Edzo Toxopeus

Edzo Hendrik Toxopeus (Dutch: [ˈɛtsoː ˈɦɛndrɪk tɔksoːˈpeːjʏs]; 19 February 1918 – 23 August 2009) was a Dutch politician who served as Minister of the Interior between 1959 and 1965, and as Leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy between 1963 and 1969.

After earning his diploma in Breda, Toxopeus studied Law at the Utrecht University, obtaining a master's degree in 1942. From 1942 to 1959, he was an established lawyer in Breda. He worked as a paralegal in Breda from July 1942 until October 1944, and as a military lawyer and head of the legal department of the military commission in the Royal Netherlands Army from November 1944 until August 1945. Toxopeus worked as a criminal defense lawyer in Breda from August 1945 until May 1959.

From 1949 to 1959, Toxopeus served on the municipal council of Breda. He became a member of the House of Representatives on 6 November 1956, shortly after the 1956 general election, when the number of seats was increased from 100 to 150. He served as spokesperson for law enforcement and spatial planning.

After the 1959 general election Toxopeus was appointed as Minister of the Interior in the De Quay cabinet, taking office on 19 May 1959. Shortly before the 1963 general election, party leader and parliamentary leader Pieter Oud announced his retirement, and Toxopeus was selected as his successor on 30 March 1963. Toxopeus served as lead candidate in the election, and following a cabinet formation, the coalition continued and Toxopeus retained his ministerial post in the Marijnen cabinet. As Minister of the Interior, Toxopeus introduced several major reforms to the civil service, including major increase to salaries, improvements to employment conditions and the free Saturday was implemented in 1961.

However, this cabinet fell just 19 months into its term and was replaced by the Cals cabinet on 14 April 1965. Toxopeus returned to the House of Representatives on 21 September 1965 but against custom did not take over as parliamentary leader immediately, serving instead as chair of the Committee for the Interior, deputy parliamentary leader and spokesperson for general affairs before taking over as parliamentary leader on 12 March 1966. Toxopeus also served as President of the Liberal International from 15 April 1966 until 25 April 1970. For the 1967 general election Toxopeus reprised as lead candidate, and following a successful cabinet formation with the Catholics formed the De Jong cabinet, with Toxopeus opting to remain parliamentary leader. On 1 October 1969 Toxopeus unexpectedly announced he was stepping down as leader, but he continued to serve in the House of Representatives until his resignation on 1 November 1969.

Toxopeus continued to be active in politics and in January 1970 was nominated as the next Queen's Commissioner of Groningen serving from 16 February 1970 until 1 November 1980. Following the formation of the Van Agt–Wiegel cabinet in 1977, Toxopeus was asked to become Minister of Finance, but he refused. Toxopeus also became active in the private and public sectors as a corporate and non-profit director and served on several state commissions and councils on behalf of the government. In October 1980 Toxopeus was nominated as a member of the Council of State, serving from 1 November 1980 until 1 March 1988.

Toxopeus retired from active politics at 70, but continued to be active as an advocate and lobbyist for European integration, and he served as an occasional diplomat for economic and diplomatic delegations for the European Union. Toxopeus died on 23 August 2009, at age 91.^[1][2]

Toxopeus was known for his abilities as a skilful manager and effective negotiator. Toxopeus granted the honorary title of Minister of State on 22 January 1985 and continued to comment on political affairs as a statesman until his death in August 2009 at the age of 91. He holds the distinction as the longest-serving Minister of the Interior after World War II with 5 years, 330 days.

• Mr. E.H. (Edzo) Toxopeus Parlement & Politiek (in Dutch)