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Markus Gerardus Jozef "Mark" Harbers (born 19 April 1969) is a Dutch politician who has served as Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management in the Fourth Rutte cabinet since 10 January 2022. A member of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), he previously served State Secretary for Justice and Security in the Third Rutte cabinet from 26 October 2017 until 21 May 2019.
Mark Harbers
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Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management | |
Assumed office 10 January 2022 | |
Prime Minister | Mark Rutte |
Preceded by | Barbara Visser |
State Secretary for Justice and Security | |
In office 26 October 2017 – 21 May 2019 | |
Prime Minister | Mark Rutte |
Preceded by | Klaas Dijkhoff |
Succeeded by | Ankie Broekers-Knol |
Member of the House of Representatives | |
In office 11 June 2019 – 10 January 2022 | |
In office 1 December 2009 – 26 October 2017 | |
Personal details | |
Born | (1969-04-19) 19 April 1969 (age 55) Ede, Netherlands |
Political party | People's Party for Freedom and Democracy |
Residence | Rotterdam |
Occupation | Communication employee, politician |
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Harbers was born in Ede, Gelderland. He studied economicsatErasmus University Rotterdam but dropped out before graduation.
A former communication employee, Harbers served as a member of the district council of Kralingen-Crooswijk from 1992 to 1998 and municipal councillorofRotterdam from 2002 until 2007. He was an alderman from 2007 to 2009, in charge of Economic Affairs, the Port of Rotterdam and the Environment.
During the 2006 general election, Harbers occupied the 26th place on the list of VVD candidates; the party obtained 22 seats. On 1 December 2009, he entered the House of Representatives following the resignation of Arend Jan Boekestijn. He was reelected in 2010, 2012 and 2017.
On 26 October 2017, Harbers resigned from the House of Representatives to become State Secretary at the Ministry of Justice and Security, dealing with Asylum and Migration Affairs under the supervision of Minister Ferdinand Grapperhaus.
Effective 21 May 2019, Harbers resigned from his position following the publication of a report minimising the crimes committed by asylum seekers in the Netherlands. He was replaced by Senate President Ankie Broekers-Knol and returned to the House of Representatives shortly thereafter.
Early in his tenure, Harbers closed the Netherlands' airspace to Russian aircraft in response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[1] He took over the responsibilities of Minister of the Environment Vivianne Heijnen during her maternity leave starting 25 May 2024.[2]
Political offices | ||
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Preceded by | State Secretary for Justice and Security 2017–2019 |
Succeeded by |
Preceded by | Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management 2022– |
Incumbent |