Ruud Lubbers

His Excellency
Ruud Lubbers
His Excellency Ruud Lubbers
	Lubbers in 1985
Prime Minister of the Netherlands
	In office; 4 November 1982 – 22 August 1994
Monarch	Beatrix
Deputy	Gijs van Aardenne (1982–1986); Rudolf de Korte (1986–1989); Wim Kok (1989–1994)
Preceded by	Dries van Agt
Succeeded by	Wim Kok
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
	In office; 1 January 2001 – 20 February 2005
Secretary-General	Kofi Annan
Preceded by	Sadako Ogata
Succeeded by	António Guterres
Leader of the Christian Democratic Appeal
	In office; 25 October 1982 – 29 January 1994
Preceded by	Dries van Agt
Succeeded by	Elco Brinkman
Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives
	In office; 14 September 1989 – 7 November 1989
Preceded by	Bert de Vries
Succeeded by	Elco Brinkman
	In office; 3 June 1986 – 14 July 1986
Preceded by	Bert de Vries
Succeeded by	Bert de Vries
	In office; 24 August 1981 – 4 November 1982
Preceded by	Dries van Agt
Succeeded by	Bert de Vries
	In office; 7 November 1978 – 10 June 1981
Preceded by	Willem Aantjes
Succeeded by	Dries van Agt
Member of the House of Representatives
	In office; 14 September 1989 – 7 November 1989
	In office; 3 June 1986 – 14 July 1986
	In office; 22 December 1977 – 4 November 1982
	In office; 8 June 1977 – 8 September 1977
Minister of Economic Affairs
	In office; 11 May 1973 – 19 December 1977
Prime Minister	Joop den Uyl
Preceded by	Harrie Langman
Succeeded by	Gijs van Aardenne
Personal details
Born	Rudolphus Franciscus Marie Lubbers; 7 May 1939; Rotterdam, Netherlands
Died	14 February 2018 (aged 78); Rotterdam, Netherlands
Cause of death	Euthanasia
Political party	Christian Democratic Appeal (from 1980)
Other political; affiliations	Catholic People's Party (1964–1980)
Spouse	Ria Hoogeweegen (m. 1962)
Children	3
Alma mater	Rotterdam School of Economics (BEc, M.Econ)
Occupation	Activist; businessperson; conservationist; corporate executive; diplomat; economist; nonprofit executive; lobbyist; politician; professor;
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	Netherlands
Branch/service	Royal Netherlands Air Force
Years of service	1962–1963 (Conscription) ; 1963–1969 (Reserve)
Rank	Second lieutenant
Battles/wars	Cold War

Rudolphus Franciscus Marie "Ruud" Lubbers (Dutch pronunciation: [ryt ˈlʏbərs] ^ⓘ; 7 May 1939 – 14 February 2018) was a Dutch politician, diplomat and businessman who served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 1982 to 1994, and as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees from 2001 to 2005.^[1] He was a member of the Catholic People's Party (KVP), which later merged to become the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) party.

Lubbers studied Economics at the Erasmus School of Economics obtaining a Master of Science degree and worked as a corporate director for the manufacturing company Hollandia in Rotterdam from April 1963 until May 1973 and as trade association executive for the Christian Employers' Association (NCW) from January 1965 until May 1973. After the election of 1972 Lubbers was appointed as Minister of Economic Affairs in the Cabinet Den Uyl taking office on 11 May 1973. Lubbers was elected as a Member of the House of Representatives after the election of 1977 serving from 8 June 1977 until 8 September 1977. Following the cabinet formation of 1977 Lubbers was asked to become Minister of Housing and Spatial Planning in the new cabinet but declined and returned as a Member of the House of Representatives on 22 December 1977, serving as a frontbencher and spokesperson for Economic Affairs. Following the resignation of Parliamentary leader Willem Aantjes Lubbers was selected as his successor taking office on 7 November 1978.

Shortly after the election of 1982 incumbent prime minister and Leader Dries van Agt unexpectedly announced he was stepping down and Lubbers was unanimously selected as his successor as Leader and the de facto next prime minister. Following cabinet formation of 1982 Lubbers formed the Cabinet Lubbers I and became Prime Minister of the Netherlands taking office on 4 November 1982. For the election of 1986 Lubbers served as Lijsttrekker (top candidate) and after a cabinet formation formed the Cabinet Lubbers II and continued as prime minister for a second term. For the election of 1989 Lubbers again served as Lijsttrekker and following another successful cabinet formation formed the Cabinet Lubbers III and continued as prime minister for a third term. In October 1993 Lubbers announced he was stepping down as Leader, and that he would not stand at the election of 1994 or serve another term as prime minister. He left office at the installation of the Cabinet Kok I on 22 August 1994.

Lubbers semi-retired from active politics and became active in the public sector as a non-profit director and served on several state commissions and councils on behalf of the government, he also served as a distinguished visiting professor of international relations and globalization at the Tilburg University and the John F. Kennedy School of Government of the Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts from February 1995 until December 2000. In November 2000 Lubbers was nominated as the next United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees serving from 1 January 2001 until 20 February 2005. Following his retirement Lubbers continued to be active in the public sector and worked as an advocate, lobbyist and activist for humanitarian, conservation, environmentalism, sustainable development and climate change issues. He was subject to some scrutiny, such as a sexual harassment scandal in 2004 which led to his resignation from the United Nations.

Lubbers was known for his abilities as a team leader and consensus builder. During his premiership, his cabinets were responsible for major reforms to social security, stimulating privatization and sustainable development, revitalizing the economy following the recession in the 1980s and reducing the deficit. Lubbers was granted the honorary title of Minister of State on 31 January 1995 and continued to comment on political affairs as a statesman until his death at the age of 78. At 43 years, he is the youngest Prime Minister of the Netherlands. He was the longest-serving Prime Minister with 11 years, 291 days until Mark Rutte overtook this record on 2 August 2022. He is consistently ranked both by scholars and the public as one of the best prime ministers after World War II.^[2]^[3]

Biography

Early life

Rudolphus Franciscus Marie Lubbers was born on 7 May 1939 in Rotterdam in the Province of South Holland. He studied economics at the Erasmus University Rotterdam, and was a student of the first Nobel Prize in Economics laureate Jan Tinbergen. As suggested by the title of his 1962 thesis – "The influence of differing productivity trends in various countries on the current account of the balance of payments" – his main interest was in monetary affairs. He originally planned an academic career, but was compelled by family circumstances to join the management of Lubbers' Construction Workshops and Machinery Fabricators Hollandia B.V.

Politics

From 11 May 1973 to 19 December 1977, Ruud Lubbers was Minister of Economic Affairs in the Den Uyl-government and a member of the Catholic People's Party (KVP). He was an effective, if sometimes somewhat bad-tempered minister. He chose to return to Parliament on the formation of the Van Agt-government in 1977, becoming senior deputy parliamentary leader of the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), the alliance between the KVP and the other two main Christian parties. His career got an unexpected boost when the leader of the parliamentary faction of the CDA, Willem Aantjes, had to resign in 1978 because of accusations that he had served in the Germanic-SS during the Second World War. Lubbers succeeded him and suddenly found himself in a powerful political position.

In 1982, after the general election won by Prime Minister Dries van Agt, a similar thing happened when Van Agt suddenly announced he would not serve for a third term. Lubbers took over the post. He was the youngest prime minister in Dutch history; he had turned 43 only six months earlier. Major aspects of his time in office included extensive cutbacks in public spending, the launch of far-reaching deregulation and privatisation programs, and a massive demonstration in The Hague (1983) against the planned installation in the Netherlands of nuclear-armed U.S. cruise missiles (which was cancelled after all due to arms reduction talks between the US and the Soviet Union).

After leaving office in 1994, Lubbers was put forward as a candidate for the head of NATO, but the U.S. vetoed his appointment. He was on the advisory board of the Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum (OMFIF), where he was regularly involved in meetings regarding the financial and monetary system.

Lubbers was regarded by many during his time in office as an ideological heir to Margaret Thatcher. One of his campaign slogans was: "Meer markt, minder overheid" (more market, less government).

Ecological activities

In the follow-up of the Earth Summit in 1992, Lubbers engaged with the Earth Charter Initiative in cooperation with Mikhail Gorbachev and Maurice Strong. The Earth Charter document was launched in the Peace Palace in The Hague in June 2000. Lubbers was an active member of the international Earth Charter Commission and reached out, especially to youth in the Netherland, with the message of the Earth Charter for a sustainable and peaceful world.

Academic

From 1995 to 2000, he taught Globalization Studies at Tilburg University in the Netherlands and at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in the United States. He was also vice-chairman of the Independent World Commission on the Oceans and chair of Globus, the Institute for Globalization and Development based in Tilburg.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees

At the end of the year 2000, Lubbers was appointed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan to succeed Sadako Ogata as UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

From 1 January 2001, Lubbers headed the UNHCR, which comprised over 5,000 employees who work across the globe, and which was concerned with an estimated 21 million refugees and internally displaced in over 120 countries worldwide. During his tenure, the number of refugees worldwide decreased by almost 22%, from 21.8 million in 2001 to close to 17.1 million at the beginning of 2004.^[4]

Lubbers also favoured a generous refugee policy for the Netherlands, and he was critical of the Foreign Citizens Law (Vreemdelingenwet). He also stabilised the UNHCR's financial situation and greatly increased the financial means for the sheltering of refugees.^{[citation needed]}

He annually donated some $300,000 to the refugee agency since he assumed his post in 2001, thereby covering his own $167,000 annual salary and travel expenses.^[5]

Sexual harassment complaint

In May 2004, Lubbers was accused by Cynthia Brzak, an American UNHCR employee, of sexual harassment following a meeting in his office that was attended by two other UNHCR staff members. The complaint was reported in the media,^[6] prompting Lubbers to inform UNHCR staff about the accusation. On this occasion, he denied any wrongdoing and rejected the allegation against him.^[7] On 2 June 2004, the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), which was tasked with investigating the accusation, sent its report to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.^[8]^[9] In its public annual report to the UN Secretary-General (presented to the UN General Assembly), the OIOS reported concerning the case that it had "submitted a report to the Secretary-General supporting the allegations and recommended that appropriate actions be taken accordingly."^[10]

Lubbers responded to the OIOS report in a letter setting out to (a) deny acts of sexual harassment or abuse took place; (b) establish that such evidence of the alleged misconduct as is said to exist is insufficient and flawed; and (c) conclude that the report itself would appear to be based on an irregular statutory basis and also flawed by errors of law and reasoning."^[11]

Lubbers asked Max van der Stoel, former High Commissioner on National Minorities, to comment on the confidential report.^[12] He concluded that "the OIOS report is deficient in objectivity and impartiality." He added "that the only two other persons in the room did not provide evidence confirming the version given by the complainant." Furthermore, he accused UN officials of leaking information to the press and recommended that an investigation of the leaks be undertaken.^[13]

The Secretary-General reviewed the report and the responses of the High Commissioner and the senior manager to the report, and decided that the complaint could not be substantiated by the evidence and therefore closed the matter."^[14] He is also reported to have consulted with Stephen Schwebel, an American judge and former President of the International Court of Justice.^[15] The Secretary-General failed to order an investigation of the deliberate leaking by OIOS itself to the media as recommended by Max van der Stoel.

Resignation

In February 2005, the case was in the news again when the British daily newspaper The Independent obtained a copy of the OIOS report and, accompanied by an article by Kate Holt, published its contents.^[16]

Lubbers met with the Secretary-General on 18 February 2005, and resigned as High Commissioner on Sunday, 20 February 2005, stating to the press: "For more than four years I gave all my energy to UNHCR. To be frank, despite all my loyalty, insult has now been added to injury and therefore I resign as High Commissioner."^[17]^[18] The Secretary-General's office issued a statement the same day which stated that the High Commissioner's resignation was in the best interests of the UNHCR.^[19] In his letter of resignation, Lubbers stated that his resignation constituted no expression of guilt, but that he had become the victim of smearing, adding that he had resigned "in the interest of the organisation".^[20] In October 2005, Annan reiterated that he had come to the conclusion that "the evidence did not support the accusation" but that, because of ongoing media-pressure, Lubbers' resignation was in the best interests of the UNHCR.^[21]

During a farewell meeting for Lubbers as High Commissioner for Refugees, he received from Acting High Commissioner Wendy Chamberlin the first annual UNHCR Achievement Award for exceptional services to UNHCR and for the world's refugees.^[22]

In a formal statement, Netherlands Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende called the departure of Lubbers "bitter", since the complaint against him had been dismissed as unsustainable.^[23]

Handling of the UNHCR/SC-UK 2002 report on sexual exploitation in the aid sector in West Africa

Three years prior to the controversy over the sexual harassment case, Lubbers was criticised for his handling of the UNHCR/SC-UK 2002 which uncovered the widespread sexual exploitation of refugee children by aid workers and peacekeepers in three West African countries (Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone). The study team which had encountered these findings unexpectedly whilst conducting a broader assessment documented 67 allegations implicating 40 aid agencies and several peacekeeping battalions, and often involving humanitarian workers and peacekeepers exchanging meagre aid supplies for sex with children.^[24]^[25] Lubbers' response was to deny these findings, discredit the authors and excuse these behaviours; for example in a CNN interview on 8 May 2002, Lubbers was heard to deny the problem in the face of CNN's own research which confirmed the problem existed and was taken to task by the interviewer for dismissing these exploitative relationships inter alia as 'romances'.^[26] The UN General Assembly passed resolution A/RES/57/306, 'Investigation into sexual exploitation of refugees by aid workers in West Africa' in May 2003, requiring the UN to take action at the highest level to tackle such abuses.^[27] This led to the UN Secretary-General's Bulletin, 'Special measures for protection from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse' in October 2003,^[28] and an endorsement of the Inter-agency standing Committee's working group on sexual abuse and exploitation which had already been set up a year earlier in June 2002 in response to the report.^[29]

Informateur

After the fall of the Second Balkenende cabinet, Lubbers became the informateur for the formation of the demissionary interim Third Balkenende cabinet.^[30]

For the 2010 Dutch cabinet formation, after coalition meetings between People's Party for Freedom and Democracy, Labour Party, Democrats 66, and GreenLeft failed to form a new Purple government, Lubbers was asked again to become Informateur to seek possibilities for a new coalition.^[31]

Personal life and death

On 10 October 1962, Lubbers married Ria Hoogeweegen [nl] (1940–2024)^[32]^[33]^[34]^[35] and had two sons and one daughter, Paul, Bart and Heleen.

Lubbers died in Rotterdam on 14 February 2018, at the age of 78.^[36]^[37] Among the world leaders who offered condolences were former President of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev,^[38] Prime Minister of Russia and former President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev,^[39] Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel,^[40] Secretary-General of the United Nations and former Prime Minister of Portugal and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres,^[41] United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi^[42] and President of the European Commission and former Prime Minister of Luxembourg Jean-Claude Juncker.^[43] His ceremonial funeral was held in Rotterdam on 20 February 2018 and was attended by Prime Minister Mark Rutte and all living former Prime Ministers Dries van Agt, Wim Kok and Jan Peter Balkenende and other high-profile (former) politicians. This was also the last public appearance of his successor as Prime Minister Wim Kok, who himself died eight months later at the age of 80.^[44]^[45]^[46]

In 2024 it was revealed Lubbers died via euthanasia after having been diagnosed with vascular dementia some years prior.^[47]

Decorations

Honours

Ribbon bar	Honour	Country	Date	Comment
Honours
	Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Netherlands Lion	Netherlands	8 October 1994	Elevated from Knight (11 April 1978)

Awards

Ribbon bar	Award	Country	Date
Awards
	Honorary citizen of Maastricht	Netherlands	1994
	Four Freedoms Award (Special Presentation)	United States / Netherlands	3 April 1995
	Van Oldenbarneveltpenning of Rotterdam	Netherlands	2003

Honorary degrees

University	Field	City / Country	Date
Honorary degrees
University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro	Political science and Economics	Vila Real, Portugal	1989
Georgetown University	Law	Washington, D.C., United States	1993
Hankuk University of Foreign Studies	Political science	Seoul, South-Korea	1993
Grand Valley State University	Political science	Allendale, Michigan, United States	1994
Radboud University Nijmegen	Economics	Nijmegen, Netherlands	6 September 2004

References

^ "Longest-serving Dutch prime minister Ruud Lubbers dies". Agence France Presse. 15 February 2018.
^ (in Dutch) Willem Drees gekozen tot ‘Dé premier na WO II’, Geschiedenis24.nl, 15 January 2006
^ (in Dutch) NRC-enquête: Drees en Lubbers beste premiers sinds 1900, NRC Handelsblad, 28 September 2013
^ Colville, Rupert (24 February 2004). "Lubbers welcomes drop in asylum numbers in industrialised countries". United Nations High Commission on Human Rights. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
^ "General Assembly extends term of UN High Commissioner for Refugees". United Nations. 6 October 2003. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
^ New York Times 18 May 2004^{[permanent dead link‍]}
^ Corder, Mike (14 February 2018). "Longest-serving Dutch premier, Ruud Lubbers, dies at 78". News & Observer. Archived from the original on 15 February 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
^ "OIOS Investigation report" (PDF). Retrieved 18 August 2018.
^ "Supreme Court Annex 1 p.35" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 May 2008. Retrieved 29 May 2008.
^ A/59/359* Report of the Office Internal Oversight Services to the UN General Assembly, p. 31^{[permanent dead link‍]}
^ Lubbers memo pp 2–4 Archived 29 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine Lubbers Memo pp 5–8 Archived 29 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine Lubbers Memo p 9 Archived 29 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine
^ "DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL AND THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT – Meetings Coverage and Press Releases". www.un.org. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
^ van der Stoel memo p 1 (after Lubbers p. 9) Archived 29 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine van der Stoel memo pp 2–4 Archived 29 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine
^ Hoge, Fiona Fleck and Warren (16 July 2004). "Annan Clears Refugee Chief Of Harassment Accusations". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
^ de Guyter, Caroline; van de Roer, Robert (16 April 2005). "Het geheime dossier van Ruud Lubbers (The secret dossier of Ruud Lubbers)". NRC Handelsblad. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
^ "Harassment, intimidation and secrecy – UN chief engulfed in sex". Independent.co.uk. 18 February 2005. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
^ Higgins, Alexander G. (20 February 2005). "U.N. refugee chief resigns over sexual harassment scandal". Seattle Times. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
^ Corder, Mike (14 February 2018). "Ruud Lubbers, long-serving Dutch prime minister who trimmed welfare state, dies at 78". Washington Post. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
^ "U.N. Official Quits in Harassment Case (washingtonpost.com)". www.washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
^ Resignation letter Archived 29 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine
^ Geneva Press Conference 2005-10-10^{[permanent dead link‍]}
^ UNHCR News 25 February 2005 High Commissioner Lubbers departs UNHCR Archived 31 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine
^ "Balkenende: wrang dat Lubbers opstapt". De Volkskrant. 20 February 2005. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
^ Refugees, United Nations High Commissioner for. "Note for Implementing and Operational Partners by UNHCR and Save the Children-UK on Sexual Violence & Exploitation: The Experience of Refugee Children in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone".
^ https://www.savethechildren.org.uk/content/dam/global/reports/health-and-nutrition/sexual_violence_and_exploitation_1.pdf ^{[bare URL PDF]}
^ "CNN.com – Transcripts". edition.cnn.com.
^ Team, ODS. "ODS HOME PAGE" (PDF). documents-dds-ny.un.org.
^ "Secretary-General's Bulletin: Special measures for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse, 2003 – IASC". interagencystandingcommittee.org.
^ "Protection from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation – IASC". interagencystandingcommittee.org.
^ du Pré, Raoul (3 July 2006). "Informateur Lubbers komt even meedenken". De Volkskrant. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
^ (in Dutch) Koningin benoemt Lubbers tot informateur Archived 23 July 2010 at the Wayback Machine
^ DBNL. "Arendo Joustra en Erik van Venetië, Ruud Lubbers. Manager in de politiek · dbnl". DBNL. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
^ "Prof. Drs. R.F.M. Lubbers". www.ruudlubbers.nl. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
^ "Ria Lubbers-Hoogeweegen death notice". NRC (in Dutch). Retrieved 8 June 2024.
^ "Ria Lubbers (83), weduwe van oud-premier Ruud Lubbers, overleden". Nederlandse Omroep Stichting. 8 June 2024. Archived from the original on 9 June 2024. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
^ "Longest-Serving Dutch Premier, Ruud Lubbers, Dies at 78". The New York Times. 14 February 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
^ "Ruud Lubbers, former Dutch prime minister, dies". 14 February 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
^ "Dear Lubbers' family members and Ruud's friends". Mikhail Gorbachev. 15 February 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
^ "Dmitry Medvedev expresses condolences to Prime Minister of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Mark Rutte on the death of former Dutch Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers". The Russian Government. 17 February 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
^ "Pressestatements von Bundeskanzlerin Merkel und dem niederländischen Premierminister Rutte". Bundeskanzleramt. 19 February 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
^ "Secretary-General Extends Heartfelt Condolences on Death of Ruud Lubbers". United Nations. 15 February 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
^ "News comment: Death of former UN High Commissioner for Refugees Ruud Lubbers". United Nations. 15 February 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
^ "Twitter". Jean-Claude Juncker. 15 February 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
^ "De uitvaart van Ruud Lubbers in beeld – Elsevierweekblad.nl". 20 February 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
^ "Uitvaart en begrafenis Lubbers in besloten kring". 20 February 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
^ "Veel staatslieden bij herdenking oud premierRuud Lubbers". www.ad.nl. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
^ "Nieuwe biografie over Ruud Lubbers: 'Hij koos met euthanasie zijn eigen weg'". NOS (in Dutch). 3 November 2024. Retrieved 3 November 2024.

External links

Official

(in Dutch) Dr. R.F.M. (Ruud) Lubbers Parlement & Politiek
(in Dutch) Drs. R.F.M. Lubbers Rijksoverheid
(in Dutch) Kabinet-Lubbers I Rijksoverheid
(in Dutch) Kabinet-Lubbers II Rijksoverheid
(in Dutch) Kabinet-Lubbers III Rijksoverheid

Party political offices
Preceded by Dries van Agt	Leader of the Christian Democratic Appeal 1982–1994	Succeeded by Elco Brinkman
Preceded by Willem Aantjes	Leader of the Christian Democratic Appeal in the House of Representatives 1978–1981	Succeeded by Dries van Agt
Preceded by Dries van Agt	Leader of the Christian Democratic Appeal in the House of Representatives 1981–1982	Succeeded by Bert de Vries
Preceded by Bert de Vries	Leader of the Christian Democratic Appeal in the House of Representatives 1986	Succeeded by Bert de Vries
Preceded by Bert de Vries	Leader of the Christian Democratic Appeal in the House of Representatives 1989	Succeeded by Elco Brinkman
Political offices
Preceded by Harrie Langman	Minister of Economic Affairs 1973–1977	Succeeded by Gijs van Aardenne
Preceded by Dries van Agt	Prime Minister of the Netherlands 1982–1994	Succeeded by Wim Kok
Preceded by Dries van Agt	Minister of General Affairs 1982–1994	Succeeded by Wim Kok
Preceded by Jan de Koning	Minister for Netherlands Antilles and Aruba Affairs Acting 1989	Succeeded by Ernst Hirsch Ballin
Preceded by Ernst Hirsch Ballin	Minister for Netherlands Antilles and Aruba Affairs 1994	Succeeded by Joris Voorhoeve
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Sadako Ogata	United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees 2001–2005	Succeeded by António Guterres
Non-profit organization positions
Preceded by Syed Babar Ali	President of the World Wide Fund for Nature 1999–2001	Succeeded by Sara Morrison
Preceded by Jan Terlouw	Chairman of the Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands 2005–2012	Succeeded by Aad Veenman [nl]

[1] "Longest-serving Dutch prime minister Ruud Lubbers dies". Agence France Presse. 15 February 2018.

[2] (in Dutch) Willem Drees gekozen tot ‘Dé premier na WO II’, Geschiedenis24.nl, 15 January 2006

[3] (in Dutch) NRC-enquête: Drees en Lubbers beste premiers sinds 1900, NRC Handelsblad, 28 September 2013

[4] Colville, Rupert (24 February 2004). "Lubbers welcomes drop in asylum numbers in industrialised countries". United Nations High Commission on Human Rights. Retrieved 14 February 2018.

[5] "General Assembly extends term of UN High Commissioner for Refugees". United Nations. 6 October 2003. Retrieved 14 February 2018.

[6] New York Times 18 May 2004^{[permanent dead link‍]}

[7] Corder, Mike (14 February 2018). "Longest-serving Dutch premier, Ruud Lubbers, dies at 78". News & Observer. Archived from the original on 15 February 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2018.

[8] "OIOS Investigation report" (PDF). Retrieved 18 August 2018.

[Supreme_Court_Annex_1_p.35-9] "Supreme Court Annex 1 p.35" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 May 2008. Retrieved 29 May 2008.

[10] A/59/359* Report of the Office Internal Oversight Services to the UN General Assembly, p. 31^{[permanent dead link‍]}

[11] Lubbers memo pp 2–4 Archived 29 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine Lubbers Memo pp 5–8 Archived 29 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine Lubbers Memo p 9 Archived 29 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine

[12] "DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL AND THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT – Meetings Coverage and Press Releases". www.un.org. Retrieved 18 August 2018.

[13] van der Stoel memo p 1 (after Lubbers p. 9) Archived 29 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine van der Stoel memo pp 2–4 Archived 29 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine

[14] Hoge, Fiona Fleck and Warren (16 July 2004). "Annan Clears Refugee Chief Of Harassment Accusations". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 August 2018.

[15] Guyter, Caroline; van de Roer, Robert (16 April 2005). "Het geheime dossier van Ruud Lubbers (The secret dossier of Ruud Lubbers)". NRC Handelsblad. Retrieved 14 February 2018.

[16] "Harassment, intimidation and secrecy – UN chief engulfed in sex". Independent.co.uk. 18 February 2005. Retrieved 18 August 2018.

[17] Higgins, Alexander G. (20 February 2005). "U.N. refugee chief resigns over sexual harassment scandal". Seattle Times. Retrieved 14 February 2018.

[18] Corder, Mike (14 February 2018). "Ruud Lubbers, long-serving Dutch prime minister who trimmed welfare state, dies at 78". Washington Post. Retrieved 14 February 2018.

[19] "U.N. Official Quits in Harassment Case (washingtonpost.com)". www.washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 18 August 2018.

[20] Resignation letter Archived 29 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine

[21] Geneva Press Conference 2005-10-10^{[permanent dead link‍]}

[22] UNHCR News 25 February 2005 High Commissioner Lubbers departs UNHCR Archived 31 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine

[23] "Balkenende: wrang dat Lubbers opstapt". De Volkskrant. 20 February 2005. Retrieved 14 February 2018.

[24] Refugees, United Nations High Commissioner for. "Note for Implementing and Operational Partners by UNHCR and Save the Children-UK on Sexual Violence & Exploitation: The Experience of Refugee Children in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone".

[25] ttps://www.savethechildren.org.uk/content/dam/global/reports/health-and-nutrition/sexual_violence_and_exploitation_1.pdf ^{[bare URL PDF]}

[26] "CNN.com – Transcripts". edition.cnn.com.

[27] Team, ODS. "ODS HOME PAGE" (PDF). documents-dds-ny.un.org.

[28] "Secretary-General's Bulletin: Special measures for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse, 2003 – IASC". interagencystandingcommittee.org.

[29] "Protection from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation – IASC". interagencystandingcommittee.org.

[30] u Pré, Raoul (3 July 2006). "Informateur Lubbers komt even meedenken". De Volkskrant. Retrieved 14 February 2018.

[31] (in Dutch) Koningin benoemt Lubbers tot informateur Archived 23 July 2010 at the Wayback Machine

[32] DBNL. "Arendo Joustra en Erik van Venetië, Ruud Lubbers. Manager in de politiek · dbnl". DBNL. Retrieved 18 August 2018.

[33] "Prof. Drs. R.F.M. Lubbers". www.ruudlubbers.nl. Retrieved 18 August 2018.

[34] "Ria Lubbers-Hoogeweegen death notice". NRC (in Dutch). Retrieved 8 June 2024.

[nos-35] "Ria Lubbers (83), weduwe van oud-premier Ruud Lubbers, overleden". Nederlandse Omroep Stichting. 8 June 2024. Archived from the original on 9 June 2024. Retrieved 4 July 2024.

[36] "Longest-Serving Dutch Premier, Ruud Lubbers, Dies at 78". The New York Times. 14 February 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2018.

[37] "Ruud Lubbers, former Dutch prime minister, dies". 14 February 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2018.

[38] "Dear Lubbers' family members and Ruud's friends". Mikhail Gorbachev. 15 February 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2018.

[39] "Dmitry Medvedev expresses condolences to Prime Minister of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Mark Rutte on the death of former Dutch Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers". The Russian Government. 17 February 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2018.

[40] "Pressestatements von Bundeskanzlerin Merkel und dem niederländischen Premierminister Rutte". Bundeskanzleramt. 19 February 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2018.

[41] "Secretary-General Extends Heartfelt Condolences on Death of Ruud Lubbers". United Nations. 15 February 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2018.

[42] "News comment: Death of former UN High Commissioner for Refugees Ruud Lubbers". United Nations. 15 February 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2018.

[43] "Twitter". Jean-Claude Juncker. 15 February 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2018.

[44] "De uitvaart van Ruud Lubbers in beeld – Elsevierweekblad.nl". 20 February 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2018.

[45] "Uitvaart en begrafenis Lubbers in besloten kring". 20 February 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2018.

[46] "Veel staatslieden bij herdenking oud premierRuud Lubbers". www.ad.nl. Retrieved 18 August 2018.

[47] "Nieuwe biografie over Ruud Lubbers: 'Hij koos met euthanasie zijn eigen weg'". NOS (in Dutch). 3 November 2024. Retrieved 3 November 2024.

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v t e Third Lubbers cabinet (1989–1994)
Preceded by: Second Lubbers cabinet Succeeded by: First Kok cabinet
Prime Minister	Ruud Lubbers (General Affairs)
Deputy Prime Minister	Wim Kok (Finance)
Ministers	Ien Dales (Interior) (1989–1994) (†) Ernst Hirsch Ballin (Interior) (Ad interim) Ed van Thijn (Interior) (1994) Dieuwke de Graaff-Nauta (Interior) (from 1994) Hans van den Broek (Foreign Affairs) (1989–1993) Pieter Kooijmans (Foreign Affairs) (from 1993) Ernst Hirsch Ballin (Justice) (1989–1994) Aad Kosto (Justice) (from 1994) Koos Andriessen (Economic Affairs) Relus ter Beek (Defence) Hedy d'Ancona (Welfare, Health and Culture) (1989–1994) Jo Ritzen (Welfare, Health and Culture) (Ad interim) Bert de Vries (Social Affairs and Employment) Jo Ritzen (Education and Sciences) Hanja Maij-Weggen (Transport and Water Management) (1989–1994) Koos Andriessen (Transport and Water Management) (Ad interim) Gerrit Braks (Agriculture, Nature and Fisheries) (1989–1990) Bert de Vries (Agriculture, Nature and Fisheries) (Ad interim) Piet Bukman (Agriculture, Nature and Fisheries) (from 1990) Hans Alders (Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment)
Ministers without portfolio	Ruud Lubbers (Netherlands Antilles and Aruba Affairs) (Ad interim) Ernst Hirsch Ballin (Netherlands Antilles and Aruba Affairs) (1989–1994) Ruud Lubbers (Netherlands Antilles and Aruba Affairs) (from 1994) Jan Pronk (Development Cooperation)
State Secretaries	Dieuwke de Graaff-Nauta (Interior) (1989–1994) Piet Dankert (Foreign Affairs) Marius van Amelsvoort (Finance) Aad Kosto (Justice) (1989–1994) Piet Bukman (Economic Affairs) (1989–1990) Yvonne van Rooy (Economic Affairs) (from 1990) Berend-Jan van Voorst tot Voorst (Defence) (1989–1993) Ton Frinking (Defence) (from 1993) Hans Simons (Welfare, Health and Culture) Elske ter Veld (Social Affairs and Employment) (1989–1993) Jacques Wallage (Social Affairs and Employment) (from 1993) Jacques Wallage (Education and Science) (1989–1993) Roel in 't Veld (Education and Science) (1993) Job Cohen (Education and Science) (from 1993) Dzsingisz Gabor (Agriculture, Nature and Fisheries) Enneüs Heerma (Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment)

v t e Second Lubbers cabinet (1986–1989)
Preceded by: First Lubbers cabinet Succeeded by: Third Lubbers cabinet
Prime Minister	Ruud Lubbers (General Affairs)
Deputy Prime Minister	Rudolf de Korte (Economic Affairs)
Ministers	Kees van Dijk (Interior) (1986–1987) Jan de Koning (Interior and Netherlands Antilles and Aruba Affairs) (Ad interim) Kees van Dijk (Interior) (from 1987) Hans van den Broek (Foreign Affairs) Onno Ruding (Finance) Frits Korthals Altes (Justice) Wim van Eekelen (Defence) (1986–1988) Piet Bukman (Defence) (ad interim) Frits Bolkestein (Defence) (from 1988) Elco Brinkman (Welfare, Health and Culture) Jan de Koning (Social Affairs and Employment and Netherlands Antilles and Aruba Affairs) (1986–1987) Louw de Graaf (Social Affairs and Employment) (Ad interim) Jan de Koning (Social Affairs and Employment and Netherlands Antilles and Aruba Affairs) (from 1987) Wim Deetman (Education and Sciences) (1986–1989) Gerrit Braks (Education and Sciences) (Ad interim) Neelie Kroes (Transport and Water Management) Gerrit Braks (Agriculture and Fisheries) Ed Nijpels (Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment)
Minister without portfolio	Piet Bukman (Development Cooperation)
State Secretaries	Dieuwke de Graaff-Nauta (Interior) René van der Linden (Foreign Affairs) (1986–1988) Berend-Jan van Voorst tot Voorst (Foreign Affairs) (from 1988) Henk Koning (Finance) Virginie Korte-van Hemel (Justice) Enneüs Heerma (Economic Affairs) (1986) Yvonne van Rooy (Economic Affairs) (from 1986) Albert-Jan Evenhuis (Economic Affairs) (1986–1989) Jan van Houwelingen (Defence) Dick Dees (Welfare, Health and Culture) Louw de Graaf (Social Affairs and Employment) Nell Ginjaar-Maas (Education and Sciences) Gerrit Brokx (Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment) (1986) Enneüs Heerma (Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment) (from 1986)

v t e First Lubbers cabinet (1982–1986)
Preceded by: Third Van Agt cabinet Succeeded by: Second Lubbers cabinet
Prime Minister	Ruud Lubbers (General Affairs)
Deputy Prime Minister	Gijs van Aardenne (Economic Affairs)
Ministers	Koos Rietkerk (Interior) (1982–1986) (†) Frits Korthals Altes (Interior) (Ad interim) Rudolf de Korte (Interior) (from 1986) Hans van den Broek (Foreign Affairs) Onno Ruding (Finance) Frits Korthals Altes (Justice) Job de Ruiter (Defence) Elco Brinkman (Welfare, Health and Culture) Jan de Koning (Social Affairs and Employment and Netherlands Antilles and Aruba Affairs) Wim Deetman (Education and Sciences) Neelie Kroes (Transport and Water Management) Gerrit Braks (Agriculture and Fisheries) Pieter Winsemius (Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment)
Minister without portfolio	Eegje Schoo (Development Cooperation)
State Secretaries	Marius van Amelsvoort (Interior) Wim van Eekelen (Foreign Affairs) Henk Koning (Finance) Virginie Korte-van Hemel (Justice) Piet van Zeil (Economic Affairs) Frits Bolkestein (Economic Affairs) Jan van Houwelingen (Defence) Charl Schwietert (Defence) (1982) Willem Hoekzema (Defence) (from 1982) Joop van der Reijden (Welfare, Health and Culture) Louw de Graaf (Social Affairs and Employment) Annelien Kappeyne van de Coppello (Social Affairs and Employment) Nell Ginjaar-Maas (Education and Sciences) Gerard van Leijenhorst (Education and Sciences) Jaap Scherpenhuizen (Transport and Water Management) Ad Ploeg (Agriculture and Fisheries) Gerrit Brokx (Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment)

v t e Den Uyl cabinet (1973–1977)
Preceded: Second Biesheuvel cabinet Succeed: First Van Agt cabinet
Prime Minister	Joop den Uyl (General Affairs)
Deputy Prime Ministers	Dries van Agt (Justice) (1973–1977) Gaius de Gaay Fortman (Justice) (from 1977)
Ministers	Gaius de Gaay Fortman (Interior and Suriname and Netherlands Antilles Affairs) Max van der Stoel (Foreign Affairs) Wim Duisenberg (Finance) Ruud Lubbers (Economic Affairs) Henk Vredeling (Defence) (1973–1977) Bram Stemerdink (Defence) (from 1977) Irene Vorrink (Health and the Environment) Jaap Boersma (Social Affairs) Jos van Kemenade (Education and Sciences) Tjerk Westerterp (Transport and Water Management) Tiemen Brouwer (Agriculture and Fisheries) (1973) Fons van der Stee (Agriculture and Fisheries) (from 1973) Hans Gruijters (Housing and Spatial Planning) Harry van Doorn (Culture, Recreation and Social Work)
Ministers without portfolio	Jan Pronk (Development Cooperation) Boy Trip (Science Policy)
State Secretaries	Wim Polak (Interior) (1973–1977) Laurens Jan Brinkhorst (Foreign Affairs) (1973–1977) Pieter Kooijmans (Foreign Affairs) Fons van der Stee (Finance) (1973) Martin van Rooijen (Finance) (1973–1977) Aar de Goede (Finance) Jan Glastra van Loon (Justice) (1973–1975) Henk Zeevalking (Justice) (1975–1977) Ted Hazekamp (Economic Affairs) Joep Mommersteeg (Defence) (1973–1974) Cees van Lent (Defence) (from 1974) Bram Stemerdink (Defence) (1973–1977) Jo Hendriks (Health and the Environment) Jan Mertens (Social Affairs) Ger Klein (Education and Sciences) (1973–1977) Antoon Veerman (Education and Sciences) (1973–1975) Klaas de Jong (Education and Sciences) (from 1975) Michel van Hulten (Transport and Water Management) Jan Schaefer (Housing and Spatial Planning) (1973–1977) Marcel van Dam (Housing and Spatial Planning) (1973–1977) Wim Meijer (Culture, Recreation and Social Work) (1973–1977)

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