Frits Korthals Altes

Frederik "Frits" Korthals Altes (born 15 May 1931) is a retired Dutch politician of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and jurist. He was granted the honorary title of Minister of State on 26 October 2001.

His Excellency Frits Korthals Altes
Frits Korthals Altes in 2001
President of the Senate
In office 11 March 1997 – 2 October 2001
Preceded by	Herman Tjeenk Willink
Succeeded by	Gerrit Braks
Parliamentary leader in the Senate
In office 13 June 1995 – 11 March 1997
Preceded by	David Luteijn
Succeeded by	Leendert Ginjaar
Parliamentary group	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
Member of the House of Representatives
In office 14 September 1989 – 11 June 1991
Parliamentary group	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
Minister of the Interior
In office 26 January 1987 – 3 February 1987 Ad interim
Prime Minister	Ruud Lubbers
Preceded by	Kees van Dijk
Succeeded by	Jan de Koning (Ad interim)
In office 20 February 1986 – 12 March 1986 Ad interim
Prime Minister	Ruud Lubbers
Preceded by	Koos Rietkerk
Succeeded by	Rudolf de Korte
Minister of Justice
In office 4 November 1982 – 7 November 1989
Prime Minister	Ruud Lubbers
Preceded by	Job de Ruiter
Succeeded by	Ernst Hirsch Ballin
Member of the Senate
In office 11 June 1991 – 2 October 2001
In office 10 June 1981 – 4 November 1982
Parliamentary group	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
Chairman of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
In office 15 March 1975 – 22 May 1981
Leader	Hans Wiegel
Preceded by	Haya van Someren
Succeeded by	Jan Kamminga
Personal details
Born	Frederik Korthals Altes (1931-05-15) 15 May 1931 Amsterdam, Netherlands
Nationality	Dutch
Political party	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (from 1956)
Spouse(s)	Titia Kist ​ ​ (m. 1965; div. 1985)​ Hendrika Matthijssen ​ ​ (m. 1985)​
Children	3 sons
Residence	Rotterdam, Netherlands
Alma mater	Leiden University (Bachelor of Laws, Master of Laws)
Occupation	Politician · Jurist · Lawyer · Corporate director · Nonprofit director · Editor · Author

Korthals Altes attended the Barlaeus Gymnasium in Amsterdam from June 1937 until July 1943 and applied at the Leiden University in June 1951 majoring in Law and obtaining an Bachelor of Laws degree in June 1953 before graduating with an Master of Laws degree in July 1957. Korthals Altes worked as a lawyer in Rotterdam from August 1957 until November 1982. Korthals Altes served as Chairman of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy from 15 March 1975 until 22 May 1981. Korthals Altes was elected as a Member of the Senate after the Senate election of 1981, taking office on 10 June 1981. After the election of 1982 Korthals Altes was appointed as Minister of Justice in the Cabinet Lubbers I, taking office on 4 November 1982. Korthals Altes served as acting Minister of the Interior from 20 February 1986 until 12 March 1986 following the death of Koos Rietkerk. After the election of 1986 Korthals Altes continued as Minister of Justice in the Cabinet Lubbers II, taking office on 14 July 1986. Korthals Altes again served as acting Minister of the Interior from 26 January 1987 until 3 February 1987 during a medical leave of absence of Kees van Dijk until Minister of Social Affairs and Employment Jan de Koning took over as acting Minister of the Interior. Korthals Altes was elected as a Member of the House of Representatives after the election of 1986, taking office on 14 September 1989. The Cabinet Lubbers II was replaced by the Cabinet Lubbers III on 7 November 1989 and he continued to serve in the House of Representatives as a frontbencher.

In April 1991 Korthals Altes announced that he wanted tot return to the Senate. After the Senate election of 1991 Korthals Altes was elected again as a Member of the Senate, he resigned as a Member of the House of Representatives the day he was installed as a Member of the Senate, taking office on 11 June 1991 serving as a frontbencher chairing several parliamentary committees. Korthals Altes also became active in the private sector and public sector and occupied numerous seats as a corporate director and nonprofit director on several boards of directors and supervisory boards (Unilever, KPN, Randstad Holding, Arcadis, Carnegie Foundation, Stichting INGKA Foundation, and the Institute of International Relations Clingendael) and served on several state commissions and councils on behalf of the government. Following the Senate election of 1991 Korthals Altes was selected as Parliamentary leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy in the Senate, taking office on 13 June 1995. Korthals Altes was nominated as President of the Senate following the appointed of Herman Tjeenk Willink as Vice-President of the Council of State, taking office on 11 March 1997. In September 2001 Korthals Altes announced his retirement from national politics. He resigned as President of the Senate and a Member of the Senate on 2 October 2001.