Gerrit Zalm (born May 6, 1952) is Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of the Netherlands.

Career until 1994

Following his graduation from high school ("HBS-A" level), Zalm began a study in economics at the Free University of Amsterdam, from which he graduated in 1975. In the same year he joined the Ministry of Finance. From 1983 he worked for the Ministry of Economic Affairs, where he eventually became a director. In 1988 he was appointed deputy director director of the Centraal Planbureau, a state institution that, among other things, calculates the financial effects of government plans. In 1989 he became director there. In that capacity Zalm had, although not formally a politician, a significant influence on politics. From 1990 he also gave lectures at the Free University.

Career from 1994

Between August 22 1994 and July 22 2002, Zalm, member of the right-wing liberal party VVD, was Minister of Finance in the first and second |Kok administration. The Dutch economy being very healthy during those years, he did not experience large difficulties.

During the first, short-lived Balkenende administration, Zalm acted as leader of the VVD fraction in parliament. On May 27 2003, he started his third term as Minister of Finance, in the second Balkenende administration, also serving as Deputy Prime Minister.

References

• Curriculum vitae (http://www.regering.nl/bewindslieden/kabinet/ministers/minzalmcv.jsp) (in Dutch). Retrieved October 30 2004.