Dries van Agt, the Christian Democratic prime minister of the Netherlands from 1977 to 1982, died by euthanasia, “hand in hand” with his wife, according to the human rights organization he founded. They were both 93 years old.
The news of Van Agt’s death was published on Friday by the Rights Forum, which said that the couple would be buried in a private ceremony in the eastern city of Nijmegen.
“He died alongside his beloved wife, Eugenie, with whom he lived for more than 70 years and whom he always referred to as ‘my girl,'” the non-profit forum said in a statement.
The two had been in fragile health for some time, and in 2019, Van Agt suffered a cerebral hemorrhage while giving a speech at a ceremony in support of the memory of Palestinians, from which he never fully recovered.
Van Agt became increasingly progressive after he left the political scene, then left his party in 2017 due to ideological differences on Israel and the Palestinians.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who referred to Van Agt as his “great-grandfather in office”, paid tribute to the former politician.
He said in a statement: “With his unique and elegant language, his clear convictions and his amazing presentation, Dries van Agt gave substance and luster to Dutch politics at a time of polarization and partisan renewal.”
The Dutch royal family also paid tribute to him, with King Willem-Alexander, Queen Máxima and Princess Beatrix saying in a joint statement: “Van Oglet took charge at a turbulent time and was able to inspire many with his amazing personality and elegant style.”
Van Agt was known for his luxurious language and his passion for cycling, and he was forced to leave that hobby in 2019 after a fall.
After his visit to Israel in 1999, he became increasingly vocal about his support for the Palestinian people, referring to his visit as a “conversion.”
In 2009, he founded the Rights Forum, which calls for “a fair and sustainable Dutch and European policy regarding the Palestinian-Israeli issue.”
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2024-02-09 22:24:17
