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Eric Wiebes

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Eric Wiebes
Wiebes in 2015
Minister of Economic Affairs
and Climate Policy
In office
26 October 2017 – 15 January 2021
Prime MinisterMark Rutte
Preceded byHenk Kamp
Succeeded byCora van Nieuwenhuizen (Acting)
State Secretary for Finance
In office
4 February 2014 – 26 October 2017
Prime MinisterMark Rutte
Preceded byFrans Weekers
Succeeded byMenno Snel
Personal details
Born
Eric Derk Wiebes

(1963-03-12) 12 March 1963 (age 61)
Delft, Netherlands
Political partyPeople's Party for
Freedom and Democracy
(since 2005, 1983–1986)
Spouse
Hester Bijl
​
​
(m. 1996; div. 2013)​
Children2 children
Residence(s)The Hague, Netherlands
Alma materDelft University of Technology
(Bachelor of Engineering, Master of Engineering)
INSEAD
(Bachelor of Business Administration, Master of Business Administration)
OccupationPolitician · Civil servant · Management consultant
WebsiteMinister of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy

Eric Derk Wiebes (born 12 March 1963) is a Dutch politician who served as Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy in the Third Rutte cabinet since 26 October 2017 until 15 January 2021. He is a member of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD).[1]

A management consultant by occupation, he worked for the Royal Dutch Shell from 1987 until 1989, the McKinsey & Company from 1990 until 1992 and for OC&C Strategy Consultants from 1993 until 2004. Wiebes then became a civil servant working for the Ministry of Economic Affairs from 2004 until 2010 when he was appointed as an alderman of Amsterdam serving from 19 May 2010 until 4 February 2014. After the resignation of Frans Weekers as State Secretary for Finance, Wiebes was nominated to succeed him and resigned as alderman. He took office in the Second Rutte cabinet; following the general election of 2017, he was asked to become Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy. He resigned on 15 January 2021.[2]

Education and private career

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Wiebes was born in Delft on 12 March 1963 and grew up in Muiderberg.[3] His father, a nuclear physicist, died when he was nine years old.[4] 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. Wiebes then started working in the private sector, being employed at Shell from April 1987 to January 1990, McKinsey & Company from January 1990 to January 1993, and OC&C Strategy Consultants from January 1993 to April 2004.[3] In 1991 he earned an MBA degree in business administration at INSEAD in Fontainebleau, France. From September 2004 until May 2010 he was employed at the Ministry of Economic Affairs. Until September 2007 he was director of Market mechanism, and the last three years he spent as deputy secretary-general.[3]

Politics

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Municipality of Amsterdam

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Wiebes discussed his future career together with Willibrord van Beek, at the time a member of the House of Representatives. Van Beek advised taking up a position as alderman. Wiebes declined two offers from smaller municipalities which he deemed not challenging enough.[4] 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, asked Van Beek if he knew a candidate; Van Beek then advised choosing Wiebes.[4] Prime Minister Mark Rutte put Wiebes name forward as well.[5] 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.[5] Wiebes served as alderman between 19 May 2010 and 4 February 2014.[3]

National government

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On 30 January 2014, Frans Weekers resigned as State Secretary of Finance. As successor to Weekers Wiebes was tasked with solving the problems at the Tax and Customs Administration.[6] He entered office on 4 February. 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.[7] During his time in office the problems at the Tax and Customs Administration remained, with a departure scheme unexpectedly leading too many experied personnel leaving the organization. The modernization of the ICT also remained problematic.[8] He was the only politician not to lose his position over the problems.[9]

On 26 October 2017, Wiebes was appointed Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Policy in the Third Rutte cabinet.[10] During his term in office the extraction of natural gas in the Netherlands was stopped. However, there was criticism of his role in management of problems which were caused by the extraction of gas during decades.[8]

Peter de Waard, a journalist at de Volkskrant described Wiebes as a realist and pragmatist, but also as one who at times makes big statements too easily.[9][8]

Personal life

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Wiebes has two children.[4] He is an atheist.[11]

References

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  1. ^ "VVD'er Eric Wiebes moet economische groei gaan combineren met Parijsdoelen" (in Dutch). NOS. 23 October 2017. Archived from the original on 25 October 2017.
  2. ^ "Kabinet-Rutte III gevallen; Wiebes helemaal weg" (in Dutch). NOS. 15 January 2021. Archived from the original on 15 January 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d "Ir. E.D. (Eric) Wiebes MBA" (in Dutch). Parlement.com. Archived from the original on 16 November 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d Hugo Logtenberg, Bas Soetenhorst (3 February 2014). "Eric Wiebes: zeer intelligent en met een lenige geest". Het Parool (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 22 February 2014.
  5. ^ a b Jeroen Visser (3 February 2014). "Eric Wiebes: uitstekende probleemoplosser en 'ook nog een leuke vent'". de Volkskrant (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 26 February 2014.
  6. ^ Laura Klompenhouwer (4 February 2014). "De nieuwe man op Financiën. Wie is Wiebes en wat staat hem te doen?". NRC Handelsblad (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 27 February 2014.
  7. ^ "Nederland is volgens staatssecretaris Wiebes geen belastingparadijs" (in Dutch). NU.nl. 29 May 2015. Archived from the original on 21 April 2019.
  8. ^ a b c Peter Winterman (4 March 2019). "Van genie tot brokkenpiloot: minister Wiebes raakt verstrikt in eigen web" (in Dutch). Algemeen Dagblad. Archived from the original on 7 March 2019.
  9. ^ a b Peter de Waard (22 May 2020). "Het bier van Eric Wiebes, de buikpijn van Wopke Hoekstra" (in Dutch). De Volkskrant. Archived from the original on 6 June 2020.
  10. ^ "Dit zijn de ministers van het kabinet Rutte III". Het Parool (in Dutch). 26 October 2017. Archived from the original on 6 November 2017.
  11. ^ Tom Reijner (3 February 2014). "VVD'er Eric Wiebes 'doet niet aan politiek gekonkel'" (in Dutch). Elsevier. Archived from the original on 2 March 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
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Official
Political offices
Preceded by State Secretary for Finance
2014–2017 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Henk Kamp
as Minister of Economic Affairs
 Minister of Economic Affairs
and Climate Policy
2017–2021 		Succeeded by
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