20 Facts About Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert

Jeanine Antoinette Hennis-Plasschaert was born on 7 April 1973 and is a Dutch politician and diplomat who has been serving as United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon since May 2024.

Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert is a member of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy.

Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert was elected as a member of the House of Representatives after the general election of 2010 and resigned as a Member of the European Parliament the same day she took office as a Member of the House of Representatives on 17 June 2010.

Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert stepped down as a member of the House of Representatives on 5 November 2012, the same day she took office as Minister of Defence.

Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert served as Minister of Defence until her resignation on 4 October 2017.

Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert was appointed Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq on 1 November 2018.

Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert followed her secondary education at the St Anthony's College in Gouda and studied at the European Secretarial Academy in Utrecht.

In 2004 Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert was elected into the European Parliament for the VVD with 44,000 preference votes.

In May 2005 Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert filed a report for the European Parliament concerning the safety of airports.

Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert argued that safety regulations against terrorist attacks should only apply for airports, and not for the neighbouring areas.

Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert was put on the 4th place on her party's list for the Dutch general election of 2010 and became a member of the Dutch House of Representatives.

Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert focused on matters of public safety, Dutch police, equality of treatment, LGBT rights, and emergency management.

From 2014, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert oversaw the Dutch mission of six F-16 jet fighters that carried out airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Iraq.

Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert started to wind down the Dutch contribution to the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali, to which she initially provided Boeing AH-64 Apache helicopters in 2013.

Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert's resignation came as negotiations to form a new third coalition government under Minister-President Mark Rutte entered their final phase.

In December 2019, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert called for renewed efforts to restore civil balance and protections for free speech.

Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert urged for increased efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert was appointed Special Coordinator for Lebanon on 20 May 2024 as the successor of Joanna Wronecka.

Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert condemned the 2024 Lebanon pager explosions, saying "civilians are not a target and must be protected at all times".

Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert has been married to economist Erik-Jan Hennis since 27 September 2003 and has a stepson.