Rudolf de Korte
Rudolf Willem de Korte | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date The Hague, Netherlands |
| Died | January 9, 2020 (aged 83) |
| Occupation(s) | Businessman, politician |
| Known for | Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Minister of the Interior, VVD Leader |
Rudolf Willem de Korte (; 8 July 1936 – 9 January 2020) was a Dutch businessman and politician associated with the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD).
Life and career
Born in The Hague, Netherlands, De Korte completed his secondary education at the Maerlant-Lyceum from 1948 to 1954. He then pursued Chemistry at Leiden University, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in 1957, followed by a Master of Science with honors in 1961, and ultimately earned a Doctor of Science in Chemistry in 1964. That same year, he expanded his expertise through postgraduate business studies, acquiring an MBA from Harvard Business School and a Master of Business and Management from Cranfield University. Between 1964 and 1977, De Korte was employed by Unilever, initially serving as a sales representative in Hong Kong and Ethiopia before advancing to a corporate director role.
In the political arena, De Korte played a key role in organizing election campaigns for the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) during the 1972 and 1977 elections. He entered the House of Representatives in December 1977, where he concentrated on matters related to Economic Affairs and Social Affairs. In March 1986, he was appointed Minister of the Interior. Following the 1986 elections, he briefly returned to parliamentary duties before assuming the positions of VVD Leader, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Economic Affairs within the Cabinet Lubbers II. Although he relinquished party leadership later that year, he continued to exert considerable influence. The cabinet collapsed in 1989 due to disagreements over tariffs, after which De Korte resumed his legislative responsibilities until November 1989.
In August 1995, De Korte accepted the role of vice president at the European Investment Bank (EIB), resigning from his parliamentary seat to serve until June 2000. Subsequently, he held the position of Vice Chairman on the EIB Supervisory Board from 2001 through 2012.
Decorations
| Honours | ||||
| Ribbon bar | Honour | Country | Date | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Officer of the Order of Leopold II | Belgium | 30 December 1986 | ||
| Grand Officer of the Order of the Oak Crown | Luxembourg | 15 April 1988 | ||
| Commander of the Order of Orange-Nassau | Netherlands | 20 November 1989 | ||
| Grand Cross of the Order of Merit | Portugal | 5 May 1998 | ||
| Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour | France | 20 August 2000 | ||
| Knight Commander of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany | Germany | 1 February 2001 | ||
| Commander of the Order of the Netherlands Lion | Netherlands | 1 February 2012 | ||