Fred de Graaf

Godefridus Jan "Fred" de Graaf (born 28 February 1950) is a retired Dutch politician of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and jurist. De Graaf a jurist by occupation, worked as a civil servant for the Ministry of the Interior from 1975 until 1981. He was as a member of the municipal council of Voorschoten from 1978 to 1981. Afterwards he served as Mayor of Leersum from 16 June 1981 until 16 January 1989 when he became Mayor of Vught, serving until 16 February 1999 when he became Mayor of Apeldoorn, serving until his resignation on 1 October 2011. He served as the Parliamentary leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy in the Senate from 14 October 2010 until 15 February 2011. In the Dutch Senate election of 2011, the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy won the most seats and De Graaf was selected as next President of the Senate. De Graaf announced his resignation as President of the Senate of the Netherlands following criticism on his neutrality; he remained in office until Ankie Broekers-Knol was elected as successor. He presided the coronation of King Willem-Alexander on 30 April 2013.