Editing Gerrit Zalm

{{Short description|Dutch politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix    = 
| name                = Gerrit Zalm
| image               = Gerrit Zalm 2006.jpg
| caption             = Zalm in 2006
| office              = [[List of Ministers of Economic Affairs of the Netherlands|Minister of Economic Affairs]]
| term_start          = 3 July 2006
| term_end            = 7 July 2006 <br/> ''Acting''
| primeminister       = [[Jan Peter Balkenende]]
| predecessor         = [[Laurens Jan Brinkhorst]]
| successor           = [[Joop Wijn]]
| office1             = [[Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands]]
| term_start1         = 27 May 2003
| term_end1           = 22 February 2007
| alongside1          = [[Thom de Graaf]] (2003–2005) <br/> [[Laurens Jan Brinkhorst]] (2005–2006)
| primeminister1      = [[Jan Peter Balkenende]]
| predecessor1        = [[Johan Remkes]] <br/> [[Roelf de Boer]]
| successor1          = [[Wouter Bos]] <br/> [[André Rouvoet]]
| office2             = [[Parliamentary leader]] in the <br/> [[House of Representatives (Netherlands)|House of Representatives]]
| term_start2         = 23 May 2002
| term_end2           = 27 May 2003
| predecessor2        = [[Hans Dijkstal]]
| successor2          = [[Jozias van Aartsen]]
| parliamentarygroup2 = [[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy|People's Party for <br/> Freedom and Democracy]]
| office3             = [[Leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy|Leader of the People's Party <br/> for Freedom and Democracy]]
| term_start3         = 16 May 2002
| term_end3           = 27 November 2004
| predecessor3        = [[Hans Dijkstal]]
| successor3          = [[Jozias van Aartsen]]
| office4             = Member of the [[House of Representatives (Netherlands)|House of Representatives]]
| term_start4         = 23 May 2002
| term_end4           = 27 May 2003
| term_start5         = 19 May 1998
| term_end5           = 3 August 1998
| office6             = [[List of Ministers of Finance of the Netherlands|Minister of Finance]]
| term_start6         = 27 May 2003
| term_end6           = 22 February 2007
| primeminister6      = [[Jan Peter Balkenende]]
| predecessor6        = [[Hans Hoogervorst]]
| successor6          = [[Wouter Bos]]
| term_start7         = 26 June 1996
| term_end7           = 22 July 2002
| primeminister7      = [[Wim Kok]]
| predecessor7        = [[Hans Wijers]] (''ad interim'')
| successor7          = Hans Hoogervorst
| term_start8         = 22 August 1994
| term_end8           = 4 June 1996
| primeminister8      = Wim Kok
| predecessor8        = Wim Kok
| successor8          = Hans Wijers (''ad interim'')
| office9             = Director of the <br/> [[Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis]]
| term_start9         = 1 January 1989
| term_end9           = 22 August 1994
| predecessor9        = [[Peter de Ridder]]
| successor9          = Henk Don
| birthname           = Gerrit Zalm
| birth_date          = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1952|05|06}}
| birth_place         = [[Enkhuizen]], Netherlands
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| party               = [[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy]] (from 1982)
| otherparty          = [[Labour Party (Netherlands)|Labour Party]] (1971–1981)
| spouse              = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|First wife|1971|1978|reason=divorced}}
* {{marriage|Lydia Brouwer|1982}}
}}
| children            = 3 sons and 2 daughters
| relatives           = [[Pier Gerlofs Donia]] <br/> (relative)
| residence           = 
| alma_mater          = [[Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam]] <br/> ([[Bachelor of Economics|BEc]], [[Master of Economics|M.Econ]])
| occupation          = {{hlist|[[Politician]]|[[Civil service|civil servant]]|[[economist]]|[[businessperson]]|[[bank]]er|[[Board of directors|corporate director]]|[[Nonprofit organization|nonprofit director]]|[[author]]|[[professor]]}}
| signature           = 
}}

'''Gerrit Zalm''' ({{IPA|nl|ˈɣɛrɪt ˈsɑl(ə)m|lang}}; born 6 May 1952) is a retired [[Dutch people|Dutch]] politician of the [[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy]] (VVD) and businessman.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/1992/09/14/de-enige-linkse-liberaal-van-nederland-profiel-van-7155912-a664615|title=De enige linkse liberaal van Nederland|newspaper=NRC |date=14 September 1992|publisher=NRC Handelsblad|access-date=21 July 2017|language=nl |last1=Banning |first1=Cees |last2=Calje |first2=Kees }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nu.nl/algemeen/43172/gerrit-zalm-is-de-nieuwe-vvd-leider.html|title=Gerrit Zalm is de nieuwe VVD-leider|date=16 May 2002|publisher=NU.nl|access-date=21 July 2017|language=nl}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.volkskrant.nl/binnenland/kabinet-balkenende-ii-is-zo-goed-als-rond~a736386/|title=Kabinet-Balkenende II is zo goed als rond|date=22 May 2003|publisher=Trouw|access-date=21 July 2017|language=nl}}</ref>

Zalm studied [[Economics]] at the [[Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam]], obtaining a [[Master of Economics]] degree, and worked as a civil servant for the [[Ministry of Finance (Netherlands)|Ministry of Finance]], the [[Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy (Netherlands)|Ministry of Economic Affairs]] and the [[Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis]] from June 1975 until August 1994, and as a professor of [[Political economy]] at his alma mater from January 1990 until August 1994. After the [[1994 Dutch general election|1994 general election]], Zalm was appointed [[List of Ministers of Finance of the Netherlands|Minister of Finance]] in the [[First Kok cabinet|Kok I cabinet]], taking office on 22 August 1994. After the [[1998 Dutch general election|1998 general election]], Zalm continued his position in the [[Second Kok cabinet|Kok II cabinet]]. In the [[2002 Dutch general election|2002 general election]], Zalm was elected to the [[House of Representatives (Netherlands)|House of Representatives]] on 23 May 2002. Shortly after the election, [[Leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy|party leader]] and [[parliamentary leader]] [[Hans Dijkstal]] announced he was stepping down and Zalm was unanimously selected as his successor as leader on 16 May 2002, and became parliamentary leader on 23 May 2002. For the [[2003 Dutch general election|2003 general election]], Zalm served as [[lead candidate]], and following a successful cabinet formation that formed the [[Second Balkenende cabinet|Balkenende II cabinet]] was appointed as [[Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands]] and Minister of Finance, taking office on 27 May 2003. On 27 November 2004 Zalm announced he was stepping down as party leader in favor of and parliamentary leader [[Jozias van Aartsen]]. The Balkenende II cabinet fell on 30 June 2006 and was replaced by the [[Caretaker government|caretaker]] [[Third Balkenende cabinet|Balkenende III cabinet]], with Zalm continuing his offices. In August 2006, Zalm announced his retirement, stating he would not stand for the [[2006 Dutch general election|2006 general election]].

Zalm retired from active politics at 54 and became active in the private sector as a corporate director, and worked as a banker for the [[DSB Bank]], [[Fortis Bank Nederland|Fortis Bank]] and [[ABN AMRO]] from July 2007 until February 2017. Following his retirement Zalm became active in the [[public sector]] as a non-profit director and served on several [[:nl:Staatscommissie|state commissions]] and councils on behalf of the government, and worked as a occasional mediator for coalition agreements. Zalm is known for his abilities as a skilful manager and effective debater and as of {{Currentyear}} continues to comment on political affairs. He holds the distinction as the longest-serving Minister of Finance, with 11 years and 240 days, in Dutch history.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nu.nl/economie/4320611/gerrit-zalm-stopt-eerder-dan-verwacht-bij-abn-amro.html|title=Gerrit Zalm stopt eerder dan verwacht bij ABN Amro|date=13 September 2016|publisher=NU.nl|access-date=21 July 2017|language=nl}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.trouw.nl/home/zalm-op-een-na-beste-minister-van-financien~ad2b6003/|title=Zalm op een na beste minister van Financiën|date=1 November 2006|publisher=Trouw|access-date=21 July 2017|language=nl}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.historischnieuwsblad.nl/nl/artikel/25202/verkiezing-van-de-beste-minister-van-financien.html|title=Verkiezing van de Beste Minister van Financiën|date=15 May 2009|publisher=Historisch Nieuwsblad|access-date=21 July 2017|language=nl}}</ref>

==Biography==
===Early life===
Gerrit Zalm was born on 6 May 1952 in [[Enkhuizen]], Netherlands. Following his graduation from high school ("HBS-A" level) in Enkhuizen, Zalm began a study in economics at the [[Vrije Universiteit]] in Amsterdam, from which he graduated in 1975. In the same year he joined the [[Ministry of Finance (Netherlands)|Ministry of Finance]]. From 1983 he worked for the [[Ministry of Economic Affairs (Netherlands)|Ministry of Economic Affairs]], where he eventually became a director. In 1988 he was appointed deputy director of the [[Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis|Centraal Planbureau]], a state institution that, among other things, calculates the financial effects of government plans. In 1989 he became director of this institute. In that capacity Zalm had, although not formally a politician, a significant influence on politics. From 1990 he also gave lectures at the [[Vrije Universiteit]].

[[File:Directeuren, commissies, Bestanddeelnr 934-4592.jpg|thumb|left|Director of the Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis Gerrit Zalm during a press conference in The Hague on 24 May 1989.]]

===Politics===
Between 22 August 1994 and 22 July 2002, Zalm, member of the [[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy]], was Minister of Finance in the first and second [[Wim Kok]] administrations. The Dutch economy being very healthy during those years, he did not experience large difficulties. However, he did introduce certain standards that are in effect until now, among which the Zalmnorm (Zalm standard) which describes a state policy by which the state does not respond extremely to economic fluctuations but just counteracts them. During the first, short [[Jan Peter Balkenende|Balkenende]] administration, Zalm was the acting leader of the [[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy]] group in parliament. On 27 May 2003 he started his third term as [[Ministry of Finance (Netherlands)|Minister of Finance]], in the second Balkenende administration, also serving as Deputy Prime Minister. On 30 June 2006, he succeeded [[Laurens Jan Brinkhorst]] as Minister of Economic Affairs, ad interim, with most tasks delegated to Undersecretary [[Karien van Gennip]]. On 7 July 2006 [[Joop Wijn]] was appointed as the new [[Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Environment (Netherlands)|Minister of Economic Affairs]].

===Banking===
On 26 November 2006, Zalm announced in the Sunday morning talk show ''Buitenhof'' that he would step down from politics and would probably seek employment in the private sector. Three months after his 2007 retirement from politics, Zalm went to work for [[DSB Bank]], a company that he had criticized in his earlier role as finance minister for what he considered misleading advertising for consumer credit. He initially held the position of chief economist, but quickly became CFO of the faltering bank after the Dutch central bank [[De Nederlandsche Bank|DNB]] had threatened to curtail DSB's financial autonomy.

On 21 November 2008 it was announced by Prime minister [[Jan Peter Balkenende]] that Zalm will be the new CEO of the bank resulting from the merger of ABN and Fortis Netherlands, two recently nationalized banks. This new position came under scrutiny after Zalm's previous employer DSB went bankrupt in 2009. The [[Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets]] (AFM) and the central bank both investigated Zalm's role in DSB's final years, with AFM concluding that he was "not competent" and should be dismissed from ABN AMRO's board, while DNB decided to keep Zalm in his position.

===Personal===
Zalm is a fan of the game of [[pinball]] and during his second term as [[Ministry of Finance (Netherlands)|Minister of Finance]] he had a pinball machine in his department. He is an honorary member of the Dutch Pinball Association.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.trouw.nl/home/twintig-jaar-pinball-in-de-polder~a03ceb02/|title=Twintig jaar pinball in de Polder|date=8 October 2012|publisher=Trouw|access-date=10 December 2012|language=nl}}</ref> In 2004 he had a [[cameo appearance]] in the movie ''[[:nl:Cool!|Cool!]]'' by [[Theo van Gogh (film director)|Theo van Gogh]]. In January 2019, in an episode of the Dutch version of ''[[Who Do You Think You Are? (UK TV series)|Who Do You Think You Are?]]'', it became known that Zalm is related to rebel leader and pirate [[Pier Gerlofs Donia]], through his mother's family.

==Decorations==
{| class="wikitable" style="width:60%;"
|+ Honours
! style="width:80px;"| Ribbon bar !! Honour !! Country !! Date !! Comment
|-
| [[File:GER Bundesverdienstkreuz 5 GrVK Stern.svg|80px]] 
| [[Order (distinction)|Knight Commander]] of the [[Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany|Order of Merit]]
| [[Germany]]
| 21 March 1996
| 
|-
| [[File:BEL Order of Leopold II - Grand Cross BAR.png|80px]]
| [[Grand Cross]] of the [[Order of Leopold II]]
| [[Belgium]]
| 24 December 1999
| 
|-
| [[File:Ordre de la couronne de Chene GO ribbon.svg|80px]]
| [[Order (distinction)|Grand Officer]] of the [[Order of the Oak Crown]]
| [[Luxembourg]]
| 10 December 2003
| 
|-
| [[File:Cordone di gran Croce OMRI BAR.svg|80px]]
| [[Grand Cross|Knight Grand Cross]] of the [[Order of Merit of the Italian Republic|Order of Merit]]
| [[Italy]]
| 15 September 2005
| 
|-
| [[File:Legion Honneur GO ribbon.svg|80px]]
| [[Order (distinction)|Grand Officer]] of the [[Legion of Honour]]
| [[France]]
| 8 May 2006
| 
|-
| [[File:Order of Orange-Nassau ribbon - Commander.svg|80px]]
| [[Order (distinction)|Commander]] of the [[Order of Orange-Nassau]]
| Netherlands
| 11 April 2007	
| <small>Elevated from Officer (10 December 2002)</small>
|-
| [[File:BEL Kroonorde Grootofficier BAR.svg|80px]] 
| [[Order (distinction)|Grand Officer]] of the [[Order of the Crown (Belgium)|Order of the Crown]]
| Belgium
| 1 August 2010
| 
|}

==Honorary degrees==
{| class="wikitable" style="width:60%;"
|+ [[Honorary degree|Honorary degrees]]
! University !! Field !! Country !! Date !! Comment
|-
| [[Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam]]
| [[Economics]]
| Netherlands
| 20 October 2008
| 
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}

;Official
* [http://www.parlement.com/id/vg09lldw6vzx/g_gerrit_zalm Dr. G. (Gerrit) Zalm] Parlement & Politiek {{in lang|nl}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-ppo}}
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{{s-ttl|title=[[Leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy|Leader of the <br/> People's Party for Freedom and Democracy]]|years=2002–2004}} 
{{s-aft|after=[[Jozias van Aartsen]]|rows=2}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Parliamentary leader]] of the <br/> [[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy]] <br/> in the [[House of Representatives (Netherlands)|House of Representatives]]|years=2002–2003}} 
{{s-bef|before=[[Hans Dijkstal]] <br/> [[2002 Dutch general election|2002]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Lead candidate]] of the <br/> [[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy]]|years=[[2003 Dutch general election|2003]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Mark Rutte]] <br/> [[2006 Dutch general election|2006]]}}
{{s-off}}
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{{s-ttl|title=[[Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands]]|years=2003–2007|alongside=[[Thom de Graaf]] <small>(2003–2005)</small> <br/> [[Laurens Jan Brinkhorst]] <small>(2005–2006)</small>}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Wouter Bos]] <br/> [[André Rouvoet]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Laurens Jan Brinkhorst]]}} 
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of Ministers of Economic Affairs of the Netherlands|Minister of Economic Affairs]] <br/> <small>''Ad interim''</small>|years=2006}} 
{{s-aft|after=[[Joop Wijn]]}}
{{s-civ}}
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{{s-ttl|title=Director of the <br/> [[Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis]]|years=1989–1994}} 
{{s-aft|after=Henk Don}}
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{{s-ttl|title=Chairman of the [[supervisory board]] of <br/> [[Statistics Netherlands]]|years=2017–present}} 
{{s-inc}}
{{s-bus}}
{{s-break}}
{{s-vac|unknown}}
{{s-ttl|title=CFO of the [[DSB Bank]]|years=2007–2009}} 
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{{s-new|rows=2}}
{{s-ttl|title=CEO and Chairman of the [[board of directors]] of <br/> [[Fortis Bank Nederland]]|years=2010}} 
{{s-non|reason=Office discontinued}}
|-
{{s-ttl|title=CEO and Chairman of the [[board of directors]] of the <br/> [[ABN AMRO Group]]|years=2010–2017}} 
{{s-aft|after=Kees van Dijkhuizen}}
{{s-break}}
{{s-vac|unknown}}
{{s-ttl|title=Vice Chairman of the [[supervisory board]] of the <br/> [[Danske Bank]]|years=2019–present}} 
{{s-inc}}
{{s-end}}

{{Ministers of Economic Affairs of the Netherlands}}
{{Deputy Prime Ministers of the Netherlands}}
{{Ministers of Finance of the Netherlands}}
{{Third Balkenende cabinet}}
{{Second Balkenende cabinet}}
{{Second Kok cabinet}}
{{First Kok cabinet}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zalm, Gerrit}}
[[Category:1952 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Commanders of the Order of Orange-Nassau]]
[[Category:Danske Bank people]]
[[Category:Deputy prime ministers of the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Directors of the Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis]]
[[Category:Directors of Shell plc]]
[[Category:Dutch agnostics]]
[[Category:Dutch autobiographers]]
[[Category:Dutch bankers]]
[[Category:Dutch chief executives in the finance industry]]
[[Category:Dutch corporate directors]]
[[Category:Dutch financial advisors]]
[[Category:Dutch financial analysts]]
[[Category:Dutch MPs 1998–2002]]
[[Category:Dutch MPs 2002–2003]]
[[Category:Dutch MPs 2003–2006]]
[[Category:Dutch people of Scottish descent]]
[[Category:Financial economists]]
[[Category:Grand Officers of the Legion of Honour]]
[[Category:Grand Officers of the Order of the Crown (Belgium)]]
[[Category:Knights Commander of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany]]
[[Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic]]
[[Category:Leaders of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy]]
[[Category:Members of the Social and Economic Council]]
[[Category:Ministers of economic affairs of the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Ministers of finance of the Netherlands]]
[[Category:People from Enkhuizen]]
[[Category:Politicians from The Hague]]
[[Category:People's Party for Freedom and Democracy politicians]]
[[Category:Pinball players]]
[[Category:Political economists]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Grand Cross of the Order of Leopold II]]
[[Category:Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam alumni]]
[[Category:Academic staff of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam]]
[[Category:ABN AMRO people]]
[[Category:20th-century Dutch civil servants]]
[[Category:20th-century Dutch economists]]
[[Category:20th-century Dutch educators]]
[[Category:20th-century Dutch politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century Dutch businesspeople]]
[[Category:21st-century Dutch economists]]
[[Category:21st-century Dutch educators]]
[[Category:21st-century Dutch male writers]]
[[Category:21st-century Dutch politicians]]
[[Category:First Kok cabinet members]]