Jack de Vries
| Jack de Vries | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| State Secretary for Defence | |
| Drs | |
|
In office 18 December 2007 – 14 May 2010 |
|
| Prime Minister | Jan Peter Balkenende |
| Preceded by | Cees van der Knaap |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Jacob Gabe de Vries 25 July 1968 Drachten, Netherlands |
| Nationality | Dutch |
| Political party | Christian Democratic Appeal |
| Spouse(s) | Harriët de Jong |
| Residence | Leiderdorp, Netherlands |
| Alma mater | Vrije Universiteit (MSc) |
| Occupation |
Politician Civil servant Political consultant |
| Religion | Netherlands Reformed Churches |
Jacob Gabe "Jack" de Vries (born 25 July 1968) is a retired Dutch politician of the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA). He served as State Secretary for Defence from 18 December 2007 until 14 May 2010. Prior to his resignation, he served as the longtime political advisor of Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende.
De Vries studied at the VU University Amsterdam where he in 1992 obtained a MSc degree in political science. He was leader of the Christian Democratic youth movement (CDJA) and completed his military service with a stint as communications advisor to the Dutch Army. Never away from national politics, he became media spokesman of the CDA parliamentary faction in 1997, serving under Enneüs Heerma and Jaap de Hoop Scheffer. De Vries then became advisor to Jan Peter Balkenende who became political leader of the CDA in October 2001, after De Hoop Scheffer's lijsttrekker candidacy was not supported by the party. Balkenende won the 2002 elections, became Prime Minister, and brought de Vries with him to the Ministry of General Affairs.
In 2005, De Vries was appointed as CDA campaign chairman, and lead them through the 2006 municipal elections, the 2006 general election, and the 2007 provincial elections.
He resigned on 14 May 2010 after admitting to an extra-marital affair with his personal aide a few days earlier. He announced his retirement from politics the same day.
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