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Stef Blok | |
|---|---|
 Blok in 2018 | |
| Member of theEuropean Court of Auditors for theNetherlands | |
| Assumed office 1 September 2022 | |
| President | Klaus-Heiner Lehne Tony Murphy |
| Preceded by | Alex Brenninkmeijer |
| Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy | |
| In office 25 May 2021 – 10 January 2022 | |
| Prime Minister | Mark Rutte |
| Preceded by | Bas van 't Wout |
| Succeeded by | Micky Adriaansens |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 7 March 2018 – 25 May 2021 | |
| Prime Minister | Mark Rutte |
| Preceded by | Sigrid Kaag (ad interim) |
| Succeeded by | Sigrid Kaag |
| Minister of Security and Justice | |
| In office 27 January 2017 – 26 October 2017 | |
| Prime Minister | Mark Rutte |
| Preceded by | Ard van der Steur |
| Succeeded by | Ferdinand Grapperhaus as Minister of Justice and Security |
| In office 10 March 2015 – 20 March 2015 Ad interim | |
| Prime Minister | Mark Rutte |
| Preceded by | Ivo Opstelten |
| Succeeded by | Ard van der Steur |
| Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations | |
| In office 29 June 2016 – 16 September 2016 Ad interim | |
| Prime Minister | Mark Rutte |
| Preceded by | Ronald Plasterk |
| Succeeded by | Ronald Plasterk |
| Minister for Housing and the Central Government Sector | |
| In office 5 November 2012 – 27 January 2017 | |
| Prime Minister | Mark Rutte |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Office abolished |
| Parliamentary leader in theHouse of Representatives | |
| In office 8 October 2010 – 20 September 2012 | |
| Preceded by | Mark Rutte |
| Succeeded by | Mark Rutte |
| Parliamentary group | People's Party for Freedom and Democracy |
| Member of the House of Representatives | |
| In office 3 September 2002 – 5 November 2012 | |
| In office 25 August 1998 – 23 May 2002 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Stephanus Abraham Blok (1964-12-10)10 December 1964 (age 60) Emmeloord,Netherlands |
| Political party | People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (from 1988) |
| Children | 1 son |
| Residence(s) | Enkhuizen, Netherlands |
| Alma mater | University of Groningen (Bachelor of Business Administration,Master of Business Administration) |
| Occupation | Politician ·Banker ·Credit broker ·Accountant |
Stephanus Abraham "Stef"Blok (born 10 December 1964) is a Dutch politician who served asMinister of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy in theThird Rutte cabinet from 25 May 2021 till 10 January 2022. He is a member of thePeople's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD).[1][2]
Anaccountant by occupation, Blok served as a member of theHouse of Representatives from 25 August 1998 until 23 May 2002 and from 3 September 2002 until 5 November 2012. After theelection of 2010 theLeader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy andparliamentary leader in theHouse of RepresentativesMark Rutte becamePrime Minister in theFirst Rutte cabinet with Blok chosen to succeed him asparliamentary leader in theHouse of Representatives serving from 8 October 2010 until 20 September 2012. Following theelection of 2012 Blok was asked to becomeMinister for Housing and the Central Government Sector in theSecond Rutte cabinet taking office on 5 November 2012. Blok served as ActingMinister of Security and Justice from 10 March 2015 until 20 March 2015 following the resignation ofIvo Opstelten andad interimMinister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations from 29 June 2016 until 16 September 2016 during a sick-leave ofRonald Plasterk.
On 27 January 2017,Minister of Security and JusticeArd van der Steur resigned to avoid a vote of no confidence, Blok was appointed to serve out the remainder of his term and subsequently resigned asMinister for Housing and the Central Government Sector the same day. He did not stand for theelection of 2017 and announced his retirement. Following the resignation ofHalbe Zijlstra asMinister of Foreign Affairs in theThird Rutte cabinet on 13 February 2018, Blok was nominated to succeed him taking office on 7 March 2018.[3]
Stephanus Abraham Blok was born on 10 December 1964 inEmmeloord, now in theProvince ofFlevoland. After attendingStedelijk Gymnasium Leiden from 1977 until 1983, he studiedBusiness Administration at theUniversity of Groningen from 1983 until 1989 and graduated with aBachelor of Business Administration and anM.S. inBusiness Administration degree. Blok worked forABN AMRO as acredit broker and later as abranch manager from 1989 until 1998.
He was a member of the municipal council ofNieuwkoop from 1994 to 1998.
One of his ancestors was J.F.A. Dligoor, an engineer working inDutch East Indies (nowIndonesia) in buildingPrijetan dam inLamongan,East Java and who was buried in the country.[4]
Blok served as ActingMinister of Security and Justice after the resignation ofIvo Opstelten from 10 March until 20 March 2015 while retaining his other cabinet position.[5][6] He resigned as Minister for Housing and the Central Government Sector on 27 January 2017 to hold the title of Minister of Security and Justice in a full position until 26 October 2017, following the resignation ofArd van der Steur.[7] Blok also served as ActingMinister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations from 29 June to 16 September 2016 whileRonald Plasterk underwent surgery. After his term as justice minister, Blok announced his plans to leave politics.[8]
Following the resignation ofHalbe Zijlstra asMinister of Foreign Affairs on 13 February 2018, Blok was selected to succeed him.[9]
In July 2018, Blok expressedcriticism of multiculturalism and argued that black African migrants could not be resettled in Eastern Europe because they would be beaten up, during a meeting that was later telecast onZembla:[10][11][12][13]
An audience member suggestedSuriname.
One audience member suggestedSingapore was a successful multi-ethnic society and Blok responded that Singapore is a “small mini-country,” which is “extremely selective in its migration” and does not allow poor immigrants except "maybe for cleaning."[14]
His remarks led to the Government of Suriname to demand an apology and the island-government of Curaçao, part of the Dutch Kingdom, to distance itself from the minister's remarks.[15] The latter responded to the minister's remarks by stating:
In Suriname, both the government and the opposition opposed the idea that Suriname is a failed state due to its ethnic diversity. It promptedChan Santokhi of the opposition Progressive Reform Party to respond:
Blok received the following honours:[16]
Netherlands: Officer of theOrder of Orange-Nassau
Belgium: Grand Cross of theOrder of Leopold II
Estonia: Member 1st Class of theOrder of the Cross of Terra Mariana (5 June 2018)[17][18]
Latvia: Grand Officer (2nd class) of theOrder of the Three Stars
Lithuania: Grand Cross of theOrder for Merits to Lithuania
Luxembourg: Grand Cross of theOrder of Merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Leader of thePeople's Party for Freedom and Democracy in theHouse of Representatives 2010–2012 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| New office | Minister for Housing and the Central Government Sector 2012–2017 | Position abolished |
| Preceded by | Minister of Security and Justice Acting 2015 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations Acting 2016 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of Security and Justice 2017 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of Foreign Affairs 2018–2021 | Succeeded by |
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| International | |
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| National | |
