Jantje Wilhelmina Elisabeth "Liesbeth" Spies (born 6 April 1966) is a Dutch politician. A member of the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), she has served as Mayor of Alphen aan den Rijn since 2014.

Liesbeth Spies
Spies in 2012
Mayor of Alphen aan den Rijn
Assumed office
15 December 2014
Preceded byTjerk Bruinsma (Acting)
Mayor of Stichtse Vecht
Acting
In office
8 July 2014 – 15 December 2014
Preceded byMirjam van 't Veld
Succeeded byMarc Witteman
Minister of the Interior
and Kingdom Relations
In office
16 December 2011 – 5 November 2012
Prime MinisterMark Rutte
Preceded byPiet Hein Donner
Succeeded byRonald Plasterk
Chairwoman of the
Christian Democratic Appeal
In office
1 November 2010 – 2 April 2011
LeaderMaxime Verhagen
Preceded byHenk Bleker (ad interim)
Succeeded byRuth Peetoom
Member of the House of Representatives
In office
23 May 2002 – 17 June 2010
Personal details
Born
Jantje Wilhelmina Elisabeth Spies

(1966-04-06) 6 April 1966 (age 58)
Alphen aan den Rijn, Netherlands
Political partyChristian Democratic Appeal
(from 1984)
Residence(s)Alphen aan den Rijn, Netherlands
Alma materLeiden University
(Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of Economics, Master of Economics, Master of Laws)
OccupationPolitician · Civil servant · Jurist · Management consultant · Nonprofit director

She served as Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations in the Cabinet Rutte I from 16 December 2011 to 5 November 2012.[1] She was named to this post on 16 December 2011, following the appointment of her predecessor, Piet Hein Donner, to be the new Vice-President of the Council of State. She was a Member of the House of Representatives from 23 May 2002 to 17 June 2010 and served as acting Party Chair of the Christian Democratic Appeal from 1 November 2010 until 2 April 2011.[2]

Following her departure from the House of Representatives she became the top candidate (lijsttrekker) for the CDA in the 2011 elections for the States-Provincial of South Holland. In the election the CDA lost over half its seats (going from thirteen seats to six) and went from largest party in the province to the fourth-largest when compared with the previous election in 2007. Despite this the CDA joined the coalition for the provincial government and Spies was appointed as a member of the States Deputed, with a portfolio including spatial planning and economic affairs. She vacated this position following her ministerial appointment.

From 8 July 2014, she was interim mayor of Stichtse Vecht.[3]

As of 5 December 2014, Spies is mayor of her birthplace Alphen aan den Rijn.[4]

Decorations

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Honours
Ribbon bar Honour Country Date Comment
  Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau Netherlands 7 December 2012

References

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  1. ^ (in Dutch) 'Liesbeth Spies opvolger Donner', NOS, 16 December 2011
  2. ^ (in Dutch) Liesbeth Spies tijdelijk partijvoorzitter CDA, NOS, 1 November 2010
  3. ^ Annelies Karman (18 June 2014). "Alphense oud-minister Liesbeth Spies burgemeester in Stichtse Vecht" (in Dutch). Leidsch Dagblad. Archived from the original on 8 November 2014. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
  4. ^ "Bestuur & organisatie" (in Dutch). Gemeente Alphen aan den Rijn. Archived from the original on 2018-12-11. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
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Official
Party political offices
Preceded by
Henk Bleker
Ad interim
Chairwoman of the
Christian Democratic Appeal

2010–2011
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Minister of the Interior
and Kingdom Relations

2011–2012
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Mirjam van 't Veld
Mayor of Stichtse Vecht
Ad interim

2014
Succeeded by
Marc Witteman
Preceded by
Tjerk Bruinsma
Ad interim
Mayor of Alphen aan den Rijn
2014–present
Incumbent
Non-profit organization positions
Preceded by Chairwoman of the
Dutch Alzheimer's Foundation

2013–present
Incumbent
Preceded by Chairwoman of the
Mayors association

2017–present