Mariëlle Paul
{{Short description|Dutch politician (born 1966)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Mariëlle Paul
| image = Mariëlle Paul - 2023 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Paul in 2023
| office1 = Minister for Primary and Secondary Education
| term_start1 = 21 July 2023
| term_end1 = 2 July 2024
| predecessor1 = Dennis Wiersma
| primeminister1 = Mark Rutte
| office2 = Member of the House of Representatives
| term_start2 = 6 December 2023
| term_end2 = 2 July 2024
| successor2 = Rosemarijn Dral
| term_start3 = 31 March 2021
| term_end3 = 21 July 2023
| successor3 = Simone Richardson
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1966|11|5|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Geldrop, Netherlands
| party = People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD)
| alma_mater = Leiden University
| occupation = {{hlist|Politician|communications director}}
| office = State Secretary for Primary and Secondary Education and Emancipation
| term_start = 2 July 2024
| primeminister = Dick Schoof
| minister = Eppo Bruins
| predecessor = Herself (as Minister for Primary and Secondary Education)
| successor1 = Herself (as State Secretary for Primary and Secondary Education and Emancipation)
}}
Mariëlle Lucienne Josepha Paul{{Cite web |url = https://www.parlement.com/id/vle9ff5wbhu0/m_l_j_marielle_paul |website = Parlement.com |access-date = 17 September 2022 |language = nl |title = Drs. M.L.J. (Mariëlle) Paul }} (born 5 November 1966) is a Dutch politician. A member of the conservative liberal People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), she was elected to the House of Representatives in the 2021 general election, and she became Minister for Primary and Secondary Education as part of the fourth Rutte cabinet in July 2023. She continued with the same portfolio in the Schoof cabinet as State Secretary for Primary and Secondary Education and Equal Opportunities starting in July 2024. Paul previously worked as a communications director for several multinational corporations.
Early life and corporate career
Paul was born in 1966 in the North Brabant town of Geldrop to Pakistani parents. Her father was Anglo-Indian, and her parents had moved from Karachi to the Netherlands the year before Paul's birth, when her father – a mechanical engineer – took a job at DAF.{{Cite news |url = https://www.bbc.com/urdu/pakistan-56954363 |title = اینگلو انڈین: پاکستان کی 'روشن خیال' اور 'فرض شناس' برادری جس نے بہتر اور محفوظ مستقبل کے لیے ملک چھوڑ دیا |trans-title = Anglo-Indian: Pakistan's 'enlightened' and 'dutiful' community that left the country for a better and safer future |website = BBC News |access-date = 6 August 2021 |language = ur |date = 2 May 2021 |last = Khan |first = Mohammad Zubair }}{{Cite interview |last = Paul |first = Mariëlle |language = nl |access-date = 29 January 2023 |website = NRC |url-access = subscription |url = https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2023/01/02/vvd-kamerlid-marielle-paul-ik-heb-nooit-gedacht-dit-is-out-of-my-league-2-a4153121 |date = 2 January 2023 |title = VVD-Kamerlid Mariëlle Paul:'Ik heb nooit gedacht: dit is out of my league' |trans-title = VVD House member Mariëlle Paul: 'I have never thought: this is out of my league' |interviewer = Petra de Koning }} Paul grew up with a sister and moved from Geldrop to the nearby village of Heeze in 1973.{{Cite news |url = https://www.ed.nl/cranendonck-heeze-leende/marielle-paul-oorspronkelijk-uit-heeze-maakt-goede-kans-op-zetel-in-tweede-kamer~a0f55ac0/ |website = ED |language = nl |access-date = 2 August 2021 |date = 8 March 2021 |last = Thijssen |first = Willie |title = Mariëlle Paul - oorspronkelijk uit Heeze - maakt goede kans op zetel in Tweede Kamer |trans-title = Mariëlle Paul – originally from Heeze – has a good chance of winning a seat in the House of Representatives }}{{Cite news |url = https://heeze-leende24.nl/politiek/artikel/71239/Marille-Paul-met-Heezer-roots-op-weg-naar-de-Kamer |website = Heeze-Leende24 |language = nl |access-date = 6 August 2021 |title = Mariëlle Paul met Heezer roots op weg naar de Kamer |trans-title = Mariëlle Paul with Heeze roots on her way to the House of Representatives |last = Verleg |first = Thijs |date = 6 March 2021 }} She played the piano and attended the secondary school Augustinianum at gymnasium level starting in 1979.{{Cite episode |url = https://www.npostart.nl/goedemorgen-nederland/17-05-2023/POW_05518217 |via = NPO Start |language = nl |access-date = 14 June 2023 |series = Goedemorgen Nederland |network = NPO 1 |title = 08:40 |date = 17 May 2023 |season = 2023 |number = 173 }}{{Cite web |url = https://www.tweedekamer.nl/node/8062/biografie |website = Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal |language = nl |access-date = 2 August 2021 |title = Biografie, onderwijs en loopbaan van Mariëlle Paul |trans-title = Biography, education, and career of Mariëlle Paul }} She studied international law at Leiden University in the years 1985–91 and was a member of the student association Minerva.{{Cite news |url = https://www.trouw.nl/nieuws/vrouwen-helpen-elkaar-hogerop~b45a8f46/ |website = Trouw |access-date = 2 August 2021 |last = Breur |first = Jolanda |title = Vrouwen helpen elkaar hogerop |trans-title = Women help each other rise |language = nl |date = 12 December 2009 }}
After graduating, Paul started working for oil and gas company BP. She became a corporate communications director at public relations company Hill & Knowlton six years later. Between 2000 and 2004, she co-owned a Haarlem communication consultancy called Principal Communications, and Paul subsequently started working for the bank ABN AMRO.{{Cite news |url = https://www.adformatie.nl/commerce/marielle-paul-director-communications-bij-sanoma |website = Adformatie |language = nl |access-date = 6 August 2021 |title = Mariëlle Paul director Communications bij Sanoma |trans-title = Mariëlle Paul director Communications at Sanoma |date = 2 May 2013 |last = Boersma |first = Valerie }} She was employed there for almost nine years and filled positions in marketing, communication, and HR. Paul became corporate and sales communications director at media group Sanoma in 2013.{{Cite news |title = Mensen |trans-title = People |date = 6 May 2013 |newspaper = Het Parool |page = 7 |language = nl }} She left that company in 2015 and worked for the NGO Porticus as its interim communications director. Paul was Royal BAM Group's communications director between 2017 and her election to the House of Representatives in 2021.
House of Representatives
In the 2021 general election, she was placed 17th on the VVD's party list.{{Cite news |url = https://www.ed.nl/kempen/zuidoost-brabant-moet-het-met-weinig-mensen-doen-in-de-tweede-kamer-maar-ik-zeg-houdoe-tegen-iedereen~a18082bd/ |website = ED |language = nl |access-date = 2 August 2021 |last = De Leeuw |first = Corrie |title = Zuidoost-Brabant moet het met weinig mensen doen in de Tweede Kamer: "Maar ik zeg houdoe tegen iedereen" |trans-title = Southeast Brabant will only have a few people in the House of Representatives: "But I say houdoe to everyone" |date = 6 March 2021 }} Paul had served as member and vice chair of the board of the Amsterdam VVD between 2017 and 2021.{{Cite news |url = https://www.parool.nl/amsterdam/twaalf-amsterdammers-maken-entree-in-tweede-kamer~b9fd9b8f/ |website = Het Parool |language = nl |access-date = 2 August 2021 |last1 = Koops |first1 = Ruben |last2 = Meijs |first2 = Floor |title = Twaalf Amsterdammers maken entree in Tweede Kamer |trans-title = Twelve people from Amsterdam enter the House of Representatives |date = 18 March 2021 }}{{Cite news |url = https://www.volkskrant.nl/nieuws-achtergrond/onderwijsminister-marielle-paul-wordt-ook-wel-de-anti-wiersma-genoemd~b90d36a2/ |website = de Volkskrant |access-date = 21 August 2023 |language = nl |url-access = subscription |date = 18 August 2023 |last = Von Piekartz |first = Hessel |title = Onderwijsminister Mariëlle Paul wordt ook wel de 'anti-Wiersma' genoemd |trans-title = Education minister Mariëlle Paul has also been called the 'anti Wiersma' }} Her party won 34 seats, causing her to be elected. Paul received 2,633 preference votes and was sworn into the House of Representatives on 31 March 2021.{{Cite web |url = https://www.kiesraad.nl/adviezen-en-publicaties/proces-verbalen/2021/03/26/uitslag-tweede-kamerverkiezing-17-maart-2021 |format = PDF |title = Uitslag Tweede Kamerverkiezing 17 maart 2021 Proces-verbaal |trans-title = Results general election 17 March 2021 Report |page = 157 |access-date = 2 August 2021 |date = 29 March 2021 |website = Kiesraad |language = nl }} She became her party's spokesperson for international trade, development aid, and macroeconomic policy, but her portfolio changed to primary and secondary education shortly after. Compensation for victims of the childcare benefits scandal was added later as well.{{Cite web |url = https://www.vvd.nl/profielen/marielle-paul/ |title = Mariëlle Paul |language = nl |access-date = 7 May 2022 |website = VVD }} Besides, Paul is part of the contact groups Germany, United Kingdom, and United States, and she is on the Committees for Education, Culture and Science; for European Affairs; for Finance; for Foreign Affairs; for Kingdom Relations (chair); and for Public Expenditure. She was one of her party's {{lang|nl|lijstduwers}} in Amsterdam in the 2022 municipal elections.{{Cite web |url = https://onderzoek.amsterdam.nl/dataset/verkiezingen-gemeenteraad-2022 |website = Gemeente Amsterdam |title = Dataset Verkiezingen gemeenteraad 2022 |access-date = 7 May 2022 |language = nl |date = 21 March 2022 |trans-title = Data set 2022 municipal election }}
When Khadija Arib left the House in late 2022, Paul took over as chair of a committee to pepare a parliamentary inquiry into the COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands in an acting capacity. Newspaper NRC reported in February 2023 that some members of the committee had demanded the departure of fellow members Pepijn van Houwelingen (FVD) Wybren van Haga (BVNL) for promoting prejudiced views. The following week, Paul – who did not have the authority to remove members – announced that the committee would continue its work following constructive talks.{{Cite news |url = https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2023/02/03/crisissfeer-in-coronacommissie-positie-van-houwelingen-en-van-haga-ter-discussie-a4156156 |website = NRC |language = nl |access-date = 8 April 2023 |date = 3 February 2023 |title = Crisissfeer in coronacommissie: positie Van Houwelingen en Van Haga ter discussie |trans-title = Atmosphere of crisis in COVID-19 committee: Position Van Houwelingen and Van Haga up for discussion |last1 = De Koning |first1 = Petra |last2 = Van den Dool |first2 = Pim |url-access = subscription }}{{Cite news |url = https://www.ad.nl/politiek/crisis-in-coronacommissie-gesust-onderzoek-gaat-door-met-van-houwelingen-en-van-haga~ab0be770/ |website = AD |language = nl |access-date = 8 April 2023 |date = 6 February 2023 |last = Peer |first = Wouter |title = Crisis in coronacommissie gesust: onderzoek gaat door mét Van Houwelingen en Van Haga |trans-title = Crisis in COVID-19 committee soothed: Inquiry continues with Van Houwelingen and Van Haga }} After preparations were finished in June 2023, the parliamentary inquiry was indefinitely postponed, as not enough parties had nominated a member of parliament to take part. Paul had already indicated she would not be available to lead the inquiry.{{Cite news |url = https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2023/06/27/corona-enquete-komt-er-nu-niet-en-misschien-nooit-a4168380 |website = NRC |language = nl |access-date = 8 July 2023 |title = De parlementaire enquête naar het coronabeleid komt er nu niet, en misschien nooit |trans-title = The parliamentary inquiry into the pandemic response will not happen now, and maybe ever |date = 27 June 2023 |last1 = Rutten |first1 = Rik |last2 = Wieringa |first2 = Rein |url-access = subscription }}{{Cite news |url = https://www.parool.nl/nederland/corona-enquete-tot-nader-order-gestaakt-hoe-kwam-het-zover-dit-ondermijnt-het-vertrouwen-in-de-overheid~b213587b/ |website = Het Parool |language = nl |access-date = 21 August 2023 |url-access = subscription |last1 = Hoedeman |first1 = Jan |last2 = Klaassen |first2 = Niels |date = 1 July 2023 |title = Corona-enquête tot nader order gestaakt: hoe kwam het zover? 'Dit ondermijnt het vertrouwen in de overheid' |trans-title = COVID-19 inquiry indefinitely halted: How did it come to this? 'This undermines trust in the government' }}
Rutte and Schoof cabinets
On 18 July 2023, it was announced Paul would become Minister for Primary and Secondary Education as part of the fourth Rutte cabinet. Her predecessor, Dennis Wiersma, had resigned the month before following reports of unacceptable behavior in the workplace.{{Cite news |url = https://nos.nl/artikel/2483251-kamerlid-marielle-paul-wordt-nieuwe-minister-op-onderwijs |website = NOS |access-date = 21 August 2023 |language = nl |date = 18 July 2023 |title = Kamerlid Mariëlle Paul wordt nieuwe minister op Onderwijs |trans-title = House member Mariëlle Paul will become the Minister for Education }} The cabinet had collapsed on 7 July due to disagreements over asylum reform and continued as a caretaker government.{{Cite news |url = https://nos.nl/collectie/13942/artikel/2481977-dit-is-wat-we-nu-weten-over-de-val-van-kabinet-rutte-iv |website = NOS |language = nl |access-date = 11 July 2023 |date = 8 July 2023 |title = Dit is wat we nu weten over de val van kabinet-Rutte IV |trans-title = This is what we know about the fall of the fourth Rutte cabinet }} Paul was sworn in by King Willem-Alexander at palace Huis ten Bosch on 21 July.{{Cite press release |url = https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/regering/bewindspersonen/marielle-paul/nieuws/2023/07/18/benoeming-minister-voor-primair-en-voortgezet-onderwijs |website = Government of the Netherlands |access-date = 21 August 2023 |language = nl |date = 18 July 2023 |title = Benoeming minister voor Primair en Voortgezet Onderwijs |trans-title = Appointment of Minister for Primary and Secondary Education }} Her appointment marked the first time in Dutch political history that the cabinet consisted of more women than men. Serving alongside Minister of Education, Culture and Science Robbert Dijkgraaf, who leads the ministry, Paul's responsibilities were preschooling, primary and secondary education, special education, adult education, informal education, action plan basic skills, equal opportunities, teacher policy, civilian service, National Program Education, education real estate, {{ill|Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs|lt=DUO|nl|Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs}}, and Inspectorate of Education.{{Cite web |url = https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/regering/bewindspersonen/marielle-paul |access-date = 21 August 2023 |language = nl |website = Government of the Netherlands |title = Mariëlle Paul }}
After the PVV, VVD, NSC, and BBB formed the Schoof cabinet, Paul was sworn in as State Secretary for Primary and Secondary Education and Equal Opportunities on 2 July 2024.{{Cite news |url = https://nos.nl/collectie/13962/artikel/2524383-marielle-paul-vvd-van-minister-naar-staatssecretaris-op-onderwijs |date = 13 June 2024 |access-date = 16 June 2024 |language = nl |website = NOS |title = Mariëlle Paul (VVD) van minister naar staatssecretaris op Onderwijs |trans-title = Mariëlle Paul (VVD) from minister to education state secretary }}{{Cite news |url = https://nos.nl/collectie/13962/artikel/2527025-ministers-en-staatssecretarissen-kabinet-schoof-beedigd |date = 2 July 2024 |access-date = 2 July 2024 |language = nl |website = NOS |title = Ministers en staatssecretarissen kabinet-Schoof beëdigd |trans-title = Ministers and state secretaries of Schoof cabinet sworn in }} Her portfolio was nearly unchanged.{{Cite web |url = https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/regering/bewindspersonen/marielle-paul |website = Government of the Netherlands |language = nl |access-date = 6 July 2024 |title = Mariëlle Paul }} The coalition agreement included plans to refocus primary education on reading, writing, and arithmetic and to significantly reduce the number of core learning objectives. After a new set of more specific objectives was presented following years of discussions, the cabinet postponed their implementation to make a stricter selection.{{Cite news |url = https://www.ad.nl/politiek/kabinet-vertraagt-terugkeer-naar-meer-taal-en-rekenonderwijs-op-basisschool~a8580d9e/ |date = 14 October 2024 |last = Peer |first = Wouter |access-date = 14 October 2024 |language = nl |website = Algemeen Dagblad |title = Kabinet vertraagt terugkeer naar meer taal- en rekenonderwijs op basisschool |trans-title = Cabinet delays return to more language and arithmetic education on primary schools }} Paul continued work on a bill of her predecessor to broaden the scope of the {{ill|Inspectorate of Education|nl|Inspectie van het Onderwijs (Nederland)}} to include informal education in order to take action against lessons that incite hatred, discrimination, or violence.{{Cite news |url = https://www.nu.nl/politiek/6335186/nieuwe-wet-moet-ingrijpen-op-informele-scholen-mogelijk-maken.html |date = 12 November 2024 |access-date = 12 November 2024 |language = nl |website = NU.nl |title = Nieuwe wet moet ingrijpen op informele scholen mogelijk maken |trans-title = Bill should allow for intervention at informal schools }}
Personal life
Paul is a resident of Amsterdam, where she had been living for thirty years at the time of her swearing in as MP.{{Cite web |url = https://www.houseofrepresentatives.nl/members_of_parliament/members_of_parliament/paul-mlj-vvd |website = Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal |title = Mariëlle Paul |access-date = 31 March 2022 }} She is single.{{Cite magazine |magazine = Vrij Nederland |title = Nieuw op het pluche |trans-title = New in the banks |language = nl |date = 9 December 2021 |page = 29 |last = Quaegebeur |first = Els }}
Electoral history
{{Incomplete list|date=December 2023}}
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" border=2 cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 style="border: 1px #aaa solid; font-size: 90%; text-align:center;"
|+ {{sronly|Electoral history of Mariëlle Paul}} ! scope="col" rowspan=2 |Year ! scope="col" rowspan=2 |Body ! scope="col" colspan=2 rowspan=2 |Party ! scope="col" rowspan=2 |{{abbr|2=Position on the party list|Pos.}} ! scope="col" rowspan=2 |Votes ! scope="colgroup" colspan=2 |Result ! scope="col" rowspan=2 class="unsortable" |{{abbr|2=References|Ref}}. |
| scope="col" |Party seats
! scope="col" |Individual |
|---|
| scope="row" | 2021
| style="background-color:{{party color|People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (2020)}};"| | People's Party for Freedom and Democracy | style=text-align:right | 17 | style=text-align:right | 2,633 | style=text-align:right | 34 | {{yes2|Won}} |
| scope="row" | 2023
| style="background-color:{{party color|People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (2020)}};"| | People's Party for Freedom and Democracy | style=text-align:right | 10 | style=text-align:right | 2,704 | style=text-align:right | 24 | {{yes2|Won}} |
References
{{reflist}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=Dennis Wiersma}}
{{s-ttl|title=Minister for Primary and Secondary Education|years=2023–2024}}
{{s-aft|after=Herself
as State Secretary for Primary and Secondary Education and Emancipation}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=Herself
as Minister for Primary and Secondary Education}}
{{s-ttl|title=State Secretary for Primary and Secondary Education and Emancipation|years=2024–present}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-end}}
{{Ministers without Portfolio of the Netherlands}}
{{State Secretaries for Health of the Netherlands}}
{{Fourth Rutte cabinet}}
{{Schoof cabinet}}
{{Members of the House of Representatives of the Netherlands, 2021–2023}}
{{Members of the House of Representatives of the Netherlands, 2023–present}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Paul, Marielle}}
Category:Dutch people of Pakistani descent
Category:People's Party for Freedom and Democracy politicians
Category:Leiden University alumni
Category:21st-century Dutch women politicians
Category:Dutch public relations people
Category:People from Heeze-Leende
Category:People of Anglo-Indian descent
Category:Politicians from Amsterdam
Category:Ministers without portfolio of the Netherlands