | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Weerwind in 2022 | |
| Minister for Legal Protection | |
| In office 10 January 2022 – 2 July 2024 | |
| Prime Minister | Mark Rutte |
| Preceded by | Sander Dekker |
| Succeeded by | Teun Struycken |
| Mayor of Almere | |
| In office 9 September 2015 – 10 January 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Annemarie Jorritsma |
| Succeeded by | Ank Bijleveld (acting) |
| Mayor of Velsen | |
| In office 16 September 2009 – 9 September 2015 | |
| Mayor of Niedorp | |
| In office 1 December 2004 – 16 September 2009 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Franciscus Max Weerwind 22 September 1964 Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Political party | Democrats 66 |
Early life and education
editWeerwind was born in Amsterdam and is of Surinamese descent. He grew up in Nieuw-Vennep and studied Public administration at Leiden University between 1986 and 1992 (he did not complete his study).[2] During his attending years at the university, and at the same time as the then crown prince Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, he became a member of the student fraternity LSV Minerva in 1987.[3]
Political career
editIn 2000, Weerwind became deputy city manager of Leiderdorp and a year later he became city manager of Wormerland. On 1 december 2004, he was appointed mayor of the municipality of Niedorp, and from September 2009 until September 2015 he was mayor of Velsen.[4] From September 2015 until January 2022 he was mayor of Almere.[5]
When Weerwind was Minister for Legal Protection, the Dutch government resumed adoptions of children from the Philippines, Hungary, Lesotho, Taiwan, Thailand and South Africa in 2022, after a nearly two-year-freeze on new international adoptions.[6] Inspired by Italian laws against its Mafia, he introduced a bill in 2023 to limit communication for prisoners in the strictest facilities. Interactions with attorneys would be monitored under the legislation to allow for intervention in case of the exchange of external messages or the exertion of pressure on an attorney.[7] Following further amendments by the House of Representatives, the Council of State advised that the bill would violate the constitution, and Weerwind subsequently toned down his proposal.[8][9]
Weerwind's term as minister ended on 2 July 2024, when the Schoof cabinet was sworn in.[10]
Personal life
editWeerwind is married to Ilse Overzier. They have two children.[11]
Electoral history
edit| Year | Body | Party | Pos. | Votes | Result | Ref. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party seats | Individual | |||||||
| 2023 | House of Representatives | Democrats 66 | 72[a] | 210 | 9 | Lost | [12] | |
Notes
edit- ^ Weerwind participated as a lijstduwer.
References
edit- ^ F.M. (Franc) Weerwind, Parlement.com
- ^ Members of the government: Franc Weerwind - official website of the Government of the Netherlands
- ^ Voormalig student bestuurskunde nu burgemeester van Almere - website of Leiden University
- ^ De heer Weerwind nieuwe burgemeester van Velsen Archived 30 July 2012 at the Wayback Machine Provincie Noord-Holland. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
- ^ Franc Weerwind geïnstalleerd als burgemeester Omroep Flevoland. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
- ^ Stephanie van den Berg (31 October 2022), Netherlands to resume international adoptions from selected countries Reuters.
- ^ "Minder communicatie in gevangenis voor leden georganiseerde misdaad" [Less communication in prison for members organized crime]. NOS (in Dutch). 6 March 2024. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
- ^ Meijer, Remco (29 April 2024). "Raad van State: opnemen van gesprek tussen advocaat en gedetineerde mag niet" [Council of State: Recording conversations between attorney and inmate is not allowed]. de Volkskrant (in Dutch). Retrieved 30 April 2024.
- ^ "VVD en BBB niet eens met intrekken strenge gevangenisregels georganiseerde misdaad" [VVD and BBB disagree with revoking strict prison rules for organized crime]. NOS (in Dutch). 24 May 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
- ^ "Ministers en staatssecretarissen kabinet-Schoof beëdigd" [Ministers and state secretaries of Schoof cabinet sworn in]. NOS (in Dutch). 2 July 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ "Franc Weerwind (1964- ) •". 25 December 2018.
- ^ "Proces-verbaal van de uitslag van de verkiezing van de Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal 2023 d.d. 4 december 2023" [Report of the results of the election of the House of Representatives on 4 December 2023] (PDF). Dutch Electoral Council (in Dutch). 4 December 2023. pp. 21–22. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
External links
edit- Franc Weerwind, Government.nl