Alexander Pechtold

Alexander Pechtold
Pechtold in 2013
Leader of the Democrats 66 in the House of Representatives
In office 30 November 2006 – 10 October 2018
Preceded by	Lousewies van der Laan
Succeeded by	Rob Jetten
Member of the House of Representatives
In office 30 November 2006 – 10 October 2018
Leader of the Democrats 66
In office 24 June 2006 – 6 October 2018
Preceded by	Boris Dittrich
Succeeded by	Sigrid Kaag (2020)
Minister for the Interior
In office 31 March 2005 – 3 July 2006
Prime Minister	Jan Peter Balkenende
Preceded by	Thom de Graaf
Succeeded by	Atzo Nicolaï
Mayor of Wageningen
In office 1 October 2003 – 31 March 2005
Preceded by	Geke Faber
Succeeded by	Chris Rutten (ad Interim)
Chair of the Democrats 66
In office 16 November 2002 – 31 March 2005
Leader	Thom de Graaf (2002–2003) Boris Dittrich (2003–2005)
Preceded by	Gerard Schouw
Succeeded by	Jan Hoekema (ad Interim)
Personal details
Born	Alexander Pechtold (1965-12-16) 16 December 1965 (age 58) Delft, Netherlands
Political party	Democrats 66 (since 1989)
Spouse	Froukje Idema ​ ​ (m. 1997; div. 2018)​
Children	One son, one daughter
Residence(s)	Scheveningen, The Hague, Netherlands
Alma mater	Leiden University (BA, MA)
Occupation	Politician · Civil servant · Auctioneer · Art historian

Alexander Pechtold (born 16 December 1965) is a retired Dutch politician and art historian. He is a member of Democrats 66.

Pechtold studied Archaeology and History of Dutch Art at Leiden University, and obtained a Master of Arts degree. Pechtold worked as an auctioneer in The Hague from July 1992 until June 1996 and as an Alderman in Leiden from June 1996 until October 2003. Pechtold served as Chairman of the Democrats 66 from 16 November 2002 until 31 March 2005. In September 2003, Pechtold was nominated as the next mayor of Wageningen taking office on 1 October 2003. Pechtold was appointed as Minister without Portfolio for the Interior in the second Balkenende cabinet following a cabinet reshuffle, taking office on 31 March 2005. After Party Leader Boris Dittrich announced he was stepping down, Pechtold announced his candidacy and was elected as his successor on 24 June 2006. The cabinet fell just a year later, and he resigned on 3 July 2006.

For the 2006 general election, Pechtold served as lead candidate and was elected to the House of Representatives, becoming Parliamentary leader on 30 November 2006. For the 2010, 2012 and 2017 general elections, Pechtold served as lead candidate again, and following a successful cabinet formation in 2017 with the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) and the Christian Union formed the third Rutte cabinet, with Pechtold opting to remain as Parliamentary leader. In October 2018 Pechtold unexpectedly announced his retirement from national politics and stepped down as leader and Parliamentary leader on 10 October 2018.