13 Facts About Piet Bukman

Pieter Bukman was a Dutch politician and diplomat of the Christian Democratic Appeal party and economist.

Piet Bukman worked as a trade association executive for the Christian Farmers and Gardeners Association from August 1958 until December 1980 and served as general-secretary from May 1968 until September 1975 and as chairman from September 1975 until December 1980.

Piet Bukman served as chairman of the Christian Democratic Appeal from 11 October 1980 until 14 July 1986.

Piet Bukman was elected to the Senate after the 1981 Senate election, taking office on 10 June 1981 serving as a frontbencher and spokesperson for agriculture.

Piet Bukman served as President of the European People's Party from 10 July 1985 until 30 July 1987.

Piet Bukman served as acting Minister of Defence from 6 September 1988 until 24 September 1988 following the resignation of Wim van Eekelen.

Piet Bukman was elected to the House of Representatives after the 1989 general election, taking office on 14 September 1989.

Piet Bukman was appointed Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Fisheries following the resignation of Gerrit Braks, taking office on 28 September 1990.

Piet Bukman won the election defeating party member and fellow frontbencher Ali Doelman-Pel and was elected as Speaker, taking office on 3 December 1996.

On 23 September 1997 Piet Bukman announced his retirement from national politics and that he would not stand for the 1998 general election and continued to serve until the end of the parliamentary term on 19 May 1998.

Piet Bukman retired after spending 17 years in national politics and became active in the private sector and public sector and occupied numerous seats as a corporate director and nonprofit director on several boards of directors and supervisory boards.

Piet Bukman was known for his abilities as a team leader and manager.

Piet Bukman continued to comment on political affairs until his retirement in 2018 and held the distinction as the first unified Chairman of the Christian Democratic Appeal and as the only Dutchman that served as President of the European People's Party as of 2025.