Hans Wiegel

Hans Wiegel (Dutch: [ɦɑns ˈʋiɣəl]; 16 July 1941 – 19 May 2025) was a Dutch politician of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and businessman.

Wiegel studied Law at the University of Amsterdam before switching to Political science obtaining a Bachelor of Social Science degree and worked as a freelance political pundit from July 1965 until April 1967. Wiegel also served as chairman of the Youth Organisation Freedom and Democracy from November 1965 until October 1966. Wiegel became a member of the House of Representatives shortly after the 1967 general election, taking office on 18 April 1967. After the 1971 general election, party leader and parliamentary leader Molly Geertsema was appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior in the Biesheuvel I cabinet, and announced he was stepping down. Wiegel was unanimously selected as his successor, taking office on 1 July 1971. For the 1972 and 1977 general elections, Wiegel served as lead candidate, and following a successful cabinet formation with Christian Democratic leader Dries van Agt formed the Van Agt–Wiegel cabinet, with Wiegel appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior taking office on 19 December 1977.

For the 1981 general election, Wiegel again served as lead candidate, but the following cabinet formation resulted in a coalition between the Christian Democrats and the Labour Party, and Weigel returned to the House of Representatives as parliamentary leader on 25 August 1981. In April 1982, Wiegel unexpectedly announced he was stepping down as leader following his nomination as the next Queen's Commissioner of Friesland and endorsed "rising star" Ed Nijpels as his successor. He served as Queen's Commissioner from 16 June 1982 until 1 February 1994. Wiegel also became active in the private and public sectors as a corporate and non-profit director, served on several state commissions and councils on behalf of the government, and worked as a trade association executive serving as chairman of the Dutch Brewers Association from August 1984 until November 2012, the Dutch Healthcare Insurance Association from February 1994 until February 2012 and the Dutch Travel Companies Association from May 1994 until June 1995 and as vice chairman of the employers' organisation VNO-NCW from May 2008 until February 2012. Wiegel continued to be active in politics and was elected to the Senate after the 1995 Senate election, taking office on 13 June 1995. In March 2000, Wiegel unexpectedly announced his retirement and resigned from the Senate on 1 April 2000.

Wiegel semi-retired from active politics at 58 but continued to be active in the private and public sectors as a corporate and non-profit director and lobbyist. He worked as a occasional mediator for coalition agreements and political crises, and as a political pundit and columnist for De Telegraaf, Algemeen Dagblad and WNL. Wiegel was known for his abilities as a skilful debater and effective negotiator and continued to comment on political affairs as a statesman until he suffered a minor stroke in August 2019 which forced him to undergo rehabilitation. He holds the distinction as the second youngest-serving party leader and parliamentary leader at the age of 29 and the youngest-serving Deputy Prime Minister at the age of 36.