Dries van Agt

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Dries van Agt
Van Agt in 1980
Prime Minister of the Netherlands
In office 19 December 1977 – 4 November 1982
Monarchs	Juliana Beatrix
Deputy	See list Hans Wiegel (1977–1981) Joop den Uyl (1981–1982) Jan Terlouw (1981–1982)
Preceded by	Joop den Uyl
Succeeded by	Ruud Lubbers
Ambassador of the European Union to the United States
In office 1 January 1990 – 1 April 1995
Preceded by	Roy Denman
Succeeded by	Hugo Paemen
Ambassador of the European Union to Japan
In office 1 January 1987 – 1 January 1990
Preceded by	Laurens Jan Brinkhorst
Succeeded by	Jean-Pierre Leng
Queen's Commissioner of North Brabant
In office 1 June 1983 – 22 April 1987
Monarch	Beatrix
Preceded by	Jan Dirk van der Harten
Succeeded by	Frank Houben
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office 28 May 1982 – 4 November 1982
Prime Minister	Himself
Preceded by	Max van der Stoel
Succeeded by	Hans van den Broek
Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives
In office 10 June 1981 – 24 August 1981
Preceded by	Ruud Lubbers
Succeeded by	Ruud Lubbers
In office 8 June 1977 – 19 December 1977
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Willem Aantjes
Parliamentary group	Christian Democratic Appeal
Leader of the Christian Democratic Appeal
In office 10 December 1976 – 25 October 1982
Deputy	See list Willem Aantjes (1976–1978) Ruud Lubbers (1978–1982)
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Ruud Lubbers
Deputy Prime Minister
In office 11 May 1973 – 8 September 1977
Prime Minister	Joop den Uyl
Preceded by	Roelof Nelissen Molly Geertsema
Succeeded by	Gaius de Gaay Fortman
Member of the House of Representatives
In office 16 September 1982 – 16 June 1983
In office 10 June 1981 – 9 September 1981
In office 8 June 1977 – 19 December 1977
In office 23 January 1973 – 22 April 1973
Parliamentary group	Christian Democratic Appeal (1981–1983) Catholic People's Party (1973–1977)
Minister of Justice
In office 6 July 1971 – 8 September 1977
Prime Minister	Barend Biesheuvel Joop den Uyl
Preceded by	Carel Polak
Succeeded by	Gaius de Gaay Fortman
Personal details
Born	Andreas Antonius Maria van Agt (1931-02-02)2 February 1931 Geldrop, Netherlands
Died	5 February 2024(2024-02-05) (aged 93) Nijmegen, Netherlands
Political party	Christian Democratic Appeal (1980–2021)
Other political affiliations	Catholic People's Party (until 1980)
Spouse	Eugenie Krekelberg
Children	3
Residence(s)	Nijmegen, Netherlands
Alma mater	Radboud University Nijmegen (LL.B., LL.M.)
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Andreas Antonius Maria "Dries" van Agt (Dutch: [ˈdris fɑn ˈɑxt] ^ⓘ;^[1] 2 February 1931 – 5 February 2024) was a Dutch politician, jurist and diplomat who served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 19 December 1977 until 4 November 1982. He was a prominent leader of the Catholic People's Party (KVP) and later its successor party, the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA).

Van Agt was known for his abilities as a skillful debater and negotiator. During his premiership, his cabinets were responsible for several major public sector and civil service reforms and further reducing the deficit following the recession in the 1980s. Van Agt continued to comment on political affairs as a statesman until he suffered a major stroke in May 2019 which forced him to undergo rehabilitation. He held the distinction as the oldest living and earliest serving former prime minister following the death of Piet de Jong in July 2016, until his own death in February 2024.