This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/15/obituaries/ruud-lubbers-former-dutch-prime-minister-is-dead-at-78.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Ruud Lubbers, Former Dutch Prime Minister, Is Dead at 78 Ruud Lubbers, Former Dutch Prime Minister, Is Dead at 78
(3 days later)
Ruud Lubbers, the youngest and longest-serving prime minister of the Netherlands, who helped lay the groundwork for the European Union and revive the Dutch economy, died on Wednesday in Rotterdam. He was 78.Ruud Lubbers, the youngest and longest-serving prime minister of the Netherlands, who helped lay the groundwork for the European Union and revive the Dutch economy, died on Wednesday in Rotterdam. He was 78.
His death was announced by the Dutch government. No cause was given, but he had been ailing for several years.His death was announced by the Dutch government. No cause was given, but he had been ailing for several years.
After serving as prime minister from 1982, when he was only 43, until 1994, Mr. Lubbers (pronounced LEW-burs) lost bids for his two dream positions: secretary general of NATO and director general of the European Commission.After serving as prime minister from 1982, when he was only 43, until 1994, Mr. Lubbers (pronounced LEW-burs) lost bids for his two dream positions: secretary general of NATO and director general of the European Commission.
In 2001, he was named the United Nations high commissioner for refugees. He held that job for four years until he was forced to resign in a sexual harassment scandal.In 2001, he was named the United Nations high commissioner for refugees. He held that job for four years until he was forced to resign in a sexual harassment scandal.
As the Christian Democratic parliamentary leader and prime minister of the Netherlands, Mr. Lubbers was a political centrist and a pragmatic compromiser, forming coalition governments with the right and left.As the Christian Democratic parliamentary leader and prime minister of the Netherlands, Mr. Lubbers was a political centrist and a pragmatic compromiser, forming coalition governments with the right and left.
Declaring that “Holland is sick,” he pruned spending and persuaded civil service unions to trade wage and benefit demands for a shorter workweek. His policies helped reduce unemployment and a budget deficit.Declaring that “Holland is sick,” he pruned spending and persuaded civil service unions to trade wage and benefit demands for a shorter workweek. His policies helped reduce unemployment and a budget deficit.
In 1984, Mr. Lubbers deftly sidestepped a confrontation with the United States over the installation of nuclear-armed cruise missiles in the Netherlands.In 1984, Mr. Lubbers deftly sidestepped a confrontation with the United States over the installation of nuclear-armed cruise missiles in the Netherlands.
Reconciling an enormous public outcry against deployment of the weapons with pressure from Washington, Mr. Lubbers agreed to accept the missiles, but not until 1988, two years later than the American timetable, and only if the Soviet Union continued to deploy its SS-20 rockets in Eastern Europe.Reconciling an enormous public outcry against deployment of the weapons with pressure from Washington, Mr. Lubbers agreed to accept the missiles, but not until 1988, two years later than the American timetable, and only if the Soviet Union continued to deploy its SS-20 rockets in Eastern Europe.
The issue had become moot by 1988, because the Soviet Union and the Reagan administration had agreed to scrap intermediate and shorter range missiles.The issue had become moot by 1988, because the Soviet Union and the Reagan administration had agreed to scrap intermediate and shorter range missiles.
“Ruud Lubbers got the Netherlands back on fiscal track,” Hubert Smeets, a prominent Dutch historian and journalist, said in an email, “without destroying the traditions of Christian and Social Democratic solidarity as well as the liberal achievements of the ’60s.”“Ruud Lubbers got the Netherlands back on fiscal track,” Hubert Smeets, a prominent Dutch historian and journalist, said in an email, “without destroying the traditions of Christian and Social Democratic solidarity as well as the liberal achievements of the ’60s.”
Rudolphus Franciscus Marie Lubbers (Ruud was a diminutive of his first name) was born on May 7, 1939, in Rotterdam, the sixth of nine children of the former Wilhelmine van Laack and Paulus Lubbers.Rudolphus Franciscus Marie Lubbers (Ruud was a diminutive of his first name) was born on May 7, 1939, in Rotterdam, the sixth of nine children of the former Wilhelmine van Laack and Paulus Lubbers.
After attending a Jesuit boarding school, he graduated from the Netherlands School of Economics (now Erasmus University Rotterdam) in 1962 with a degree in economics.After attending a Jesuit boarding school, he graduated from the Netherlands School of Economics (now Erasmus University Rotterdam) in 1962 with a degree in economics.
That year. he married Maria Hoogeweegen, an economist. She survives him, along with their daughter, Heleen, and two sons, Paul and Bart. That year, he married Maria Hoogeweegen, an economist. She survives him, along with their daughter, Heleen, and two sons, Paul and Bart.
Mr. Lubbers had aspired to an academic career, but those plans were derailed with the death of his father, who managed the family’s engineering firm, in 1965. He and his brother became co-directors of the company.Mr. Lubbers had aspired to an academic career, but those plans were derailed with the death of his father, who managed the family’s engineering firm, in 1965. He and his brother became co-directors of the company.
He enlisted in the Catholic People’s Party, which later joined with other parties to form the Christian Democratic Appeal. He was recruited as minister of economic affairs in 1973.He enlisted in the Catholic People’s Party, which later joined with other parties to form the Christian Democratic Appeal. He was recruited as minister of economic affairs in 1973.
As prime minister he formed three successive governments, pursuing a “more markets, less government” agenda through what the Dutch call the polder model of consensus, named after cooperative efforts to reclaim the country’s low-lying land from the sea.As prime minister he formed three successive governments, pursuing a “more markets, less government” agenda through what the Dutch call the polder model of consensus, named after cooperative efforts to reclaim the country’s low-lying land from the sea.
That model extended to negotiations with the leaders of other European nations on European integration and a single currency — talks that led to the agreement to form the European Union, signed in 1992 in the Dutch city of Maastricht.That model extended to negotiations with the leaders of other European nations on European integration and a single currency — talks that led to the agreement to form the European Union, signed in 1992 in the Dutch city of Maastricht.
In a statement, the current prime minister, Mark Rutte, said of Mr. Lubbers, “With his broad knowledge and experience and his tireless creativity, he knew how to find a solution for every problem.”In a statement, the current prime minister, Mark Rutte, said of Mr. Lubbers, “With his broad knowledge and experience and his tireless creativity, he knew how to find a solution for every problem.”
In 1994, Mr. Lubbers failed in his bid to become president of the European Commission. A year later, he was the top European prospect to become the civilian leader of NATO, but he withdrew his candidacy when the United States, said to be unhappy that it had not been properly consulted, expressed doubts about his qualifications.In 1994, Mr. Lubbers failed in his bid to become president of the European Commission. A year later, he was the top European prospect to become the civilian leader of NATO, but he withdrew his candidacy when the United States, said to be unhappy that it had not been properly consulted, expressed doubts about his qualifications.
He was named to the United Nations post in 2001. He served in Geneva without pay and was generally well regarded until a female employee charged that he had touched her inappropriately during a meeting.He was named to the United Nations post in 2001. He served in Geneva without pay and was generally well regarded until a female employee charged that he had touched her inappropriately during a meeting.
Mr. Lubbers apologized. Secretary General Kofi Annan chastised him, but said there was insufficient evidence for his dismissal. He resigned under pressure in 2005 after detailed reports emerged that an internal inquiry had substantiated several allegations against him.Mr. Lubbers apologized. Secretary General Kofi Annan chastised him, but said there was insufficient evidence for his dismissal. He resigned under pressure in 2005 after detailed reports emerged that an internal inquiry had substantiated several allegations against him.
While viewed as a peacemaker, Mr. Lubbers also developed a reputation as a hands-on crime-fighter.While viewed as a peacemaker, Mr. Lubbers also developed a reputation as a hands-on crime-fighter.
In the 1980s, he twice thwarted thieves who were trying to steal his family’s cars. In 1987, someone threw a firebomb through the window of his home. Mr. Lubbers threw it back.In the 1980s, he twice thwarted thieves who were trying to steal his family’s cars. In 1987, someone threw a firebomb through the window of his home. Mr. Lubbers threw it back.