Ina Brouwer
Encyclopedia
Ina Brouwer is a Dutch politician
. She was chairperson of the Communist Party of the Netherlands
in the House of Representatives and MP for GreenLeft
, into which the CPN merged in 1989.
at Groningen University. There, Brouwer came in touch with social security
law and socially engaged lawyers. Inspired by this side of the legal profession, Brouwer became a member of the Communist Party of the Netherlands
. In 1981 she became a member of the House of Representatives for the CPN. In 1981 she succeeded Marcus Bakker
as chairperson of the CPN parliamentary party. She remained in the House of Representatives until 1986, when the CPN lost its three seats in the election
and disappeared from the House.
Brouwer was a long time advocate of a merger of the CPN, the Christian left
Political Party of Radicals and Evangelical People's Party and the leftwing socialist Pacifist Socialist Party
to form a new left-wing formation. In 1989 this was realized, and the new party was called GreenLeft
. After the 1989 elections
Brouwer returned to the House of Representatives, as an member of parliament for GreenLeft. Between 1990 and 1991, Bakker was one of the first members of parliament to leave the House of Representatives for a short period to give birth. The duo Ina Brouwer/Mohammed Rabbae were the top candidate
for the 1994 elections
after winning a preliminary from Paul Rosenmöller
/Leonie Sipkes. Bakker and Rabbae were not very successful in the general elections and the party lost one of its six seats. Brouwer announced that she would step down and not take her seat in parliament.
Between 1995 and 2003, Brouwer worked at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment as director for emancipation and a quartermaster for the Academy of the ministry. In 2003 she published a book Het glazen plafond. Vrouwen aan de top, verlangens & obstakels ("The Glass ceiling
. Women at the top, desires and obstacles") on the position of women on the labour market. In 2005 Brouwer became a senior advisor at Twynstra Gudde, where she advises public institutions on diversity, social affairs and government reform.
In January 2007, Ina Brouwer announced that she became a member of the Dutch Labour Party in addition to her membership of GreenLeft
. She did this in protest against GreenLeft's decision to abandon negotiations with the Labour Party, the Christian Democratic Appeal
, and the ChristianUnion
during the cabinet formation
. Brouwer thought that this was a missed opportunity.
Ruud Lubbers
accidentally called her "Mrs Bakker" in parliament (a reference to her predecessor as fractievoorzitter of the Communist Party of the Netherlands
, Marcus Bakker
), Brouwer took offence. Lubbers sent a box of chocolates to her, but Brouwer sent them on to Mrs Marcus Bakker.
Politics of the Netherlands
The politics of the Netherlands take place within the framework of a parliamentary representative democracy, a constitutional monarchy and a decentralised unitary state. The Netherlands is described as a consociational state...
. She was chairperson of the Communist Party of the Netherlands
Communist Party of the Netherlands
The Communist Party of the Netherlands was a Dutch communist political party. The CPN is one of the predecessors of the GreenLeft.- Foundation :...
in the House of Representatives and MP for GreenLeft
GreenLeft
GreenLeft is a green political party operating in the Netherlands.GreenLeft was formed on 1 March 1989 as a merger of four left-wing political parties: the Communist Party of the Netherlands, Pacifist Socialist Party, the Political Party of Radicals and the Evangelical People's Party...
, into which the CPN merged in 1989.
Education and early career
Brouwer studied LawLaw
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
at Groningen University. There, Brouwer came in touch with social security
Social security
Social security is primarily a social insurance program providing social protection or protection against socially recognized conditions, including poverty, old age, disability, unemployment and others. Social security may refer to:...
law and socially engaged lawyers. Inspired by this side of the legal profession, Brouwer became a member of the Communist Party of the Netherlands
Communist Party of the Netherlands
The Communist Party of the Netherlands was a Dutch communist political party. The CPN is one of the predecessors of the GreenLeft.- Foundation :...
. In 1981 she became a member of the House of Representatives for the CPN. In 1981 she succeeded Marcus Bakker
Marcus Bakker
Marcus Bakker was a Dutch politician of the defunct Communist Party of the Netherlands now merged into GreenLeft . He was the Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives from December 15, 1963 until September 7, 1982.-Early life:Bakker was the son of an accountant who worked for the...
as chairperson of the CPN parliamentary party. She remained in the House of Representatives until 1986, when the CPN lost its three seats in the election
Dutch general election, 1986
The General Election to the House of Representatives of the States-General of the Netherlands was held in the Netherlands on May 21, 1986.-National summary:...
and disappeared from the House.
Brouwer was a long time advocate of a merger of the CPN, the Christian left
Christian left
The Christian left is a term originating in the United States, used to describe a spectrum of left-wing Christian political and social movements which largely embraces social justice....
Political Party of Radicals and Evangelical People's Party and the leftwing socialist Pacifist Socialist Party
Pacifist Socialist Party
The Pacifist Socialist Party was a Dutch left-socialist political party. The PSP played a small role in Dutch politics. It is a predecessor of the GreenLeft.-Before 1957:...
to form a new left-wing formation. In 1989 this was realized, and the new party was called GreenLeft
GreenLeft
GreenLeft is a green political party operating in the Netherlands.GreenLeft was formed on 1 March 1989 as a merger of four left-wing political parties: the Communist Party of the Netherlands, Pacifist Socialist Party, the Political Party of Radicals and the Evangelical People's Party...
. After the 1989 elections
Dutch general election, 1989
The General Election to the House of Representatives of the States-General of the Netherlands was held in the Netherlands on September 6, 1989.-National summary:...
Brouwer returned to the House of Representatives, as an member of parliament for GreenLeft. Between 1990 and 1991, Bakker was one of the first members of parliament to leave the House of Representatives for a short period to give birth. The duo Ina Brouwer/Mohammed Rabbae were the top candidate
Lijsttrekker
Lijsttrekker is a Dutch term for the top candidate of a party on a party list. He or she is almost always the party's political leader. After an election, this person usually leads the party's faction in the States-General, or serves in a senior position in the Cabinet if his party is part of...
for the 1994 elections
Dutch general election, 1994
The General Election to the House of Representatives of the States-General of the Netherlands was held in the Netherlands on May 3, 1994.-Results:...
after winning a preliminary from Paul Rosenmöller
Paul Rosenmöller
Paul Rosenmöller is a Dutch television presenter and former politician and trade unionist. Between 1989 and 2003, he was member of the Dutch House of Representatives for GroenLinks .-Biography:...
/Leonie Sipkes. Bakker and Rabbae were not very successful in the general elections and the party lost one of its six seats. Brouwer announced that she would step down and not take her seat in parliament.
Between 1995 and 2003, Brouwer worked at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment as director for emancipation and a quartermaster for the Academy of the ministry. In 2003 she published a book Het glazen plafond. Vrouwen aan de top, verlangens & obstakels ("The Glass ceiling
Glass ceiling
In economics, the term glass ceiling refers to "the unseen, yet unbreachable barrier that keeps minorities and women from rising to the upper rungs of the corporate ladder, regardless of their qualifications or achievements." Initially, the metaphor applied to barriers in the careers of women but...
. Women at the top, desires and obstacles") on the position of women on the labour market. In 2005 Brouwer became a senior advisor at Twynstra Gudde, where she advises public institutions on diversity, social affairs and government reform.
In January 2007, Ina Brouwer announced that she became a member of the Dutch Labour Party in addition to her membership of GreenLeft
GreenLeft
GreenLeft is a green political party operating in the Netherlands.GreenLeft was formed on 1 March 1989 as a merger of four left-wing political parties: the Communist Party of the Netherlands, Pacifist Socialist Party, the Political Party of Radicals and the Evangelical People's Party...
. She did this in protest against GreenLeft's decision to abandon negotiations with the Labour Party, the Christian Democratic Appeal
Christian Democratic Appeal
The Christian Democratic Appeal is a centre-right Dutch Christian democratic political party. It suffered severe losses in the 2010 elections and fell from the first to the fourth place...
, and the ChristianUnion
ChristianUnion
The ChristianUnion , abbreviated to CU, is a Dutch Christian democratic political party. A centrist party, the CU's policies combine social conservatism and soft euroscepticism with more centre-left positions on economic, immigration, and environmental issues.Founded in 2000 as a merger of the...
during the cabinet formation
2006–2007 Dutch cabinet formation
Following the 2006 Dutch general election, held on November 22, a process of cabinet formation started, involving negotiations about which coalition partners to form a common programme of policy and to divide the posts in cabinet...
. Brouwer thought that this was a missed opportunity.
Name controversy
When Prime Minister of the NetherlandsPrime Minister of the Netherlands
The Prime Minister of the Netherlands is the chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Netherlands. He is the de facto head of government of the Netherlands and coordinates the policy of the government...
Ruud Lubbers
Ruud Lubbers
Rudolphus Franciscus Marie "Ruud" Lubbers is a retired Dutch politician of the Christian Democratic Appeal . He served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from November 4, 1982 until August 22, 1994....
accidentally called her "Mrs Bakker" in parliament (a reference to her predecessor as fractievoorzitter of the Communist Party of the Netherlands
Communist Party of the Netherlands
The Communist Party of the Netherlands was a Dutch communist political party. The CPN is one of the predecessors of the GreenLeft.- Foundation :...
, Marcus Bakker
Marcus Bakker
Marcus Bakker was a Dutch politician of the defunct Communist Party of the Netherlands now merged into GreenLeft . He was the Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives from December 15, 1963 until September 7, 1982.-Early life:Bakker was the son of an accountant who worked for the...
), Brouwer took offence. Lubbers sent a box of chocolates to her, but Brouwer sent them on to Mrs Marcus Bakker.