Franc Weerwind Explained

Franc Weerwind
Primeminister:Mark Rutte
Term Start:10 January 2022
Term End:2 July 2024
Predecessor:Sander Dekker
Successor:Teun Struycken
Term Start1:9 September 2015
Term End1:10 January 2022
Predecessor1:Annemarie Jorritsma
Successor1:Ank Bijleveld (acting)
Term Start2:16 September 2009
Term End2:9 September 2015
Office3:Mayor of Niedorp
Term Start3:1 December 2004
Term End3:16 September 2009
Birthname:Franciscus Max Weerwind
Birth Date:22 September 1964
Birth Place:Amsterdam, Netherlands
Party:Democrats 66

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]

Early life and education

Weerwind 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

In 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

Weerwind is married to Ilse Overzier. They have two children.[11]

Electoral history

Year! scope="col" rowspan=2
BodyPartyVotesResult.
Party seatsIndividual
2023House of RepresentativesDemocrats 66style=text-align:right 72style=text-align:right 210style=text-align:right 9[12]

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://www.parlement.com/id/vlp7ep7kvfv0/f_m_franc_weerwind F.M. (Franc) Weerwind
  2. https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/regering/bewindspersonen/franc-weerwind Members of the government: Franc Weerwind
  3. https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/nieuws/2017/05/werkplek-van-alumnus-franc-weerwind Voormalig student bestuurskunde nu burgemeester van Almere
  4. http://www.noord-holland.nl/web/Actueel/Nieuws/Artikel/De-heer-Weerwind-nieuwe-burgemeester-van-Velsen.htm De heer Weerwind nieuwe burgemeester van Velsen
  5. http://www.omroepflevoland.nl/nieuws/127485/almere-franc-weerwind-geinstalleerd-als-burgemeester Franc Weerwind geïnstalleerd als burgemeester
  6. Stephanie van den Berg (31 October 2022), Netherlands to resume international adoptions from selected countries Reuters.
  7. News: Minder communicatie in gevangenis voor leden georganiseerde misdaad . 6 March 2024 . 6 March 2024 . nl . . Less communication in prison for members organized crime .
  8. News: Raad van State: opnemen van gesprek tussen advocaat en gedetineerde mag niet . subscription . 29 April 2024 . Meijer . Remco . 30 April 2024 . nl . . Council of State: Recording conversations between attorney and inmate is not allowed .
  9. News: VVD en BBB niet eens met intrekken strenge gevangenisregels georganiseerde misdaad . 24 May 2024 . 24 May 2024 . nl . . VVD and BBB disagree with revoking strict prison rules for organized crime .
  10. News: Ministers en staatssecretarissen kabinet-Schoof beëdigd . 2 July 2024 . 2 July 2024 . nl . . Ministers and state secretaries of Schoof cabinet sworn in .
  11. https://www.blackpast.org/global-african-history/franc-weerwind-1964/
  12. Web site: Proces-verbaal van de uitslag van de verkiezing van de Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal 2023 d.d. 4 december 2023 . Dutch Electoral Council . nl . 21 December 2023 . PDF . 4 December 2023 . Report of the results of the election of the House of Representatives on 4 December 2023 . 21–22 .