Mark Harbers Explained

Mark Harbers
Office:Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management
Term Start:10 January 2022
Term End:2 July 2024
Primeminister:Mark Rutte
Predecessor:Barbara Visser
Successor:Barry Madlener
Office1:State Secretary for Justice and Security
Term Start1:26 October 2017
Term End1:21 May 2019
Primeminister1:Mark Rutte
Predecessor1:Klaas Dijkhoff
Successor1:Ankie Broekers-Knol
Office2:Member of the House of Representatives
Term Start2:11 June 2019
Term End2:10 January 2022
Term Start3:1 December 2009
Term End3:26 October 2017
Birth Date:19 April 1969
Birth Place:Ede, Netherlands
Nationality:Dutch
Party:People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
Residence:Rotterdam
Occupation:Communication employee, politician

Markus Gerardus Jozef "Mark" Harbers (born 19 April 1969) is a Dutch politician who served as Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management in the Fourth Rutte cabinet from 10 January 2022 to 2 July 2024. A member of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), he previously served State Secretary for Justice and Security in the Third Rutte cabinet from 26 October 2017 until 21 May 2019.

Early life and education

Harbers was born in Ede, Gelderland. He studied economics at Erasmus University Rotterdam but dropped out before graduation.

Political career

Career in local politics

A former communication employee, Harbers served as a member of the district council of Kralingen-Crooswijk from 1992 to 1998 and municipal councillor of Rotterdam from 2002 until 2007. He was an alderman from 2007 to 2009, in charge of Economic Affairs, the Port of Rotterdam and the Environment.

Career in national politics

During the 2006 general election, Harbers occupied the 26th place on the list of VVD candidates; the party obtained 22 seats. On 1 December 2009, he entered the House of Representatives following the resignation of Arend Jan Boekestijn. He was reelected in 2010, 2012 and 2017.

On 26 October 2017, Harbers resigned from the House of Representatives to become State Secretary at the Ministry of Justice and Security, dealing with Asylum and Migration Affairs under the supervision of Minister Ferdinand Grapperhaus.

Effective 21 May 2019, Harbers resigned from his position following the publication of a report minimising the crimes committed by asylum seekers in the Netherlands. He was replaced by Senate President Ankie Broekers-Knol and returned to the House of Representatives shortly thereafter.

Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management

Early in his tenure, Harbers closed the Netherlands' airspace to Russian aircraft in response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[1] He took over the responsibilities of Minister of the Environment Vivianne Heijnen during her maternity leave starting 25 May 2024.[2] Harbers's term as minister ended on 2 July 2024, when the Schoof cabinet was sworn in.[3]

Electoral history

Year! scope="col" rowspan=2
BodyPartyVotesResult.
Party seatsIndividual
2021House of RepresentativesPeople's Party for Freedom and Democracystyle=text-align:right 7style=text-align:right 4,438style=text-align:right 34[4]

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. Anthony Deutsch (27 February 2022), Netherlands to close airspace to Russia from Sunday evening Reuters.
  2. Vivianne Heijnen draagt taken over aan Mark Harbers . 22 May 2024 . 5 June 2024 . Vivianne Heijnen transfers tasks to Mark Harbers . nl . .
  3. News: Ministers en staatssecretarissen kabinet-Schoof beëdigd . 2 July 2024 . 2 July 2024 . nl . . Ministers and state secretaries of Schoof cabinet sworn in .
  4. Web site: Proces-verbaal verkiezingsuitslag Tweede Kamer 2021 . Dutch Electoral Council . nl . PDF . 29 March 2021 . Report of the election results House of Representatives 2021.