Ad Melkert

Adrianus Petrus Wilhelmus "Ad" Melkert (Dutch: [ˈɑt ˈmɛlkərt] (listen); born 12 February 1956) is a Dutch politician and diplomat of the Labour Party (PvdA) and nonprofit director. He is a Extraordinary Member of the Council of State since 20 January 2016 and a Member of the Social and Economic Council since 1 April 2019. Melkert worked as an political activist from 1979 until 1983 and as a nonprofit director for Oxfam Novib from 1983 until 1986. Melkert was elected as a Member of the House of Representatives after the election of 1986, taking office on 3 June 1986. After the election of 1994 Melkert was appointed as Minister of Social Affairs and Employment in the Cabinet Kok I, taking office on 22 August 1994. After the election of 1998 Melkert returned as a Member of the House of Representatives, taking office on 19 May 1998. Following the cabinet formation of 1998 Melkert per his own request asked not to be considered for ministerial post in the new cabinet as he was seen as the favorite son to succeed Wim Kok as the next Leader of the Labour Party for the next election and was subsequently selected as the Parliamentary leader of the Labour Party in the House of Representatives, taking office on 10 July 1998. The Cabinet Kok I was replaced by the Cabinet Kok II on 3 August 1998. In December 2001 Wim Kok as expected announced his retirement from national politics and that he would not stand for the election of 2002. Melkert was unopposed in his candidacy for the Labour Party leadership and succeeded Wim Kok as Leader on 15 December 2001 and became the Lijsttrekker (top candidate) of the Labour Party for the election. The Labour Party sufferd the biggest loss in its history, losing 22 seats and fell back to the fourth largest party and now had 23 seats in the House of Representatives. Melkert took responsibility for the defeat and sequentially announced he was stepping down as Leader and Parliamentary leader on 16 May 2002 but continued to serve as a backbencher.