High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Frederik "Frits" Bolkestein (Dutch pronunciation: , Frits Bolkestein (help·info)) (born 4 April 1933) is a retired Dutch politician of the People`s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD). He served as a Member of the House of Representatives from 16 January 1978, until 5 November 1982, when he became State Secretary for Economic Affairs from 5 November 1982, until 14 July 1986, in the Cabinet Lubbers I. And again a Member of the House of Representatives from 3 June 1986, until 24 September 1988, when he became Minister of Defence from 24 September 1988, until 7 November 1989, in the Cabinet Lubbers II. He again returned to the House of Representatives on 14 September 1989, and nine months later on 1 May 1990, he became the Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives and the People`s Party for Freedom and Democracy party leader. He served in this position for eight years until 30 July 1998.