René van der Linden: Difference between revisions

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			{{Short description\|Dutch politician (born 1943)}}
	'''Pierre René Hubert Marie van der Linden''' (born ] ], ]) has been elected President of the ] in autumn 2005.
			{{Use dmy dates\|date=February 2019}}
			{{Inline citations\|date=May 2022}}
			{{Infobox officeholder
			\| honorific-prefix =
			\| name = Rene van der Linden
			\| image = Rene van der Linden.jpg
			\| caption = Van der Linden in 2005
			\| office = ]
			\| term_start = 6 October 2009
			\| term_end = 28 June 2011
			\| predecessor = ]
			\| successor = ]
			\| office1 = ]
			\| term_start1 = 1 January 2005
			\| term_end1 = 1 January 2008
			\| predecessor1 = Peter Schieder
			\| successor1 = Lluís Maria de Puig
			\| office2 = ]
			\| term_start2 = 8 June 1999
			\| term_end2 = 9 June 2015
			\| office3 = ]
			\| term_start3 = 14 July 1986
			\| term_end3 = 9 September 1988
			\| primeminister3 = ]
			\| predecessor3 = ]
			\| successor3 = ]
			\| office4 = ]
			\| term_start4 = 29 November 1988
			\| term_end4 = 19 May 1998
			\| term_start5 = 8 June 1977
			\| term_end5 = 14 July 1986
			\| birthname = Pierre René Hubert Marie van der Linden
			\| birth_date = {{Birth date and age\|df=y\|1943\|12\|14}}
			\| birth_place = ], Netherlands
			\| death_date =
			\| death_place =
			\| party = ] <br/> (from 1980)
			\| otherparty = ] <br/> (until 1980)
			\| spouse =
			\| children =
			\| residence = ], ]
			\| alma_mater = ] <br/> (], ])
			\| occupation = ] · ] · ] · ] · ] · ] · ] · ] · ] · ] · ] · ] · ]
			\| signature =
			}}

			'''Pierre René Hubert Marie van der Linden''' (born 14 December 1943) is a retired ] politician and diplomat of the ] (KVP) and later the ] (CDA) and economist.
	== Education ==

			Van der Linden applied at the ] in June 1964 ] in ] and obtaining a ] degree in June 1966 and worked as ] before graduating with a ] degree in July 1970. Van der Linden worked as an economics teacher in ] from April 1969 until July 1971. Van der Linden worked as a civil servant for the department of Food Quality of the ] from July 1971 until January 1973 and served as ] for the ] from January 1973 until January 1977 serving under ] from January 1973 until January 1977 and for ] from January 1977 until June 1977.

			Van der Linden was elected to the ] after the ], taking office on 8 June 1977 serving as a ] and ] for ] and agriculture and deputy spokesperson for foreign affairs and ]. After the ] Van der Linden was appointed as ] in the ], taking office on 14 July 1986. On 9 September 1988 Van der Linden resigned following the conclusions of a ] report into a ] fraud investigation that was mishandled by his predecessor as State Secretary for Foreign Affairs ] who was then serving as ] and who had resigned four days earlier on 6 September 1988. Van der Linden returned as a Member of the House of Representatives following the appointment of ] as mayor of ], taking office on 29 November 1988 serving again as a frontbencher chairing the ] and spokesperson for foreign affairs, European affairs, agriculture and Benelux. In December 1997 Van der Linden announced that he would not stand for the ] and continued to serve until the end of the parliamentary term on 19 May 1998. Van der Linden remained in active in national politics, he was elected to the ] after the ], taking office on 8 June 1999 serving as a frontbencher chairing the ] and spokesperson for foreign affairs and deputy spokesperson for agriculture and Benelux. Van der Linden also served as President of the ] from 1 January 2005 until 1 January 2008. Van der Linden also became active in the ] and ] and occupied numerous seats as a corporate director and nonprofit director on several boards of directors and supervisory boards (], ], ], ], ], ] and ]). Van der Linden also worked as a trade association executive for the ] (VNO-NCW) and as an education administrator for the ] serving as Chairman of the ] from October 1999 until November 2016. Van der Linden was nominated as ] following the appointed of ] as a ], serving from 6 October 2009 until 28 June 2011. In November 2014 Van der Linden announced that he wouldn't stand for the ] and continued to serve until the end of the parliamentary term on 9 June 2015.

			== Education ==
	Economics: international administrative studies at		Economics: international administrative studies at
	Catholic Economics Faculty in Tilburg, (~~1966-1970~~), (now known as ])		Catholic Economics Faculty in Tilburg, (1966–1970), (now known as ])

	== Career ==		== Career ==
			*Member of the First Chamber (Senate) of the ] (1999–2015)

	*~~Member~~ of the First Chamber (Senate) of the ] (from ~~1999~~)		*President of the First Chamber (Senate) of the ] (from 2009 until 2011)
	*President of the ] of the First Chamber of the States-General (~~since~~ 2002)		*President of the ] of the First Chamber of the States-General (from 2002 to 2009)
	*Member of the Second Chamber of the States-General of the Netherlands (~~1977-1986~~ and ~~1988-1998~~)		*Member of the Second Chamber of the States-General of the Netherlands (1977–1986 and 1988–1998)
	] for Foreign Affairs with responsibility for European Affairs (~~1986-1988~~)		] for Foreign Affairs with responsibility for European Affairs (1986–1988)
	*Member of the cabinet of European Commissioner ] (~~1973-1977~~) and European Commissioner ] (1977)		*Member of the cabinet of European Commissioner ] (1973–1977) and European Commissioner ] (1977)
	*Civil servant, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries of the Netherlands (~~1971-1973~~)		*Civil servant, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries of the Netherlands (1971–1973)
	*Teacher of economics (1969)		*Teacher of economics (1969)

	=== Other posts currently held ===		=== Other posts currently held ===

	*] (PACE) member (since 1989)		*] (PACE) member (since 1989)
	*Member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the ] (WEU)		*Member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the ] (WEU)
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	=== Party political posts ===		=== Party political posts ===
			Chairperson of EPP/CD group in the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) (1999–2005) and vice-chairperson (1989–1999)

			Second vice-chairperson of the Christian Democratic political group, CDA, Second Chamber of the States-General of the Netherlands (1982–1986)
	Chairperson of EPP/CD group in the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) (1999-2005) and vice-chairperson (1989-1999)
	Second vice-chairperson of the Christian Democratic political group, CDA, Second Chamber of the States-General of the Netherlands (1982-1986)
	Member of the party executive of the ]		Member of the party executive of the ]
	Member of the party executive of the former Catholic Popular Party, ], and vice-chairman of the KVP youth section		Member of the party executive of the former ], (KVP), and vice-chairman of the KVP youth section

	=== Other posts previously held ===		=== Other posts previously held ===
			*President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (2005–2008)

			*Chairperson of the Netherlands delegation to PACE (2003–2005)
	*President of the ] Parliamentary Assembly (]) (2005-2008)
	*Chairperson of the Netherlands delegation to PACE (2003-2005)
	*Delegated representative of the First Chamber of the States-General of the Netherlands to the Convention on the Future of the European Union		*Delegated representative of the First Chamber of the States-General of the Netherlands to the Convention on the Future of the European Union
	*Patron of ], homeless children in Portugal (1995)		*Patron of ], homeless children in Portugal (1995)
	*Chairman of the advisory committee of the national school of translators and interpreters, Rijkshogeschool Opleiding tolk-vertaler (1990)		*Chairman of the advisory committee of the national school of translators and interpreters, Rijkshogeschool Opleiding tolk-vertaler (1990)
	*Adviser to Combined Chambers of Commerce in Limburg (1989 and 1992)		*Adviser to Combined Chambers of Commerce in Limburg (1989 and 1992)
	*Member of ] (~~1977-1986~~)		*Member of ] (1977–1986)
	*Board member of the Netherlands Organisation for international assistance, ],		*Board member of the Netherlands Organisation for international assistance, ],
	*President of several cultural foundations		*President of several cultural foundations

	Van der Linden was secretary of state of foreign affairs in the Dutch cabinet ]. He was responsible for the passport fiasco which was caused by ministerial incompetence ({{~~lang-~~nl\|paspoortaffaire}}).		Van der Linden was secretary of state of foreign affairs in the Dutch cabinet ]. He was responsible for the passport fiasco which was caused by ministerial incompetence ({{langx\|nl\|paspoortaffaire}}).

	== Distinctions ==

	*Philippine Congressional Medal of Achievement (2005)
	*] of the ] (2004)
	*Knight in the ] (2003)
	*Knight in the ] (1998)
	*Knight in the ] (1988)

	== Controversies ==		== Controversies ==
	=== Controversial claims about citizenship issues in Baltic Countries ===		=== Controversial claims about citizenship issues in Baltic Countries ===

	During a ] in Tallinn on ] ], a controversy ensued when Linden accused ] of not permitting non-citizen residents to take part in ].<ref>] (]) ] ]: (] video, ] sound, ] subtitles)</ref> Former ] ] attempted to correct him, pointing out that all ]s in Estonia have the right to vote (but not to be elected) in local elections. However van der Linden referred to reports of the ] and other human rights organizations.		During a ] in Tallinn on 19 September 2007, a controversy ensued when Linden accused ] of not permitting non-citizen residents to take part in ].<ref>] (]) 19 September 2007: {{webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071023050551/http://www.reporter.ee/index.php/2007/09/19/laar-eesti-valimisseadus-ei-ahista-venelasi/ \|date=2007-10-23 }} (] video, ] sound, ] subtitles)</ref> Former ] ] attempted to correct him, pointing out that all ]s in Estonia have the right to vote (but not to be elected) in local elections. However van der Linden referred to reports of the ] and other human rights organizations.

	In reaction, the ] issued a statement calling that van der Linden be immediately dismissed from his post. Admitting that Linden's term of office is due to end in late 2007 anyway, the statement declared that he had with his inaccurate comments disqualified himself.<ref>] ] ]: , edited by Erik Rand</ref><ref></ref>		In reaction, the ] issued a statement calling that van der Linden be immediately dismissed from his post. Admitting that Linden's term of office is due to end in late 2007 anyway, the statement declared that he had with his inaccurate comments disqualified himself.<ref>] 1 October 2007: , edited by Erik Rand</ref><ref> {{webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071003131006/http://www.regnum.ru/english/892661.html \|date=2007-10-03 }}</ref>

	On ~~] ]~~, speaker of ], ], sent a strongly worded ] to van der Linden, asking him to do his ] and "give up spreading erroneous information about Estonia", which "created confusion and bewilderment both in the Estonian public and internationally."<ref></ref> In his reply, van der Linden expressed amazement at the content of the letter and the fact that ] made accusations public before giving him any right of reply. He also pointed out that ] never expressed such views to him during their meeting, which took place less than two weeks before.<ref>~~</ref>~~		On 2 October 2007, speaker of ], ], sent a strongly worded ] to van der Linden, asking him to do his ] and "give up spreading erroneous information about Estonia", which "created confusion and bewilderment both in the Estonian public and internationally."<ref> {{webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013051145/http://www.eubusiness.com/news_live/1191334621.96 \|date=2007-10-13 }}</ref> In his reply, van der Linden expressed amazement at the content of the letter and the fact that ] made accusations public before giving him any right of reply. He also pointed out that ] never expressed such views to him during their meeting, which took place less than two weeks before.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/18940/\|title=Van der Linden strikes back\|website=]\|access-date=28 September 2018}}</ref>

	Later that month, in a press conference in ], he claimed that millions of people live without status in the Baltic countries.<ref>] ] ]:		Later that month, in a press conference in ], he claimed that millions of people live without status in the Baltic countries.<ref>] 2 October 2007:
	</ref><ref>] ] ]: </ref>. The population of Estonia is roughly 1,342,000, of which roughly 8.5% are ].		</ref><ref>] 24 September 2007: {{webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110521100609/http://www.regnum.ru/english/polit/889269.html \|date=2011-05-21 }}</ref> The population of Estonia is roughly 1,342,000, of which roughly 8.5% are ].

	=== Alleged financial interest in Russia ===		=== Alleged financial interest in Russia ===
			In August 2007, van der Linden became embroiled in controversy after articles in the '']'' suggested that van der Linden's family had business interests in Russia.<ref>] 3 August 2007: </ref><ref>http://www.epl.ee/artikkel/400769 Mihkelson: Linden ületas piire</ref> This is suspected to explain his lack of criticism towards ] and the ] for ] violations and his pro-Russia and anti-Baltic stand,<ref>] 3 August 2007: {{webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070913114946/http://jamestown.org/edm/article.php?article_id=2372343 \|date=2007-09-13 }} by ]</ref> as well as his stand against relocating the ] from central ].

			After a 3 October 2007 phone call from van der Linden, threatening investigation by ], ], chairman of the ] European Union affairs committee, held a press conference on 8 October 2007 where he presented materials collected from various publicly available Russian media sources in which central topic is van der Linden's role as the head of the supervisory council of a certain Dutch ] that established the biggest industrial park in Europe in ], ] in late 2006.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://epl.delfi.ee/news/eesti/mihkelsoni-allikaks-van-der-lindeni-majandushuvide-kohta-oli-vene-meedia?id=51104006\|title=Mihkelsoni allikaks van der Lindeni majandushuvide kohta oli Vene meedia\|website=Eesti Päevaleht\|access-date=28 September 2018}}</ref> Subsequently, van der Linden denied all accusations and stated that he never had any financial interest in Russia neither is he serving as mentioned chairman.<ref> {{webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011021102/http://www.postimees.ee/091007/esileht/siseuudised/288076.php \|date=2007-10-11 }}</ref> He was called the head of the supervisory board of ] at the home page of the Dutch investment company ].<ref> {{webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011023026/http://www.noblehouse.ru/eng/realestate.php?inc=news&id=216 \|date=2007-10-11 }}</ref> However, a representative of Noble House Holding told Estonia's ETV, on 7 October 2007, that van der Linden is not a member of the company's supervisory board and that the supervisory board would be appointed only next year.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/18990/\|title=Van der Linden controversy re-ignites\|website=www.baltictimes.com\|access-date=28 September 2018}}</ref>
	In August 2007, van der Linden became embroiled in controversy as ] suggested that van der Linden's family had business interests in Russia.<ref>] ] ]: </ref> This is suspected to explain his lack of criticism towards ] and the ] for ] violations and his pro-Russia and anti-Baltic stand,<ref>] ] ]: by ]</ref>, as well as his stand against relocating the ] from central ].

			=== Alleged Security Risk due to Russia ===
	After a ] ] phone call from van der Linden, threatenig investigation by ], ] member ] announced he'll hold a press conference to present materials regarding van der Linden's family's business interests in Russia.<ref>]'s personal blog ] ]: </ref>

			In November 2022 Van der Linden was reported to be monitored and having his phone tapped by the dutch security service ] due to his ties to close associates to Vladimir Putin.<ref>{{cite news\|url= https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2022/11/former-cda-senator-was-a-kremlin-pawn-and-monitored-by-the-aivd/ \|title= Former CDA senator was a 'Kremlin pawn' and monitored by the AIVD \|website= dutchnews.nl \|date= 2022-11-13 \|access-date= 2022-11-13}}</ref> As such Van der Linden was accused of being a "Russian pawn", having been in close contact with an exposed Russian spy and having traveled in Europe at the expense of Russians.<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2022/11/11/hoe-cda-politicus-rene-van-der-linden-een-pion-van-de-russen-was-2-a4148020\|title= Hoe CDA-politicus René van der Linden een pion van de Russen werd \| trans-title= How CDA politician René van der Linden became a pawn for the Russians\|website=]\|first1= Wilmer \|last1= Heck \|first2= Joep \|last2= Dohmen \|date= 2022-11-11 \|access-date=2022-11-13 \|lang=nl}}</ref>
	Press conference was held on ] ] where Mihkelson presented materials collected from various publicly available Russian media sources in which central topic is van der Linden's role as the head of the supervisory council of a certain Dutch ] that established the biggest industrial park in Europe in ], ] in late 2006<ref>] subsite for ] maintained by ]</ref>. Subsequently van der Linden denied all accusations and stated that he never had any financial interest in Russia neither is he serving as mentioned chairman<ref></ref>. He was called the head of the supervisory board of ] at the home page of the Dutch investment company ]<ref></ref>. However, a representative of Noble House Holding told Estonia's ETV October 7, 2007 that Van der Linden is not a member of the company's supervisory board and that the supervisory board would be appointed only next year<ref></ref>.

	== ~~References~~ ==		==Decorations==
			=== National ===
	{{reflist\|2}}
			*] Grand Officer of the ] (9 June 2015)
			*] Knight of the ] (21 December 1988)
			*] Knight of the ] (18 May 1998)

			=== Foreign ===
	{{start box}}
			*{{flag\|Belgium}}: Officer of the ] (21 January 2011)
			*{{flag\|Denmark}}: Commander 1st Class of the ] (19 August 2009)
			*{{flag\|France}}: Commander of the ] (1 November 2007)
			*{{flag\|Germany}}: Commander of the ] (6 May 2004)
			*{{flag\|Holy See}}:
			**Knight of the ] (20 October 2003)
			**Knight of the ] (17 February 1987)
			*{{flag\|Italy}}: Grand Officer of the ] (15 September 2005)
			*{{flag\|Luxembourg}}: Commander of the ] (18 April 1988)
			*{{flag\|Philippines}}: Recipient of the ] (30 January 2005)
			*{{flag\|Poland}}: Officer of the ] (30 April 2006)
			*{{flag\|San Marino}}: Knight Grand Cross of the ] (22 July 2006)
			*{{flag\|Spain}}: Commander of the ] (10 December 1990)
			*{{flag\|Turkey}}: Recipient of the ] (14 February 2013)<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.tccb.gov.tr/news/397/85155/president-gul-decorates-dutch-senator-van-der-linden-with-the-highest-order-of-turkish-republic.html\|title=T.C.CUMHURBAŞKANLIĞI : Anasayfa\|last=\|website=www.tccb.gov.tr\|access-date=28 September 2018}}</ref>

			===Other honours===
			*] of ]
			*] of ]
			*] of the ]
			*Friendship Award of Azerbaijan Republic 2013

			==References==
			{{Reflist}}

			==External links==
			{{Commons category}}

			;Official
			* {{in lang\|nl}} Parlement & Politiek
			* {{in lang\|nl}} Eerste Kamer der Staten-Generaal

			{{s-start}}
	{{s-off}}		{{s-off}}
			{{s-bef\|before=]}}
	{{succession box\|title=President of the ]\|years=2005–2008\|before=]\|after=]}}
			{{s-ttl\|title=]\|years=1986–1988}}
	{{end box}}
			{{s-aft\|after=]}}
			{{s-bef\|before=Peter Schieder}}
			{{s-ttl\|title=]\|years=2005–2008}}
			{{s-aft\|after=Lluís Maria de Puig}}
			{{s-bef\|before=]}}
			{{s-ttl\|title=]\|years=2009–2011}}
			{{s-aft\|after=]}}
			{{s-end}}

			{{Presidents of the Senate of the Netherlands}}
			{{State Secretaries for Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands}}
			{{Members of the Senate of the Netherlands, 2011–15}}
			{{Second Lubbers cabinet}}
			{{Authority control}}

	{{DEFAULTSORT:Linden, Rene van der}}		{{DEFAULTSORT:Linden, Rene van der}}
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Latest revision as of 08:30, 24 November 2024

Dutch politician (born 1943)

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Rene van der Linden
Van der Linden in 2005

President of the Senate
In office 6 October 2009 – 28 June 2011
Preceded by	Yvonne Timmerman-Buck
Succeeded by	Fred de Graaf
President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
In office 1 January 2005 – 1 January 2008
Preceded by	Peter Schieder
Succeeded by	Lluís Maria de Puig
Member of the Senate
In office 8 June 1999 – 9 June 2015
State Secretary for Foreign Affairs
In office 14 July 1986 – 9 September 1988
Prime Minister	Ruud Lubbers
Preceded by	Wim van Eekelen
Succeeded by	Berend-Jan van Voorst tot Voorst
Member of the House of Representatives
In office 29 November 1988 – 19 May 1998
In office 8 June 1977 – 14 July 1986

Personal details
Born	Pierre René Hubert Marie van der Linden (1943-12-14) 14 December 1943 (age 81) Eys, Netherlands
Political party	Christian Democratic Appeal (from 1980)
Other political affiliations	Catholic People's Party (until 1980)
Residence(s)	Nuth, Netherlands
Alma mater	Catholic University Brabant (Bachelor of Economics, Master of Economics)
Occupation	Politician · Diplomat · Civil servant · Economist · Researcher · Political consultant · Corporate director · Nonprofit director · Trade association executive · Education administrator · Teacher · Author · Lobbyist

Pierre René Hubert Marie van der Linden (born 14 December 1943) is a retired Dutch politician and diplomat of the Catholic People's Party (KVP) and later the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) and economist.

Van der Linden applied at the Catholic University Brabant in June 1964 majoring in Economics and obtaining a Bachelor of Economics degree in June 1966 and worked as student researcher before graduating with a Master of Economics degree in July 1970. Van der Linden worked as an economics teacher in Tilburg from April 1969 until July 1971. Van der Linden worked as a civil servant for the department of Food Quality of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries from July 1971 until January 1973 and served as Chief of staff for the European Commissioner of the Netherlands from January 1973 until January 1977 serving under Pierre Lardinois from January 1973 until January 1977 and for Henk Vredeling from January 1977 until June 1977.

Van der Linden was elected to the House of Representatives after the 1977 general election, taking office on 8 June 1977 serving as a frontbencher and spokesperson for European affairs and agriculture and deputy spokesperson for foreign affairs and Benelux. After the 1986 general election Van der Linden was appointed as State Secretary for Foreign Affairs in the Lubbers II cabinet, taking office on 14 July 1986. On 9 September 1988 Van der Linden resigned following the conclusions of a parliamentary inquiry report into a passport fraud investigation that was mishandled by his predecessor as State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Wim van Eekelen who was then serving as Minister of Defence and who had resigned four days earlier on 6 September 1988. Van der Linden returned as a Member of the House of Representatives following the appointment of Jeltien Kraaijeveld-Wouters as mayor of Hilversum, taking office on 29 November 1988 serving again as a frontbencher chairing the parliamentary committee for Foreign Affairs and spokesperson for foreign affairs, European affairs, agriculture and Benelux. In December 1997 Van der Linden announced 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. Van der Linden remained in active in national politics, he was elected to the Senate after the 1999 Senate election, taking office on 8 June 1999 serving as a frontbencher chairing the parliamentary committee for European Affairs and spokesperson for foreign affairs and deputy spokesperson for agriculture and Benelux. Van der Linden also served as President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe from 1 January 2005 until 1 January 2008. Van der Linden also 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 (Atlantic Association, Robeco, Oxfam Novib, Trilateral Commission, Akkerbouw, Van Lanschot and Institute of International Relations Clingendael). Van der Linden also worked as a trade association executive for the Industry and Employers confederation (VNO-NCW) and as an education administrator for the Maastricht School of Management serving as Chairman of the Education board from October 1999 until November 2016. Van der Linden was nominated as President of the Senate following the appointed of Yvonne Timmerman-Buck as a Member of the Council of State, serving from 6 October 2009 until 28 June 2011. In November 2014 Van der Linden announced that he wouldn't stand for the Senate election of 2015 and continued to serve until the end of the parliamentary term on 9 June 2015.

Education

Economics: international administrative studies at Catholic Economics Faculty in Tilburg, (1966–1970), (now known as Tilburg University)

Career

Member of the First Chamber (Senate) of the States-General of the Netherlands (1999–2015)
President of the First Chamber (Senate) of the States-General of the Netherlands (from 2009 until 2011)
President of the Committee for European cooperation of the First Chamber of the States-General (from 2002 to 2009)
Member of the Second Chamber of the States-General of the Netherlands (1977–1986 and 1988–1998)

Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs with responsibility for European Affairs (1986–1988)

Member of the cabinet of European Commissioner Pierre Lardinois (1973–1977) and European Commissioner Henk Vredeling (1977)
Civil servant, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries of the Netherlands (1971–1973)
Teacher of economics (1969)

Party political posts

Chairperson of EPP/CD group in the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) (1999–2005) and vice-chairperson (1989–1999) Second vice-chairperson of the Christian Democratic political group, CDA, Second Chamber of the States-General of the Netherlands (1982–1986) Member of the party executive of the CDA Member of the party executive of the former Catholic Popular Party, (KVP), and vice-chairman of the KVP youth section

Controversies

Controversial claims about citizenship issues in Baltic Countries

During a press conference in Tallinn on 19 September 2007, a controversy ensued when Linden accused Estonia of not permitting non-citizen residents to take part in local elections. Former Prime Minister of Estonia Mart Laar attempted to correct him, pointing out that all permanent residents in Estonia have the right to vote (but not to be elected) in local elections. However van der Linden referred to reports of the Amnesty International and other human rights organizations.

In reaction, the Estonian Social Democratic Party issued a statement calling that van der Linden be immediately dismissed from his post. Admitting that Linden's term of office is due to end in late 2007 anyway, the statement declared that he had with his inaccurate comments disqualified himself.

On 2 October 2007, speaker of Estonian Parliament, Ene Ergma, sent a strongly worded open letter to van der Linden, asking him to do his homework and "give up spreading erroneous information about Estonia", which "created confusion and bewilderment both in the Estonian public and internationally." In his reply, van der Linden expressed amazement at the content of the letter and the fact that Ene Ergma made accusations public before giving him any right of reply. He also pointed out that Ene Ergma never expressed such views to him during their meeting, which took place less than two weeks before.

Later that month, in a press conference in Lithuania, he claimed that millions of people live without status in the Baltic countries. The population of Estonia is roughly 1,342,000, of which roughly 8.5% are without defined citizenship.

Alleged financial interest in Russia

In August 2007, van der Linden became embroiled in controversy after articles in the Eesti Päevaleht suggested that van der Linden's family had business interests in Russia. This is suspected to explain his lack of criticism towards Putin and the Russian government for human rights violations and his pro-Russia and anti-Baltic stand, as well as his stand against relocating the Bronze Soldier of Tallinn from central Tallinn.

After a 3 October 2007 phone call from van der Linden, threatening investigation by French police, Marko Mihkelson, chairman of the Estonian parliament's European Union affairs committee, held a press conference on 8 October 2007 where he presented materials collected from various publicly available Russian media sources in which central topic is van der Linden's role as the head of the supervisory council of a certain Dutch investment company that established the biggest industrial park in Europe in Sobinsk, Russia in late 2006. Subsequently, van der Linden denied all accusations and stated that he never had any financial interest in Russia neither is he serving as mentioned chairman. He was called the head of the supervisory board of Noble House Group at the home page of the Dutch investment company Noble House Trading. However, a representative of Noble House Holding told Estonia's ETV, on 7 October 2007, that van der Linden is not a member of the company's supervisory board and that the supervisory board would be appointed only next year.

Alleged Security Risk due to Russia

In November 2022 Van der Linden was reported to be monitored and having his phone tapped by the dutch security service AIVD due to his ties to close associates to Vladimir Putin. As such Van der Linden was accused of being a "Russian pawn", having been in close contact with an exposed Russian spy and having traveled in Europe at the expense of Russians.

Decorations

National

Grand Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau (9 June 2015)
Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion (21 December 1988)
Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau (18 May 1998)

Foreign

Belgium: Officer of the Order of Leopold II (21 January 2011)
Denmark: Commander 1st Class of the Order of the Dannebrog (19 August 2009)
France: Commander of the Order of Legion of Honour (1 November 2007)
Germany: Commander of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (6 May 2004)
Holy See:
- Knight of the Order of St. Gregory the Great (20 October 2003)
- Knight of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre (17 February 1987)
Italy: Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (15 September 2005)
Luxembourg: Commander of the Order of the Oak Crown (18 April 1988)
Philippines: Recipient of the Presidential Medal of Merit (30 January 2005)
Poland: Officer of the Order of Polonia Restituta (30 April 2006)
San Marino: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of San Marino (22 July 2006)
Spain: Commander of the Order of Isabella the Catholic (10 December 1990)
Turkey: Recipient of the Order of the Republic (14 February 2013)

Other honours

Honorary citizen of Nafplio
Honorary citizen of Liège
Honorary President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
Friendship Award of Azerbaijan Republic 2013

References

Reporter (Kanal 2) 19 September 2007: Eesti venelaste ahistamise jutt viis Mart Laari sõnasõtta Archived 2007-10-23 at the Wayback Machine (Adobe Flash video, English sound, Estonian subtitles)
Eesti Päevaleht 1 October 2007: SDE: van der Lindeni peaks maha võtma, edited by Erik Rand
Estonian politicians call for resignation of PACE president Archived 2007-10-03 at the Wayback Machine
Estonian lawmakers call for top EU official to be fired Archived 2007-10-13 at the Wayback Machine
"Van der Linden strikes back". baltictimes.com. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
The Baltic Times 2 October 2007: Estonia blasts UN, PACE 'propaganda' and 'lies'
Regnum 24 September 2007: PACE president stresses need for equal treatment for all those living in the Baltic states Archived 2011-05-21 at the Wayback Machine
Eesti Päevaleht 3 August 2007: REPLIIK: Kremli käpiknukud
http://www.epl.ee/artikkel/400769 Mihkelson: Linden ületas piire
Jamestown Foundation 3 August 2007: PACE Chairman Bending to the Kremlin Wind against Estonia Archived 2007-09-13 at the Wayback Machine by Vladimir Socor
"Mihkelsoni allikaks van der Lindeni majandushuvide kohta oli Vene meedia". Eesti Päevaleht. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
Rene van der Linden andis Mihkelsonile vastulöögi Archived 2007-10-11 at the Wayback Machine
Noble House Archived 2007-10-11 at the Wayback Machine
"Van der Linden controversy re-ignites". www.baltictimes.com. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
"Former CDA senator was a 'Kremlin pawn' and monitored by the AIVD". dutchnews.nl. 13 November 2022. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
Heck, Wilmer; Dohmen, Joep (11 November 2022). "Hoe CDA-politicus René van der Linden een pion van de Russen werd" [How CDA politician René van der Linden became a pawn for the Russians]. www.nrc.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 13 November 2022.
"T.C.CUMHURBAŞKANLIĞI : Anasayfa". www.tccb.gov.tr. Retrieved 28 September 2018.

External links

Official

(in Dutch) Drs. P.R.H.M. (René) van der Linden Parlement & Politiek
(in Dutch) Drs. P.R.H.M. van der Linden (CDA) Eerste Kamer der Staten-Generaal

Political offices
Preceded byWim van Eekelen	State Secretary for Foreign Affairs 1986–1988	Succeeded byBerend-Jan van Voorst tot Voorst
Preceded byPeter Schieder	President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe 2005–2008	Succeeded byLluís Maria de Puig
Preceded byYvonne Timmerman-Buck	President of the Senate 2009–2011	Succeeded byFred de Graaf

v t e Presidents of the Senate of the Netherlands
Senate of the Netherlands
J. A. G de Vos van Steenwijk II Van Eysinga W. Schimmelpenninck van der Oye Van Naamen van Eemnes J. Schimmelpenninck van der Oye Van Voorst tot Voorst W. L. de Vos van Steenwijk Kranenburg Jonkman Mazure De Niet Gerritzoon Thurlings Steenkamp Tjeenk Willink Korthals Altes Braks Timmerman-Buck Van der Linden De Graaf Broekers-Knol Bruijn

v t e State secretaries for foreign affairs of the Netherlands
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Blom Van der Beugel Van Houten De Block Diepenhorst Van der Stoel De Koster Westerterp Brinkhorst Kooijmans Van der Mei Van den Broek Van Eekelen Van der Linden Van Voorst tot Voorst Dankert Patijn Benschop Van Ardenne Nicolaï Timmermans Knapen

v t e Members of the Senate of the Netherlands (2011–2015)
Senate, 7 June 2011 - 8 June 2015
People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD: 16)	Hermans Beckers Bröcker Broekers-Knol (President) Bruijn Dupuis Duthler De Graaf De Grave Huijbregts-Schiedon Van Kappen Kneppers-Heynert Knip <Van Rey> Schaap Schouwenaar Swagerman
Labour Party (PvdA: 14)	Barth Beuving Duivesteijn Ter Horst Koning Koole Linthorst <Meurs> <Noten> Postema <Putters> Schrijver Sent Sylvester Vlietstra De Vries <Witteveen> Van Zandbrink
Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA: 11)	Brinkman Van Bijsterveld Essers Flierman Franken Hoekstra Van der Linden Lokin-Sassen Martens Terpstra De Vries-Leggedoor
Party for Freedom (PVV: 10)	Faber Van Beek Van Dijk Frijters-Klijnen <De Graaf> <De Graaff> <Klever> Kok Kops Popken Reynaers Sørensen Van Strien
Socialist Party (SP: 8)	Kox Elzinga Gerkens Meijer Quik-Schuijt Reuten Ruers Slagter-Roukema <Smaling> <Vliegenthart>
Democrats 66 (D66: 5)	Van Boxtel Backer Engels De Graaf Scholten
GreenLeft (GL: 5)	Thissen De Boer Ganzevoort Strik Vos
Christian Union (CU: 2)	Kuiper Ester
Reformed Political Party (SGP: 1)	Holdijk
50PLUS (50+: 1)	Nagel
Party for the Animals (PvdD: 1)	Koffeman
Independent Senate Group (OSF: 1)	De Lange
Bold signifies the Parliamentary leader (first mentioned) Bold also signifies the President Brackets () signifies a temporary absent member Italics signifies a temporary member <> signifies a member who prematurely left this Senate See also: Members of the Senate of the Netherlands, 2015–present See also: Members of the House of Representatives of the Netherlands, 2012–present See also: Members of the House of Representatives of the Netherlands, 2010–2012

v t e Second Lubbers cabinet (1986–1989)
Preceded by: First Lubbers cabinet Succeeded by: Third Lubbers cabinet
Prime Minister	Ruud Lubbers (General Affairs)
Deputy Prime Minister	Rudolf de Korte (Economic Affairs)
Ministers	Kees van Dijk (Interior) (1986–1987) Jan de Koning (Interior and Netherlands Antilles and Aruba Affairs) (Ad interim) Kees van Dijk (Interior) (from 1987) Hans van den Broek (Foreign Affairs) Onno Ruding (Finance) Frits Korthals Altes (Justice) Wim van Eekelen (Defence) (1986–1988) Piet Bukman (Defence) (ad interim) Frits Bolkestein (Defence) (from 1988) Elco Brinkman (Welfare, Health and Culture) Jan de Koning (Social Affairs and Employment and Netherlands Antilles and Aruba Affairs) (1986–1987) Louw de Graaf (Social Affairs and Employment) (Ad interim) Jan de Koning (Social Affairs and Employment and Netherlands Antilles and Aruba Affairs) (from 1987) Wim Deetman (Education and Sciences) (1986–1989) Gerrit Braks (Education and Sciences) (Ad interim) Neelie Kroes (Transport and Water Management) Gerrit Braks (Agriculture and Fisheries) Ed Nijpels (Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment)
Minister without portfolio	Piet Bukman (Development Cooperation)
State Secretaries	Dieuwke de Graaff-Nauta (Interior) René van der Linden (Foreign Affairs) (1986–1988) Berend-Jan van Voorst tot Voorst (Foreign Affairs) (from 1988) Henk Koning (Finance) Virginie Korte-van Hemel (Justice) Enneüs Heerma (Economic Affairs) (1986) Yvonne van Rooy (Economic Affairs) (from 1986) Albert-Jan Evenhuis (Economic Affairs) (1986–1989) Jan van Houwelingen (Defence) Dick Dees (Welfare, Health and Culture) Louw de Graaf (Social Affairs and Employment) Nell Ginjaar-Maas (Education and Sciences) Gerrit Brokx (Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment) (1986) Enneüs Heerma (Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment) (from 1986)

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