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Pierre Joseph Lardinois (13 August 1924 – 16 July 1987) was a Dutch politician and diplomat of theCatholic People's Party (KVP) and agronomist.[1]
Lardinois applied at theWageningen Agricultural College in June 1942majoring inAgronomy. During theGerman occupation Lardinois continued his study but in March 1943 the refused to sign aloyalty oath to theGerman occupation authority but to escape prosecution he was forced to enlist in theArbeitslager in theGerman armoured production industry. Following the end ofWorld War II, Lardinois returned to the Wageningen Agricultural College and obtained aBachelor of Science in Agriculture degree in June 1947 before graduating with aMaster of Science in Engineering degree in on 23 January 1951. Lardinois worked as an agronomist from October 1951 until February 1960 for the municipality ofPurmerend from October 1951 until November 1952 and for the municipality ofEindhoven from November 1952 until February 1960. Lardinois worked as a civil servant for theMinistry of Agriculture and Fisheries as an agriculturalAttaché inLondon,England from February 1960 until September 1963.
Lardinois became aMember of the House of Representatives afterVictor Marijnen was appointed asPrime Minister in theCabinet Marijnen after theelection of 1963, taking office on 17 September 1963. Lardinois was selected as aMember of the European Parliament anddual served in those positions, taking office on 14 October 1963. Lardinois also became active in thepublic sector, in December 1964 Lardinois was appointed as a trade association executive for theNorth Brabant Christian Farmers' association [nl] (NCB) serving as chairman from 1 January 1965 until 5 April 1967. After theelection of 1967 Lardinois was appointed asMinister of Agriculture and Fisheries in theCabinet De Jong, taking office on 5 April 1967. After theelection of 1971 Lardinois returned as a Member of the House of Representatives, taking office on 11 May 1971. Following thecabinet formation of 1971 Lardinois continued as Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries in theCabinet Biesheuvel I, taking office on 6 July 1971. Lardinois was also appointed asMinister for Suriname and Netherlands Antilles Affairs, taking office on 28 January 1972. The Cabinet Biesheuvel I fell just one year later on 19 July 1972 and continued to serve in ademissionary capacity until it was replaced by thecaretakerCabinet Biesheuvel II with Lardinois continuing as Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries and Minister for Suriname and Netherlands Antilles Affairs, taking office on 9 August 1972.
In December 1972 Lardinois was nominated as the nextEuropean Commissioner from the Netherlands. Lardinois was given the portfolios ofAgriculture andFisheries in theOrtoli Commission, he resigned as Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries and Minister for Suriname and Netherlands Antilles Affairs on 1 January 1973 and was installed as European Commissioner, serving from 6 January 1973 until 6 January 1977.[2]
Lardinois retired after spending 13 years in national politics and became active in theprivate sector, in December 1976 Lardinois was appointed asCEO and Chairman of theBoard of directors of theRabobank serving from 1 January 1977 until 1 September 1986.
Lardinois was known for his abilities as amanager andpolicy wonk. Lardinois continued to comment on political affairs until his death fromcancer at the age of 62.
| Ribbon bar | Honour | Country | Date | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Knight of theOrder of the Holy Sepulchre | Holy See | 15 April 1968 | |
 | Grand Officer of theOrder of Leopold II | Belgium | 19 May 1969 | |
 | Grand Officer of theOrder of the Oak Crown | Luxembourg | 28 September 1970 | |
 | Commander of theOrder of Orange-Nassau | Netherlands | 8 June 1973 | |
 | Grand Officer of theLegion of Honour | France | 11 November 1974 | |
 | Knight Commander of theOrder of Merit | Germany | 15 August 1976 | |
 | Commander of theOrder of the Netherlands Lion | Netherlands | 1 January 1977 | |
 | Officer of theOrder of Agricultural Merit | France | 15 February 1977 | |
_-_ribbon_bar.png) | Grand Cordon of theHonorary Order of the Palm | Suriname | 25 April 1978 |
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries 1967–1973 | Succeeded by Jaap Boersma Ad interim |
| Preceded by | Minister for Suriname and Netherlands Antilles Affairs 1972–1973 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | European Commissioner from the Netherlands 1973–1977 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | European Commissioner for Agricultureand Fisheries 1973–1977 | Succeeded by |
| Business positions | ||
| Unknown | Chairman of the North Brabant Christian Farmers' association [nl] 1965–1967 | Unknown |
| Preceded by Bram Verhage | CEO and Chairman of the Board of directors of the Rabobank 1977–1986 | Succeeded by |
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| Labour Party | |
|---|---|
| Catholic People's Party | |
| Anti-Revolutionary Party | |
| People's Party for Freedom and Democracy | |
| Christian Historical Union | |
| Democrats 66 | |
| Political Party of Radicals | |
| Communist Party of the Netherlands | |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Academics | |
| People | |
| Other | |
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