Former Dutch Prime Minister Dries van Agt and his spouse die ‘hand in hand’ by euthanasia at age 93
THE HAGUE (AP) — Dries van Agt, the Christian Democrat prime minister of the Netherlands from 1977 till 1982, has died by euthanasia, “hand in hand” collectively together with his spouse, in accordance with the human rights group he based. They each have been 93.
The information was made public on Friday by The Rights Discussion board, which mentioned the couple died Monday and and can be buried in a personal ceremony within the jap metropolis of Nijmegen.
“He died hand in hand together with his beloved spouse Eugenie van Agt-Krekelberg, the help and anchor with whom he was collectively for greater than 70 years and whom he at all times continued to check with as ‘my woman,’” the non-profit group mentioned in an announcement.
The 2 each had been in fragile well being for a while. In 2019, Van Agt suffered a mind hemorrhage whereas giving a speech at a commemoration occasion for Palestinians and by no means absolutely recovered.
A Christian Democrat from conventional Dutch inventory, Van Agt grew to become more and more progressive after he departed politics, in the end leaving his occasion in 2017 over ideological variations with the center-right Christian Democratic Attraction’s method to Israel and the Palestinians.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who referred to Van Agt as his “great-great-grandfather in workplace,” spoke extremely of the previous politician.
“Together with his flowery and distinctive language, his clear convictions and his placing presentation, Dries van Agt gave shade and substance to Dutch politics in a time of polarization and occasion renewal,” Rutte mentioned in an announcement.
The Dutch royal household additionally praised him. “He took administrative duty in a turbulent time and managed to encourage many together with his placing character and colourful type,” King Willem-Alexander, Queen Máxima and Princess Beatrix mentioned in a joint assertion.
Van Agt was identified for his archaic references and grandiose language, in addition to his ardour for biking. He was pressured to give up that interest in 2019 after a fall.
Along with the right-wing Liberal Occasion, the Christian Democrat Attraction ruled the Netherlands with Van Agt as prime minister from 1977 till 1981. After elections, he once more grew to become prime minister, forming a coalition with the Labor Occasion and the centrist Democrats 66 in a authorities that held for a yr.
Following a go to to Israel in 1999, he grew to become more and more vocal about his help for the Palestinian individuals. He referred to his expertise of the journey as a “conversion.”
In 2009, he based The Rights Discussion board, which advocates for a “simply and sustainable Dutch and European coverage concerning the Palestine/Israel subject,” in accordance with the non-profit group.
He’s survived by his three youngsters.
