Profile: Kok found the middle ground between social democracy and liberalism Now

Wim Kok, former prime minister and former leader of the PvdA, died Saturday at the age of 80 in his hometown of Amsterdam. As Prime Minister, the trade unionist Kok found a way to reconcile "his" social democracy and liberalism.

Willem Kok was born on September 29, 1938 in Bergambacht. Father Willem Sr. was a construction worker and a skilled carpenter and socialist active in the union. Wim Junior went to Gouda High School and then studied Business Management at the Nyenrode Pedagogical Institute

. His public career began in 1961, when Kok started working in the union as a Bouwbond NVV employee. In the years that followed, he held the posts of secretary, vice-president and president of the Netherlands Trade Union Confederation (NVV). Kok was President of the Federation of Dutch Trade Unions (FNV) and Vice-President of the Economic and Social Council (SER) in 1976 and 1985.

Kok was a strong supporter of workers' rights and was congratulated for his willingness to not to be behind in staying in his office but to find the workers he represented in the field

In 1986, he was elected a member of the PvdA Lower House. He succeeded Joop den Uyl later that year as leader of the party with which he also became leader of the opposition against the Lubbers II cabinet.

As a politician, Kok sought a compromise between social democracy and liberalism.

Kok began as a government official in 1989, becoming Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of Lubbers III. He held this position until 1994.

Kok's debut in politics was far from easy. Under his responsibility, the national budget deficit had to be addressed. The WAO's disability scheme has been drastically reduced and excise duties on fuel cars have been increased – a measure known as "Kok penny".

As a PvdA leader, Kok changed the course of the party. more towards the political center. In a speech made in 1995, he called it "shaking the ideological pens".

Kok gained international renown as the spearhead of the "Third Way", which sought a compromise between social democracy and liberalism. Among his admirers were former US President Bill Clinton and British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Kok is named Prime Minister of the Purple House in 1995.

Lubbers CDA suffered a major defeat in 1994, paving the way for a coalition government consisting of PvdA, VVD and D66 . Kok became prime minister of the Paars I government.

The Netherlands experienced unprecedented economic growth during the legislature, thanks in part to the favorable conditions of the global economy. Unemployment has decreased and the budget deficit has decreased. Purple I relieved citizens and businesses and eased economic regulations so that, for example, stores could use longer hours.

In Kok's office, market forces became an important article of faith. The Prime Minister oversaw the privatization of, inter alia, Dutch railways and utilities.

Under Kok's leadership, progress has been made in various areas. The Netherlands became the first country in the world to allow same-sex marriage. Opportunities to allow active euthanasia have also been defined by law. Integration with the European Union is gaining momentum, resulting in the euro, the common currency.

The Purple I policy gives the PvdA a considerable electoral victory in 1998. The Purple II government becomes a fact. , always with Kok as prime minister. It was initially a very popular cabinet, but partly because of the worsening of the situation as a prelude to the economic crisis and the rise of populism under Pim Fortuyn, who attacked the "rubble of Purple", he gradually lost much of the voter's favor.

The Srebrenica affair overturned the Cabinet-Purple II

As Prime Minister, Kok played a leading role in the world of the United States. Case of Jorge Zorreguieta, father of Queen Maxima, which was controversial because he was Secretary of State for Agriculture during the military dictation in Argentina. When Crown Prince Willem-Alexander and Maxima became engaged in 2001, Kok entrusted the role of Father Zorreguieta to the Argentine junta. Zorroguieta decided to stay out of wedlock under the impetus of the Kok government.

Another major event that took place during Prime Minister Kok's tenure was the disaster caused by a fireworks in Enschede, killing 23 people and a residential area in the city of Twente. was destroyed.

Kok announced in 2001 that he wished to withdraw after the 2002 elections. However, he could not serve his term: on April 16, 2002, the Prime Minister resigned because of the Srebrenica scandal

In July 1995, 7,000 Muslim men and boys were taken from the Srebrenica enclave by the UN and murdered. The Dutchbat battalion, which was supposed to protect them, seemed powerless. The Dutch State was partly responsible, concluded the Netherlands Institute for War Documentation (NIOD) after investigation

After the end of his political career, Kok worked as supervisory director at ING and Shell. The fact that he held these positions in such big multinationals – for which he paid a high fee – sparked criticism, as Kok, as prime minister, had just given up "l & # 39; 39, exhibitionist enrichment "in the business world.