Benk Korthals

Alexandra Stemerding

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(m. 1977)​

Benk Korthals
Korthals in 2011
Chairman of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
In office 22 May 2011 –14 June 2014
Children	3 children
Parent	Henk Korthals (1911–1976) (father)
Residence(s)	Rotterdam, Netherlands
Alma mater	Leiden University (Bachelor of Laws, Master of Laws)
Occupation	Politician · Jurist · Lawyer · Prosecutor
Military service
Allegiance	Netherlands
Branch/service	Royal Netherlands Navy
Years of service	1963–1965 (Conscription) 1965–1975 (Reserve)
Rank	Lieutenant (J.G.)
Unit	Naval squadron
Battles/wars	Cold War

Albert Hendrik "Benk" Korthals (born 5 October 1944) is a retired Dutch politician of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and jurist.

Biography

Korthals attended the Gymnasium Leiden from June 1957 until June 1963 and applied at the Leiden University in June 1967 majoring in law and obtaining a Bachelor of Laws degree before graduating with a Master of Laws degree in July 1973. Korthals worked as a lawyer and prosecutor in Rotterdam from January 1974 until August 1998. Korthals was elected as a Member of the House of Representatives after the election of 1982, taking office on 16 September 1982. After the election of 1998 Korthals was appointed as Minister of Justice in the Cabinet Kok II, taking office on 3 August 1998. After the election of 2002 Korthals returned as a Member of the House of Representatives, taking office on 23 May 2002. Following the cabinet formation of 2002 Korthals was appointment as Minister of Defence in the Cabinet Balkenende I, taking office on 22 July 2002. On 12 December 2002 Korthals resigned following the conclusions of a parliamentary inquiry report into a construction fraud investigation that was mishandled by him while serving as Minister of Justice. Korthals also served as Chairman of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy from 22 May 2011 until 14 June 2014. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}

Decorations

Honours
Ribbon bar	Honour	Country	Date	Comment
	Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion	Netherlands	28 April 1995
	Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau	Netherlands	3 July 2003
	Commemorative Medal for Advancing Latvia's Membership to NATO	Latvia	19 March 2004

References

1. (in Dutch) Jezuïetenonderwijs had veel invloed op samenleving Archived March 9, 2012, at the Wayback Machine , Kerknieuws.nl, 15 April 2009
2. (in Dutch) Benk Korthals voorgedragen als nieuwe VVD-voorzitter, Volkskrant, 17 March 2011
3. (in Dutch) Benk Korthals nieuwe voorzitter VVD, RTL Nederland, 22 April 2011
4. (in Dutch) Benk Korthals nieuwe voorzitter VVD Archived 2012-10-11 at the Wayback Machine , Telegraaf, 22 April 2011

External links

Official

• (in Dutch) Mr. A.H. (Benk) Korthals Parlement & Politiek

Party political offices
Preceded by Ivo Opstelten	Chairman of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy 2011–2014	Succeeded by Henry Keizer
Political offices
Preceded by Winnie Sorgdrager	Minister of Justice 1998–2002	Succeeded by Piet Hein Donner
Preceded by Frank de Grave	Minister of Defence 2002	Succeeded by Henk Kamp