17 Facts About Norbert Schmelzer

Wilhelm Klaus Norbert Schmelzer was a Dutch politician, diplomat and economist who served as party leader of the Catholic People's Party from 1963 to 1971 and Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1971 to 1973.

Norbert Schmelzer worked as a civil servant for the Ministry of Economic Affairs from February 1947 until October 1956 for the department for Financial and Economic Policy from February 1947 until August 1951 and the department for European and International Policy from August 1951 until October 1956.

The Cabinet Drees III fell on 11 December 1958 continued to serve in a demissionary capacity until the cabinet formation of 1958 when it was replaced by the caretaker Cabinet Beel II with Norbert Schmelzer continuing as State Secretary for the Interior, taking office on 22 December 1958.

Norbert Schmelzer was elected as a member of the House of Representatives at the election of 1959, taking office on 20 March.

The office of State Secretary for General Affairs was created specially for Norbert Schmelzer and was considered as a de facto Deputy Prime Minister.

Norbert Schmelzer was seen as a rising star by the Catholic People's Party's leadership and was considered as the favourite son to succeed Wim de Kort as the next Leader of the Catholic People's Party.

The party leadership approached Norbert Schmelzer to be his successor, who accepted and became the leader and parliamentary leader, taking office on 7 December 1963.

On 27 February 1965 the Cabinet Marijnen fell and continued to serve in a demissionary capacity and Norbert Schmelzer was appointed as formateur.

On 14 October 1966 Norbert Schmelzer proposed a motion in the House of Representatives that called for a stronger financial and economic policy to further reduce the deficit from the Cabinet Cals, Prime Minister Jo Cals saw this as an indirect motion of no confidence from his own party against his cabinet and announced the resignation of the cabinet that same day, the crisis would eponymous be called the.

In February 1971 Norbert Schmelzer unexpectedly announced that he was stepping down as party leader and that he would not stand for the general election of 1971 but wanted to run for the Senate.

Norbert Schmelzer was elected as a member of Senate after the Senate election of 1971, he resigned as a member of the House of Representatives the same day he was installed as a member of Senate, taking office on 11 May 1971.

The Cabinet Biesheuvel I fell just one year later on 19 July 1972 and continued to serve in a demissionary capacity until it was replaced by the caretaker Cabinet Biesheuvel II with Norbert Schmelzer continuing as Minister of Foreign Affairs, taking office on 9 August 1972.

In September 1972 Norbert Schmelzer announced his retirement from national politics and that he would not stand for the election of 1972.

Norbert Schmelzer was a prolific composer, pianist and poet having written more than a dozen compositions and poems from 1973.

Norbert Schmelzer, who joined the newly-formed Christian Democratic Appeal in 1980, was known for his abilities as a debater and negotiator.

Norbert Schmelzer continued to comment on political affairs until his death at the age of 87.

Norbert Schmelzer holds the distinction as the first State Secretary for the Interior and the first and only State Secretary for General Affairs.