KOK, WIM (WILLEM)

(1938– )

Politician. Kok held various posi tions in the Nederlands Verbond van Vakverenigingen (NVV, Nether lands Association of Trade Unions). In 1969, he was appointed sec retary of the board, and in 1973, president. He kept this position after the merger of the neutral NVVand the Roman Catholic Nederlands Katholiek Vakverbond (NKV, Netherlands Catholic Trade Union) into one Federatie Nederlandse Vakbeweging (FNV, Federation Dutch Labor Movement) in 1981. From 1979 until 1982, Kok was president of the European Federation of Trade Unions. He has served the Dutch Labor Party, the Partij van de Arbeid (PvdA), since 1985. In 1986, he succeeded Joop den Uyl as leader of the PvdA in Par liament. From 1989 until 1994, he was minister of finance in the cab inet under Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers. Kok became prime min ister himself in 1994 and led two cabinets until 2002. He became minister of state the following year.

See also Srebrenica tragedy.