Frans Weekers

Frans Weekers
State Secretary of Finance
In office 14 October 2010 – 30 January 2014
Prime Minister	Mark Rutte
Preceded by	Jan Kees de Jager
Member of the House of Representatives
In office 20 September 2012 – 5 November 2012
Member of the House of Representatives
In office 3 June 2003 – 14 October 2010
Member of the House of Representatives
In office 19 May 1998 – 23 May 2002
Personal details
Born	Frans Hubertus Henricus Weekers (1967-10-17) 17 October 1967 Weert, Netherlands
Political party	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (since 1986)
Children	3 daughters
Residence(s)	Weert, Netherlands
Alma mater	VU University Amsterdam (Master of Economics, Master of Laws)
Occupation	Politician Lawyer Jurist

Frans Hubertus Henricus Weekers (born 17 October 1967) is a Dutch lawyer and politician of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD). He was the State Secretary of Finance of the Netherlands between 14 October 2010 and 30 January 2014.

Early life and education

Frans Hubertus Henricus Weekers was born on 17 October 1967 in Weert in the province Limburg of the Netherlands. His father was an accountant and member of the municipal council. His paternal grandfather was a wethouder in Weert. His mother was a schoolteacher.

Weekers went to primary and secondary school in Weert. He became a member of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie or VVD) in 1986, while he was still in secondary school.

He studied economics and econometrics (1987–1992) and law (1990–1993) at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam, which gave him the academic titles doctorandus or drs. (equivalent of Master of Science) and meester in de rechten or mr. (equivalent of Master of Laws).

Legal and political career

Weekers worked as a legal advisor for the assurance company Van Rey and as the assistant of the MP Jos van Rey in 1993–1994.

Weekers was an elected member of the municipal council of Weert from 1994 to 2003, where he was the fraction leader of the VVD. From 1994, he also worked as a lawyer in Weert, until he was elected to the House of Representatives in 1998.

He served as an Member of Parliament from 19 May 1998 to 23 May 2002, from 3 June 2003 to 14 October 2010, and again from 20 September to 5 November 2012.

Weekers was the State Secretary of Finance in the First Rutte cabinet from 14 October 2010 until 5 November 2012 and has again been in the Second Rutte cabinet, dealing with fiscal affairs and finances of lower governments, since 5 November 2012.

Resignation

Opposition parties have fiercely criticized his performance. According to them, Weekers had insufficient knowledge of the tax office being behind on payments, such as providing rental and care allowances to about 100,000 citizens. After Weekers heard that a motion of no confidence was imminent, he submitted his resignation on 29 January 2014.

External links

Official

• Template:Nl icon Mr.Drs. F.H.H. (Frans) Weekers Parlement & Politiek