Piet Hein Donner: Difference between revisions

The Donner family has produced a number of [[Calvinism|Calvinist]] [[judge]]s. Piet Hein Donner's father, [[André Donner]], was a judge at the [[European Court of Justice]] in 1958-1979 and was part of the government commission that looked into [[Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld]]'s dealing with the [[Lockheed Corporation]]. His grandfather was [[Jan Donner]], who served as Minister of Justice for the [[Anti -Revolutionary Party]] in the first cabinet of [[Dirk Jan de Geer]] and was later president of the Dutch [[Supreme Court of the Netherlands|Supreme Court]]. His uncle [[Jan Hein Donner]], however, was a [[Grandmaster (chess)|chess grandmaster]] and author. Piet Hein Donner studied [[Law]] at the [[Free University of Amsterdam]], obtaining a degree in 1974. During his study, he joined the student society L.A.N.X. in 1968.

In 2006, Piet Hein Donner recorded a [[Hip hop music|rap]] song together with Meester G to explain his point of view on the [[Drug policy of the Netherlands|Dutch soft-drug policy]]. It was a reply to a song by Gerd Leers, [[Mayor]] of [[Maastricht]], (with punk band [[Heideroosjes]]), which called for a more progressive policy which would not only regulate the selling of soft drugs, but also legalise their production.<ref>{{nl icon}} [http://www.nu.nl/news/682688/11/'Don'_Donner_rapt_de_dope_van_straat.html 'Don' Donner rapt de dope van straat], NU.nl, February 25, February 2006</ref>

On 13 September 2006, Donner was the subject of controversy when he suggested Islamic law could be established in the Netherlands by democratic means. He responded by a clarification that he was not advocating such a scenario but warning against it.<ref>{{en icon}} [http://eurabia.blogse.nl/log/netherlands-minister-warns-islamic-law-could-happen-via-democracy.html Netherlands: Minister Warns Islamic Law Could Happen Via Democracy], Western Resistance, September 13, September 2006</ref>

That same month, a report of the investigative commission into a [[Netherlands_cabinet_Balkenende-3#Schiphol_fire|fire at Schiphol Airport jail]] was released, condemning Dutch government officials.<ref>{{en icon}} [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5367056.stm Dutch ministers quit over blaze], BBC News, 21 September 21, 2006</ref> Donner, as responsible justice minister, resigned in aftermath of the report's conclusions. His successor was [[Ernst Hirsch Ballin]], who had been justice minister in the [[Netherlands cabinet Lubbers-3|third Lubbers cabinet]].<ref>{{nl icon}} [http://nos.nl/artikel/57996-oudgedienden-op-justitie-en-vrom.html Oudgedienden op Justitie en VROM], NOS, 22 September 22, 2006</ref> Four months later, Donner was appointed [[Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment (Netherlands)|Minister of Social Affairs and Employment]] in the new Cabinet, [[Netherlands cabinet Balkenende-4|Balkenende IV]].