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[
"Abraham Berge"
] | easy | Who was the head of Free-minded Liberal Party from 1909 to 1910? | /wiki/Free-minded_Liberal_Party#P488#0 | Free-minded Liberal Party The Free-minded Liberal Party ( ) was a political party in Norway founded in 1909 by the conservative-liberal faction of the Liberal Party . The party cooperated closely with the Conservative Party and participated in several short-lived governments , including two headed by Free-minded Prime Ministers . In the 1930s the party changed its name to the Free-minded Peoples Party ( ) and initiated cooperation with nationalist groups . The party contested its last election in 1936 , and was not reorganised in 1945 . History . The Free-minded Liberal Party was founded in March 1909 under influence of Norways first independent Prime Minister , Christian Michelsen of the Liberal Party , after around a third of the Liberal parliamentary representatives had been excluded from a reconstitution of the Liberal Party in 1908 . The party was founded in protest against the increasingly radical course of the consolidated Liberal Party , which the partys right wing considered to conflict with the partys traditionally liberal ideology . Other co-founders of the party included Abraham Berge , Wollert Konow ( SB ) , Sofus Arctander , Harald Bothner , Magnus Halvorsen , Ernst Sars , Ola Thommessen and Fridtjof Nansen . The party initiated a close cooperation with the Conservative Party , and won 23 seats in the 1909 parliamentary election , after which the party formed a government together with the Conservatives with Wollert Konow as Prime Minister . The government did however not live up to the expectations of either Michelsen or the Conservatives , and the Conservatives withdrew from the government in 1911 . Konows government came to an abrupt end in early 1912 after he declared his sympathies for the rural language form Landsmål in a speech to the Agrarian Youth Association , during the height of the Norwegian language conflict . The speech caused an uproar among militant Riksmål-supporters , especially among the Conservatives , but also in his own party , eventually leading to Konows replacement as Prime Minister ( by Conservative Jens Bratlie ) . Notably individualist in orientation , the party emphasised intellectual freedom . The first woman meeting as a parliamentary representative in Norwegian history was the Free-mindeds Anna Rogstad in 1911 , two years before full suffrage for women was granted in Norway . The conflicts around Konows failed government caused a major defeat for the Conservative-Free-minded alliance in the 1912 election , and reduced the Free-minded to insignificance with only four seats . The party organisation was increasingly merged into the Conservative organisation after 1912 , until election gains and coalition victories in 1921 and 1924 sparked desires for a more independent party . The conflict resulted in numerous name-changes of the various Conservative local and regional chapters in attempts to signal a broader conservative-liberal profile . The two parties participated in several governments together in the 1920s , until they started drifting increasingly apart towards the end of the decade . In 1931 , the Free-minded changed their name to the Free-minded Peoples Party , and was subsequently reduced to a single representative from Trondheim in the 1933 election . It contested its last election in 1936 in electoral cooperations with the Fatherland League and Nasjonal Samling ( NS ) , failing to secure a single seat . By then most of the local and regional chapters had returned to or joined the Conservatives . The party was not reorganised in 1945 . The first non-Labour Prime Minister after the war , John Lyng , was a member of the party before he joined the Conservatives in 1938 . Historian and journalist Hans Fredrik Dahl has described the Progress Party as a spiritual successor to the party . Party leaders . The party leaders were Abraham Berge ( 1909–1910 ) , Magnus Halvorsen ( 1910–1912 ) , William Martin Nygaard ( 1912–1915 ) , Erik Enge ( 1915–1918 ) , Bernt Holtsmark ( 1918–1922 ) , Oluf Christian Müller ( 1922–1924 ) , Karl Wefring ( 1924–1925 ) , P . A . Holm ( 1925–1930 ) , Anton Wilhelm Brøgger ( acting , 1930–1931 ) Einar Greve ( 1931–1933 ) , Rolf Thommessen ( 1933–1936 ) , Rudolf Ræder ( 1936–1937 ) and Trygve Swensen ( 1937–1939 ) . Election results . - * Results from joint lists with the Conservative Party . Vote indicated here is shared between the parties , while seats indicated represent the Free-minded Liberal Partys share alone ( including seats won by the party on separate lists ) . - ** Results from separate lists of the Free-minded Liberal Party , contested in some constituencies . - *** Results from joint lists with the Fatherland League and Nasjonal Samling . |
[
"Magnus Halvorsen"
] | easy | Who was the head of Free-minded Liberal Party from 1910 to 1912? | /wiki/Free-minded_Liberal_Party#P488#1 | Free-minded Liberal Party The Free-minded Liberal Party ( ) was a political party in Norway founded in 1909 by the conservative-liberal faction of the Liberal Party . The party cooperated closely with the Conservative Party and participated in several short-lived governments , including two headed by Free-minded Prime Ministers . In the 1930s the party changed its name to the Free-minded Peoples Party ( ) and initiated cooperation with nationalist groups . The party contested its last election in 1936 , and was not reorganised in 1945 . History . The Free-minded Liberal Party was founded in March 1909 under influence of Norways first independent Prime Minister , Christian Michelsen of the Liberal Party , after around a third of the Liberal parliamentary representatives had been excluded from a reconstitution of the Liberal Party in 1908 . The party was founded in protest against the increasingly radical course of the consolidated Liberal Party , which the partys right wing considered to conflict with the partys traditionally liberal ideology . Other co-founders of the party included Abraham Berge , Wollert Konow ( SB ) , Sofus Arctander , Harald Bothner , Magnus Halvorsen , Ernst Sars , Ola Thommessen and Fridtjof Nansen . The party initiated a close cooperation with the Conservative Party , and won 23 seats in the 1909 parliamentary election , after which the party formed a government together with the Conservatives with Wollert Konow as Prime Minister . The government did however not live up to the expectations of either Michelsen or the Conservatives , and the Conservatives withdrew from the government in 1911 . Konows government came to an abrupt end in early 1912 after he declared his sympathies for the rural language form Landsmål in a speech to the Agrarian Youth Association , during the height of the Norwegian language conflict . The speech caused an uproar among militant Riksmål-supporters , especially among the Conservatives , but also in his own party , eventually leading to Konows replacement as Prime Minister ( by Conservative Jens Bratlie ) . Notably individualist in orientation , the party emphasised intellectual freedom . The first woman meeting as a parliamentary representative in Norwegian history was the Free-mindeds Anna Rogstad in 1911 , two years before full suffrage for women was granted in Norway . The conflicts around Konows failed government caused a major defeat for the Conservative-Free-minded alliance in the 1912 election , and reduced the Free-minded to insignificance with only four seats . The party organisation was increasingly merged into the Conservative organisation after 1912 , until election gains and coalition victories in 1921 and 1924 sparked desires for a more independent party . The conflict resulted in numerous name-changes of the various Conservative local and regional chapters in attempts to signal a broader conservative-liberal profile . The two parties participated in several governments together in the 1920s , until they started drifting increasingly apart towards the end of the decade . In 1931 , the Free-minded changed their name to the Free-minded Peoples Party , and was subsequently reduced to a single representative from Trondheim in the 1933 election . It contested its last election in 1936 in electoral cooperations with the Fatherland League and Nasjonal Samling ( NS ) , failing to secure a single seat . By then most of the local and regional chapters had returned to or joined the Conservatives . The party was not reorganised in 1945 . The first non-Labour Prime Minister after the war , John Lyng , was a member of the party before he joined the Conservatives in 1938 . Historian and journalist Hans Fredrik Dahl has described the Progress Party as a spiritual successor to the party . Party leaders . The party leaders were Abraham Berge ( 1909–1910 ) , Magnus Halvorsen ( 1910–1912 ) , William Martin Nygaard ( 1912–1915 ) , Erik Enge ( 1915–1918 ) , Bernt Holtsmark ( 1918–1922 ) , Oluf Christian Müller ( 1922–1924 ) , Karl Wefring ( 1924–1925 ) , P . A . Holm ( 1925–1930 ) , Anton Wilhelm Brøgger ( acting , 1930–1931 ) Einar Greve ( 1931–1933 ) , Rolf Thommessen ( 1933–1936 ) , Rudolf Ræder ( 1936–1937 ) and Trygve Swensen ( 1937–1939 ) . Election results . - * Results from joint lists with the Conservative Party . Vote indicated here is shared between the parties , while seats indicated represent the Free-minded Liberal Partys share alone ( including seats won by the party on separate lists ) . - ** Results from separate lists of the Free-minded Liberal Party , contested in some constituencies . - *** Results from joint lists with the Fatherland League and Nasjonal Samling . |
[
"William Martin Nygaard"
] | easy | Who was the chair of Free-minded Liberal Party from 1912 to 1915? | /wiki/Free-minded_Liberal_Party#P488#2 | Free-minded Liberal Party The Free-minded Liberal Party ( ) was a political party in Norway founded in 1909 by the conservative-liberal faction of the Liberal Party . The party cooperated closely with the Conservative Party and participated in several short-lived governments , including two headed by Free-minded Prime Ministers . In the 1930s the party changed its name to the Free-minded Peoples Party ( ) and initiated cooperation with nationalist groups . The party contested its last election in 1936 , and was not reorganised in 1945 . History . The Free-minded Liberal Party was founded in March 1909 under influence of Norways first independent Prime Minister , Christian Michelsen of the Liberal Party , after around a third of the Liberal parliamentary representatives had been excluded from a reconstitution of the Liberal Party in 1908 . The party was founded in protest against the increasingly radical course of the consolidated Liberal Party , which the partys right wing considered to conflict with the partys traditionally liberal ideology . Other co-founders of the party included Abraham Berge , Wollert Konow ( SB ) , Sofus Arctander , Harald Bothner , Magnus Halvorsen , Ernst Sars , Ola Thommessen and Fridtjof Nansen . The party initiated a close cooperation with the Conservative Party , and won 23 seats in the 1909 parliamentary election , after which the party formed a government together with the Conservatives with Wollert Konow as Prime Minister . The government did however not live up to the expectations of either Michelsen or the Conservatives , and the Conservatives withdrew from the government in 1911 . Konows government came to an abrupt end in early 1912 after he declared his sympathies for the rural language form Landsmål in a speech to the Agrarian Youth Association , during the height of the Norwegian language conflict . The speech caused an uproar among militant Riksmål-supporters , especially among the Conservatives , but also in his own party , eventually leading to Konows replacement as Prime Minister ( by Conservative Jens Bratlie ) . Notably individualist in orientation , the party emphasised intellectual freedom . The first woman meeting as a parliamentary representative in Norwegian history was the Free-mindeds Anna Rogstad in 1911 , two years before full suffrage for women was granted in Norway . The conflicts around Konows failed government caused a major defeat for the Conservative-Free-minded alliance in the 1912 election , and reduced the Free-minded to insignificance with only four seats . The party organisation was increasingly merged into the Conservative organisation after 1912 , until election gains and coalition victories in 1921 and 1924 sparked desires for a more independent party . The conflict resulted in numerous name-changes of the various Conservative local and regional chapters in attempts to signal a broader conservative-liberal profile . The two parties participated in several governments together in the 1920s , until they started drifting increasingly apart towards the end of the decade . In 1931 , the Free-minded changed their name to the Free-minded Peoples Party , and was subsequently reduced to a single representative from Trondheim in the 1933 election . It contested its last election in 1936 in electoral cooperations with the Fatherland League and Nasjonal Samling ( NS ) , failing to secure a single seat . By then most of the local and regional chapters had returned to or joined the Conservatives . The party was not reorganised in 1945 . The first non-Labour Prime Minister after the war , John Lyng , was a member of the party before he joined the Conservatives in 1938 . Historian and journalist Hans Fredrik Dahl has described the Progress Party as a spiritual successor to the party . Party leaders . The party leaders were Abraham Berge ( 1909–1910 ) , Magnus Halvorsen ( 1910–1912 ) , William Martin Nygaard ( 1912–1915 ) , Erik Enge ( 1915–1918 ) , Bernt Holtsmark ( 1918–1922 ) , Oluf Christian Müller ( 1922–1924 ) , Karl Wefring ( 1924–1925 ) , P . A . Holm ( 1925–1930 ) , Anton Wilhelm Brøgger ( acting , 1930–1931 ) Einar Greve ( 1931–1933 ) , Rolf Thommessen ( 1933–1936 ) , Rudolf Ræder ( 1936–1937 ) and Trygve Swensen ( 1937–1939 ) . Election results . - * Results from joint lists with the Conservative Party . Vote indicated here is shared between the parties , while seats indicated represent the Free-minded Liberal Partys share alone ( including seats won by the party on separate lists ) . - ** Results from separate lists of the Free-minded Liberal Party , contested in some constituencies . - *** Results from joint lists with the Fatherland League and Nasjonal Samling . |
[
"Erik Enge"
] | easy | Who was the chair of Free-minded Liberal Party from 1915 to 1918? | /wiki/Free-minded_Liberal_Party#P488#3 | Free-minded Liberal Party The Free-minded Liberal Party ( ) was a political party in Norway founded in 1909 by the conservative-liberal faction of the Liberal Party . The party cooperated closely with the Conservative Party and participated in several short-lived governments , including two headed by Free-minded Prime Ministers . In the 1930s the party changed its name to the Free-minded Peoples Party ( ) and initiated cooperation with nationalist groups . The party contested its last election in 1936 , and was not reorganised in 1945 . History . The Free-minded Liberal Party was founded in March 1909 under influence of Norways first independent Prime Minister , Christian Michelsen of the Liberal Party , after around a third of the Liberal parliamentary representatives had been excluded from a reconstitution of the Liberal Party in 1908 . The party was founded in protest against the increasingly radical course of the consolidated Liberal Party , which the partys right wing considered to conflict with the partys traditionally liberal ideology . Other co-founders of the party included Abraham Berge , Wollert Konow ( SB ) , Sofus Arctander , Harald Bothner , Magnus Halvorsen , Ernst Sars , Ola Thommessen and Fridtjof Nansen . The party initiated a close cooperation with the Conservative Party , and won 23 seats in the 1909 parliamentary election , after which the party formed a government together with the Conservatives with Wollert Konow as Prime Minister . The government did however not live up to the expectations of either Michelsen or the Conservatives , and the Conservatives withdrew from the government in 1911 . Konows government came to an abrupt end in early 1912 after he declared his sympathies for the rural language form Landsmål in a speech to the Agrarian Youth Association , during the height of the Norwegian language conflict . The speech caused an uproar among militant Riksmål-supporters , especially among the Conservatives , but also in his own party , eventually leading to Konows replacement as Prime Minister ( by Conservative Jens Bratlie ) . Notably individualist in orientation , the party emphasised intellectual freedom . The first woman meeting as a parliamentary representative in Norwegian history was the Free-mindeds Anna Rogstad in 1911 , two years before full suffrage for women was granted in Norway . The conflicts around Konows failed government caused a major defeat for the Conservative-Free-minded alliance in the 1912 election , and reduced the Free-minded to insignificance with only four seats . The party organisation was increasingly merged into the Conservative organisation after 1912 , until election gains and coalition victories in 1921 and 1924 sparked desires for a more independent party . The conflict resulted in numerous name-changes of the various Conservative local and regional chapters in attempts to signal a broader conservative-liberal profile . The two parties participated in several governments together in the 1920s , until they started drifting increasingly apart towards the end of the decade . In 1931 , the Free-minded changed their name to the Free-minded Peoples Party , and was subsequently reduced to a single representative from Trondheim in the 1933 election . It contested its last election in 1936 in electoral cooperations with the Fatherland League and Nasjonal Samling ( NS ) , failing to secure a single seat . By then most of the local and regional chapters had returned to or joined the Conservatives . The party was not reorganised in 1945 . The first non-Labour Prime Minister after the war , John Lyng , was a member of the party before he joined the Conservatives in 1938 . Historian and journalist Hans Fredrik Dahl has described the Progress Party as a spiritual successor to the party . Party leaders . The party leaders were Abraham Berge ( 1909–1910 ) , Magnus Halvorsen ( 1910–1912 ) , William Martin Nygaard ( 1912–1915 ) , Erik Enge ( 1915–1918 ) , Bernt Holtsmark ( 1918–1922 ) , Oluf Christian Müller ( 1922–1924 ) , Karl Wefring ( 1924–1925 ) , P . A . Holm ( 1925–1930 ) , Anton Wilhelm Brøgger ( acting , 1930–1931 ) Einar Greve ( 1931–1933 ) , Rolf Thommessen ( 1933–1936 ) , Rudolf Ræder ( 1936–1937 ) and Trygve Swensen ( 1937–1939 ) . Election results . - * Results from joint lists with the Conservative Party . Vote indicated here is shared between the parties , while seats indicated represent the Free-minded Liberal Partys share alone ( including seats won by the party on separate lists ) . - ** Results from separate lists of the Free-minded Liberal Party , contested in some constituencies . - *** Results from joint lists with the Fatherland League and Nasjonal Samling . |
[
"Bernt Holtsmark"
] | easy | Who was the chair of Free-minded Liberal Party from 1918 to 1922? | /wiki/Free-minded_Liberal_Party#P488#4 | Free-minded Liberal Party The Free-minded Liberal Party ( ) was a political party in Norway founded in 1909 by the conservative-liberal faction of the Liberal Party . The party cooperated closely with the Conservative Party and participated in several short-lived governments , including two headed by Free-minded Prime Ministers . In the 1930s the party changed its name to the Free-minded Peoples Party ( ) and initiated cooperation with nationalist groups . The party contested its last election in 1936 , and was not reorganised in 1945 . History . The Free-minded Liberal Party was founded in March 1909 under influence of Norways first independent Prime Minister , Christian Michelsen of the Liberal Party , after around a third of the Liberal parliamentary representatives had been excluded from a reconstitution of the Liberal Party in 1908 . The party was founded in protest against the increasingly radical course of the consolidated Liberal Party , which the partys right wing considered to conflict with the partys traditionally liberal ideology . Other co-founders of the party included Abraham Berge , Wollert Konow ( SB ) , Sofus Arctander , Harald Bothner , Magnus Halvorsen , Ernst Sars , Ola Thommessen and Fridtjof Nansen . The party initiated a close cooperation with the Conservative Party , and won 23 seats in the 1909 parliamentary election , after which the party formed a government together with the Conservatives with Wollert Konow as Prime Minister . The government did however not live up to the expectations of either Michelsen or the Conservatives , and the Conservatives withdrew from the government in 1911 . Konows government came to an abrupt end in early 1912 after he declared his sympathies for the rural language form Landsmål in a speech to the Agrarian Youth Association , during the height of the Norwegian language conflict . The speech caused an uproar among militant Riksmål-supporters , especially among the Conservatives , but also in his own party , eventually leading to Konows replacement as Prime Minister ( by Conservative Jens Bratlie ) . Notably individualist in orientation , the party emphasised intellectual freedom . The first woman meeting as a parliamentary representative in Norwegian history was the Free-mindeds Anna Rogstad in 1911 , two years before full suffrage for women was granted in Norway . The conflicts around Konows failed government caused a major defeat for the Conservative-Free-minded alliance in the 1912 election , and reduced the Free-minded to insignificance with only four seats . The party organisation was increasingly merged into the Conservative organisation after 1912 , until election gains and coalition victories in 1921 and 1924 sparked desires for a more independent party . The conflict resulted in numerous name-changes of the various Conservative local and regional chapters in attempts to signal a broader conservative-liberal profile . The two parties participated in several governments together in the 1920s , until they started drifting increasingly apart towards the end of the decade . In 1931 , the Free-minded changed their name to the Free-minded Peoples Party , and was subsequently reduced to a single representative from Trondheim in the 1933 election . It contested its last election in 1936 in electoral cooperations with the Fatherland League and Nasjonal Samling ( NS ) , failing to secure a single seat . By then most of the local and regional chapters had returned to or joined the Conservatives . The party was not reorganised in 1945 . The first non-Labour Prime Minister after the war , John Lyng , was a member of the party before he joined the Conservatives in 1938 . Historian and journalist Hans Fredrik Dahl has described the Progress Party as a spiritual successor to the party . Party leaders . The party leaders were Abraham Berge ( 1909–1910 ) , Magnus Halvorsen ( 1910–1912 ) , William Martin Nygaard ( 1912–1915 ) , Erik Enge ( 1915–1918 ) , Bernt Holtsmark ( 1918–1922 ) , Oluf Christian Müller ( 1922–1924 ) , Karl Wefring ( 1924–1925 ) , P . A . Holm ( 1925–1930 ) , Anton Wilhelm Brøgger ( acting , 1930–1931 ) Einar Greve ( 1931–1933 ) , Rolf Thommessen ( 1933–1936 ) , Rudolf Ræder ( 1936–1937 ) and Trygve Swensen ( 1937–1939 ) . Election results . - * Results from joint lists with the Conservative Party . Vote indicated here is shared between the parties , while seats indicated represent the Free-minded Liberal Partys share alone ( including seats won by the party on separate lists ) . - ** Results from separate lists of the Free-minded Liberal Party , contested in some constituencies . - *** Results from joint lists with the Fatherland League and Nasjonal Samling . |
[
"Oluf Christian Müller"
] | easy | Who was the chair of Free-minded Liberal Party from 1922 to 1924? | /wiki/Free-minded_Liberal_Party#P488#5 | Free-minded Liberal Party The Free-minded Liberal Party ( ) was a political party in Norway founded in 1909 by the conservative-liberal faction of the Liberal Party . The party cooperated closely with the Conservative Party and participated in several short-lived governments , including two headed by Free-minded Prime Ministers . In the 1930s the party changed its name to the Free-minded Peoples Party ( ) and initiated cooperation with nationalist groups . The party contested its last election in 1936 , and was not reorganised in 1945 . History . The Free-minded Liberal Party was founded in March 1909 under influence of Norways first independent Prime Minister , Christian Michelsen of the Liberal Party , after around a third of the Liberal parliamentary representatives had been excluded from a reconstitution of the Liberal Party in 1908 . The party was founded in protest against the increasingly radical course of the consolidated Liberal Party , which the partys right wing considered to conflict with the partys traditionally liberal ideology . Other co-founders of the party included Abraham Berge , Wollert Konow ( SB ) , Sofus Arctander , Harald Bothner , Magnus Halvorsen , Ernst Sars , Ola Thommessen and Fridtjof Nansen . The party initiated a close cooperation with the Conservative Party , and won 23 seats in the 1909 parliamentary election , after which the party formed a government together with the Conservatives with Wollert Konow as Prime Minister . The government did however not live up to the expectations of either Michelsen or the Conservatives , and the Conservatives withdrew from the government in 1911 . Konows government came to an abrupt end in early 1912 after he declared his sympathies for the rural language form Landsmål in a speech to the Agrarian Youth Association , during the height of the Norwegian language conflict . The speech caused an uproar among militant Riksmål-supporters , especially among the Conservatives , but also in his own party , eventually leading to Konows replacement as Prime Minister ( by Conservative Jens Bratlie ) . Notably individualist in orientation , the party emphasised intellectual freedom . The first woman meeting as a parliamentary representative in Norwegian history was the Free-mindeds Anna Rogstad in 1911 , two years before full suffrage for women was granted in Norway . The conflicts around Konows failed government caused a major defeat for the Conservative-Free-minded alliance in the 1912 election , and reduced the Free-minded to insignificance with only four seats . The party organisation was increasingly merged into the Conservative organisation after 1912 , until election gains and coalition victories in 1921 and 1924 sparked desires for a more independent party . The conflict resulted in numerous name-changes of the various Conservative local and regional chapters in attempts to signal a broader conservative-liberal profile . The two parties participated in several governments together in the 1920s , until they started drifting increasingly apart towards the end of the decade . In 1931 , the Free-minded changed their name to the Free-minded Peoples Party , and was subsequently reduced to a single representative from Trondheim in the 1933 election . It contested its last election in 1936 in electoral cooperations with the Fatherland League and Nasjonal Samling ( NS ) , failing to secure a single seat . By then most of the local and regional chapters had returned to or joined the Conservatives . The party was not reorganised in 1945 . The first non-Labour Prime Minister after the war , John Lyng , was a member of the party before he joined the Conservatives in 1938 . Historian and journalist Hans Fredrik Dahl has described the Progress Party as a spiritual successor to the party . Party leaders . The party leaders were Abraham Berge ( 1909–1910 ) , Magnus Halvorsen ( 1910–1912 ) , William Martin Nygaard ( 1912–1915 ) , Erik Enge ( 1915–1918 ) , Bernt Holtsmark ( 1918–1922 ) , Oluf Christian Müller ( 1922–1924 ) , Karl Wefring ( 1924–1925 ) , P . A . Holm ( 1925–1930 ) , Anton Wilhelm Brøgger ( acting , 1930–1931 ) Einar Greve ( 1931–1933 ) , Rolf Thommessen ( 1933–1936 ) , Rudolf Ræder ( 1936–1937 ) and Trygve Swensen ( 1937–1939 ) . Election results . - * Results from joint lists with the Conservative Party . Vote indicated here is shared between the parties , while seats indicated represent the Free-minded Liberal Partys share alone ( including seats won by the party on separate lists ) . - ** Results from separate lists of the Free-minded Liberal Party , contested in some constituencies . - *** Results from joint lists with the Fatherland League and Nasjonal Samling . |
[
"Karl Wefring"
] | easy | Who was the head of Free-minded Liberal Party from 1924 to 1925? | /wiki/Free-minded_Liberal_Party#P488#6 | Free-minded Liberal Party The Free-minded Liberal Party ( ) was a political party in Norway founded in 1909 by the conservative-liberal faction of the Liberal Party . The party cooperated closely with the Conservative Party and participated in several short-lived governments , including two headed by Free-minded Prime Ministers . In the 1930s the party changed its name to the Free-minded Peoples Party ( ) and initiated cooperation with nationalist groups . The party contested its last election in 1936 , and was not reorganised in 1945 . History . The Free-minded Liberal Party was founded in March 1909 under influence of Norways first independent Prime Minister , Christian Michelsen of the Liberal Party , after around a third of the Liberal parliamentary representatives had been excluded from a reconstitution of the Liberal Party in 1908 . The party was founded in protest against the increasingly radical course of the consolidated Liberal Party , which the partys right wing considered to conflict with the partys traditionally liberal ideology . Other co-founders of the party included Abraham Berge , Wollert Konow ( SB ) , Sofus Arctander , Harald Bothner , Magnus Halvorsen , Ernst Sars , Ola Thommessen and Fridtjof Nansen . The party initiated a close cooperation with the Conservative Party , and won 23 seats in the 1909 parliamentary election , after which the party formed a government together with the Conservatives with Wollert Konow as Prime Minister . The government did however not live up to the expectations of either Michelsen or the Conservatives , and the Conservatives withdrew from the government in 1911 . Konows government came to an abrupt end in early 1912 after he declared his sympathies for the rural language form Landsmål in a speech to the Agrarian Youth Association , during the height of the Norwegian language conflict . The speech caused an uproar among militant Riksmål-supporters , especially among the Conservatives , but also in his own party , eventually leading to Konows replacement as Prime Minister ( by Conservative Jens Bratlie ) . Notably individualist in orientation , the party emphasised intellectual freedom . The first woman meeting as a parliamentary representative in Norwegian history was the Free-mindeds Anna Rogstad in 1911 , two years before full suffrage for women was granted in Norway . The conflicts around Konows failed government caused a major defeat for the Conservative-Free-minded alliance in the 1912 election , and reduced the Free-minded to insignificance with only four seats . The party organisation was increasingly merged into the Conservative organisation after 1912 , until election gains and coalition victories in 1921 and 1924 sparked desires for a more independent party . The conflict resulted in numerous name-changes of the various Conservative local and regional chapters in attempts to signal a broader conservative-liberal profile . The two parties participated in several governments together in the 1920s , until they started drifting increasingly apart towards the end of the decade . In 1931 , the Free-minded changed their name to the Free-minded Peoples Party , and was subsequently reduced to a single representative from Trondheim in the 1933 election . It contested its last election in 1936 in electoral cooperations with the Fatherland League and Nasjonal Samling ( NS ) , failing to secure a single seat . By then most of the local and regional chapters had returned to or joined the Conservatives . The party was not reorganised in 1945 . The first non-Labour Prime Minister after the war , John Lyng , was a member of the party before he joined the Conservatives in 1938 . Historian and journalist Hans Fredrik Dahl has described the Progress Party as a spiritual successor to the party . Party leaders . The party leaders were Abraham Berge ( 1909–1910 ) , Magnus Halvorsen ( 1910–1912 ) , William Martin Nygaard ( 1912–1915 ) , Erik Enge ( 1915–1918 ) , Bernt Holtsmark ( 1918–1922 ) , Oluf Christian Müller ( 1922–1924 ) , Karl Wefring ( 1924–1925 ) , P . A . Holm ( 1925–1930 ) , Anton Wilhelm Brøgger ( acting , 1930–1931 ) Einar Greve ( 1931–1933 ) , Rolf Thommessen ( 1933–1936 ) , Rudolf Ræder ( 1936–1937 ) and Trygve Swensen ( 1937–1939 ) . Election results . - * Results from joint lists with the Conservative Party . Vote indicated here is shared between the parties , while seats indicated represent the Free-minded Liberal Partys share alone ( including seats won by the party on separate lists ) . - ** Results from separate lists of the Free-minded Liberal Party , contested in some constituencies . - *** Results from joint lists with the Fatherland League and Nasjonal Samling . |
[
"P . A . Holm"
] | easy | Who was the chair of Free-minded Liberal Party from 1925 to 1930? | /wiki/Free-minded_Liberal_Party#P488#7 | Free-minded Liberal Party The Free-minded Liberal Party ( ) was a political party in Norway founded in 1909 by the conservative-liberal faction of the Liberal Party . The party cooperated closely with the Conservative Party and participated in several short-lived governments , including two headed by Free-minded Prime Ministers . In the 1930s the party changed its name to the Free-minded Peoples Party ( ) and initiated cooperation with nationalist groups . The party contested its last election in 1936 , and was not reorganised in 1945 . History . The Free-minded Liberal Party was founded in March 1909 under influence of Norways first independent Prime Minister , Christian Michelsen of the Liberal Party , after around a third of the Liberal parliamentary representatives had been excluded from a reconstitution of the Liberal Party in 1908 . The party was founded in protest against the increasingly radical course of the consolidated Liberal Party , which the partys right wing considered to conflict with the partys traditionally liberal ideology . Other co-founders of the party included Abraham Berge , Wollert Konow ( SB ) , Sofus Arctander , Harald Bothner , Magnus Halvorsen , Ernst Sars , Ola Thommessen and Fridtjof Nansen . The party initiated a close cooperation with the Conservative Party , and won 23 seats in the 1909 parliamentary election , after which the party formed a government together with the Conservatives with Wollert Konow as Prime Minister . The government did however not live up to the expectations of either Michelsen or the Conservatives , and the Conservatives withdrew from the government in 1911 . Konows government came to an abrupt end in early 1912 after he declared his sympathies for the rural language form Landsmål in a speech to the Agrarian Youth Association , during the height of the Norwegian language conflict . The speech caused an uproar among militant Riksmål-supporters , especially among the Conservatives , but also in his own party , eventually leading to Konows replacement as Prime Minister ( by Conservative Jens Bratlie ) . Notably individualist in orientation , the party emphasised intellectual freedom . The first woman meeting as a parliamentary representative in Norwegian history was the Free-mindeds Anna Rogstad in 1911 , two years before full suffrage for women was granted in Norway . The conflicts around Konows failed government caused a major defeat for the Conservative-Free-minded alliance in the 1912 election , and reduced the Free-minded to insignificance with only four seats . The party organisation was increasingly merged into the Conservative organisation after 1912 , until election gains and coalition victories in 1921 and 1924 sparked desires for a more independent party . The conflict resulted in numerous name-changes of the various Conservative local and regional chapters in attempts to signal a broader conservative-liberal profile . The two parties participated in several governments together in the 1920s , until they started drifting increasingly apart towards the end of the decade . In 1931 , the Free-minded changed their name to the Free-minded Peoples Party , and was subsequently reduced to a single representative from Trondheim in the 1933 election . It contested its last election in 1936 in electoral cooperations with the Fatherland League and Nasjonal Samling ( NS ) , failing to secure a single seat . By then most of the local and regional chapters had returned to or joined the Conservatives . The party was not reorganised in 1945 . The first non-Labour Prime Minister after the war , John Lyng , was a member of the party before he joined the Conservatives in 1938 . Historian and journalist Hans Fredrik Dahl has described the Progress Party as a spiritual successor to the party . Party leaders . The party leaders were Abraham Berge ( 1909–1910 ) , Magnus Halvorsen ( 1910–1912 ) , William Martin Nygaard ( 1912–1915 ) , Erik Enge ( 1915–1918 ) , Bernt Holtsmark ( 1918–1922 ) , Oluf Christian Müller ( 1922–1924 ) , Karl Wefring ( 1924–1925 ) , P . A . Holm ( 1925–1930 ) , Anton Wilhelm Brøgger ( acting , 1930–1931 ) Einar Greve ( 1931–1933 ) , Rolf Thommessen ( 1933–1936 ) , Rudolf Ræder ( 1936–1937 ) and Trygve Swensen ( 1937–1939 ) . Election results . - * Results from joint lists with the Conservative Party . Vote indicated here is shared between the parties , while seats indicated represent the Free-minded Liberal Partys share alone ( including seats won by the party on separate lists ) . - ** Results from separate lists of the Free-minded Liberal Party , contested in some constituencies . - *** Results from joint lists with the Fatherland League and Nasjonal Samling . |
[
"Roman Bartoszcze"
] | easy | Who was the chair of Polish People's Party from May 1990 to Jun 1991? | /wiki/Polish_People's_Party#P488#0 | Polish Peoples Party The Polish Peoples Party ( ) , abbreviated to PSL ( traditionally translated as Polish Peasants Party ) , often shortened to ( the populars ) is an agrarian Christian-democratic political party in Poland . It is a member of the European Peoples Party and the European Peoples Party group in the European Parliament . The partys name traces its tradition to an agrarian party in Austro-Hungarian-controlled Galician Poland , which sent MPs to the parliament in Vienna . History . Before 1945 . The party was formed in 1895 in the Polish town of Rzeszow under the name Stronnictwo Ludowe ( Peoples Party ) . The party changed its name in 1903 to what its known as now . The party was led by Wincenty Witos and was quite successful , seating representatives in the Galician parliament before the turn of the 19th century . In the Second Polish Republic there were a few parties named PSL ( Polish Peoples Party Wyzwolenie , Polish Peoples Party Piast , Polish Peoples Party Left and others ) until they were removed by the Sanacja regime ( see also Peoples Party ) . During this time , there were two parties using the term Polish Peoples Party , namely Polish Peoples Party Piast and Polish Peoples Party Wyzwolenie ( which were merged into Peoples Party with Stronnictwo Chłopskie ) . During World War II , PSL took part in forming the Polish government in exile . Under the communist regime . After the war , Stanisław Mikołajczyk , a PSL leader who had been Prime Minister of the Polish government in exile , returned to communist-dominated Poland , where he joined the provisional government and rebuilt PSL . The party hoped to win the Yalta Conference-mandated elections and help establish a parliamentary system in Poland . The communists formed a rival peasant party allied with them . The 1947 parliamentary election was heavily rigged , with the communist-controlled bloc claiming to have won 80 percent of the vote . Many neutral observers believe the PSL would have won the election had it been conducted fairly . Mikołajczyk was soon compelled to flee Poland for his life . The communists then forced the remains of Mikołajczyks PSL to unite with the pro-communist Peoples Party to form the United Peoples Party . The ZSL was a governing partner in the ruling coalition . After the fall of the regime . Around the time of the fall of communism several PSLs were recreated , including Porozumienie Ludowe , Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe-Odrodzenie , and Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe ( Wilanów faction ) . In 1989 most merged into one party and took part in forming the first postwar noncommunist government in Poland with the Solidarity grouping , and in 1990 changed its name to PSL . It remained on the left of Polish politics in the 1990s , entering into coalitions with the postcommunist Democratic Left Alliance . In the 2001 parliamentary elections , PSL received 9% of votes and formed a coalition with the Democratic Left Alliance , an alliance which later broke down . Since then , PSL has moved towards more centrist and conservative policies . After 2004 . The party ran in the 2004 European Parliament election as part of the European Peoples Party ( EPP ) and received 6% of the vote , giving it 4 of 54 Polish seats in the European Parliament . In the 2005 general election , the party received 7% of votes , giving it 25 seats in the Sejm and 2 in the Senate . In the 2007 parliamentary elections , the party placed fourth , with 8.93% of the vote and 31 out of 460 seats , and entered into a governing coalition with the victor , the centre-right conservative Civic Platform . In European parliament elections PSL received 7.01% of votes in 2009 . In the 2011 national parliamentary election , Polish Peoples Party received 8.36% votes which gave them 28 seats in the Sejm and 2 mandates in the Senate . At the 2015 parliamentary election , the PSL dropped to 5.13 percent of the vote , just barely over the 5 percent threshold . With 16 seats , it was the smallest of the five factions in the Sejm . Since then PSL has lost even more support to PiS during the 2018 Polish local elections when they lost 87 seats and dropped to 12.07% unlike the 23.9% they got at the last local elections . After this , the party became junior partner in coalitions with Civic Coalition and SLD . In 2019 European election , PSL won 3 seats as a part of the European Coalition . For parliamentary elections in the same year , PSL decided to create centrist and Christian-democratic coalition with or without Civic Platform named as Polish Coalition . However , PO recreated Civic Coalition with Modern and small left-wing parties ( although without major left-wing parties ) . Polish Coalition , apart from PSL , consists of Kukiz15 , Union of European Democrats and another liberal , catholic and regionalist organisations . This coalition resulted in election of 30 members . Majority of them ( 20 ) were members of PSL . Ideology . The partys platform is strongly based on neo-agrarianism . On social and ethical issues , PSL opposes abortion , same-sex marriage , soft drug decriminalization , euthanasia and death penalty . In 2019 , the party adopted ( as part of an agreement with Kukiz15 ) in the partys platform direct democracys postulates , including single-member districts and obligatory referendum . Election results . Support . The Partys traditional support base consisted of farmers , peasants and rural voters . Voters are generally more social conservative than voters of Civic Platform . The main concurrent in rural areas is national conservative Law and Justice ( PiS ) . In the 2010s the party started to lose support between rural voters ( especially in southeast of Poland ) . In 2019 election PSL gained surprisingly significant support in cities and won mandates ( e . g . in Warsaw and Wrocław ) . Leadership . Chairman : - Roman Bartoszcze ( 1990–1991 ) - Waldemar Pawlak ( 1991–1997 ) - Jarosław Kalinowski ( 1997–2004 ) - Janusz Wojciechowski ( 2004–2005 ) - Waldemar Pawlak ( 2005–2012 ) - Janusz Piechociński ( 2012–2015 ) - Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz ( 2015–present ) |
[
"Jarosław Kalinowski"
] | easy | Who was the head of Polish People's Party from Oct 1997 to Mar 2004? | /wiki/Polish_People's_Party#P488#1 | Polish Peoples Party The Polish Peoples Party ( ) , abbreviated to PSL ( traditionally translated as Polish Peasants Party ) , often shortened to ( the populars ) is an agrarian Christian-democratic political party in Poland . It is a member of the European Peoples Party and the European Peoples Party group in the European Parliament . The partys name traces its tradition to an agrarian party in Austro-Hungarian-controlled Galician Poland , which sent MPs to the parliament in Vienna . History . Before 1945 . The party was formed in 1895 in the Polish town of Rzeszow under the name Stronnictwo Ludowe ( Peoples Party ) . The party changed its name in 1903 to what its known as now . The party was led by Wincenty Witos and was quite successful , seating representatives in the Galician parliament before the turn of the 19th century . In the Second Polish Republic there were a few parties named PSL ( Polish Peoples Party Wyzwolenie , Polish Peoples Party Piast , Polish Peoples Party Left and others ) until they were removed by the Sanacja regime ( see also Peoples Party ) . During this time , there were two parties using the term Polish Peoples Party , namely Polish Peoples Party Piast and Polish Peoples Party Wyzwolenie ( which were merged into Peoples Party with Stronnictwo Chłopskie ) . During World War II , PSL took part in forming the Polish government in exile . Under the communist regime . After the war , Stanisław Mikołajczyk , a PSL leader who had been Prime Minister of the Polish government in exile , returned to communist-dominated Poland , where he joined the provisional government and rebuilt PSL . The party hoped to win the Yalta Conference-mandated elections and help establish a parliamentary system in Poland . The communists formed a rival peasant party allied with them . The 1947 parliamentary election was heavily rigged , with the communist-controlled bloc claiming to have won 80 percent of the vote . Many neutral observers believe the PSL would have won the election had it been conducted fairly . Mikołajczyk was soon compelled to flee Poland for his life . The communists then forced the remains of Mikołajczyks PSL to unite with the pro-communist Peoples Party to form the United Peoples Party . The ZSL was a governing partner in the ruling coalition . After the fall of the regime . Around the time of the fall of communism several PSLs were recreated , including Porozumienie Ludowe , Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe-Odrodzenie , and Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe ( Wilanów faction ) . In 1989 most merged into one party and took part in forming the first postwar noncommunist government in Poland with the Solidarity grouping , and in 1990 changed its name to PSL . It remained on the left of Polish politics in the 1990s , entering into coalitions with the postcommunist Democratic Left Alliance . In the 2001 parliamentary elections , PSL received 9% of votes and formed a coalition with the Democratic Left Alliance , an alliance which later broke down . Since then , PSL has moved towards more centrist and conservative policies . After 2004 . The party ran in the 2004 European Parliament election as part of the European Peoples Party ( EPP ) and received 6% of the vote , giving it 4 of 54 Polish seats in the European Parliament . In the 2005 general election , the party received 7% of votes , giving it 25 seats in the Sejm and 2 in the Senate . In the 2007 parliamentary elections , the party placed fourth , with 8.93% of the vote and 31 out of 460 seats , and entered into a governing coalition with the victor , the centre-right conservative Civic Platform . In European parliament elections PSL received 7.01% of votes in 2009 . In the 2011 national parliamentary election , Polish Peoples Party received 8.36% votes which gave them 28 seats in the Sejm and 2 mandates in the Senate . At the 2015 parliamentary election , the PSL dropped to 5.13 percent of the vote , just barely over the 5 percent threshold . With 16 seats , it was the smallest of the five factions in the Sejm . Since then PSL has lost even more support to PiS during the 2018 Polish local elections when they lost 87 seats and dropped to 12.07% unlike the 23.9% they got at the last local elections . After this , the party became junior partner in coalitions with Civic Coalition and SLD . In 2019 European election , PSL won 3 seats as a part of the European Coalition . For parliamentary elections in the same year , PSL decided to create centrist and Christian-democratic coalition with or without Civic Platform named as Polish Coalition . However , PO recreated Civic Coalition with Modern and small left-wing parties ( although without major left-wing parties ) . Polish Coalition , apart from PSL , consists of Kukiz15 , Union of European Democrats and another liberal , catholic and regionalist organisations . This coalition resulted in election of 30 members . Majority of them ( 20 ) were members of PSL . Ideology . The partys platform is strongly based on neo-agrarianism . On social and ethical issues , PSL opposes abortion , same-sex marriage , soft drug decriminalization , euthanasia and death penalty . In 2019 , the party adopted ( as part of an agreement with Kukiz15 ) in the partys platform direct democracys postulates , including single-member districts and obligatory referendum . Election results . Support . The Partys traditional support base consisted of farmers , peasants and rural voters . Voters are generally more social conservative than voters of Civic Platform . The main concurrent in rural areas is national conservative Law and Justice ( PiS ) . In the 2010s the party started to lose support between rural voters ( especially in southeast of Poland ) . In 2019 election PSL gained surprisingly significant support in cities and won mandates ( e . g . in Warsaw and Wrocław ) . Leadership . Chairman : - Roman Bartoszcze ( 1990–1991 ) - Waldemar Pawlak ( 1991–1997 ) - Jarosław Kalinowski ( 1997–2004 ) - Janusz Wojciechowski ( 2004–2005 ) - Waldemar Pawlak ( 2005–2012 ) - Janusz Piechociński ( 2012–2015 ) - Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz ( 2015–present ) |
[
"Janusz Wojciechowski"
] | easy | Who was the head of Polish People's Party from Mar 2004 to 2005? | /wiki/Polish_People's_Party#P488#2 | Polish Peoples Party The Polish Peoples Party ( ) , abbreviated to PSL ( traditionally translated as Polish Peasants Party ) , often shortened to ( the populars ) is an agrarian Christian-democratic political party in Poland . It is a member of the European Peoples Party and the European Peoples Party group in the European Parliament . The partys name traces its tradition to an agrarian party in Austro-Hungarian-controlled Galician Poland , which sent MPs to the parliament in Vienna . History . Before 1945 . The party was formed in 1895 in the Polish town of Rzeszow under the name Stronnictwo Ludowe ( Peoples Party ) . The party changed its name in 1903 to what its known as now . The party was led by Wincenty Witos and was quite successful , seating representatives in the Galician parliament before the turn of the 19th century . In the Second Polish Republic there were a few parties named PSL ( Polish Peoples Party Wyzwolenie , Polish Peoples Party Piast , Polish Peoples Party Left and others ) until they were removed by the Sanacja regime ( see also Peoples Party ) . During this time , there were two parties using the term Polish Peoples Party , namely Polish Peoples Party Piast and Polish Peoples Party Wyzwolenie ( which were merged into Peoples Party with Stronnictwo Chłopskie ) . During World War II , PSL took part in forming the Polish government in exile . Under the communist regime . After the war , Stanisław Mikołajczyk , a PSL leader who had been Prime Minister of the Polish government in exile , returned to communist-dominated Poland , where he joined the provisional government and rebuilt PSL . The party hoped to win the Yalta Conference-mandated elections and help establish a parliamentary system in Poland . The communists formed a rival peasant party allied with them . The 1947 parliamentary election was heavily rigged , with the communist-controlled bloc claiming to have won 80 percent of the vote . Many neutral observers believe the PSL would have won the election had it been conducted fairly . Mikołajczyk was soon compelled to flee Poland for his life . The communists then forced the remains of Mikołajczyks PSL to unite with the pro-communist Peoples Party to form the United Peoples Party . The ZSL was a governing partner in the ruling coalition . After the fall of the regime . Around the time of the fall of communism several PSLs were recreated , including Porozumienie Ludowe , Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe-Odrodzenie , and Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe ( Wilanów faction ) . In 1989 most merged into one party and took part in forming the first postwar noncommunist government in Poland with the Solidarity grouping , and in 1990 changed its name to PSL . It remained on the left of Polish politics in the 1990s , entering into coalitions with the postcommunist Democratic Left Alliance . In the 2001 parliamentary elections , PSL received 9% of votes and formed a coalition with the Democratic Left Alliance , an alliance which later broke down . Since then , PSL has moved towards more centrist and conservative policies . After 2004 . The party ran in the 2004 European Parliament election as part of the European Peoples Party ( EPP ) and received 6% of the vote , giving it 4 of 54 Polish seats in the European Parliament . In the 2005 general election , the party received 7% of votes , giving it 25 seats in the Sejm and 2 in the Senate . In the 2007 parliamentary elections , the party placed fourth , with 8.93% of the vote and 31 out of 460 seats , and entered into a governing coalition with the victor , the centre-right conservative Civic Platform . In European parliament elections PSL received 7.01% of votes in 2009 . In the 2011 national parliamentary election , Polish Peoples Party received 8.36% votes which gave them 28 seats in the Sejm and 2 mandates in the Senate . At the 2015 parliamentary election , the PSL dropped to 5.13 percent of the vote , just barely over the 5 percent threshold . With 16 seats , it was the smallest of the five factions in the Sejm . Since then PSL has lost even more support to PiS during the 2018 Polish local elections when they lost 87 seats and dropped to 12.07% unlike the 23.9% they got at the last local elections . After this , the party became junior partner in coalitions with Civic Coalition and SLD . In 2019 European election , PSL won 3 seats as a part of the European Coalition . For parliamentary elections in the same year , PSL decided to create centrist and Christian-democratic coalition with or without Civic Platform named as Polish Coalition . However , PO recreated Civic Coalition with Modern and small left-wing parties ( although without major left-wing parties ) . Polish Coalition , apart from PSL , consists of Kukiz15 , Union of European Democrats and another liberal , catholic and regionalist organisations . This coalition resulted in election of 30 members . Majority of them ( 20 ) were members of PSL . Ideology . The partys platform is strongly based on neo-agrarianism . On social and ethical issues , PSL opposes abortion , same-sex marriage , soft drug decriminalization , euthanasia and death penalty . In 2019 , the party adopted ( as part of an agreement with Kukiz15 ) in the partys platform direct democracys postulates , including single-member districts and obligatory referendum . Election results . Support . The Partys traditional support base consisted of farmers , peasants and rural voters . Voters are generally more social conservative than voters of Civic Platform . The main concurrent in rural areas is national conservative Law and Justice ( PiS ) . In the 2010s the party started to lose support between rural voters ( especially in southeast of Poland ) . In 2019 election PSL gained surprisingly significant support in cities and won mandates ( e . g . in Warsaw and Wrocław ) . Leadership . Chairman : - Roman Bartoszcze ( 1990–1991 ) - Waldemar Pawlak ( 1991–1997 ) - Jarosław Kalinowski ( 1997–2004 ) - Janusz Wojciechowski ( 2004–2005 ) - Waldemar Pawlak ( 2005–2012 ) - Janusz Piechociński ( 2012–2015 ) - Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz ( 2015–present ) |
[
"Waldemar Pawlak"
] | easy | Who was the chair of Polish People's Party from 2005 to Nov 2012? | /wiki/Polish_People's_Party#P488#3 | Polish Peoples Party The Polish Peoples Party ( ) , abbreviated to PSL ( traditionally translated as Polish Peasants Party ) , often shortened to ( the populars ) is an agrarian Christian-democratic political party in Poland . It is a member of the European Peoples Party and the European Peoples Party group in the European Parliament . The partys name traces its tradition to an agrarian party in Austro-Hungarian-controlled Galician Poland , which sent MPs to the parliament in Vienna . History . Before 1945 . The party was formed in 1895 in the Polish town of Rzeszow under the name Stronnictwo Ludowe ( Peoples Party ) . The party changed its name in 1903 to what its known as now . The party was led by Wincenty Witos and was quite successful , seating representatives in the Galician parliament before the turn of the 19th century . In the Second Polish Republic there were a few parties named PSL ( Polish Peoples Party Wyzwolenie , Polish Peoples Party Piast , Polish Peoples Party Left and others ) until they were removed by the Sanacja regime ( see also Peoples Party ) . During this time , there were two parties using the term Polish Peoples Party , namely Polish Peoples Party Piast and Polish Peoples Party Wyzwolenie ( which were merged into Peoples Party with Stronnictwo Chłopskie ) . During World War II , PSL took part in forming the Polish government in exile . Under the communist regime . After the war , Stanisław Mikołajczyk , a PSL leader who had been Prime Minister of the Polish government in exile , returned to communist-dominated Poland , where he joined the provisional government and rebuilt PSL . The party hoped to win the Yalta Conference-mandated elections and help establish a parliamentary system in Poland . The communists formed a rival peasant party allied with them . The 1947 parliamentary election was heavily rigged , with the communist-controlled bloc claiming to have won 80 percent of the vote . Many neutral observers believe the PSL would have won the election had it been conducted fairly . Mikołajczyk was soon compelled to flee Poland for his life . The communists then forced the remains of Mikołajczyks PSL to unite with the pro-communist Peoples Party to form the United Peoples Party . The ZSL was a governing partner in the ruling coalition . After the fall of the regime . Around the time of the fall of communism several PSLs were recreated , including Porozumienie Ludowe , Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe-Odrodzenie , and Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe ( Wilanów faction ) . In 1989 most merged into one party and took part in forming the first postwar noncommunist government in Poland with the Solidarity grouping , and in 1990 changed its name to PSL . It remained on the left of Polish politics in the 1990s , entering into coalitions with the postcommunist Democratic Left Alliance . In the 2001 parliamentary elections , PSL received 9% of votes and formed a coalition with the Democratic Left Alliance , an alliance which later broke down . Since then , PSL has moved towards more centrist and conservative policies . After 2004 . The party ran in the 2004 European Parliament election as part of the European Peoples Party ( EPP ) and received 6% of the vote , giving it 4 of 54 Polish seats in the European Parliament . In the 2005 general election , the party received 7% of votes , giving it 25 seats in the Sejm and 2 in the Senate . In the 2007 parliamentary elections , the party placed fourth , with 8.93% of the vote and 31 out of 460 seats , and entered into a governing coalition with the victor , the centre-right conservative Civic Platform . In European parliament elections PSL received 7.01% of votes in 2009 . In the 2011 national parliamentary election , Polish Peoples Party received 8.36% votes which gave them 28 seats in the Sejm and 2 mandates in the Senate . At the 2015 parliamentary election , the PSL dropped to 5.13 percent of the vote , just barely over the 5 percent threshold . With 16 seats , it was the smallest of the five factions in the Sejm . Since then PSL has lost even more support to PiS during the 2018 Polish local elections when they lost 87 seats and dropped to 12.07% unlike the 23.9% they got at the last local elections . After this , the party became junior partner in coalitions with Civic Coalition and SLD . In 2019 European election , PSL won 3 seats as a part of the European Coalition . For parliamentary elections in the same year , PSL decided to create centrist and Christian-democratic coalition with or without Civic Platform named as Polish Coalition . However , PO recreated Civic Coalition with Modern and small left-wing parties ( although without major left-wing parties ) . Polish Coalition , apart from PSL , consists of Kukiz15 , Union of European Democrats and another liberal , catholic and regionalist organisations . This coalition resulted in election of 30 members . Majority of them ( 20 ) were members of PSL . Ideology . The partys platform is strongly based on neo-agrarianism . On social and ethical issues , PSL opposes abortion , same-sex marriage , soft drug decriminalization , euthanasia and death penalty . In 2019 , the party adopted ( as part of an agreement with Kukiz15 ) in the partys platform direct democracys postulates , including single-member districts and obligatory referendum . Election results . Support . The Partys traditional support base consisted of farmers , peasants and rural voters . Voters are generally more social conservative than voters of Civic Platform . The main concurrent in rural areas is national conservative Law and Justice ( PiS ) . In the 2010s the party started to lose support between rural voters ( especially in southeast of Poland ) . In 2019 election PSL gained surprisingly significant support in cities and won mandates ( e . g . in Warsaw and Wrocław ) . Leadership . Chairman : - Roman Bartoszcze ( 1990–1991 ) - Waldemar Pawlak ( 1991–1997 ) - Jarosław Kalinowski ( 1997–2004 ) - Janusz Wojciechowski ( 2004–2005 ) - Waldemar Pawlak ( 2005–2012 ) - Janusz Piechociński ( 2012–2015 ) - Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz ( 2015–present ) |
[
"Janusz Piechociński"
] | easy | Who was the head of Polish People's Party from Nov 2012 to Nov 2015? | /wiki/Polish_People's_Party#P488#4 | Polish Peoples Party The Polish Peoples Party ( ) , abbreviated to PSL ( traditionally translated as Polish Peasants Party ) , often shortened to ( the populars ) is an agrarian Christian-democratic political party in Poland . It is a member of the European Peoples Party and the European Peoples Party group in the European Parliament . The partys name traces its tradition to an agrarian party in Austro-Hungarian-controlled Galician Poland , which sent MPs to the parliament in Vienna . History . Before 1945 . The party was formed in 1895 in the Polish town of Rzeszow under the name Stronnictwo Ludowe ( Peoples Party ) . The party changed its name in 1903 to what its known as now . The party was led by Wincenty Witos and was quite successful , seating representatives in the Galician parliament before the turn of the 19th century . In the Second Polish Republic there were a few parties named PSL ( Polish Peoples Party Wyzwolenie , Polish Peoples Party Piast , Polish Peoples Party Left and others ) until they were removed by the Sanacja regime ( see also Peoples Party ) . During this time , there were two parties using the term Polish Peoples Party , namely Polish Peoples Party Piast and Polish Peoples Party Wyzwolenie ( which were merged into Peoples Party with Stronnictwo Chłopskie ) . During World War II , PSL took part in forming the Polish government in exile . Under the communist regime . After the war , Stanisław Mikołajczyk , a PSL leader who had been Prime Minister of the Polish government in exile , returned to communist-dominated Poland , where he joined the provisional government and rebuilt PSL . The party hoped to win the Yalta Conference-mandated elections and help establish a parliamentary system in Poland . The communists formed a rival peasant party allied with them . The 1947 parliamentary election was heavily rigged , with the communist-controlled bloc claiming to have won 80 percent of the vote . Many neutral observers believe the PSL would have won the election had it been conducted fairly . Mikołajczyk was soon compelled to flee Poland for his life . The communists then forced the remains of Mikołajczyks PSL to unite with the pro-communist Peoples Party to form the United Peoples Party . The ZSL was a governing partner in the ruling coalition . After the fall of the regime . Around the time of the fall of communism several PSLs were recreated , including Porozumienie Ludowe , Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe-Odrodzenie , and Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe ( Wilanów faction ) . In 1989 most merged into one party and took part in forming the first postwar noncommunist government in Poland with the Solidarity grouping , and in 1990 changed its name to PSL . It remained on the left of Polish politics in the 1990s , entering into coalitions with the postcommunist Democratic Left Alliance . In the 2001 parliamentary elections , PSL received 9% of votes and formed a coalition with the Democratic Left Alliance , an alliance which later broke down . Since then , PSL has moved towards more centrist and conservative policies . After 2004 . The party ran in the 2004 European Parliament election as part of the European Peoples Party ( EPP ) and received 6% of the vote , giving it 4 of 54 Polish seats in the European Parliament . In the 2005 general election , the party received 7% of votes , giving it 25 seats in the Sejm and 2 in the Senate . In the 2007 parliamentary elections , the party placed fourth , with 8.93% of the vote and 31 out of 460 seats , and entered into a governing coalition with the victor , the centre-right conservative Civic Platform . In European parliament elections PSL received 7.01% of votes in 2009 . In the 2011 national parliamentary election , Polish Peoples Party received 8.36% votes which gave them 28 seats in the Sejm and 2 mandates in the Senate . At the 2015 parliamentary election , the PSL dropped to 5.13 percent of the vote , just barely over the 5 percent threshold . With 16 seats , it was the smallest of the five factions in the Sejm . Since then PSL has lost even more support to PiS during the 2018 Polish local elections when they lost 87 seats and dropped to 12.07% unlike the 23.9% they got at the last local elections . After this , the party became junior partner in coalitions with Civic Coalition and SLD . In 2019 European election , PSL won 3 seats as a part of the European Coalition . For parliamentary elections in the same year , PSL decided to create centrist and Christian-democratic coalition with or without Civic Platform named as Polish Coalition . However , PO recreated Civic Coalition with Modern and small left-wing parties ( although without major left-wing parties ) . Polish Coalition , apart from PSL , consists of Kukiz15 , Union of European Democrats and another liberal , catholic and regionalist organisations . This coalition resulted in election of 30 members . Majority of them ( 20 ) were members of PSL . Ideology . The partys platform is strongly based on neo-agrarianism . On social and ethical issues , PSL opposes abortion , same-sex marriage , soft drug decriminalization , euthanasia and death penalty . In 2019 , the party adopted ( as part of an agreement with Kukiz15 ) in the partys platform direct democracys postulates , including single-member districts and obligatory referendum . Election results . Support . The Partys traditional support base consisted of farmers , peasants and rural voters . Voters are generally more social conservative than voters of Civic Platform . The main concurrent in rural areas is national conservative Law and Justice ( PiS ) . In the 2010s the party started to lose support between rural voters ( especially in southeast of Poland ) . In 2019 election PSL gained surprisingly significant support in cities and won mandates ( e . g . in Warsaw and Wrocław ) . Leadership . Chairman : - Roman Bartoszcze ( 1990–1991 ) - Waldemar Pawlak ( 1991–1997 ) - Jarosław Kalinowski ( 1997–2004 ) - Janusz Wojciechowski ( 2004–2005 ) - Waldemar Pawlak ( 2005–2012 ) - Janusz Piechociński ( 2012–2015 ) - Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz ( 2015–present ) |
[
"Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz"
] | easy | Who was the head of Polish People's Party from Nov 2015 to Nov 2016? | /wiki/Polish_People's_Party#P488#5 | Polish Peoples Party The Polish Peoples Party ( ) , abbreviated to PSL ( traditionally translated as Polish Peasants Party ) , often shortened to ( the populars ) is an agrarian Christian-democratic political party in Poland . It is a member of the European Peoples Party and the European Peoples Party group in the European Parliament . The partys name traces its tradition to an agrarian party in Austro-Hungarian-controlled Galician Poland , which sent MPs to the parliament in Vienna . History . Before 1945 . The party was formed in 1895 in the Polish town of Rzeszow under the name Stronnictwo Ludowe ( Peoples Party ) . The party changed its name in 1903 to what its known as now . The party was led by Wincenty Witos and was quite successful , seating representatives in the Galician parliament before the turn of the 19th century . In the Second Polish Republic there were a few parties named PSL ( Polish Peoples Party Wyzwolenie , Polish Peoples Party Piast , Polish Peoples Party Left and others ) until they were removed by the Sanacja regime ( see also Peoples Party ) . During this time , there were two parties using the term Polish Peoples Party , namely Polish Peoples Party Piast and Polish Peoples Party Wyzwolenie ( which were merged into Peoples Party with Stronnictwo Chłopskie ) . During World War II , PSL took part in forming the Polish government in exile . Under the communist regime . After the war , Stanisław Mikołajczyk , a PSL leader who had been Prime Minister of the Polish government in exile , returned to communist-dominated Poland , where he joined the provisional government and rebuilt PSL . The party hoped to win the Yalta Conference-mandated elections and help establish a parliamentary system in Poland . The communists formed a rival peasant party allied with them . The 1947 parliamentary election was heavily rigged , with the communist-controlled bloc claiming to have won 80 percent of the vote . Many neutral observers believe the PSL would have won the election had it been conducted fairly . Mikołajczyk was soon compelled to flee Poland for his life . The communists then forced the remains of Mikołajczyks PSL to unite with the pro-communist Peoples Party to form the United Peoples Party . The ZSL was a governing partner in the ruling coalition . After the fall of the regime . Around the time of the fall of communism several PSLs were recreated , including Porozumienie Ludowe , Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe-Odrodzenie , and Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe ( Wilanów faction ) . In 1989 most merged into one party and took part in forming the first postwar noncommunist government in Poland with the Solidarity grouping , and in 1990 changed its name to PSL . It remained on the left of Polish politics in the 1990s , entering into coalitions with the postcommunist Democratic Left Alliance . In the 2001 parliamentary elections , PSL received 9% of votes and formed a coalition with the Democratic Left Alliance , an alliance which later broke down . Since then , PSL has moved towards more centrist and conservative policies . After 2004 . The party ran in the 2004 European Parliament election as part of the European Peoples Party ( EPP ) and received 6% of the vote , giving it 4 of 54 Polish seats in the European Parliament . In the 2005 general election , the party received 7% of votes , giving it 25 seats in the Sejm and 2 in the Senate . In the 2007 parliamentary elections , the party placed fourth , with 8.93% of the vote and 31 out of 460 seats , and entered into a governing coalition with the victor , the centre-right conservative Civic Platform . In European parliament elections PSL received 7.01% of votes in 2009 . In the 2011 national parliamentary election , Polish Peoples Party received 8.36% votes which gave them 28 seats in the Sejm and 2 mandates in the Senate . At the 2015 parliamentary election , the PSL dropped to 5.13 percent of the vote , just barely over the 5 percent threshold . With 16 seats , it was the smallest of the five factions in the Sejm . Since then PSL has lost even more support to PiS during the 2018 Polish local elections when they lost 87 seats and dropped to 12.07% unlike the 23.9% they got at the last local elections . After this , the party became junior partner in coalitions with Civic Coalition and SLD . In 2019 European election , PSL won 3 seats as a part of the European Coalition . For parliamentary elections in the same year , PSL decided to create centrist and Christian-democratic coalition with or without Civic Platform named as Polish Coalition . However , PO recreated Civic Coalition with Modern and small left-wing parties ( although without major left-wing parties ) . Polish Coalition , apart from PSL , consists of Kukiz15 , Union of European Democrats and another liberal , catholic and regionalist organisations . This coalition resulted in election of 30 members . Majority of them ( 20 ) were members of PSL . Ideology . The partys platform is strongly based on neo-agrarianism . On social and ethical issues , PSL opposes abortion , same-sex marriage , soft drug decriminalization , euthanasia and death penalty . In 2019 , the party adopted ( as part of an agreement with Kukiz15 ) in the partys platform direct democracys postulates , including single-member districts and obligatory referendum . Election results . Support . The Partys traditional support base consisted of farmers , peasants and rural voters . Voters are generally more social conservative than voters of Civic Platform . The main concurrent in rural areas is national conservative Law and Justice ( PiS ) . In the 2010s the party started to lose support between rural voters ( especially in southeast of Poland ) . In 2019 election PSL gained surprisingly significant support in cities and won mandates ( e . g . in Warsaw and Wrocław ) . Leadership . Chairman : - Roman Bartoszcze ( 1990–1991 ) - Waldemar Pawlak ( 1991–1997 ) - Jarosław Kalinowski ( 1997–2004 ) - Janusz Wojciechowski ( 2004–2005 ) - Waldemar Pawlak ( 2005–2012 ) - Janusz Piechociński ( 2012–2015 ) - Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz ( 2015–present ) |
[
"Bruges"
] | easy | Where did Marcus Gheeraerts the Elder work from 1558 to 1568? | /wiki/Marcus_Gheeraerts_the_Elder#P937#0 | Marcus Gheeraerts the Elder Marcus Gheeraerts the Elder , Marc Gerard and Marcus Garret ( c . 1520 – c . 1590 ) was a Flemish painter , draughtsman , print designer and etcher who was active in his native Flanders and in England . He practised in many genres , including portraits , religious paintings , landscapes and architectural themes . He designed heraldic designs and decorations for tombs . He is known for his creation of a print depicting a map of his native town Bruges and the illustrations for a Dutch-language publication recounting stories from Aesops Fables . His attention to naturalistic detail and his practice of drawing animals from life for his prints had an important influence on European book illustration . His son Marcus the Younger became a prominent court painter at the English court . Life . Marcus Gheeraerts the Elder was born in Bruges , Flanders , as the son of Egbert Gheeraerts and his wife Antonine Vander Weerde . Egbert Gheeraerts was a painter who had moved from an unknown location to Bruges . Some scholars believe that Gheeraerts patronymic indicates that he likely came from the Northern Netherlands . His wife Antonine , on the other hand , was a native of Bruges . Egbert became a master of the Guild of Saint Luke of Bruges on 20 January 1516 . The exact date of birth of Marcus Gheeraerts is not known . On the basis of archival sources about the life of his father , it can be deduced that he was born between 1516 and 1521 . Not long after her husbands death , Marcus mother remarried Simon Pieters , who was also a painter and probably a native of the Northern Netherlands . The couple had six children with whom Marcus was raised . This explains why he was sometimes referred to as Marcus Pieters . After the death of his stepfather Simon Pieters in early 1557 , Marcus Gheeraerts became the guardian of his half-brothers and sisters . Marcuss mother died on 8 August 1580 . The master or masters of Marcus Gheeraerts are not known . The most obvious candidate is his stepfather Simon Pieters . Art historians believe that he started his training with Simon Pieters and later worked in the workshop of his guardian Albert Cornelis . It is speculated that he may have had other masters but there is no agreement as to their identity . He likely trained outside Bruges to learn the craft of engraver , which was not generally practised at a high level in Bruges . There is no information about Gheeraerts in the registers of the Sint-Lucas guild in Bruges for the period from 1522 to 1549 . This absence has been interpreted as an indication that he left his hometown to study in Antwerp or abroad . From 1558 onwards a number of documents demonstrate that Gheeraerts was resident in Bruges . On 31 July 1558 , he entered the artisan and saddle makers guild of Bruges as a master painter . In the same year , he was elected second board member of the guild , suggesting that he already enjoyed considerable professional recognition . From April to September 1561 Gheeraerts was the first board member . On 3 June 1558 , Marcus Gheeraerts married Johanna Struve . The couple had three children , of whom two are known by name , a son later referred to as Marcus the Younger and a daughter called Esther . A third child died at a young age and was buried in 1561 . Gheeraerts developed a professional career as a painter , etcher and designer . He was active as a designer of heraldic motifs . On 10 September 1559 , he was commissioned to provide designs for the tombs of Mary of Burgundy and Charles the Bold in the Church of Our Lady in Bruges . He drew the patterns for the lavishly decorated metal ornaments , the colorful coats of arms and two copper angels that were attached to the sides of the tombs . In 1561 Marcus Gheeraerts was commissioned to complete a triptych of the Passion of Christ that had been commenced by the prominent painter Bernard van Orley . The painting had remained unfinished after van Orleys death in 1542 . Originally intended for the church of the monastery of Brou near Bourg-en-Bresse ( Ain department , France ) , which Margaret of Austria had built , the triptych was transferred to Bruges after her death . Gheeraerts completed it . Margaret of Parma later decided to place the triptych in the Church of Our Lady in Bruges . Gheeraerts was further commissioned in 1561 to make a print depicting a map of his hometown . He completed the work in one year . The map is one of the earliest examples of a perspective city map that is correctly displayed . It is during this period that Gheeraerts most likely painted the ( collection of the Memling museum in Old St . Johns Hospital in Bruges ) . Marcus Gheeraerts became involved in the Calvinist community in Bruges and became a leader of the local church community . Whereas Calvinism was initially tolerated , the religious persecution of Calvinists commenced in 1567 with the arrival of new governor of the Low Countries , the Duke of Alva . In 1566 he participated in protests against the arrest of Calvinists in Bruges . He reflected in his art on the religious turmoil and iconoclasm of his time . As a Calvinist and artist he seemed to have had mixed feelings about the Iconoclasm of his religious group : he condemned idolatry of images but did not agree with the wholesale destruction of religious images by the Iconoclasts . In 1566 or shortly after , he created a print referred to as the Allegory of Iconoclasm that shows a composite rotting head of a monk . The head appears to rise up from a rocky outcropping . Myriad little figures swarm over the rocks . They enact 22 different scenes that used to be denoted by alphabetical keys which have not survived . Inside the gaping mouth a diabolical mass is celebrated . On the pâté of the head sits a pope-like figure under a canopy on a throne surrounded by bishops and monks . Indulgences and rosaries are pinned up on the staves and various rituals and processions take place and are labelled with letters . In the foreground Protestant iconoclasts are smashing altarpieces , religious sculptures , other church-related items and hurling them into a fire . The print is a condemnation of Catholic idolatry in all its forms and shows the Calvinists as cleansing the world of this perceived evil . Gheeraerts is believed to have followed up this print with more politically tainted prints , which resulted in 1568 in a prosecution for producing caricatures of the pope , the king and Catholicism . Fearing that he would be condemned to death in the criminal proceedings against him , Gheeraerts fled in 1568 to England with his son Marcus and his workshop assistant Philipus de la Valla . His wife and daughter remained in Bruges . The verdict in his case was pronounced at the end of 1568 . He was convicted and the punishment was permanent banishment and forfeiture of his entire fortune . Gheeraerts took up residence in London upon his arrival in England in 1568 . He was joined by his daughter in May 1571 likely after her mother had died . After the death of his wife in Bruges , the artist married in England his second wife , Sussanah de Critz . His wife was a sister of Queen Elizabeth Is serjeant-painter , John de Critz , another Flemish painter who had fled to England.The couple had two daughters and one son . The only child surviving into adulthood , Sarah , later married the famous French-born English limner Isaac Oliver . Just as before in Bruges , Gheeraerts made drawings and etchings and continued his painting activities . As there was a keen demand for portrait paintings in England , Gheeraerts started to paint portraits , which he had not done while still in Flanders . Art historians do not agree as to whether Gheeraerts returned to his native Flanders around 1577 to continue his career in Antwerp . In 1577 a Mercus Geeraert Painter was registered as a master in the Guild of Saint Luke of Antwerp and paid registration fees for the years 1585 and 1586 . It is not clear whether this Mercus referred to Marcus the Elder or to Marcus the Younger . Some art historians believe that Marcus the Elder registered in the Antwerp Guild in order to be able to legally work with Antwerp printers for the publications on which he worked . Others believe that he actually worked in Antwerp and point to the various publications printed in Antwerp on which he collaborated . Marcus Gheeraerts had various pupils during his career . In 1563 , 13-year-old Melchior dAssoneville became an apprentice of Gheeraerts in Bruges . Melchior d’Assoneville later became a sculptor and decorative painter and while living in Mechelen he was the master of Hendrik Faydherbe . His workshop assistant Philipus de la Valla who fled with him to England may also have been a pupil of Gheeraerts although he is sometimes referred to in contemporary records as a servant . It is not certain whether Marcus Gheeraerts the Elder was the teacher of his son Marcus the Younger . There are different views on this , but it is likely that he was but that his son also received training with other artists , who may have included other Flemish emigrants in England , such as Lucas de Heere and John de Critz . The date of death of Gheeraerts is not known but it must have been before 1599 . Work . General . Gheeraerts was a painter , draughtsman , print designer , etcher and ornamental designer . As many of his paintings were lost as a result of the Iconoclasm of the 16th century , he is now mainly known for his work as a printmaker and print designer . He was a keen innovator and experimented with etching at a time when woodcut and engraving were dominant techniques . For example , his 1562 birds-eye view of the town of Bruges was etched on 10 different plates , and the resulting map measures 100 x 177 cm . Paintings . Very few paintings have been attributed to Gheeraerts with much certainty . He did not sign any of his paintings . It is documented that he finished the triptych of the Passion of Christ that had been commenced by the prominent painter Bernard van Orley . The triptych was later damaged during the period of Iconoclasm and largely repainted in 1589 by Frans Pourbus the Younger during restoration work . It is not clear from the current state of the work , which parts were painted by which painter . It has been suggested that Bernard van Orley started the centre of the panel and that Marcus Gheeraerts completed the outer areas . A replica of the appeared on the art market ( Hampel Fine Art sale of 27 June 2019 , lot 551 ) and was attributed to Gheeraerts . Another version of the Lamentation also attributed to Gheeraerts is in the Saint Amands Church of Geel . The panel of the ( Memling museum in Old St . Johns Hospital in Bruges ) has been attributed to Marcus Gheeraerts . The ( Catharijneconvent Museum in Utrecht ) has been attributed to Gheeraerts but this attribution is not uncontested . Gheeraerts the Elder was known as a portrait painter . The traditional attribution to Gheeraerts of the , also referred to as the Peace portrait is still a matter of contention . The monogram M.G.F . on the portrait can apply to both Marcus Gheeraerts the Elder and his son Marcus the Younger . Some art historians regard it as a collaboration of father and son Gheeraerts . A ( Blair Castle , Scotland ) has also been attributed to Gheeraerts . Two works depicting celebrations , the and ( Hatfield House , Herefordshire ) , England ) , formerly attributed to Flemish artist Joris Hoefnagel , were attributed to Marcus Gheeraerts the Elder in 2015 . An inscription on the first painting indicates it was painted on commission by the Flemish merchant Jacob Hoefnagel , a brother of Joris Hoefnagel and a resident of London . The inscription also mentions that Jacob Hoefnagel wanted the picture to depict all the fashions that could be seen in England . Gheeraerts followed this instruction by depicting the figures in costumes from England , France , Venice and other European countries . These costumes were based on a publication depicting various costumes compiled and illustrated by Flemish émigré artist Lucas de Heere . It is believed both paintings depict marriage celebrations . The location of the Fête is the river bank of the Thames while the Festival is placed in an imaginary landscape . In both paintings , a procession is moving from right to left headed by two men carrying large oval cakes , two violinists and a man bearing a vase with rosemary tied with ribbons . The faces of the figures are rendered with precision and are likely portraits of members of the Flemish community in England . The paintings may have been intended to showcase the dignity and piety of the Flemish émigré community in England and to assert their proper place in their adopted country . It is believed that the man looking at the viewer appearing in both paintings is a self-portrait of the artist Gheeraerts . Karel van Mander wrote in his Schilderboeck from 1604 that Gheeraerts was a good landscape painter , who often had the habit of including a squatting , urinating woman on a bridge or elsewhere . A similar detail is seen in one of his fable illustrations and his map of Bruges . No landscape paintings by Gheeraerts hand are currently attributed to him but some of his works such as the Fête , the Festival and the contain important landscape elements . The description of the art collection of Cornelis van Hooghendorp made at the end of the 16th century included five paintings by Gheeraerts . These included a landscape with cows , an allegorical representation with a scene of the night when the devil sowed bad seed , a representation of Mary on the flight to Egypt and two paintings on parchment . In 1563 Marcus Gheeraerts also painted a triptych for the church of the friars minor recollect in Bruges . The painting style of Gheeraerts was initially influenced by Bernard van Orley . After 1565 he followed the Italianate style of painting of prominent Antwerp history painter Maerten de Vos . His painting style is further close to that of the little-known Vincent Sellaer . Prints . Gheeraerts was active as a printmaker and print designer during his time in Flanders and in England . The best-known print works he created before he left for England are the map of Bruges , the Allegory of Iconoclasm ( both discussed above ) and the emblematic fable book De warachtighe fabulen der dieren ( The true fables of the animals ) . De warachtighe fabulen der dieren . This book was published in 1567 in Bruges by Pieter de Clerck . Marcus Gheeraerts etched the title page and the 107 illustrations for each fable that his friend , Edewaerd de Dene , had written in his local Flemish verse . Gheeraerts initiated and financed the publication , which was printed to the highest standards of its time as a luxurious object with three different fonts . Each fable takes up two facing pages : on the left-hand side the illustration is displayed headed with a proverb or saying and some verse underneath it while on the right-hand the fable and its moral are told . It was the first emblematic fable book and set a trend for similar books . The principal source of the text in the book were Les fables du très ancien Ésope written by the French humanist Gilles Corrozet and published in Paris in 1542 . A second source was the Aesopi Phrygis et aliorum fabulae , a collection of fables in Latin that was published on the Antwerp printing presses of Christophe Plantin in various editions from 1660 . A third source for the fables writings of natural history such as Der Naturen Bloeme ( The Flower ( i.e . choice ) of Nature ) , a Middle Dutch natural history encyclopedia , written in the thirteenth century by the Flemish writer Jacob van Maerlant and the Dutch-language natural history compilation Der Dieren Palleys ( The palace of the Animals ) , published in Antwerp in 1520 . A final source for the fables are contemporary emblemata books such as the Emblemata of Andrea Alciato and an emblem of Joannes Sambucus . Illustrations made by Bernard Salomon for an edition of Aesops fables published in Lyon in 1547 and a German edition with prints by Virgil Solis published in Frankfurt in 1566 were the basis for the motifs of Gheeraerts . He gave his subjects greater naturalism than these artists . About 30 images were Gheeraerts own invention . Gheeraerts added another 18 illustrations and a new title page for a French version of the Fabulen that was published in 1578 under the title Esbatement moral des animaux . A Latin version , Mythologia ethica , was published in the following year with a title page likely based on a drawing by Gheeraerts . The copper plates were used in books well into the 18th Century and the fable series was copied by artists all over Europe . Gheeraerts also etched a second series of 65 illustrations for the fable book Apologi Creaturarum , which was published in Antwerp in 1584 . However , the etchings were smaller than those of the first series and this book never achieved the same popularity as the original one . Gheeraerts images were also used in publications until the 18th century in the Dutch Republic , Germany , France and Bohemia . Reference books . - Reginald Lane Poole ( Mrs. ) : Marcus Gheeraerts , Father and Son , Painters , The Walpole Society , 3 ( 1914 ) , 1–8 . - Arthur Ewart Popham : The etchings of Marcus Gheeraerts the Elder , Print Collectors Quarterly , 15 ( 1928 ) , 187–200 . - Albert Schouteet , De zestiende-eeuwsche schilder en graveur Marcus Gerards , Bruges , Druk . A . & L . Fockenier 1941 . - Edward Hodnett : Marcus Gheeraerts the Elder of Bruges , London , and Antwerp , Utrecht ( Haentjens Dekker & Gumbert ) 1971 . - William B . Ashworth : Marcus Gheeraerts and the Aesopic connection in seventeenth-century scientific illustration , Art Journal , 44 ( 1984 ) , 132–138 . - Eva Tahon : Marcus Gheeraerts the Elder , in : M . P . J . Martens ( red. ) , Bruges and the Renaissance : Memling to Pourbus , Bruges ( Stichting Kunstboek / Ludion ) 1998 , 231–238 . - Mikael Lytzau Forup : 125 fabler med illustrationer af Marcus Gheeraerts den Ældre [ Danish : 125 fables with illustrations by Marcus Gheeraerts the Elder ] , Odense ( University Press of Southern Denmark ) 2007 . ( The book features Gheeraerts entire Aesop series of 125 fable illustrations and 3 title pages. ) External links . - De warachtighe fabulen der dieren , online at the University of Leidens Ursicula website - Esbatement moral des animaux , online at the University of Leidens Ursicula website |
[
"England"
] | easy | Marcus Gheeraerts the Elder worked in which location from 1568 to 1576? | /wiki/Marcus_Gheeraerts_the_Elder#P937#1 | Marcus Gheeraerts the Elder Marcus Gheeraerts the Elder , Marc Gerard and Marcus Garret ( c . 1520 – c . 1590 ) was a Flemish painter , draughtsman , print designer and etcher who was active in his native Flanders and in England . He practised in many genres , including portraits , religious paintings , landscapes and architectural themes . He designed heraldic designs and decorations for tombs . He is known for his creation of a print depicting a map of his native town Bruges and the illustrations for a Dutch-language publication recounting stories from Aesops Fables . His attention to naturalistic detail and his practice of drawing animals from life for his prints had an important influence on European book illustration . His son Marcus the Younger became a prominent court painter at the English court . Life . Marcus Gheeraerts the Elder was born in Bruges , Flanders , as the son of Egbert Gheeraerts and his wife Antonine Vander Weerde . Egbert Gheeraerts was a painter who had moved from an unknown location to Bruges . Some scholars believe that Gheeraerts patronymic indicates that he likely came from the Northern Netherlands . His wife Antonine , on the other hand , was a native of Bruges . Egbert became a master of the Guild of Saint Luke of Bruges on 20 January 1516 . The exact date of birth of Marcus Gheeraerts is not known . On the basis of archival sources about the life of his father , it can be deduced that he was born between 1516 and 1521 . Not long after her husbands death , Marcus mother remarried Simon Pieters , who was also a painter and probably a native of the Northern Netherlands . The couple had six children with whom Marcus was raised . This explains why he was sometimes referred to as Marcus Pieters . After the death of his stepfather Simon Pieters in early 1557 , Marcus Gheeraerts became the guardian of his half-brothers and sisters . Marcuss mother died on 8 August 1580 . The master or masters of Marcus Gheeraerts are not known . The most obvious candidate is his stepfather Simon Pieters . Art historians believe that he started his training with Simon Pieters and later worked in the workshop of his guardian Albert Cornelis . It is speculated that he may have had other masters but there is no agreement as to their identity . He likely trained outside Bruges to learn the craft of engraver , which was not generally practised at a high level in Bruges . There is no information about Gheeraerts in the registers of the Sint-Lucas guild in Bruges for the period from 1522 to 1549 . This absence has been interpreted as an indication that he left his hometown to study in Antwerp or abroad . From 1558 onwards a number of documents demonstrate that Gheeraerts was resident in Bruges . On 31 July 1558 , he entered the artisan and saddle makers guild of Bruges as a master painter . In the same year , he was elected second board member of the guild , suggesting that he already enjoyed considerable professional recognition . From April to September 1561 Gheeraerts was the first board member . On 3 June 1558 , Marcus Gheeraerts married Johanna Struve . The couple had three children , of whom two are known by name , a son later referred to as Marcus the Younger and a daughter called Esther . A third child died at a young age and was buried in 1561 . Gheeraerts developed a professional career as a painter , etcher and designer . He was active as a designer of heraldic motifs . On 10 September 1559 , he was commissioned to provide designs for the tombs of Mary of Burgundy and Charles the Bold in the Church of Our Lady in Bruges . He drew the patterns for the lavishly decorated metal ornaments , the colorful coats of arms and two copper angels that were attached to the sides of the tombs . In 1561 Marcus Gheeraerts was commissioned to complete a triptych of the Passion of Christ that had been commenced by the prominent painter Bernard van Orley . The painting had remained unfinished after van Orleys death in 1542 . Originally intended for the church of the monastery of Brou near Bourg-en-Bresse ( Ain department , France ) , which Margaret of Austria had built , the triptych was transferred to Bruges after her death . Gheeraerts completed it . Margaret of Parma later decided to place the triptych in the Church of Our Lady in Bruges . Gheeraerts was further commissioned in 1561 to make a print depicting a map of his hometown . He completed the work in one year . The map is one of the earliest examples of a perspective city map that is correctly displayed . It is during this period that Gheeraerts most likely painted the ( collection of the Memling museum in Old St . Johns Hospital in Bruges ) . Marcus Gheeraerts became involved in the Calvinist community in Bruges and became a leader of the local church community . Whereas Calvinism was initially tolerated , the religious persecution of Calvinists commenced in 1567 with the arrival of new governor of the Low Countries , the Duke of Alva . In 1566 he participated in protests against the arrest of Calvinists in Bruges . He reflected in his art on the religious turmoil and iconoclasm of his time . As a Calvinist and artist he seemed to have had mixed feelings about the Iconoclasm of his religious group : he condemned idolatry of images but did not agree with the wholesale destruction of religious images by the Iconoclasts . In 1566 or shortly after , he created a print referred to as the Allegory of Iconoclasm that shows a composite rotting head of a monk . The head appears to rise up from a rocky outcropping . Myriad little figures swarm over the rocks . They enact 22 different scenes that used to be denoted by alphabetical keys which have not survived . Inside the gaping mouth a diabolical mass is celebrated . On the pâté of the head sits a pope-like figure under a canopy on a throne surrounded by bishops and monks . Indulgences and rosaries are pinned up on the staves and various rituals and processions take place and are labelled with letters . In the foreground Protestant iconoclasts are smashing altarpieces , religious sculptures , other church-related items and hurling them into a fire . The print is a condemnation of Catholic idolatry in all its forms and shows the Calvinists as cleansing the world of this perceived evil . Gheeraerts is believed to have followed up this print with more politically tainted prints , which resulted in 1568 in a prosecution for producing caricatures of the pope , the king and Catholicism . Fearing that he would be condemned to death in the criminal proceedings against him , Gheeraerts fled in 1568 to England with his son Marcus and his workshop assistant Philipus de la Valla . His wife and daughter remained in Bruges . The verdict in his case was pronounced at the end of 1568 . He was convicted and the punishment was permanent banishment and forfeiture of his entire fortune . Gheeraerts took up residence in London upon his arrival in England in 1568 . He was joined by his daughter in May 1571 likely after her mother had died . After the death of his wife in Bruges , the artist married in England his second wife , Sussanah de Critz . His wife was a sister of Queen Elizabeth Is serjeant-painter , John de Critz , another Flemish painter who had fled to England.The couple had two daughters and one son . The only child surviving into adulthood , Sarah , later married the famous French-born English limner Isaac Oliver . Just as before in Bruges , Gheeraerts made drawings and etchings and continued his painting activities . As there was a keen demand for portrait paintings in England , Gheeraerts started to paint portraits , which he had not done while still in Flanders . Art historians do not agree as to whether Gheeraerts returned to his native Flanders around 1577 to continue his career in Antwerp . In 1577 a Mercus Geeraert Painter was registered as a master in the Guild of Saint Luke of Antwerp and paid registration fees for the years 1585 and 1586 . It is not clear whether this Mercus referred to Marcus the Elder or to Marcus the Younger . Some art historians believe that Marcus the Elder registered in the Antwerp Guild in order to be able to legally work with Antwerp printers for the publications on which he worked . Others believe that he actually worked in Antwerp and point to the various publications printed in Antwerp on which he collaborated . Marcus Gheeraerts had various pupils during his career . In 1563 , 13-year-old Melchior dAssoneville became an apprentice of Gheeraerts in Bruges . Melchior d’Assoneville later became a sculptor and decorative painter and while living in Mechelen he was the master of Hendrik Faydherbe . His workshop assistant Philipus de la Valla who fled with him to England may also have been a pupil of Gheeraerts although he is sometimes referred to in contemporary records as a servant . It is not certain whether Marcus Gheeraerts the Elder was the teacher of his son Marcus the Younger . There are different views on this , but it is likely that he was but that his son also received training with other artists , who may have included other Flemish emigrants in England , such as Lucas de Heere and John de Critz . The date of death of Gheeraerts is not known but it must have been before 1599 . Work . General . Gheeraerts was a painter , draughtsman , print designer , etcher and ornamental designer . As many of his paintings were lost as a result of the Iconoclasm of the 16th century , he is now mainly known for his work as a printmaker and print designer . He was a keen innovator and experimented with etching at a time when woodcut and engraving were dominant techniques . For example , his 1562 birds-eye view of the town of Bruges was etched on 10 different plates , and the resulting map measures 100 x 177 cm . Paintings . Very few paintings have been attributed to Gheeraerts with much certainty . He did not sign any of his paintings . It is documented that he finished the triptych of the Passion of Christ that had been commenced by the prominent painter Bernard van Orley . The triptych was later damaged during the period of Iconoclasm and largely repainted in 1589 by Frans Pourbus the Younger during restoration work . It is not clear from the current state of the work , which parts were painted by which painter . It has been suggested that Bernard van Orley started the centre of the panel and that Marcus Gheeraerts completed the outer areas . A replica of the appeared on the art market ( Hampel Fine Art sale of 27 June 2019 , lot 551 ) and was attributed to Gheeraerts . Another version of the Lamentation also attributed to Gheeraerts is in the Saint Amands Church of Geel . The panel of the ( Memling museum in Old St . Johns Hospital in Bruges ) has been attributed to Marcus Gheeraerts . The ( Catharijneconvent Museum in Utrecht ) has been attributed to Gheeraerts but this attribution is not uncontested . Gheeraerts the Elder was known as a portrait painter . The traditional attribution to Gheeraerts of the , also referred to as the Peace portrait is still a matter of contention . The monogram M.G.F . on the portrait can apply to both Marcus Gheeraerts the Elder and his son Marcus the Younger . Some art historians regard it as a collaboration of father and son Gheeraerts . A ( Blair Castle , Scotland ) has also been attributed to Gheeraerts . Two works depicting celebrations , the and ( Hatfield House , Herefordshire ) , England ) , formerly attributed to Flemish artist Joris Hoefnagel , were attributed to Marcus Gheeraerts the Elder in 2015 . An inscription on the first painting indicates it was painted on commission by the Flemish merchant Jacob Hoefnagel , a brother of Joris Hoefnagel and a resident of London . The inscription also mentions that Jacob Hoefnagel wanted the picture to depict all the fashions that could be seen in England . Gheeraerts followed this instruction by depicting the figures in costumes from England , France , Venice and other European countries . These costumes were based on a publication depicting various costumes compiled and illustrated by Flemish émigré artist Lucas de Heere . It is believed both paintings depict marriage celebrations . The location of the Fête is the river bank of the Thames while the Festival is placed in an imaginary landscape . In both paintings , a procession is moving from right to left headed by two men carrying large oval cakes , two violinists and a man bearing a vase with rosemary tied with ribbons . The faces of the figures are rendered with precision and are likely portraits of members of the Flemish community in England . The paintings may have been intended to showcase the dignity and piety of the Flemish émigré community in England and to assert their proper place in their adopted country . It is believed that the man looking at the viewer appearing in both paintings is a self-portrait of the artist Gheeraerts . Karel van Mander wrote in his Schilderboeck from 1604 that Gheeraerts was a good landscape painter , who often had the habit of including a squatting , urinating woman on a bridge or elsewhere . A similar detail is seen in one of his fable illustrations and his map of Bruges . No landscape paintings by Gheeraerts hand are currently attributed to him but some of his works such as the Fête , the Festival and the contain important landscape elements . The description of the art collection of Cornelis van Hooghendorp made at the end of the 16th century included five paintings by Gheeraerts . These included a landscape with cows , an allegorical representation with a scene of the night when the devil sowed bad seed , a representation of Mary on the flight to Egypt and two paintings on parchment . In 1563 Marcus Gheeraerts also painted a triptych for the church of the friars minor recollect in Bruges . The painting style of Gheeraerts was initially influenced by Bernard van Orley . After 1565 he followed the Italianate style of painting of prominent Antwerp history painter Maerten de Vos . His painting style is further close to that of the little-known Vincent Sellaer . Prints . Gheeraerts was active as a printmaker and print designer during his time in Flanders and in England . The best-known print works he created before he left for England are the map of Bruges , the Allegory of Iconoclasm ( both discussed above ) and the emblematic fable book De warachtighe fabulen der dieren ( The true fables of the animals ) . De warachtighe fabulen der dieren . This book was published in 1567 in Bruges by Pieter de Clerck . Marcus Gheeraerts etched the title page and the 107 illustrations for each fable that his friend , Edewaerd de Dene , had written in his local Flemish verse . Gheeraerts initiated and financed the publication , which was printed to the highest standards of its time as a luxurious object with three different fonts . Each fable takes up two facing pages : on the left-hand side the illustration is displayed headed with a proverb or saying and some verse underneath it while on the right-hand the fable and its moral are told . It was the first emblematic fable book and set a trend for similar books . The principal source of the text in the book were Les fables du très ancien Ésope written by the French humanist Gilles Corrozet and published in Paris in 1542 . A second source was the Aesopi Phrygis et aliorum fabulae , a collection of fables in Latin that was published on the Antwerp printing presses of Christophe Plantin in various editions from 1660 . A third source for the fables writings of natural history such as Der Naturen Bloeme ( The Flower ( i.e . choice ) of Nature ) , a Middle Dutch natural history encyclopedia , written in the thirteenth century by the Flemish writer Jacob van Maerlant and the Dutch-language natural history compilation Der Dieren Palleys ( The palace of the Animals ) , published in Antwerp in 1520 . A final source for the fables are contemporary emblemata books such as the Emblemata of Andrea Alciato and an emblem of Joannes Sambucus . Illustrations made by Bernard Salomon for an edition of Aesops fables published in Lyon in 1547 and a German edition with prints by Virgil Solis published in Frankfurt in 1566 were the basis for the motifs of Gheeraerts . He gave his subjects greater naturalism than these artists . About 30 images were Gheeraerts own invention . Gheeraerts added another 18 illustrations and a new title page for a French version of the Fabulen that was published in 1578 under the title Esbatement moral des animaux . A Latin version , Mythologia ethica , was published in the following year with a title page likely based on a drawing by Gheeraerts . The copper plates were used in books well into the 18th Century and the fable series was copied by artists all over Europe . Gheeraerts also etched a second series of 65 illustrations for the fable book Apologi Creaturarum , which was published in Antwerp in 1584 . However , the etchings were smaller than those of the first series and this book never achieved the same popularity as the original one . Gheeraerts images were also used in publications until the 18th century in the Dutch Republic , Germany , France and Bohemia . Reference books . - Reginald Lane Poole ( Mrs. ) : Marcus Gheeraerts , Father and Son , Painters , The Walpole Society , 3 ( 1914 ) , 1–8 . - Arthur Ewart Popham : The etchings of Marcus Gheeraerts the Elder , Print Collectors Quarterly , 15 ( 1928 ) , 187–200 . - Albert Schouteet , De zestiende-eeuwsche schilder en graveur Marcus Gerards , Bruges , Druk . A . & L . Fockenier 1941 . - Edward Hodnett : Marcus Gheeraerts the Elder of Bruges , London , and Antwerp , Utrecht ( Haentjens Dekker & Gumbert ) 1971 . - William B . Ashworth : Marcus Gheeraerts and the Aesopic connection in seventeenth-century scientific illustration , Art Journal , 44 ( 1984 ) , 132–138 . - Eva Tahon : Marcus Gheeraerts the Elder , in : M . P . J . Martens ( red. ) , Bruges and the Renaissance : Memling to Pourbus , Bruges ( Stichting Kunstboek / Ludion ) 1998 , 231–238 . - Mikael Lytzau Forup : 125 fabler med illustrationer af Marcus Gheeraerts den Ældre [ Danish : 125 fables with illustrations by Marcus Gheeraerts the Elder ] , Odense ( University Press of Southern Denmark ) 2007 . ( The book features Gheeraerts entire Aesop series of 125 fable illustrations and 3 title pages. ) External links . - De warachtighe fabulen der dieren , online at the University of Leidens Ursicula website - Esbatement moral des animaux , online at the University of Leidens Ursicula website |
[
"Flanders"
] | easy | Marcus Gheeraerts the Elder worked in which location from 1577 to 1586? | /wiki/Marcus_Gheeraerts_the_Elder#P937#2 | Marcus Gheeraerts the Elder Marcus Gheeraerts the Elder , Marc Gerard and Marcus Garret ( c . 1520 – c . 1590 ) was a Flemish painter , draughtsman , print designer and etcher who was active in his native Flanders and in England . He practised in many genres , including portraits , religious paintings , landscapes and architectural themes . He designed heraldic designs and decorations for tombs . He is known for his creation of a print depicting a map of his native town Bruges and the illustrations for a Dutch-language publication recounting stories from Aesops Fables . His attention to naturalistic detail and his practice of drawing animals from life for his prints had an important influence on European book illustration . His son Marcus the Younger became a prominent court painter at the English court . Life . Marcus Gheeraerts the Elder was born in Bruges , Flanders , as the son of Egbert Gheeraerts and his wife Antonine Vander Weerde . Egbert Gheeraerts was a painter who had moved from an unknown location to Bruges . Some scholars believe that Gheeraerts patronymic indicates that he likely came from the Northern Netherlands . His wife Antonine , on the other hand , was a native of Bruges . Egbert became a master of the Guild of Saint Luke of Bruges on 20 January 1516 . The exact date of birth of Marcus Gheeraerts is not known . On the basis of archival sources about the life of his father , it can be deduced that he was born between 1516 and 1521 . Not long after her husbands death , Marcus mother remarried Simon Pieters , who was also a painter and probably a native of the Northern Netherlands . The couple had six children with whom Marcus was raised . This explains why he was sometimes referred to as Marcus Pieters . After the death of his stepfather Simon Pieters in early 1557 , Marcus Gheeraerts became the guardian of his half-brothers and sisters . Marcuss mother died on 8 August 1580 . The master or masters of Marcus Gheeraerts are not known . The most obvious candidate is his stepfather Simon Pieters . Art historians believe that he started his training with Simon Pieters and later worked in the workshop of his guardian Albert Cornelis . It is speculated that he may have had other masters but there is no agreement as to their identity . He likely trained outside Bruges to learn the craft of engraver , which was not generally practised at a high level in Bruges . There is no information about Gheeraerts in the registers of the Sint-Lucas guild in Bruges for the period from 1522 to 1549 . This absence has been interpreted as an indication that he left his hometown to study in Antwerp or abroad . From 1558 onwards a number of documents demonstrate that Gheeraerts was resident in Bruges . On 31 July 1558 , he entered the artisan and saddle makers guild of Bruges as a master painter . In the same year , he was elected second board member of the guild , suggesting that he already enjoyed considerable professional recognition . From April to September 1561 Gheeraerts was the first board member . On 3 June 1558 , Marcus Gheeraerts married Johanna Struve . The couple had three children , of whom two are known by name , a son later referred to as Marcus the Younger and a daughter called Esther . A third child died at a young age and was buried in 1561 . Gheeraerts developed a professional career as a painter , etcher and designer . He was active as a designer of heraldic motifs . On 10 September 1559 , he was commissioned to provide designs for the tombs of Mary of Burgundy and Charles the Bold in the Church of Our Lady in Bruges . He drew the patterns for the lavishly decorated metal ornaments , the colorful coats of arms and two copper angels that were attached to the sides of the tombs . In 1561 Marcus Gheeraerts was commissioned to complete a triptych of the Passion of Christ that had been commenced by the prominent painter Bernard van Orley . The painting had remained unfinished after van Orleys death in 1542 . Originally intended for the church of the monastery of Brou near Bourg-en-Bresse ( Ain department , France ) , which Margaret of Austria had built , the triptych was transferred to Bruges after her death . Gheeraerts completed it . Margaret of Parma later decided to place the triptych in the Church of Our Lady in Bruges . Gheeraerts was further commissioned in 1561 to make a print depicting a map of his hometown . He completed the work in one year . The map is one of the earliest examples of a perspective city map that is correctly displayed . It is during this period that Gheeraerts most likely painted the ( collection of the Memling museum in Old St . Johns Hospital in Bruges ) . Marcus Gheeraerts became involved in the Calvinist community in Bruges and became a leader of the local church community . Whereas Calvinism was initially tolerated , the religious persecution of Calvinists commenced in 1567 with the arrival of new governor of the Low Countries , the Duke of Alva . In 1566 he participated in protests against the arrest of Calvinists in Bruges . He reflected in his art on the religious turmoil and iconoclasm of his time . As a Calvinist and artist he seemed to have had mixed feelings about the Iconoclasm of his religious group : he condemned idolatry of images but did not agree with the wholesale destruction of religious images by the Iconoclasts . In 1566 or shortly after , he created a print referred to as the Allegory of Iconoclasm that shows a composite rotting head of a monk . The head appears to rise up from a rocky outcropping . Myriad little figures swarm over the rocks . They enact 22 different scenes that used to be denoted by alphabetical keys which have not survived . Inside the gaping mouth a diabolical mass is celebrated . On the pâté of the head sits a pope-like figure under a canopy on a throne surrounded by bishops and monks . Indulgences and rosaries are pinned up on the staves and various rituals and processions take place and are labelled with letters . In the foreground Protestant iconoclasts are smashing altarpieces , religious sculptures , other church-related items and hurling them into a fire . The print is a condemnation of Catholic idolatry in all its forms and shows the Calvinists as cleansing the world of this perceived evil . Gheeraerts is believed to have followed up this print with more politically tainted prints , which resulted in 1568 in a prosecution for producing caricatures of the pope , the king and Catholicism . Fearing that he would be condemned to death in the criminal proceedings against him , Gheeraerts fled in 1568 to England with his son Marcus and his workshop assistant Philipus de la Valla . His wife and daughter remained in Bruges . The verdict in his case was pronounced at the end of 1568 . He was convicted and the punishment was permanent banishment and forfeiture of his entire fortune . Gheeraerts took up residence in London upon his arrival in England in 1568 . He was joined by his daughter in May 1571 likely after her mother had died . After the death of his wife in Bruges , the artist married in England his second wife , Sussanah de Critz . His wife was a sister of Queen Elizabeth Is serjeant-painter , John de Critz , another Flemish painter who had fled to England.The couple had two daughters and one son . The only child surviving into adulthood , Sarah , later married the famous French-born English limner Isaac Oliver . Just as before in Bruges , Gheeraerts made drawings and etchings and continued his painting activities . As there was a keen demand for portrait paintings in England , Gheeraerts started to paint portraits , which he had not done while still in Flanders . Art historians do not agree as to whether Gheeraerts returned to his native Flanders around 1577 to continue his career in Antwerp . In 1577 a Mercus Geeraert Painter was registered as a master in the Guild of Saint Luke of Antwerp and paid registration fees for the years 1585 and 1586 . It is not clear whether this Mercus referred to Marcus the Elder or to Marcus the Younger . Some art historians believe that Marcus the Elder registered in the Antwerp Guild in order to be able to legally work with Antwerp printers for the publications on which he worked . Others believe that he actually worked in Antwerp and point to the various publications printed in Antwerp on which he collaborated . Marcus Gheeraerts had various pupils during his career . In 1563 , 13-year-old Melchior dAssoneville became an apprentice of Gheeraerts in Bruges . Melchior d’Assoneville later became a sculptor and decorative painter and while living in Mechelen he was the master of Hendrik Faydherbe . His workshop assistant Philipus de la Valla who fled with him to England may also have been a pupil of Gheeraerts although he is sometimes referred to in contemporary records as a servant . It is not certain whether Marcus Gheeraerts the Elder was the teacher of his son Marcus the Younger . There are different views on this , but it is likely that he was but that his son also received training with other artists , who may have included other Flemish emigrants in England , such as Lucas de Heere and John de Critz . The date of death of Gheeraerts is not known but it must have been before 1599 . Work . General . Gheeraerts was a painter , draughtsman , print designer , etcher and ornamental designer . As many of his paintings were lost as a result of the Iconoclasm of the 16th century , he is now mainly known for his work as a printmaker and print designer . He was a keen innovator and experimented with etching at a time when woodcut and engraving were dominant techniques . For example , his 1562 birds-eye view of the town of Bruges was etched on 10 different plates , and the resulting map measures 100 x 177 cm . Paintings . Very few paintings have been attributed to Gheeraerts with much certainty . He did not sign any of his paintings . It is documented that he finished the triptych of the Passion of Christ that had been commenced by the prominent painter Bernard van Orley . The triptych was later damaged during the period of Iconoclasm and largely repainted in 1589 by Frans Pourbus the Younger during restoration work . It is not clear from the current state of the work , which parts were painted by which painter . It has been suggested that Bernard van Orley started the centre of the panel and that Marcus Gheeraerts completed the outer areas . A replica of the appeared on the art market ( Hampel Fine Art sale of 27 June 2019 , lot 551 ) and was attributed to Gheeraerts . Another version of the Lamentation also attributed to Gheeraerts is in the Saint Amands Church of Geel . The panel of the ( Memling museum in Old St . Johns Hospital in Bruges ) has been attributed to Marcus Gheeraerts . The ( Catharijneconvent Museum in Utrecht ) has been attributed to Gheeraerts but this attribution is not uncontested . Gheeraerts the Elder was known as a portrait painter . The traditional attribution to Gheeraerts of the , also referred to as the Peace portrait is still a matter of contention . The monogram M.G.F . on the portrait can apply to both Marcus Gheeraerts the Elder and his son Marcus the Younger . Some art historians regard it as a collaboration of father and son Gheeraerts . A ( Blair Castle , Scotland ) has also been attributed to Gheeraerts . Two works depicting celebrations , the and ( Hatfield House , Herefordshire ) , England ) , formerly attributed to Flemish artist Joris Hoefnagel , were attributed to Marcus Gheeraerts the Elder in 2015 . An inscription on the first painting indicates it was painted on commission by the Flemish merchant Jacob Hoefnagel , a brother of Joris Hoefnagel and a resident of London . The inscription also mentions that Jacob Hoefnagel wanted the picture to depict all the fashions that could be seen in England . Gheeraerts followed this instruction by depicting the figures in costumes from England , France , Venice and other European countries . These costumes were based on a publication depicting various costumes compiled and illustrated by Flemish émigré artist Lucas de Heere . It is believed both paintings depict marriage celebrations . The location of the Fête is the river bank of the Thames while the Festival is placed in an imaginary landscape . In both paintings , a procession is moving from right to left headed by two men carrying large oval cakes , two violinists and a man bearing a vase with rosemary tied with ribbons . The faces of the figures are rendered with precision and are likely portraits of members of the Flemish community in England . The paintings may have been intended to showcase the dignity and piety of the Flemish émigré community in England and to assert their proper place in their adopted country . It is believed that the man looking at the viewer appearing in both paintings is a self-portrait of the artist Gheeraerts . Karel van Mander wrote in his Schilderboeck from 1604 that Gheeraerts was a good landscape painter , who often had the habit of including a squatting , urinating woman on a bridge or elsewhere . A similar detail is seen in one of his fable illustrations and his map of Bruges . No landscape paintings by Gheeraerts hand are currently attributed to him but some of his works such as the Fête , the Festival and the contain important landscape elements . The description of the art collection of Cornelis van Hooghendorp made at the end of the 16th century included five paintings by Gheeraerts . These included a landscape with cows , an allegorical representation with a scene of the night when the devil sowed bad seed , a representation of Mary on the flight to Egypt and two paintings on parchment . In 1563 Marcus Gheeraerts also painted a triptych for the church of the friars minor recollect in Bruges . The painting style of Gheeraerts was initially influenced by Bernard van Orley . After 1565 he followed the Italianate style of painting of prominent Antwerp history painter Maerten de Vos . His painting style is further close to that of the little-known Vincent Sellaer . Prints . Gheeraerts was active as a printmaker and print designer during his time in Flanders and in England . The best-known print works he created before he left for England are the map of Bruges , the Allegory of Iconoclasm ( both discussed above ) and the emblematic fable book De warachtighe fabulen der dieren ( The true fables of the animals ) . De warachtighe fabulen der dieren . This book was published in 1567 in Bruges by Pieter de Clerck . Marcus Gheeraerts etched the title page and the 107 illustrations for each fable that his friend , Edewaerd de Dene , had written in his local Flemish verse . Gheeraerts initiated and financed the publication , which was printed to the highest standards of its time as a luxurious object with three different fonts . Each fable takes up two facing pages : on the left-hand side the illustration is displayed headed with a proverb or saying and some verse underneath it while on the right-hand the fable and its moral are told . It was the first emblematic fable book and set a trend for similar books . The principal source of the text in the book were Les fables du très ancien Ésope written by the French humanist Gilles Corrozet and published in Paris in 1542 . A second source was the Aesopi Phrygis et aliorum fabulae , a collection of fables in Latin that was published on the Antwerp printing presses of Christophe Plantin in various editions from 1660 . A third source for the fables writings of natural history such as Der Naturen Bloeme ( The Flower ( i.e . choice ) of Nature ) , a Middle Dutch natural history encyclopedia , written in the thirteenth century by the Flemish writer Jacob van Maerlant and the Dutch-language natural history compilation Der Dieren Palleys ( The palace of the Animals ) , published in Antwerp in 1520 . A final source for the fables are contemporary emblemata books such as the Emblemata of Andrea Alciato and an emblem of Joannes Sambucus . Illustrations made by Bernard Salomon for an edition of Aesops fables published in Lyon in 1547 and a German edition with prints by Virgil Solis published in Frankfurt in 1566 were the basis for the motifs of Gheeraerts . He gave his subjects greater naturalism than these artists . About 30 images were Gheeraerts own invention . Gheeraerts added another 18 illustrations and a new title page for a French version of the Fabulen that was published in 1578 under the title Esbatement moral des animaux . A Latin version , Mythologia ethica , was published in the following year with a title page likely based on a drawing by Gheeraerts . The copper plates were used in books well into the 18th Century and the fable series was copied by artists all over Europe . Gheeraerts also etched a second series of 65 illustrations for the fable book Apologi Creaturarum , which was published in Antwerp in 1584 . However , the etchings were smaller than those of the first series and this book never achieved the same popularity as the original one . Gheeraerts images were also used in publications until the 18th century in the Dutch Republic , Germany , France and Bohemia . Reference books . - Reginald Lane Poole ( Mrs. ) : Marcus Gheeraerts , Father and Son , Painters , The Walpole Society , 3 ( 1914 ) , 1–8 . - Arthur Ewart Popham : The etchings of Marcus Gheeraerts the Elder , Print Collectors Quarterly , 15 ( 1928 ) , 187–200 . - Albert Schouteet , De zestiende-eeuwsche schilder en graveur Marcus Gerards , Bruges , Druk . A . & L . Fockenier 1941 . - Edward Hodnett : Marcus Gheeraerts the Elder of Bruges , London , and Antwerp , Utrecht ( Haentjens Dekker & Gumbert ) 1971 . - William B . Ashworth : Marcus Gheeraerts and the Aesopic connection in seventeenth-century scientific illustration , Art Journal , 44 ( 1984 ) , 132–138 . - Eva Tahon : Marcus Gheeraerts the Elder , in : M . P . J . Martens ( red. ) , Bruges and the Renaissance : Memling to Pourbus , Bruges ( Stichting Kunstboek / Ludion ) 1998 , 231–238 . - Mikael Lytzau Forup : 125 fabler med illustrationer af Marcus Gheeraerts den Ældre [ Danish : 125 fables with illustrations by Marcus Gheeraerts the Elder ] , Odense ( University Press of Southern Denmark ) 2007 . ( The book features Gheeraerts entire Aesop series of 125 fable illustrations and 3 title pages. ) External links . - De warachtighe fabulen der dieren , online at the University of Leidens Ursicula website - Esbatement moral des animaux , online at the University of Leidens Ursicula website |
[
"Prime Minister of Greeces Diplomatic Office",
"Member of the Hellenic Parliament",
"Mayor of Athens"
] | easy | Which position did Dimitris Avramopoulos hold from 1993 to 1995? | /wiki/Dimitris_Avramopoulos#P39#0 | Dimitris Avramopoulos Dimitris Avramopoulos ( ) is a Greek politician of the conservative New Democracy party , and former career diplomat . He has served in various high-level cabinet posts , including Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for National Defence , and was Mayor of Athens in 1995–2002 . He served as EU Commissioner for Migration , Home Affairs and Citizenship in the Juncker Commission between 2014 and 2019 . Personal life . Avramopoulos was born in Athens in 1953 , into a family which had originally come from Ilia and Elliniko in Arcadia . He served his 26 months military service from 1978 to 1980 in the Hellenic Air Force . He is married to Vivian , with whom he has two sons , Filippos and Iasonas . Apart from his native Greek , he speaks English , French and Italian fluently . Diplomatic career . In 1980 , Avramopoulos joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Athens , where he worked until 1993 . From 1988 to 1992 , he served as Greek Consul to Belgium in Liège . At the same time he was a Special Adviser to Konstantinos Mitsotakis , President and Leader of the New Democracy . During this time he also represented Greece in Vienna at the Conference for Security and Co-operation in Europe . In 1992 he became official spokesman of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was appointed Consul General of Greece in Geneva . In 1993 he was promoted to director of the Prime Minister of Greeces Diplomatic Office . Political career . Mayor of Athens . In 1993 , Avramopoulos resigned from Greek diplomatic service to enter parliamentary politics as a member of New Democracy and was elected a member of its Central Committee . From 1993 to 1994 he served as a Member of the Hellenic Parliament . In 1994 he was elected Mayor of Athens , and was re-elected in October 1998 in a historic first-round landslide victory . From 1995 to 1999 he served as chairman of the Central Union of Local Authorities of Greece . In 1995 he founded the “Permanent Conference of the Mayors of the Capitals of South-East Europe” and served as its first President . From 1996 to 2000 he served as Vice-President of the Executive Committee of the International Union of Local Authorities ( IULA ) and from 1997 to 2002 , as a member of the Committee of the Regions of the European Union . Elected as President of the Summit Conference of the Mayors of the World in 2000 , he served until 2002 , during which time he founded the World Union of Olympic Cities , Athens’ International Prize for Democracy , and “World Institute of Global and Cities’ Diplomacy” , Rome . Ministerial posts . In March 2001 , he split from New Democracy with his Movement of Free Citizens ( KEP ) , but in a surprising move merged back in June 2002 . When in 2004 New Democracy won the parliamentary elections , Avramopoulos was appointed Minister of Tourism , serving until 2006 , and afterwards , from 2006 until 2009 , as Minister of Health and Social Solidarity . In the October 2009 election , Avramopoulos was re-elected to the Hellenic Parliament representing the constituency of Athens A . After the election of Antonis Samaras to the “New Democracy” Party Presidency he was appointed President of the Organizing Committee of the 8th Party Congress held at Athens in June 2010 . In July 2010 , he became Vice-President of “New Democracy” , serving until 1 November 2014 . On November 11 , 2011 he was appointed Minister for National Defence in the coalition government of Lucas Papademos , resigning from his parliamentary seat , thus adhering to the New Democracy policy that no serving Opposition Party Deputies may hold ministerial office . At the May 6 , 2012 election , Avramopoulos was returned as Deputy for Athens A , being re-elected in the June 17 , 2012 general election . On June 21 , 2012 he was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs . After the Cabinet reshuffle of June 25 , 2013 , he became Greek Minister for Defence again , serving until his nomination as Greeces European Commissioner in November 2014 . European Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs . On 27 July 2014 , Prime Minister Antonis Samaras nominated Avramopoulos as Greeces next member of the European Commission . Before the nomination , Dora Bakoyiannis was widely seen to be a strong contender for the Commission post . Samaras also defied calls from the centre-left Pasok party for Maria Damanaki to continue as European Commissioner . Jean-Claude Juncker then nominated Avramopoulos as European Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs . In this capacity , Avramopoulos shares competency over cyber-security matters with Günther Oettinger . In the aftermath of the victory of the left-wing SYRIZA party in the 25 January election in 2015 , Avramopoulos name was widely circulated in Greek media as the most likely choice for SYRIZAs candidate in the second round of the election for the Presidency of Greece . According to the Greek media reports , the nomination would be seen both as a gesture of conciliation with the right , but would crucially also enable SYRIZA to nominate its own European Commissioner . On 30 January Samaras phoned Avramopoulos and assured him that New Democracy would support his eventual nomination . Avramopoulos criticized the 2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria . He said that the European Union remains committed to the unity , sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Syrian state . Other positions . From the outset of his political career , Avramopoulos served for twenty years as Honorary President of the Athens’ International Prize for Democracy for UNESCO in Paris ( until 2013 ) . He has also been Chairman of the Steering Committee on Cities´ Diplomacy , established by the Global Forum ( Rome ) and the World Bank Institute ( Washington D.C. ) . He was elected President of the “World Institute of Global and Cities’ Diplomacy” , an independent NGO based in Rome as well as Executive President of the “World Union of Olympic Cities” , an Olympic Games NGO . Greek-Turkish rapprochement . Avramopoulos has a friendly relation with the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan since they were Mayors of Athens and Istanbul respectively . He is deemed one of the main proponents of Greek-Turkish rapprochement . Also this year the two former Mayors came together to discuss topics regarding Migration , Borders and Security on European and EU-level in Istanbul on 3 June 2019 . On the same day , Avramopoulos also met with Turkish Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu to discuss about the same topic . Academic degrees . Avramopoulos read Public Law and Political Science at Athens University Law School , graduating with the degree of Bachelor of Arts ( BA ) . He then undertook postgraduate studies receiving a Masters degree in European Studies at the Institute of European Affairs , Université libre de Bruxelles . He has been conferred honorary doctorates by Adelphi University ( Long Island , New York ) , Deree College ( Athens ) , Drexel University ( Philadelphia ) and Kingston University ( London ) , and has been elected Honorary Professor of Peking University ( Beijing ) and of the European College of Parma ( Italy ) . Honours . Avramopoulos has received numerous honors from European States as well as many countries around the world for his diplomatic , public and charitable service : And , from the Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarchate of Constantinople , the Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Patriarchate of Alexandria : - Grand Cross , Order of the Holy Sepulchre - Grand Cross , Order of the Apostle and Evangelist Mark - Grand Cross , Order of Saints George and Constantine . Distinctions and awards . Avramopoulos received , in 2006 , the “Vincitore Assoluto” Award of the Premio Internazionale “Giuseppe Sciacca” , and has been presented with distinctions by many foreign Cities and Municipalities : Famagusta , Barcelona , Beijing , Beirut , Berlin , Boston , Brooklyn N.Y. , Bucharest , Caracas , Chicago , Crotone , Florence , Genoa , Jakarta , Havana , Istanbul , Kyiv , Ljubljana , Los Angeles , Miami -Florida , Massachusetts , Montreal , Moscow , New Jersey , New York , Nicosia , Paris , Philadelphia , Providence , Rhode Island , Rome , Sofia , State of Illinois , Sydney , Tbilisi , Tirana , Toronto , Valletta , Washington D.C. , Xian , Yerevan . He has been honoured with the Honorary Freedom of 40 Greek and foreign cities . In November 2017 , he became Honorary Member of the Propeller Club of the United States Port of Piraeus and he received the Award of Excellence of the Propeller Club of the United States Port of Piraeus for his strenuous effort and impact on developing a new European Policy on regular Migration . In December 2017 , the Department of International and European Studies of the University of Piraeus awarded Mr . Avramopoulos the first Themistocles prize for his contribution to the management of the EU migration and security crisis . External links . - New Democracy website - Greek Parliament site - Dimitris Avramopoulos site - www.elections2014.eu |
[
"Mayor of Athens",
"chairman of the Central Union of Local Authorities of Greece",
"founded the “Permanent Conference of the Mayors of the Capitals of South-East Europe” and served as its first President"
] | easy | What position did Dimitris Avramopoulos take from 1995 to 2003? | /wiki/Dimitris_Avramopoulos#P39#1 | Dimitris Avramopoulos Dimitris Avramopoulos ( ) is a Greek politician of the conservative New Democracy party , and former career diplomat . He has served in various high-level cabinet posts , including Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for National Defence , and was Mayor of Athens in 1995–2002 . He served as EU Commissioner for Migration , Home Affairs and Citizenship in the Juncker Commission between 2014 and 2019 . Personal life . Avramopoulos was born in Athens in 1953 , into a family which had originally come from Ilia and Elliniko in Arcadia . He served his 26 months military service from 1978 to 1980 in the Hellenic Air Force . He is married to Vivian , with whom he has two sons , Filippos and Iasonas . Apart from his native Greek , he speaks English , French and Italian fluently . Diplomatic career . In 1980 , Avramopoulos joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Athens , where he worked until 1993 . From 1988 to 1992 , he served as Greek Consul to Belgium in Liège . At the same time he was a Special Adviser to Konstantinos Mitsotakis , President and Leader of the New Democracy . During this time he also represented Greece in Vienna at the Conference for Security and Co-operation in Europe . In 1992 he became official spokesman of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was appointed Consul General of Greece in Geneva . In 1993 he was promoted to director of the Prime Minister of Greeces Diplomatic Office . Political career . Mayor of Athens . In 1993 , Avramopoulos resigned from Greek diplomatic service to enter parliamentary politics as a member of New Democracy and was elected a member of its Central Committee . From 1993 to 1994 he served as a Member of the Hellenic Parliament . In 1994 he was elected Mayor of Athens , and was re-elected in October 1998 in a historic first-round landslide victory . From 1995 to 1999 he served as chairman of the Central Union of Local Authorities of Greece . In 1995 he founded the “Permanent Conference of the Mayors of the Capitals of South-East Europe” and served as its first President . From 1996 to 2000 he served as Vice-President of the Executive Committee of the International Union of Local Authorities ( IULA ) and from 1997 to 2002 , as a member of the Committee of the Regions of the European Union . Elected as President of the Summit Conference of the Mayors of the World in 2000 , he served until 2002 , during which time he founded the World Union of Olympic Cities , Athens’ International Prize for Democracy , and “World Institute of Global and Cities’ Diplomacy” , Rome . Ministerial posts . In March 2001 , he split from New Democracy with his Movement of Free Citizens ( KEP ) , but in a surprising move merged back in June 2002 . When in 2004 New Democracy won the parliamentary elections , Avramopoulos was appointed Minister of Tourism , serving until 2006 , and afterwards , from 2006 until 2009 , as Minister of Health and Social Solidarity . In the October 2009 election , Avramopoulos was re-elected to the Hellenic Parliament representing the constituency of Athens A . After the election of Antonis Samaras to the “New Democracy” Party Presidency he was appointed President of the Organizing Committee of the 8th Party Congress held at Athens in June 2010 . In July 2010 , he became Vice-President of “New Democracy” , serving until 1 November 2014 . On November 11 , 2011 he was appointed Minister for National Defence in the coalition government of Lucas Papademos , resigning from his parliamentary seat , thus adhering to the New Democracy policy that no serving Opposition Party Deputies may hold ministerial office . At the May 6 , 2012 election , Avramopoulos was returned as Deputy for Athens A , being re-elected in the June 17 , 2012 general election . On June 21 , 2012 he was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs . After the Cabinet reshuffle of June 25 , 2013 , he became Greek Minister for Defence again , serving until his nomination as Greeces European Commissioner in November 2014 . European Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs . On 27 July 2014 , Prime Minister Antonis Samaras nominated Avramopoulos as Greeces next member of the European Commission . Before the nomination , Dora Bakoyiannis was widely seen to be a strong contender for the Commission post . Samaras also defied calls from the centre-left Pasok party for Maria Damanaki to continue as European Commissioner . Jean-Claude Juncker then nominated Avramopoulos as European Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs . In this capacity , Avramopoulos shares competency over cyber-security matters with Günther Oettinger . In the aftermath of the victory of the left-wing SYRIZA party in the 25 January election in 2015 , Avramopoulos name was widely circulated in Greek media as the most likely choice for SYRIZAs candidate in the second round of the election for the Presidency of Greece . According to the Greek media reports , the nomination would be seen both as a gesture of conciliation with the right , but would crucially also enable SYRIZA to nominate its own European Commissioner . On 30 January Samaras phoned Avramopoulos and assured him that New Democracy would support his eventual nomination . Avramopoulos criticized the 2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria . He said that the European Union remains committed to the unity , sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Syrian state . Other positions . From the outset of his political career , Avramopoulos served for twenty years as Honorary President of the Athens’ International Prize for Democracy for UNESCO in Paris ( until 2013 ) . He has also been Chairman of the Steering Committee on Cities´ Diplomacy , established by the Global Forum ( Rome ) and the World Bank Institute ( Washington D.C. ) . He was elected President of the “World Institute of Global and Cities’ Diplomacy” , an independent NGO based in Rome as well as Executive President of the “World Union of Olympic Cities” , an Olympic Games NGO . Greek-Turkish rapprochement . Avramopoulos has a friendly relation with the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan since they were Mayors of Athens and Istanbul respectively . He is deemed one of the main proponents of Greek-Turkish rapprochement . Also this year the two former Mayors came together to discuss topics regarding Migration , Borders and Security on European and EU-level in Istanbul on 3 June 2019 . On the same day , Avramopoulos also met with Turkish Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu to discuss about the same topic . Academic degrees . Avramopoulos read Public Law and Political Science at Athens University Law School , graduating with the degree of Bachelor of Arts ( BA ) . He then undertook postgraduate studies receiving a Masters degree in European Studies at the Institute of European Affairs , Université libre de Bruxelles . He has been conferred honorary doctorates by Adelphi University ( Long Island , New York ) , Deree College ( Athens ) , Drexel University ( Philadelphia ) and Kingston University ( London ) , and has been elected Honorary Professor of Peking University ( Beijing ) and of the European College of Parma ( Italy ) . Honours . Avramopoulos has received numerous honors from European States as well as many countries around the world for his diplomatic , public and charitable service : And , from the Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarchate of Constantinople , the Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Patriarchate of Alexandria : - Grand Cross , Order of the Holy Sepulchre - Grand Cross , Order of the Apostle and Evangelist Mark - Grand Cross , Order of Saints George and Constantine . Distinctions and awards . Avramopoulos received , in 2006 , the “Vincitore Assoluto” Award of the Premio Internazionale “Giuseppe Sciacca” , and has been presented with distinctions by many foreign Cities and Municipalities : Famagusta , Barcelona , Beijing , Beirut , Berlin , Boston , Brooklyn N.Y. , Bucharest , Caracas , Chicago , Crotone , Florence , Genoa , Jakarta , Havana , Istanbul , Kyiv , Ljubljana , Los Angeles , Miami -Florida , Massachusetts , Montreal , Moscow , New Jersey , New York , Nicosia , Paris , Philadelphia , Providence , Rhode Island , Rome , Sofia , State of Illinois , Sydney , Tbilisi , Tirana , Toronto , Valletta , Washington D.C. , Xian , Yerevan . He has been honoured with the Honorary Freedom of 40 Greek and foreign cities . In November 2017 , he became Honorary Member of the Propeller Club of the United States Port of Piraeus and he received the Award of Excellence of the Propeller Club of the United States Port of Piraeus for his strenuous effort and impact on developing a new European Policy on regular Migration . In December 2017 , the Department of International and European Studies of the University of Piraeus awarded Mr . Avramopoulos the first Themistocles prize for his contribution to the management of the EU migration and security crisis . External links . - New Democracy website - Greek Parliament site - Dimitris Avramopoulos site - www.elections2014.eu |
[
"Minister of Tourism"
] | easy | What position did Dimitris Avramopoulos take from Mar 2004 to Feb 2006? | /wiki/Dimitris_Avramopoulos#P39#2 | Dimitris Avramopoulos Dimitris Avramopoulos ( ) is a Greek politician of the conservative New Democracy party , and former career diplomat . He has served in various high-level cabinet posts , including Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for National Defence , and was Mayor of Athens in 1995–2002 . He served as EU Commissioner for Migration , Home Affairs and Citizenship in the Juncker Commission between 2014 and 2019 . Personal life . Avramopoulos was born in Athens in 1953 , into a family which had originally come from Ilia and Elliniko in Arcadia . He served his 26 months military service from 1978 to 1980 in the Hellenic Air Force . He is married to Vivian , with whom he has two sons , Filippos and Iasonas . Apart from his native Greek , he speaks English , French and Italian fluently . Diplomatic career . In 1980 , Avramopoulos joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Athens , where he worked until 1993 . From 1988 to 1992 , he served as Greek Consul to Belgium in Liège . At the same time he was a Special Adviser to Konstantinos Mitsotakis , President and Leader of the New Democracy . During this time he also represented Greece in Vienna at the Conference for Security and Co-operation in Europe . In 1992 he became official spokesman of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was appointed Consul General of Greece in Geneva . In 1993 he was promoted to director of the Prime Minister of Greeces Diplomatic Office . Political career . Mayor of Athens . In 1993 , Avramopoulos resigned from Greek diplomatic service to enter parliamentary politics as a member of New Democracy and was elected a member of its Central Committee . From 1993 to 1994 he served as a Member of the Hellenic Parliament . In 1994 he was elected Mayor of Athens , and was re-elected in October 1998 in a historic first-round landslide victory . From 1995 to 1999 he served as chairman of the Central Union of Local Authorities of Greece . In 1995 he founded the “Permanent Conference of the Mayors of the Capitals of South-East Europe” and served as its first President . From 1996 to 2000 he served as Vice-President of the Executive Committee of the International Union of Local Authorities ( IULA ) and from 1997 to 2002 , as a member of the Committee of the Regions of the European Union . Elected as President of the Summit Conference of the Mayors of the World in 2000 , he served until 2002 , during which time he founded the World Union of Olympic Cities , Athens’ International Prize for Democracy , and “World Institute of Global and Cities’ Diplomacy” , Rome . Ministerial posts . In March 2001 , he split from New Democracy with his Movement of Free Citizens ( KEP ) , but in a surprising move merged back in June 2002 . When in 2004 New Democracy won the parliamentary elections , Avramopoulos was appointed Minister of Tourism , serving until 2006 , and afterwards , from 2006 until 2009 , as Minister of Health and Social Solidarity . In the October 2009 election , Avramopoulos was re-elected to the Hellenic Parliament representing the constituency of Athens A . After the election of Antonis Samaras to the “New Democracy” Party Presidency he was appointed President of the Organizing Committee of the 8th Party Congress held at Athens in June 2010 . In July 2010 , he became Vice-President of “New Democracy” , serving until 1 November 2014 . On November 11 , 2011 he was appointed Minister for National Defence in the coalition government of Lucas Papademos , resigning from his parliamentary seat , thus adhering to the New Democracy policy that no serving Opposition Party Deputies may hold ministerial office . At the May 6 , 2012 election , Avramopoulos was returned as Deputy for Athens A , being re-elected in the June 17 , 2012 general election . On June 21 , 2012 he was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs . After the Cabinet reshuffle of June 25 , 2013 , he became Greek Minister for Defence again , serving until his nomination as Greeces European Commissioner in November 2014 . European Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs . On 27 July 2014 , Prime Minister Antonis Samaras nominated Avramopoulos as Greeces next member of the European Commission . Before the nomination , Dora Bakoyiannis was widely seen to be a strong contender for the Commission post . Samaras also defied calls from the centre-left Pasok party for Maria Damanaki to continue as European Commissioner . Jean-Claude Juncker then nominated Avramopoulos as European Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs . In this capacity , Avramopoulos shares competency over cyber-security matters with Günther Oettinger . In the aftermath of the victory of the left-wing SYRIZA party in the 25 January election in 2015 , Avramopoulos name was widely circulated in Greek media as the most likely choice for SYRIZAs candidate in the second round of the election for the Presidency of Greece . According to the Greek media reports , the nomination would be seen both as a gesture of conciliation with the right , but would crucially also enable SYRIZA to nominate its own European Commissioner . On 30 January Samaras phoned Avramopoulos and assured him that New Democracy would support his eventual nomination . Avramopoulos criticized the 2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria . He said that the European Union remains committed to the unity , sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Syrian state . Other positions . From the outset of his political career , Avramopoulos served for twenty years as Honorary President of the Athens’ International Prize for Democracy for UNESCO in Paris ( until 2013 ) . He has also been Chairman of the Steering Committee on Cities´ Diplomacy , established by the Global Forum ( Rome ) and the World Bank Institute ( Washington D.C. ) . He was elected President of the “World Institute of Global and Cities’ Diplomacy” , an independent NGO based in Rome as well as Executive President of the “World Union of Olympic Cities” , an Olympic Games NGO . Greek-Turkish rapprochement . Avramopoulos has a friendly relation with the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan since they were Mayors of Athens and Istanbul respectively . He is deemed one of the main proponents of Greek-Turkish rapprochement . Also this year the two former Mayors came together to discuss topics regarding Migration , Borders and Security on European and EU-level in Istanbul on 3 June 2019 . On the same day , Avramopoulos also met with Turkish Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu to discuss about the same topic . Academic degrees . Avramopoulos read Public Law and Political Science at Athens University Law School , graduating with the degree of Bachelor of Arts ( BA ) . He then undertook postgraduate studies receiving a Masters degree in European Studies at the Institute of European Affairs , Université libre de Bruxelles . He has been conferred honorary doctorates by Adelphi University ( Long Island , New York ) , Deree College ( Athens ) , Drexel University ( Philadelphia ) and Kingston University ( London ) , and has been elected Honorary Professor of Peking University ( Beijing ) and of the European College of Parma ( Italy ) . Honours . Avramopoulos has received numerous honors from European States as well as many countries around the world for his diplomatic , public and charitable service : And , from the Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarchate of Constantinople , the Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Patriarchate of Alexandria : - Grand Cross , Order of the Holy Sepulchre - Grand Cross , Order of the Apostle and Evangelist Mark - Grand Cross , Order of Saints George and Constantine . Distinctions and awards . Avramopoulos received , in 2006 , the “Vincitore Assoluto” Award of the Premio Internazionale “Giuseppe Sciacca” , and has been presented with distinctions by many foreign Cities and Municipalities : Famagusta , Barcelona , Beijing , Beirut , Berlin , Boston , Brooklyn N.Y. , Bucharest , Caracas , Chicago , Crotone , Florence , Genoa , Jakarta , Havana , Istanbul , Kyiv , Ljubljana , Los Angeles , Miami -Florida , Massachusetts , Montreal , Moscow , New Jersey , New York , Nicosia , Paris , Philadelphia , Providence , Rhode Island , Rome , Sofia , State of Illinois , Sydney , Tbilisi , Tirana , Toronto , Valletta , Washington D.C. , Xian , Yerevan . He has been honoured with the Honorary Freedom of 40 Greek and foreign cities . In November 2017 , he became Honorary Member of the Propeller Club of the United States Port of Piraeus and he received the Award of Excellence of the Propeller Club of the United States Port of Piraeus for his strenuous effort and impact on developing a new European Policy on regular Migration . In December 2017 , the Department of International and European Studies of the University of Piraeus awarded Mr . Avramopoulos the first Themistocles prize for his contribution to the management of the EU migration and security crisis . External links . - New Democracy website - Greek Parliament site - Dimitris Avramopoulos site - www.elections2014.eu |
[
"Minister of Health and Social Solidarity"
] | easy | Which position did Dimitris Avramopoulos hold from Feb 2006 to Oct 2009? | /wiki/Dimitris_Avramopoulos#P39#3 | Dimitris Avramopoulos Dimitris Avramopoulos ( ) is a Greek politician of the conservative New Democracy party , and former career diplomat . He has served in various high-level cabinet posts , including Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for National Defence , and was Mayor of Athens in 1995–2002 . He served as EU Commissioner for Migration , Home Affairs and Citizenship in the Juncker Commission between 2014 and 2019 . Personal life . Avramopoulos was born in Athens in 1953 , into a family which had originally come from Ilia and Elliniko in Arcadia . He served his 26 months military service from 1978 to 1980 in the Hellenic Air Force . He is married to Vivian , with whom he has two sons , Filippos and Iasonas . Apart from his native Greek , he speaks English , French and Italian fluently . Diplomatic career . In 1980 , Avramopoulos joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Athens , where he worked until 1993 . From 1988 to 1992 , he served as Greek Consul to Belgium in Liège . At the same time he was a Special Adviser to Konstantinos Mitsotakis , President and Leader of the New Democracy . During this time he also represented Greece in Vienna at the Conference for Security and Co-operation in Europe . In 1992 he became official spokesman of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was appointed Consul General of Greece in Geneva . In 1993 he was promoted to director of the Prime Minister of Greeces Diplomatic Office . Political career . Mayor of Athens . In 1993 , Avramopoulos resigned from Greek diplomatic service to enter parliamentary politics as a member of New Democracy and was elected a member of its Central Committee . From 1993 to 1994 he served as a Member of the Hellenic Parliament . In 1994 he was elected Mayor of Athens , and was re-elected in October 1998 in a historic first-round landslide victory . From 1995 to 1999 he served as chairman of the Central Union of Local Authorities of Greece . In 1995 he founded the “Permanent Conference of the Mayors of the Capitals of South-East Europe” and served as its first President . From 1996 to 2000 he served as Vice-President of the Executive Committee of the International Union of Local Authorities ( IULA ) and from 1997 to 2002 , as a member of the Committee of the Regions of the European Union . Elected as President of the Summit Conference of the Mayors of the World in 2000 , he served until 2002 , during which time he founded the World Union of Olympic Cities , Athens’ International Prize for Democracy , and “World Institute of Global and Cities’ Diplomacy” , Rome . Ministerial posts . In March 2001 , he split from New Democracy with his Movement of Free Citizens ( KEP ) , but in a surprising move merged back in June 2002 . When in 2004 New Democracy won the parliamentary elections , Avramopoulos was appointed Minister of Tourism , serving until 2006 , and afterwards , from 2006 until 2009 , as Minister of Health and Social Solidarity . In the October 2009 election , Avramopoulos was re-elected to the Hellenic Parliament representing the constituency of Athens A . After the election of Antonis Samaras to the “New Democracy” Party Presidency he was appointed President of the Organizing Committee of the 8th Party Congress held at Athens in June 2010 . In July 2010 , he became Vice-President of “New Democracy” , serving until 1 November 2014 . On November 11 , 2011 he was appointed Minister for National Defence in the coalition government of Lucas Papademos , resigning from his parliamentary seat , thus adhering to the New Democracy policy that no serving Opposition Party Deputies may hold ministerial office . At the May 6 , 2012 election , Avramopoulos was returned as Deputy for Athens A , being re-elected in the June 17 , 2012 general election . On June 21 , 2012 he was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs . After the Cabinet reshuffle of June 25 , 2013 , he became Greek Minister for Defence again , serving until his nomination as Greeces European Commissioner in November 2014 . European Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs . On 27 July 2014 , Prime Minister Antonis Samaras nominated Avramopoulos as Greeces next member of the European Commission . Before the nomination , Dora Bakoyiannis was widely seen to be a strong contender for the Commission post . Samaras also defied calls from the centre-left Pasok party for Maria Damanaki to continue as European Commissioner . Jean-Claude Juncker then nominated Avramopoulos as European Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs . In this capacity , Avramopoulos shares competency over cyber-security matters with Günther Oettinger . In the aftermath of the victory of the left-wing SYRIZA party in the 25 January election in 2015 , Avramopoulos name was widely circulated in Greek media as the most likely choice for SYRIZAs candidate in the second round of the election for the Presidency of Greece . According to the Greek media reports , the nomination would be seen both as a gesture of conciliation with the right , but would crucially also enable SYRIZA to nominate its own European Commissioner . On 30 January Samaras phoned Avramopoulos and assured him that New Democracy would support his eventual nomination . Avramopoulos criticized the 2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria . He said that the European Union remains committed to the unity , sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Syrian state . Other positions . From the outset of his political career , Avramopoulos served for twenty years as Honorary President of the Athens’ International Prize for Democracy for UNESCO in Paris ( until 2013 ) . He has also been Chairman of the Steering Committee on Cities´ Diplomacy , established by the Global Forum ( Rome ) and the World Bank Institute ( Washington D.C. ) . He was elected President of the “World Institute of Global and Cities’ Diplomacy” , an independent NGO based in Rome as well as Executive President of the “World Union of Olympic Cities” , an Olympic Games NGO . Greek-Turkish rapprochement . Avramopoulos has a friendly relation with the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan since they were Mayors of Athens and Istanbul respectively . He is deemed one of the main proponents of Greek-Turkish rapprochement . Also this year the two former Mayors came together to discuss topics regarding Migration , Borders and Security on European and EU-level in Istanbul on 3 June 2019 . On the same day , Avramopoulos also met with Turkish Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu to discuss about the same topic . Academic degrees . Avramopoulos read Public Law and Political Science at Athens University Law School , graduating with the degree of Bachelor of Arts ( BA ) . He then undertook postgraduate studies receiving a Masters degree in European Studies at the Institute of European Affairs , Université libre de Bruxelles . He has been conferred honorary doctorates by Adelphi University ( Long Island , New York ) , Deree College ( Athens ) , Drexel University ( Philadelphia ) and Kingston University ( London ) , and has been elected Honorary Professor of Peking University ( Beijing ) and of the European College of Parma ( Italy ) . Honours . Avramopoulos has received numerous honors from European States as well as many countries around the world for his diplomatic , public and charitable service : And , from the Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarchate of Constantinople , the Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Patriarchate of Alexandria : - Grand Cross , Order of the Holy Sepulchre - Grand Cross , Order of the Apostle and Evangelist Mark - Grand Cross , Order of Saints George and Constantine . Distinctions and awards . Avramopoulos received , in 2006 , the “Vincitore Assoluto” Award of the Premio Internazionale “Giuseppe Sciacca” , and has been presented with distinctions by many foreign Cities and Municipalities : Famagusta , Barcelona , Beijing , Beirut , Berlin , Boston , Brooklyn N.Y. , Bucharest , Caracas , Chicago , Crotone , Florence , Genoa , Jakarta , Havana , Istanbul , Kyiv , Ljubljana , Los Angeles , Miami -Florida , Massachusetts , Montreal , Moscow , New Jersey , New York , Nicosia , Paris , Philadelphia , Providence , Rhode Island , Rome , Sofia , State of Illinois , Sydney , Tbilisi , Tirana , Toronto , Valletta , Washington D.C. , Xian , Yerevan . He has been honoured with the Honorary Freedom of 40 Greek and foreign cities . In November 2017 , he became Honorary Member of the Propeller Club of the United States Port of Piraeus and he received the Award of Excellence of the Propeller Club of the United States Port of Piraeus for his strenuous effort and impact on developing a new European Policy on regular Migration . In December 2017 , the Department of International and European Studies of the University of Piraeus awarded Mr . Avramopoulos the first Themistocles prize for his contribution to the management of the EU migration and security crisis . External links . - New Democracy website - Greek Parliament site - Dimitris Avramopoulos site - www.elections2014.eu |
[
"Minister for National Defence"
] | easy | Dimitris Avramopoulos took which position from Nov 2011 to May 2012? | /wiki/Dimitris_Avramopoulos#P39#4 | Dimitris Avramopoulos Dimitris Avramopoulos ( ) is a Greek politician of the conservative New Democracy party , and former career diplomat . He has served in various high-level cabinet posts , including Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for National Defence , and was Mayor of Athens in 1995–2002 . He served as EU Commissioner for Migration , Home Affairs and Citizenship in the Juncker Commission between 2014 and 2019 . Personal life . Avramopoulos was born in Athens in 1953 , into a family which had originally come from Ilia and Elliniko in Arcadia . He served his 26 months military service from 1978 to 1980 in the Hellenic Air Force . He is married to Vivian , with whom he has two sons , Filippos and Iasonas . Apart from his native Greek , he speaks English , French and Italian fluently . Diplomatic career . In 1980 , Avramopoulos joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Athens , where he worked until 1993 . From 1988 to 1992 , he served as Greek Consul to Belgium in Liège . At the same time he was a Special Adviser to Konstantinos Mitsotakis , President and Leader of the New Democracy . During this time he also represented Greece in Vienna at the Conference for Security and Co-operation in Europe . In 1992 he became official spokesman of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was appointed Consul General of Greece in Geneva . In 1993 he was promoted to director of the Prime Minister of Greeces Diplomatic Office . Political career . Mayor of Athens . In 1993 , Avramopoulos resigned from Greek diplomatic service to enter parliamentary politics as a member of New Democracy and was elected a member of its Central Committee . From 1993 to 1994 he served as a Member of the Hellenic Parliament . In 1994 he was elected Mayor of Athens , and was re-elected in October 1998 in a historic first-round landslide victory . From 1995 to 1999 he served as chairman of the Central Union of Local Authorities of Greece . In 1995 he founded the “Permanent Conference of the Mayors of the Capitals of South-East Europe” and served as its first President . From 1996 to 2000 he served as Vice-President of the Executive Committee of the International Union of Local Authorities ( IULA ) and from 1997 to 2002 , as a member of the Committee of the Regions of the European Union . Elected as President of the Summit Conference of the Mayors of the World in 2000 , he served until 2002 , during which time he founded the World Union of Olympic Cities , Athens’ International Prize for Democracy , and “World Institute of Global and Cities’ Diplomacy” , Rome . Ministerial posts . In March 2001 , he split from New Democracy with his Movement of Free Citizens ( KEP ) , but in a surprising move merged back in June 2002 . When in 2004 New Democracy won the parliamentary elections , Avramopoulos was appointed Minister of Tourism , serving until 2006 , and afterwards , from 2006 until 2009 , as Minister of Health and Social Solidarity . In the October 2009 election , Avramopoulos was re-elected to the Hellenic Parliament representing the constituency of Athens A . After the election of Antonis Samaras to the “New Democracy” Party Presidency he was appointed President of the Organizing Committee of the 8th Party Congress held at Athens in June 2010 . In July 2010 , he became Vice-President of “New Democracy” , serving until 1 November 2014 . On November 11 , 2011 he was appointed Minister for National Defence in the coalition government of Lucas Papademos , resigning from his parliamentary seat , thus adhering to the New Democracy policy that no serving Opposition Party Deputies may hold ministerial office . At the May 6 , 2012 election , Avramopoulos was returned as Deputy for Athens A , being re-elected in the June 17 , 2012 general election . On June 21 , 2012 he was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs . After the Cabinet reshuffle of June 25 , 2013 , he became Greek Minister for Defence again , serving until his nomination as Greeces European Commissioner in November 2014 . European Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs . On 27 July 2014 , Prime Minister Antonis Samaras nominated Avramopoulos as Greeces next member of the European Commission . Before the nomination , Dora Bakoyiannis was widely seen to be a strong contender for the Commission post . Samaras also defied calls from the centre-left Pasok party for Maria Damanaki to continue as European Commissioner . Jean-Claude Juncker then nominated Avramopoulos as European Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs . In this capacity , Avramopoulos shares competency over cyber-security matters with Günther Oettinger . In the aftermath of the victory of the left-wing SYRIZA party in the 25 January election in 2015 , Avramopoulos name was widely circulated in Greek media as the most likely choice for SYRIZAs candidate in the second round of the election for the Presidency of Greece . According to the Greek media reports , the nomination would be seen both as a gesture of conciliation with the right , but would crucially also enable SYRIZA to nominate its own European Commissioner . On 30 January Samaras phoned Avramopoulos and assured him that New Democracy would support his eventual nomination . Avramopoulos criticized the 2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria . He said that the European Union remains committed to the unity , sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Syrian state . Other positions . From the outset of his political career , Avramopoulos served for twenty years as Honorary President of the Athens’ International Prize for Democracy for UNESCO in Paris ( until 2013 ) . He has also been Chairman of the Steering Committee on Cities´ Diplomacy , established by the Global Forum ( Rome ) and the World Bank Institute ( Washington D.C. ) . He was elected President of the “World Institute of Global and Cities’ Diplomacy” , an independent NGO based in Rome as well as Executive President of the “World Union of Olympic Cities” , an Olympic Games NGO . Greek-Turkish rapprochement . Avramopoulos has a friendly relation with the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan since they were Mayors of Athens and Istanbul respectively . He is deemed one of the main proponents of Greek-Turkish rapprochement . Also this year the two former Mayors came together to discuss topics regarding Migration , Borders and Security on European and EU-level in Istanbul on 3 June 2019 . On the same day , Avramopoulos also met with Turkish Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu to discuss about the same topic . Academic degrees . Avramopoulos read Public Law and Political Science at Athens University Law School , graduating with the degree of Bachelor of Arts ( BA ) . He then undertook postgraduate studies receiving a Masters degree in European Studies at the Institute of European Affairs , Université libre de Bruxelles . He has been conferred honorary doctorates by Adelphi University ( Long Island , New York ) , Deree College ( Athens ) , Drexel University ( Philadelphia ) and Kingston University ( London ) , and has been elected Honorary Professor of Peking University ( Beijing ) and of the European College of Parma ( Italy ) . Honours . Avramopoulos has received numerous honors from European States as well as many countries around the world for his diplomatic , public and charitable service : And , from the Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarchate of Constantinople , the Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Patriarchate of Alexandria : - Grand Cross , Order of the Holy Sepulchre - Grand Cross , Order of the Apostle and Evangelist Mark - Grand Cross , Order of Saints George and Constantine . Distinctions and awards . Avramopoulos received , in 2006 , the “Vincitore Assoluto” Award of the Premio Internazionale “Giuseppe Sciacca” , and has been presented with distinctions by many foreign Cities and Municipalities : Famagusta , Barcelona , Beijing , Beirut , Berlin , Boston , Brooklyn N.Y. , Bucharest , Caracas , Chicago , Crotone , Florence , Genoa , Jakarta , Havana , Istanbul , Kyiv , Ljubljana , Los Angeles , Miami -Florida , Massachusetts , Montreal , Moscow , New Jersey , New York , Nicosia , Paris , Philadelphia , Providence , Rhode Island , Rome , Sofia , State of Illinois , Sydney , Tbilisi , Tirana , Toronto , Valletta , Washington D.C. , Xian , Yerevan . He has been honoured with the Honorary Freedom of 40 Greek and foreign cities . In November 2017 , he became Honorary Member of the Propeller Club of the United States Port of Piraeus and he received the Award of Excellence of the Propeller Club of the United States Port of Piraeus for his strenuous effort and impact on developing a new European Policy on regular Migration . In December 2017 , the Department of International and European Studies of the University of Piraeus awarded Mr . Avramopoulos the first Themistocles prize for his contribution to the management of the EU migration and security crisis . External links . - New Democracy website - Greek Parliament site - Dimitris Avramopoulos site - www.elections2014.eu |
[
"Minister for Foreign Affairs"
] | easy | What position did Dimitris Avramopoulos take from Jun 2012 to Jun 2013? | /wiki/Dimitris_Avramopoulos#P39#5 | Dimitris Avramopoulos Dimitris Avramopoulos ( ) is a Greek politician of the conservative New Democracy party , and former career diplomat . He has served in various high-level cabinet posts , including Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for National Defence , and was Mayor of Athens in 1995–2002 . He served as EU Commissioner for Migration , Home Affairs and Citizenship in the Juncker Commission between 2014 and 2019 . Personal life . Avramopoulos was born in Athens in 1953 , into a family which had originally come from Ilia and Elliniko in Arcadia . He served his 26 months military service from 1978 to 1980 in the Hellenic Air Force . He is married to Vivian , with whom he has two sons , Filippos and Iasonas . Apart from his native Greek , he speaks English , French and Italian fluently . Diplomatic career . In 1980 , Avramopoulos joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Athens , where he worked until 1993 . From 1988 to 1992 , he served as Greek Consul to Belgium in Liège . At the same time he was a Special Adviser to Konstantinos Mitsotakis , President and Leader of the New Democracy . During this time he also represented Greece in Vienna at the Conference for Security and Co-operation in Europe . In 1992 he became official spokesman of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was appointed Consul General of Greece in Geneva . In 1993 he was promoted to director of the Prime Minister of Greeces Diplomatic Office . Political career . Mayor of Athens . In 1993 , Avramopoulos resigned from Greek diplomatic service to enter parliamentary politics as a member of New Democracy and was elected a member of its Central Committee . From 1993 to 1994 he served as a Member of the Hellenic Parliament . In 1994 he was elected Mayor of Athens , and was re-elected in October 1998 in a historic first-round landslide victory . From 1995 to 1999 he served as chairman of the Central Union of Local Authorities of Greece . In 1995 he founded the “Permanent Conference of the Mayors of the Capitals of South-East Europe” and served as its first President . From 1996 to 2000 he served as Vice-President of the Executive Committee of the International Union of Local Authorities ( IULA ) and from 1997 to 2002 , as a member of the Committee of the Regions of the European Union . Elected as President of the Summit Conference of the Mayors of the World in 2000 , he served until 2002 , during which time he founded the World Union of Olympic Cities , Athens’ International Prize for Democracy , and “World Institute of Global and Cities’ Diplomacy” , Rome . Ministerial posts . In March 2001 , he split from New Democracy with his Movement of Free Citizens ( KEP ) , but in a surprising move merged back in June 2002 . When in 2004 New Democracy won the parliamentary elections , Avramopoulos was appointed Minister of Tourism , serving until 2006 , and afterwards , from 2006 until 2009 , as Minister of Health and Social Solidarity . In the October 2009 election , Avramopoulos was re-elected to the Hellenic Parliament representing the constituency of Athens A . After the election of Antonis Samaras to the “New Democracy” Party Presidency he was appointed President of the Organizing Committee of the 8th Party Congress held at Athens in June 2010 . In July 2010 , he became Vice-President of “New Democracy” , serving until 1 November 2014 . On November 11 , 2011 he was appointed Minister for National Defence in the coalition government of Lucas Papademos , resigning from his parliamentary seat , thus adhering to the New Democracy policy that no serving Opposition Party Deputies may hold ministerial office . At the May 6 , 2012 election , Avramopoulos was returned as Deputy for Athens A , being re-elected in the June 17 , 2012 general election . On June 21 , 2012 he was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs . After the Cabinet reshuffle of June 25 , 2013 , he became Greek Minister for Defence again , serving until his nomination as Greeces European Commissioner in November 2014 . European Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs . On 27 July 2014 , Prime Minister Antonis Samaras nominated Avramopoulos as Greeces next member of the European Commission . Before the nomination , Dora Bakoyiannis was widely seen to be a strong contender for the Commission post . Samaras also defied calls from the centre-left Pasok party for Maria Damanaki to continue as European Commissioner . Jean-Claude Juncker then nominated Avramopoulos as European Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs . In this capacity , Avramopoulos shares competency over cyber-security matters with Günther Oettinger . In the aftermath of the victory of the left-wing SYRIZA party in the 25 January election in 2015 , Avramopoulos name was widely circulated in Greek media as the most likely choice for SYRIZAs candidate in the second round of the election for the Presidency of Greece . According to the Greek media reports , the nomination would be seen both as a gesture of conciliation with the right , but would crucially also enable SYRIZA to nominate its own European Commissioner . On 30 January Samaras phoned Avramopoulos and assured him that New Democracy would support his eventual nomination . Avramopoulos criticized the 2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria . He said that the European Union remains committed to the unity , sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Syrian state . Other positions . From the outset of his political career , Avramopoulos served for twenty years as Honorary President of the Athens’ International Prize for Democracy for UNESCO in Paris ( until 2013 ) . He has also been Chairman of the Steering Committee on Cities´ Diplomacy , established by the Global Forum ( Rome ) and the World Bank Institute ( Washington D.C. ) . He was elected President of the “World Institute of Global and Cities’ Diplomacy” , an independent NGO based in Rome as well as Executive President of the “World Union of Olympic Cities” , an Olympic Games NGO . Greek-Turkish rapprochement . Avramopoulos has a friendly relation with the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan since they were Mayors of Athens and Istanbul respectively . He is deemed one of the main proponents of Greek-Turkish rapprochement . Also this year the two former Mayors came together to discuss topics regarding Migration , Borders and Security on European and EU-level in Istanbul on 3 June 2019 . On the same day , Avramopoulos also met with Turkish Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu to discuss about the same topic . Academic degrees . Avramopoulos read Public Law and Political Science at Athens University Law School , graduating with the degree of Bachelor of Arts ( BA ) . He then undertook postgraduate studies receiving a Masters degree in European Studies at the Institute of European Affairs , Université libre de Bruxelles . He has been conferred honorary doctorates by Adelphi University ( Long Island , New York ) , Deree College ( Athens ) , Drexel University ( Philadelphia ) and Kingston University ( London ) , and has been elected Honorary Professor of Peking University ( Beijing ) and of the European College of Parma ( Italy ) . Honours . Avramopoulos has received numerous honors from European States as well as many countries around the world for his diplomatic , public and charitable service : And , from the Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarchate of Constantinople , the Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Patriarchate of Alexandria : - Grand Cross , Order of the Holy Sepulchre - Grand Cross , Order of the Apostle and Evangelist Mark - Grand Cross , Order of Saints George and Constantine . Distinctions and awards . Avramopoulos received , in 2006 , the “Vincitore Assoluto” Award of the Premio Internazionale “Giuseppe Sciacca” , and has been presented with distinctions by many foreign Cities and Municipalities : Famagusta , Barcelona , Beijing , Beirut , Berlin , Boston , Brooklyn N.Y. , Bucharest , Caracas , Chicago , Crotone , Florence , Genoa , Jakarta , Havana , Istanbul , Kyiv , Ljubljana , Los Angeles , Miami -Florida , Massachusetts , Montreal , Moscow , New Jersey , New York , Nicosia , Paris , Philadelphia , Providence , Rhode Island , Rome , Sofia , State of Illinois , Sydney , Tbilisi , Tirana , Toronto , Valletta , Washington D.C. , Xian , Yerevan . He has been honoured with the Honorary Freedom of 40 Greek and foreign cities . In November 2017 , he became Honorary Member of the Propeller Club of the United States Port of Piraeus and he received the Award of Excellence of the Propeller Club of the United States Port of Piraeus for his strenuous effort and impact on developing a new European Policy on regular Migration . In December 2017 , the Department of International and European Studies of the University of Piraeus awarded Mr . Avramopoulos the first Themistocles prize for his contribution to the management of the EU migration and security crisis . External links . - New Democracy website - Greek Parliament site - Dimitris Avramopoulos site - www.elections2014.eu |
[
"Minister for Defence"
] | easy | What was the position of Dimitris Avramopoulos from Jun 2013 to Oct 2014? | /wiki/Dimitris_Avramopoulos#P39#6 | Dimitris Avramopoulos Dimitris Avramopoulos ( ) is a Greek politician of the conservative New Democracy party , and former career diplomat . He has served in various high-level cabinet posts , including Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for National Defence , and was Mayor of Athens in 1995–2002 . He served as EU Commissioner for Migration , Home Affairs and Citizenship in the Juncker Commission between 2014 and 2019 . Personal life . Avramopoulos was born in Athens in 1953 , into a family which had originally come from Ilia and Elliniko in Arcadia . He served his 26 months military service from 1978 to 1980 in the Hellenic Air Force . He is married to Vivian , with whom he has two sons , Filippos and Iasonas . Apart from his native Greek , he speaks English , French and Italian fluently . Diplomatic career . In 1980 , Avramopoulos joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Athens , where he worked until 1993 . From 1988 to 1992 , he served as Greek Consul to Belgium in Liège . At the same time he was a Special Adviser to Konstantinos Mitsotakis , President and Leader of the New Democracy . During this time he also represented Greece in Vienna at the Conference for Security and Co-operation in Europe . In 1992 he became official spokesman of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was appointed Consul General of Greece in Geneva . In 1993 he was promoted to director of the Prime Minister of Greeces Diplomatic Office . Political career . Mayor of Athens . In 1993 , Avramopoulos resigned from Greek diplomatic service to enter parliamentary politics as a member of New Democracy and was elected a member of its Central Committee . From 1993 to 1994 he served as a Member of the Hellenic Parliament . In 1994 he was elected Mayor of Athens , and was re-elected in October 1998 in a historic first-round landslide victory . From 1995 to 1999 he served as chairman of the Central Union of Local Authorities of Greece . In 1995 he founded the “Permanent Conference of the Mayors of the Capitals of South-East Europe” and served as its first President . From 1996 to 2000 he served as Vice-President of the Executive Committee of the International Union of Local Authorities ( IULA ) and from 1997 to 2002 , as a member of the Committee of the Regions of the European Union . Elected as President of the Summit Conference of the Mayors of the World in 2000 , he served until 2002 , during which time he founded the World Union of Olympic Cities , Athens’ International Prize for Democracy , and “World Institute of Global and Cities’ Diplomacy” , Rome . Ministerial posts . In March 2001 , he split from New Democracy with his Movement of Free Citizens ( KEP ) , but in a surprising move merged back in June 2002 . When in 2004 New Democracy won the parliamentary elections , Avramopoulos was appointed Minister of Tourism , serving until 2006 , and afterwards , from 2006 until 2009 , as Minister of Health and Social Solidarity . In the October 2009 election , Avramopoulos was re-elected to the Hellenic Parliament representing the constituency of Athens A . After the election of Antonis Samaras to the “New Democracy” Party Presidency he was appointed President of the Organizing Committee of the 8th Party Congress held at Athens in June 2010 . In July 2010 , he became Vice-President of “New Democracy” , serving until 1 November 2014 . On November 11 , 2011 he was appointed Minister for National Defence in the coalition government of Lucas Papademos , resigning from his parliamentary seat , thus adhering to the New Democracy policy that no serving Opposition Party Deputies may hold ministerial office . At the May 6 , 2012 election , Avramopoulos was returned as Deputy for Athens A , being re-elected in the June 17 , 2012 general election . On June 21 , 2012 he was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs . After the Cabinet reshuffle of June 25 , 2013 , he became Greek Minister for Defence again , serving until his nomination as Greeces European Commissioner in November 2014 . European Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs . On 27 July 2014 , Prime Minister Antonis Samaras nominated Avramopoulos as Greeces next member of the European Commission . Before the nomination , Dora Bakoyiannis was widely seen to be a strong contender for the Commission post . Samaras also defied calls from the centre-left Pasok party for Maria Damanaki to continue as European Commissioner . Jean-Claude Juncker then nominated Avramopoulos as European Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs . In this capacity , Avramopoulos shares competency over cyber-security matters with Günther Oettinger . In the aftermath of the victory of the left-wing SYRIZA party in the 25 January election in 2015 , Avramopoulos name was widely circulated in Greek media as the most likely choice for SYRIZAs candidate in the second round of the election for the Presidency of Greece . According to the Greek media reports , the nomination would be seen both as a gesture of conciliation with the right , but would crucially also enable SYRIZA to nominate its own European Commissioner . On 30 January Samaras phoned Avramopoulos and assured him that New Democracy would support his eventual nomination . Avramopoulos criticized the 2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria . He said that the European Union remains committed to the unity , sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Syrian state . Other positions . From the outset of his political career , Avramopoulos served for twenty years as Honorary President of the Athens’ International Prize for Democracy for UNESCO in Paris ( until 2013 ) . He has also been Chairman of the Steering Committee on Cities´ Diplomacy , established by the Global Forum ( Rome ) and the World Bank Institute ( Washington D.C. ) . He was elected President of the “World Institute of Global and Cities’ Diplomacy” , an independent NGO based in Rome as well as Executive President of the “World Union of Olympic Cities” , an Olympic Games NGO . Greek-Turkish rapprochement . Avramopoulos has a friendly relation with the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan since they were Mayors of Athens and Istanbul respectively . He is deemed one of the main proponents of Greek-Turkish rapprochement . Also this year the two former Mayors came together to discuss topics regarding Migration , Borders and Security on European and EU-level in Istanbul on 3 June 2019 . On the same day , Avramopoulos also met with Turkish Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu to discuss about the same topic . Academic degrees . Avramopoulos read Public Law and Political Science at Athens University Law School , graduating with the degree of Bachelor of Arts ( BA ) . He then undertook postgraduate studies receiving a Masters degree in European Studies at the Institute of European Affairs , Université libre de Bruxelles . He has been conferred honorary doctorates by Adelphi University ( Long Island , New York ) , Deree College ( Athens ) , Drexel University ( Philadelphia ) and Kingston University ( London ) , and has been elected Honorary Professor of Peking University ( Beijing ) and of the European College of Parma ( Italy ) . Honours . Avramopoulos has received numerous honors from European States as well as many countries around the world for his diplomatic , public and charitable service : And , from the Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarchate of Constantinople , the Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Patriarchate of Alexandria : - Grand Cross , Order of the Holy Sepulchre - Grand Cross , Order of the Apostle and Evangelist Mark - Grand Cross , Order of Saints George and Constantine . Distinctions and awards . Avramopoulos received , in 2006 , the “Vincitore Assoluto” Award of the Premio Internazionale “Giuseppe Sciacca” , and has been presented with distinctions by many foreign Cities and Municipalities : Famagusta , Barcelona , Beijing , Beirut , Berlin , Boston , Brooklyn N.Y. , Bucharest , Caracas , Chicago , Crotone , Florence , Genoa , Jakarta , Havana , Istanbul , Kyiv , Ljubljana , Los Angeles , Miami -Florida , Massachusetts , Montreal , Moscow , New Jersey , New York , Nicosia , Paris , Philadelphia , Providence , Rhode Island , Rome , Sofia , State of Illinois , Sydney , Tbilisi , Tirana , Toronto , Valletta , Washington D.C. , Xian , Yerevan . He has been honoured with the Honorary Freedom of 40 Greek and foreign cities . In November 2017 , he became Honorary Member of the Propeller Club of the United States Port of Piraeus and he received the Award of Excellence of the Propeller Club of the United States Port of Piraeus for his strenuous effort and impact on developing a new European Policy on regular Migration . In December 2017 , the Department of International and European Studies of the University of Piraeus awarded Mr . Avramopoulos the first Themistocles prize for his contribution to the management of the EU migration and security crisis . External links . - New Democracy website - Greek Parliament site - Dimitris Avramopoulos site - www.elections2014.eu |
[
"Dinamo Tirana"
] | easy | Which team did Jahmir Hyka play for from 2005 to 2006? | /wiki/Jahmir_Hyka#P54#0 | Jahmir Hyka Jahmir Hyka ( born 8 March 1988 ) is an Albanian professional footballer who plays as a left midfielder for Guizhou Hengfeng in China League One and the Albanian national team . A Dinamo Tirana product , Hyka started his professional career in Norway at Rosenborg where did not make a league appearance . He moved to Greek club Olympiacos in 2007 , again failing to make a league appearance and who then sent him on loan to Tirana . Hykas performances at Tirana earned him a move to 1 . FSV Mainz 05 of the 2 . Bundesliga in 2008 where he made his German top flight debut in 2009 . He played for Panionios in the first half of 2010–11 before returning to Tirana in January 2011 and helping KF Tirana to clinch the Albanian Cup . In the summer of 2011 , he left Albania again to join Luzern in Switzerland , where he made more than 150 appearances in six years . In February 2017 , he signed with San Jose Earthquakes in Major League Soccer . In January 2019 Jahmir Hyka signed with Maccabi Netanya a contract for 1.5 years . Hyka represented Albania at youth levels , playing for the under-17 , under-19 and under-21 levels . He made his senior debut in 2007 and one year later scored Albanias fastest goal in history . Since then , he has collected 44 caps as of June 2017 . Club career . Early career and Norway . Hyka joined local side Dinamo Tirana at the age of 12 , where he played for the youth teams for four years , until he made it to the first team at 2004 . He was being tracked by a number of European clubs despite never having made a competitive appearance for Dinamo Tirana before joining Norwegian side Rosenborg BK in 2005 on loan . At Rosenborg , Hyka did not manage to break through into the first team , failing to make a single league appearance , only featuring twice as an unused substitute in August and September 2006 . Greece and return to Albania . In 2007 , Hyka left Dinamo Tirana to sign with Greek club Olympiacos for a fee of €600,000 . At Olympiakos , he found opportunities in the first team limited and so he moved on loan to KF Tirana , the then champions of the 2006–07 Albanian Superliga in time for the 2007–08 season . Back in Tirana , Hyka played 32 games , scoring two goals and his good form did not go unnoticed . Croatian side Dinamo Zagreb showed interest and Hyka was close to a move . Mainz . In June 2008 , Hyka signed a three-year deal with German side 1 . FSV Mainz 05 . Panionios . In 2010 , after just 13 appearances with the German team , most of them as a substitute , Hyka was once again on the move , this time back to Greece , transferring to Greek team , Panionios , for a €120,000 fee . Return to Tirana . After a difficult time in Greece , Hyka returned to Albania , re-signing with former side Tirana where he had previously had a loan spell . The deal was completed on 29 January 2011 , while he was still in Greece . Tirana president Refik Halili had previously expressed his desire to sign the young national team winger at the unveiling of new signing Bekim Balaj . Hyka made his return debut on 20 February 2011 in teams goalless draw against Shkumbini Peqin at home . One month later , in a match against the same opponent , he netted his first season goal via a free-kick from 25 metres , giving his team a minimal 1–0 win . He continued with his solid appearances by scoring twice in Tiranas 4–0 defeat of Laçi in April . Only four days later , he scored his fourth goal of the season in the 6–1 defeat of Elbasani at Selman Stërmasi Stadium . Tirana finished the season in the fifth position with 44 points , failing to secure a spot in European competitions , bringing the departure of Hyka . Luzern . In the summer of 2011 , Hyka was transferred to FC Luzern in the Swiss Super League . He scored his first goal with Luzern on 6 August 2011 in a 1–1 draw against Young Boys after coming on as a substitute in the 62nd minute to score in the 86th minute for the equaliser . Luzern fans named him the Messi of Albania . Hyka scored a goal from 20 meters in a 4–1 loss against St . Gallen on 1 September 2013 . He scored a goal and provided several assist for Luzern in a 2–4 win against Terre Sainte in the Swiss Cup on 15 September 2013 . San Jose Earthquakes . On 3 February 2017 , Hyka signed with San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer . He first appeared for the club on 25 February 2017 in the last San Jose Earthquakes preseason friendly against Sacramento Republic , substituting on at halftime and scoring also a goal in the 79th minute . Hyka made his first MLS appearance as a 70th-minute substitute in the season home opener against Montreal Impact on 4 March 2017 , finished in the 1–0 victory . His first score-sheet contributions came in his second ever appearance for the club on 11 March 2017 , substituting on at halftime and recording two assists to help the Earthquakes make a 3–2 comeback victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps . On 18 March 2017 , Hyka made his first MLS start in a 2–1 loss at Sporting Kansas City . His first goal was scored on 14 April 2017 with ten seconds remaining in stoppage time in what would be a 1–1 home draw against FC Dallas . Hyka opened the scoring against the Portland Timbers in the 3–0 rout on 7 May in the 8th minute of the match . He assisted the first goal scored by San Jose Designated Player Vako on 20 July against the New York Red Bulls , which finished as a 5–1 loss . Following the end of the 2018 season , Hyka was not offered a new contract , leaving the club after collecting 52 appearances . Following his departure from the club , Hyka returned in Albania and begun training with his old club Tirana in order to maintain his form . Maccabi Netanya F.C. . In January 2019 , Hyka joined Maccabi Netanya F.C . of the Israeli Premier League on a free transfer . He scored three goals for the club in his first season . International career . On 7 February 2007 , Hyka made his debut for Albania in a friendly match against Macedonia . On 20 August 2008 , he scored his first goal for Albania against Liechtenstein and his goal came just 46 seconds after the game had begun , making it the quickest goal in Albanian history . Following a two-year absence , he returned to Albania national team under the same coach Gianni De Biasi , receiving a call up for the Friendly match against Morocco on 31 August 2016 and the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification opening match against Macedonia on 5 September 2016 . Style of play . A quick , energetic , and agile player , Hyka is capable of playing either as left winger or attacking midfielder . Luzern fans have nicknamed him the Albanian Messi due to his short stature , dribbling , and speed . Dominic Kinnear , San Joses coach at the time of Hykas signing with the team , praised his skills , saying , Hes really smart on the ball and confident in tight places and adding that he has a good first touch . Both Earthquakes general manager Jesse Fioranelli and MLS senior analyst Matt Doyle have emphasized Hykas unpredictability on the field . Personal life . Hyka has four siblings , two sisters and two brothers who live in his hometown of Tirane . He practices the faith of Islam , praying five times daily and fasting during the holy month of Ramadan , which he has done so since the age of 12 . He attends mosque when possible around his football schedule , and at his former club 1 . FSV Mainz 05 he would attend with teammate Chadli Amri . He is fluent in Albanian , German , and English . As of 13 March 2018 , Hyka possesses a U.S . green card , which qualifies him as a domestic player for MLS roster purposes . Honours . Club . Rosenborg - Tippeligaen : 2006 Olympiacos - Superleague Greece : 2006–07 Tirana - Albanian Cup : 2010–11 Luzern - Swiss Super League : Runner-up 2011–12 Individual . - Swiss Super League Player of the Month : April 2016 |
[
"Albanian Superliga"
] | easy | Which team did the player Jahmir Hyka belong to from 2007 to 2008? | /wiki/Jahmir_Hyka#P54#1 | Jahmir Hyka Jahmir Hyka ( born 8 March 1988 ) is an Albanian professional footballer who plays as a left midfielder for Guizhou Hengfeng in China League One and the Albanian national team . A Dinamo Tirana product , Hyka started his professional career in Norway at Rosenborg where did not make a league appearance . He moved to Greek club Olympiacos in 2007 , again failing to make a league appearance and who then sent him on loan to Tirana . Hykas performances at Tirana earned him a move to 1 . FSV Mainz 05 of the 2 . Bundesliga in 2008 where he made his German top flight debut in 2009 . He played for Panionios in the first half of 2010–11 before returning to Tirana in January 2011 and helping KF Tirana to clinch the Albanian Cup . In the summer of 2011 , he left Albania again to join Luzern in Switzerland , where he made more than 150 appearances in six years . In February 2017 , he signed with San Jose Earthquakes in Major League Soccer . In January 2019 Jahmir Hyka signed with Maccabi Netanya a contract for 1.5 years . Hyka represented Albania at youth levels , playing for the under-17 , under-19 and under-21 levels . He made his senior debut in 2007 and one year later scored Albanias fastest goal in history . Since then , he has collected 44 caps as of June 2017 . Club career . Early career and Norway . Hyka joined local side Dinamo Tirana at the age of 12 , where he played for the youth teams for four years , until he made it to the first team at 2004 . He was being tracked by a number of European clubs despite never having made a competitive appearance for Dinamo Tirana before joining Norwegian side Rosenborg BK in 2005 on loan . At Rosenborg , Hyka did not manage to break through into the first team , failing to make a single league appearance , only featuring twice as an unused substitute in August and September 2006 . Greece and return to Albania . In 2007 , Hyka left Dinamo Tirana to sign with Greek club Olympiacos for a fee of €600,000 . At Olympiakos , he found opportunities in the first team limited and so he moved on loan to KF Tirana , the then champions of the 2006–07 Albanian Superliga in time for the 2007–08 season . Back in Tirana , Hyka played 32 games , scoring two goals and his good form did not go unnoticed . Croatian side Dinamo Zagreb showed interest and Hyka was close to a move . Mainz . In June 2008 , Hyka signed a three-year deal with German side 1 . FSV Mainz 05 . Panionios . In 2010 , after just 13 appearances with the German team , most of them as a substitute , Hyka was once again on the move , this time back to Greece , transferring to Greek team , Panionios , for a €120,000 fee . Return to Tirana . After a difficult time in Greece , Hyka returned to Albania , re-signing with former side Tirana where he had previously had a loan spell . The deal was completed on 29 January 2011 , while he was still in Greece . Tirana president Refik Halili had previously expressed his desire to sign the young national team winger at the unveiling of new signing Bekim Balaj . Hyka made his return debut on 20 February 2011 in teams goalless draw against Shkumbini Peqin at home . One month later , in a match against the same opponent , he netted his first season goal via a free-kick from 25 metres , giving his team a minimal 1–0 win . He continued with his solid appearances by scoring twice in Tiranas 4–0 defeat of Laçi in April . Only four days later , he scored his fourth goal of the season in the 6–1 defeat of Elbasani at Selman Stërmasi Stadium . Tirana finished the season in the fifth position with 44 points , failing to secure a spot in European competitions , bringing the departure of Hyka . Luzern . In the summer of 2011 , Hyka was transferred to FC Luzern in the Swiss Super League . He scored his first goal with Luzern on 6 August 2011 in a 1–1 draw against Young Boys after coming on as a substitute in the 62nd minute to score in the 86th minute for the equaliser . Luzern fans named him the Messi of Albania . Hyka scored a goal from 20 meters in a 4–1 loss against St . Gallen on 1 September 2013 . He scored a goal and provided several assist for Luzern in a 2–4 win against Terre Sainte in the Swiss Cup on 15 September 2013 . San Jose Earthquakes . On 3 February 2017 , Hyka signed with San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer . He first appeared for the club on 25 February 2017 in the last San Jose Earthquakes preseason friendly against Sacramento Republic , substituting on at halftime and scoring also a goal in the 79th minute . Hyka made his first MLS appearance as a 70th-minute substitute in the season home opener against Montreal Impact on 4 March 2017 , finished in the 1–0 victory . His first score-sheet contributions came in his second ever appearance for the club on 11 March 2017 , substituting on at halftime and recording two assists to help the Earthquakes make a 3–2 comeback victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps . On 18 March 2017 , Hyka made his first MLS start in a 2–1 loss at Sporting Kansas City . His first goal was scored on 14 April 2017 with ten seconds remaining in stoppage time in what would be a 1–1 home draw against FC Dallas . Hyka opened the scoring against the Portland Timbers in the 3–0 rout on 7 May in the 8th minute of the match . He assisted the first goal scored by San Jose Designated Player Vako on 20 July against the New York Red Bulls , which finished as a 5–1 loss . Following the end of the 2018 season , Hyka was not offered a new contract , leaving the club after collecting 52 appearances . Following his departure from the club , Hyka returned in Albania and begun training with his old club Tirana in order to maintain his form . Maccabi Netanya F.C. . In January 2019 , Hyka joined Maccabi Netanya F.C . of the Israeli Premier League on a free transfer . He scored three goals for the club in his first season . International career . On 7 February 2007 , Hyka made his debut for Albania in a friendly match against Macedonia . On 20 August 2008 , he scored his first goal for Albania against Liechtenstein and his goal came just 46 seconds after the game had begun , making it the quickest goal in Albanian history . Following a two-year absence , he returned to Albania national team under the same coach Gianni De Biasi , receiving a call up for the Friendly match against Morocco on 31 August 2016 and the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification opening match against Macedonia on 5 September 2016 . Style of play . A quick , energetic , and agile player , Hyka is capable of playing either as left winger or attacking midfielder . Luzern fans have nicknamed him the Albanian Messi due to his short stature , dribbling , and speed . Dominic Kinnear , San Joses coach at the time of Hykas signing with the team , praised his skills , saying , Hes really smart on the ball and confident in tight places and adding that he has a good first touch . Both Earthquakes general manager Jesse Fioranelli and MLS senior analyst Matt Doyle have emphasized Hykas unpredictability on the field . Personal life . Hyka has four siblings , two sisters and two brothers who live in his hometown of Tirane . He practices the faith of Islam , praying five times daily and fasting during the holy month of Ramadan , which he has done so since the age of 12 . He attends mosque when possible around his football schedule , and at his former club 1 . FSV Mainz 05 he would attend with teammate Chadli Amri . He is fluent in Albanian , German , and English . As of 13 March 2018 , Hyka possesses a U.S . green card , which qualifies him as a domestic player for MLS roster purposes . Honours . Club . Rosenborg - Tippeligaen : 2006 Olympiacos - Superleague Greece : 2006–07 Tirana - Albanian Cup : 2010–11 Luzern - Swiss Super League : Runner-up 2011–12 Individual . - Swiss Super League Player of the Month : April 2016 |
[
"German side 1 . FSV Mainz 05"
] | easy | Jahmir Hyka played for which team from 2008 to 2009? | /wiki/Jahmir_Hyka#P54#2 | Jahmir Hyka Jahmir Hyka ( born 8 March 1988 ) is an Albanian professional footballer who plays as a left midfielder for Guizhou Hengfeng in China League One and the Albanian national team . A Dinamo Tirana product , Hyka started his professional career in Norway at Rosenborg where did not make a league appearance . He moved to Greek club Olympiacos in 2007 , again failing to make a league appearance and who then sent him on loan to Tirana . Hykas performances at Tirana earned him a move to 1 . FSV Mainz 05 of the 2 . Bundesliga in 2008 where he made his German top flight debut in 2009 . He played for Panionios in the first half of 2010–11 before returning to Tirana in January 2011 and helping KF Tirana to clinch the Albanian Cup . In the summer of 2011 , he left Albania again to join Luzern in Switzerland , where he made more than 150 appearances in six years . In February 2017 , he signed with San Jose Earthquakes in Major League Soccer . In January 2019 Jahmir Hyka signed with Maccabi Netanya a contract for 1.5 years . Hyka represented Albania at youth levels , playing for the under-17 , under-19 and under-21 levels . He made his senior debut in 2007 and one year later scored Albanias fastest goal in history . Since then , he has collected 44 caps as of June 2017 . Club career . Early career and Norway . Hyka joined local side Dinamo Tirana at the age of 12 , where he played for the youth teams for four years , until he made it to the first team at 2004 . He was being tracked by a number of European clubs despite never having made a competitive appearance for Dinamo Tirana before joining Norwegian side Rosenborg BK in 2005 on loan . At Rosenborg , Hyka did not manage to break through into the first team , failing to make a single league appearance , only featuring twice as an unused substitute in August and September 2006 . Greece and return to Albania . In 2007 , Hyka left Dinamo Tirana to sign with Greek club Olympiacos for a fee of €600,000 . At Olympiakos , he found opportunities in the first team limited and so he moved on loan to KF Tirana , the then champions of the 2006–07 Albanian Superliga in time for the 2007–08 season . Back in Tirana , Hyka played 32 games , scoring two goals and his good form did not go unnoticed . Croatian side Dinamo Zagreb showed interest and Hyka was close to a move . Mainz . In June 2008 , Hyka signed a three-year deal with German side 1 . FSV Mainz 05 . Panionios . In 2010 , after just 13 appearances with the German team , most of them as a substitute , Hyka was once again on the move , this time back to Greece , transferring to Greek team , Panionios , for a €120,000 fee . Return to Tirana . After a difficult time in Greece , Hyka returned to Albania , re-signing with former side Tirana where he had previously had a loan spell . The deal was completed on 29 January 2011 , while he was still in Greece . Tirana president Refik Halili had previously expressed his desire to sign the young national team winger at the unveiling of new signing Bekim Balaj . Hyka made his return debut on 20 February 2011 in teams goalless draw against Shkumbini Peqin at home . One month later , in a match against the same opponent , he netted his first season goal via a free-kick from 25 metres , giving his team a minimal 1–0 win . He continued with his solid appearances by scoring twice in Tiranas 4–0 defeat of Laçi in April . Only four days later , he scored his fourth goal of the season in the 6–1 defeat of Elbasani at Selman Stërmasi Stadium . Tirana finished the season in the fifth position with 44 points , failing to secure a spot in European competitions , bringing the departure of Hyka . Luzern . In the summer of 2011 , Hyka was transferred to FC Luzern in the Swiss Super League . He scored his first goal with Luzern on 6 August 2011 in a 1–1 draw against Young Boys after coming on as a substitute in the 62nd minute to score in the 86th minute for the equaliser . Luzern fans named him the Messi of Albania . Hyka scored a goal from 20 meters in a 4–1 loss against St . Gallen on 1 September 2013 . He scored a goal and provided several assist for Luzern in a 2–4 win against Terre Sainte in the Swiss Cup on 15 September 2013 . San Jose Earthquakes . On 3 February 2017 , Hyka signed with San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer . He first appeared for the club on 25 February 2017 in the last San Jose Earthquakes preseason friendly against Sacramento Republic , substituting on at halftime and scoring also a goal in the 79th minute . Hyka made his first MLS appearance as a 70th-minute substitute in the season home opener against Montreal Impact on 4 March 2017 , finished in the 1–0 victory . His first score-sheet contributions came in his second ever appearance for the club on 11 March 2017 , substituting on at halftime and recording two assists to help the Earthquakes make a 3–2 comeback victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps . On 18 March 2017 , Hyka made his first MLS start in a 2–1 loss at Sporting Kansas City . His first goal was scored on 14 April 2017 with ten seconds remaining in stoppage time in what would be a 1–1 home draw against FC Dallas . Hyka opened the scoring against the Portland Timbers in the 3–0 rout on 7 May in the 8th minute of the match . He assisted the first goal scored by San Jose Designated Player Vako on 20 July against the New York Red Bulls , which finished as a 5–1 loss . Following the end of the 2018 season , Hyka was not offered a new contract , leaving the club after collecting 52 appearances . Following his departure from the club , Hyka returned in Albania and begun training with his old club Tirana in order to maintain his form . Maccabi Netanya F.C. . In January 2019 , Hyka joined Maccabi Netanya F.C . of the Israeli Premier League on a free transfer . He scored three goals for the club in his first season . International career . On 7 February 2007 , Hyka made his debut for Albania in a friendly match against Macedonia . On 20 August 2008 , he scored his first goal for Albania against Liechtenstein and his goal came just 46 seconds after the game had begun , making it the quickest goal in Albanian history . Following a two-year absence , he returned to Albania national team under the same coach Gianni De Biasi , receiving a call up for the Friendly match against Morocco on 31 August 2016 and the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification opening match against Macedonia on 5 September 2016 . Style of play . A quick , energetic , and agile player , Hyka is capable of playing either as left winger or attacking midfielder . Luzern fans have nicknamed him the Albanian Messi due to his short stature , dribbling , and speed . Dominic Kinnear , San Joses coach at the time of Hykas signing with the team , praised his skills , saying , Hes really smart on the ball and confident in tight places and adding that he has a good first touch . Both Earthquakes general manager Jesse Fioranelli and MLS senior analyst Matt Doyle have emphasized Hykas unpredictability on the field . Personal life . Hyka has four siblings , two sisters and two brothers who live in his hometown of Tirane . He practices the faith of Islam , praying five times daily and fasting during the holy month of Ramadan , which he has done so since the age of 12 . He attends mosque when possible around his football schedule , and at his former club 1 . FSV Mainz 05 he would attend with teammate Chadli Amri . He is fluent in Albanian , German , and English . As of 13 March 2018 , Hyka possesses a U.S . green card , which qualifies him as a domestic player for MLS roster purposes . Honours . Club . Rosenborg - Tippeligaen : 2006 Olympiacos - Superleague Greece : 2006–07 Tirana - Albanian Cup : 2010–11 Luzern - Swiss Super League : Runner-up 2011–12 Individual . - Swiss Super League Player of the Month : April 2016 |
[
"Panionios"
] | easy | Which team did Jahmir Hyka play for from 2010 to 2011? | /wiki/Jahmir_Hyka#P54#3 | Jahmir Hyka Jahmir Hyka ( born 8 March 1988 ) is an Albanian professional footballer who plays as a left midfielder for Guizhou Hengfeng in China League One and the Albanian national team . A Dinamo Tirana product , Hyka started his professional career in Norway at Rosenborg where did not make a league appearance . He moved to Greek club Olympiacos in 2007 , again failing to make a league appearance and who then sent him on loan to Tirana . Hykas performances at Tirana earned him a move to 1 . FSV Mainz 05 of the 2 . Bundesliga in 2008 where he made his German top flight debut in 2009 . He played for Panionios in the first half of 2010–11 before returning to Tirana in January 2011 and helping KF Tirana to clinch the Albanian Cup . In the summer of 2011 , he left Albania again to join Luzern in Switzerland , where he made more than 150 appearances in six years . In February 2017 , he signed with San Jose Earthquakes in Major League Soccer . In January 2019 Jahmir Hyka signed with Maccabi Netanya a contract for 1.5 years . Hyka represented Albania at youth levels , playing for the under-17 , under-19 and under-21 levels . He made his senior debut in 2007 and one year later scored Albanias fastest goal in history . Since then , he has collected 44 caps as of June 2017 . Club career . Early career and Norway . Hyka joined local side Dinamo Tirana at the age of 12 , where he played for the youth teams for four years , until he made it to the first team at 2004 . He was being tracked by a number of European clubs despite never having made a competitive appearance for Dinamo Tirana before joining Norwegian side Rosenborg BK in 2005 on loan . At Rosenborg , Hyka did not manage to break through into the first team , failing to make a single league appearance , only featuring twice as an unused substitute in August and September 2006 . Greece and return to Albania . In 2007 , Hyka left Dinamo Tirana to sign with Greek club Olympiacos for a fee of €600,000 . At Olympiakos , he found opportunities in the first team limited and so he moved on loan to KF Tirana , the then champions of the 2006–07 Albanian Superliga in time for the 2007–08 season . Back in Tirana , Hyka played 32 games , scoring two goals and his good form did not go unnoticed . Croatian side Dinamo Zagreb showed interest and Hyka was close to a move . Mainz . In June 2008 , Hyka signed a three-year deal with German side 1 . FSV Mainz 05 . Panionios . In 2010 , after just 13 appearances with the German team , most of them as a substitute , Hyka was once again on the move , this time back to Greece , transferring to Greek team , Panionios , for a €120,000 fee . Return to Tirana . After a difficult time in Greece , Hyka returned to Albania , re-signing with former side Tirana where he had previously had a loan spell . The deal was completed on 29 January 2011 , while he was still in Greece . Tirana president Refik Halili had previously expressed his desire to sign the young national team winger at the unveiling of new signing Bekim Balaj . Hyka made his return debut on 20 February 2011 in teams goalless draw against Shkumbini Peqin at home . One month later , in a match against the same opponent , he netted his first season goal via a free-kick from 25 metres , giving his team a minimal 1–0 win . He continued with his solid appearances by scoring twice in Tiranas 4–0 defeat of Laçi in April . Only four days later , he scored his fourth goal of the season in the 6–1 defeat of Elbasani at Selman Stërmasi Stadium . Tirana finished the season in the fifth position with 44 points , failing to secure a spot in European competitions , bringing the departure of Hyka . Luzern . In the summer of 2011 , Hyka was transferred to FC Luzern in the Swiss Super League . He scored his first goal with Luzern on 6 August 2011 in a 1–1 draw against Young Boys after coming on as a substitute in the 62nd minute to score in the 86th minute for the equaliser . Luzern fans named him the Messi of Albania . Hyka scored a goal from 20 meters in a 4–1 loss against St . Gallen on 1 September 2013 . He scored a goal and provided several assist for Luzern in a 2–4 win against Terre Sainte in the Swiss Cup on 15 September 2013 . San Jose Earthquakes . On 3 February 2017 , Hyka signed with San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer . He first appeared for the club on 25 February 2017 in the last San Jose Earthquakes preseason friendly against Sacramento Republic , substituting on at halftime and scoring also a goal in the 79th minute . Hyka made his first MLS appearance as a 70th-minute substitute in the season home opener against Montreal Impact on 4 March 2017 , finished in the 1–0 victory . His first score-sheet contributions came in his second ever appearance for the club on 11 March 2017 , substituting on at halftime and recording two assists to help the Earthquakes make a 3–2 comeback victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps . On 18 March 2017 , Hyka made his first MLS start in a 2–1 loss at Sporting Kansas City . His first goal was scored on 14 April 2017 with ten seconds remaining in stoppage time in what would be a 1–1 home draw against FC Dallas . Hyka opened the scoring against the Portland Timbers in the 3–0 rout on 7 May in the 8th minute of the match . He assisted the first goal scored by San Jose Designated Player Vako on 20 July against the New York Red Bulls , which finished as a 5–1 loss . Following the end of the 2018 season , Hyka was not offered a new contract , leaving the club after collecting 52 appearances . Following his departure from the club , Hyka returned in Albania and begun training with his old club Tirana in order to maintain his form . Maccabi Netanya F.C. . In January 2019 , Hyka joined Maccabi Netanya F.C . of the Israeli Premier League on a free transfer . He scored three goals for the club in his first season . International career . On 7 February 2007 , Hyka made his debut for Albania in a friendly match against Macedonia . On 20 August 2008 , he scored his first goal for Albania against Liechtenstein and his goal came just 46 seconds after the game had begun , making it the quickest goal in Albanian history . Following a two-year absence , he returned to Albania national team under the same coach Gianni De Biasi , receiving a call up for the Friendly match against Morocco on 31 August 2016 and the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification opening match against Macedonia on 5 September 2016 . Style of play . A quick , energetic , and agile player , Hyka is capable of playing either as left winger or attacking midfielder . Luzern fans have nicknamed him the Albanian Messi due to his short stature , dribbling , and speed . Dominic Kinnear , San Joses coach at the time of Hykas signing with the team , praised his skills , saying , Hes really smart on the ball and confident in tight places and adding that he has a good first touch . Both Earthquakes general manager Jesse Fioranelli and MLS senior analyst Matt Doyle have emphasized Hykas unpredictability on the field . Personal life . Hyka has four siblings , two sisters and two brothers who live in his hometown of Tirane . He practices the faith of Islam , praying five times daily and fasting during the holy month of Ramadan , which he has done so since the age of 12 . He attends mosque when possible around his football schedule , and at his former club 1 . FSV Mainz 05 he would attend with teammate Chadli Amri . He is fluent in Albanian , German , and English . As of 13 March 2018 , Hyka possesses a U.S . green card , which qualifies him as a domestic player for MLS roster purposes . Honours . Club . Rosenborg - Tippeligaen : 2006 Olympiacos - Superleague Greece : 2006–07 Tirana - Albanian Cup : 2010–11 Luzern - Swiss Super League : Runner-up 2011–12 Individual . - Swiss Super League Player of the Month : April 2016 |
[
"FC Luzern"
] | easy | Which team did Jahmir Hyka play for from 2011 to 2012? | /wiki/Jahmir_Hyka#P54#4 | Jahmir Hyka Jahmir Hyka ( born 8 March 1988 ) is an Albanian professional footballer who plays as a left midfielder for Guizhou Hengfeng in China League One and the Albanian national team . A Dinamo Tirana product , Hyka started his professional career in Norway at Rosenborg where did not make a league appearance . He moved to Greek club Olympiacos in 2007 , again failing to make a league appearance and who then sent him on loan to Tirana . Hykas performances at Tirana earned him a move to 1 . FSV Mainz 05 of the 2 . Bundesliga in 2008 where he made his German top flight debut in 2009 . He played for Panionios in the first half of 2010–11 before returning to Tirana in January 2011 and helping KF Tirana to clinch the Albanian Cup . In the summer of 2011 , he left Albania again to join Luzern in Switzerland , where he made more than 150 appearances in six years . In February 2017 , he signed with San Jose Earthquakes in Major League Soccer . In January 2019 Jahmir Hyka signed with Maccabi Netanya a contract for 1.5 years . Hyka represented Albania at youth levels , playing for the under-17 , under-19 and under-21 levels . He made his senior debut in 2007 and one year later scored Albanias fastest goal in history . Since then , he has collected 44 caps as of June 2017 . Club career . Early career and Norway . Hyka joined local side Dinamo Tirana at the age of 12 , where he played for the youth teams for four years , until he made it to the first team at 2004 . He was being tracked by a number of European clubs despite never having made a competitive appearance for Dinamo Tirana before joining Norwegian side Rosenborg BK in 2005 on loan . At Rosenborg , Hyka did not manage to break through into the first team , failing to make a single league appearance , only featuring twice as an unused substitute in August and September 2006 . Greece and return to Albania . In 2007 , Hyka left Dinamo Tirana to sign with Greek club Olympiacos for a fee of €600,000 . At Olympiakos , he found opportunities in the first team limited and so he moved on loan to KF Tirana , the then champions of the 2006–07 Albanian Superliga in time for the 2007–08 season . Back in Tirana , Hyka played 32 games , scoring two goals and his good form did not go unnoticed . Croatian side Dinamo Zagreb showed interest and Hyka was close to a move . Mainz . In June 2008 , Hyka signed a three-year deal with German side 1 . FSV Mainz 05 . Panionios . In 2010 , after just 13 appearances with the German team , most of them as a substitute , Hyka was once again on the move , this time back to Greece , transferring to Greek team , Panionios , for a €120,000 fee . Return to Tirana . After a difficult time in Greece , Hyka returned to Albania , re-signing with former side Tirana where he had previously had a loan spell . The deal was completed on 29 January 2011 , while he was still in Greece . Tirana president Refik Halili had previously expressed his desire to sign the young national team winger at the unveiling of new signing Bekim Balaj . Hyka made his return debut on 20 February 2011 in teams goalless draw against Shkumbini Peqin at home . One month later , in a match against the same opponent , he netted his first season goal via a free-kick from 25 metres , giving his team a minimal 1–0 win . He continued with his solid appearances by scoring twice in Tiranas 4–0 defeat of Laçi in April . Only four days later , he scored his fourth goal of the season in the 6–1 defeat of Elbasani at Selman Stërmasi Stadium . Tirana finished the season in the fifth position with 44 points , failing to secure a spot in European competitions , bringing the departure of Hyka . Luzern . In the summer of 2011 , Hyka was transferred to FC Luzern in the Swiss Super League . He scored his first goal with Luzern on 6 August 2011 in a 1–1 draw against Young Boys after coming on as a substitute in the 62nd minute to score in the 86th minute for the equaliser . Luzern fans named him the Messi of Albania . Hyka scored a goal from 20 meters in a 4–1 loss against St . Gallen on 1 September 2013 . He scored a goal and provided several assist for Luzern in a 2–4 win against Terre Sainte in the Swiss Cup on 15 September 2013 . San Jose Earthquakes . On 3 February 2017 , Hyka signed with San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer . He first appeared for the club on 25 February 2017 in the last San Jose Earthquakes preseason friendly against Sacramento Republic , substituting on at halftime and scoring also a goal in the 79th minute . Hyka made his first MLS appearance as a 70th-minute substitute in the season home opener against Montreal Impact on 4 March 2017 , finished in the 1–0 victory . His first score-sheet contributions came in his second ever appearance for the club on 11 March 2017 , substituting on at halftime and recording two assists to help the Earthquakes make a 3–2 comeback victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps . On 18 March 2017 , Hyka made his first MLS start in a 2–1 loss at Sporting Kansas City . His first goal was scored on 14 April 2017 with ten seconds remaining in stoppage time in what would be a 1–1 home draw against FC Dallas . Hyka opened the scoring against the Portland Timbers in the 3–0 rout on 7 May in the 8th minute of the match . He assisted the first goal scored by San Jose Designated Player Vako on 20 July against the New York Red Bulls , which finished as a 5–1 loss . Following the end of the 2018 season , Hyka was not offered a new contract , leaving the club after collecting 52 appearances . Following his departure from the club , Hyka returned in Albania and begun training with his old club Tirana in order to maintain his form . Maccabi Netanya F.C. . In January 2019 , Hyka joined Maccabi Netanya F.C . of the Israeli Premier League on a free transfer . He scored three goals for the club in his first season . International career . On 7 February 2007 , Hyka made his debut for Albania in a friendly match against Macedonia . On 20 August 2008 , he scored his first goal for Albania against Liechtenstein and his goal came just 46 seconds after the game had begun , making it the quickest goal in Albanian history . Following a two-year absence , he returned to Albania national team under the same coach Gianni De Biasi , receiving a call up for the Friendly match against Morocco on 31 August 2016 and the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification opening match against Macedonia on 5 September 2016 . Style of play . A quick , energetic , and agile player , Hyka is capable of playing either as left winger or attacking midfielder . Luzern fans have nicknamed him the Albanian Messi due to his short stature , dribbling , and speed . Dominic Kinnear , San Joses coach at the time of Hykas signing with the team , praised his skills , saying , Hes really smart on the ball and confident in tight places and adding that he has a good first touch . Both Earthquakes general manager Jesse Fioranelli and MLS senior analyst Matt Doyle have emphasized Hykas unpredictability on the field . Personal life . Hyka has four siblings , two sisters and two brothers who live in his hometown of Tirane . He practices the faith of Islam , praying five times daily and fasting during the holy month of Ramadan , which he has done so since the age of 12 . He attends mosque when possible around his football schedule , and at his former club 1 . FSV Mainz 05 he would attend with teammate Chadli Amri . He is fluent in Albanian , German , and English . As of 13 March 2018 , Hyka possesses a U.S . green card , which qualifies him as a domestic player for MLS roster purposes . Honours . Club . Rosenborg - Tippeligaen : 2006 Olympiacos - Superleague Greece : 2006–07 Tirana - Albanian Cup : 2010–11 Luzern - Swiss Super League : Runner-up 2011–12 Individual . - Swiss Super League Player of the Month : April 2016 |
[
"Lord Ashley"
] | easy | Who was Sylvia Ashley 's spouse from 1927 to 1934? | /wiki/Sylvia_Ashley#P26#0 | Sylvia Ashley Sylvia , Lady Ashley ( born Edith Louisa Hawkes;1904 – 29 June 1977 ) was an English model , actress , and socialite who was best known for her numerous marriages to British and Georgian noblemen and American movie stars . Early life . Ashley was born at 112 Hall Place , Paddington , London , England , the elder daughter of Arthur Hawkes , a horsekeeper , and Edith Florence Hyde . The family moved to nearby Wharncliffe Gardens , Lisson Grove , before 1910 . She later renamed herself Sylvia and preferred giving her year of birth as 1906 . Her 1927 marriage certificate records her as named Edith Louisa Sylvia Hawkes and her father as Arthur Hawkes ( deceased ) , gentleman . Her father was a livery stable employee , latterly porter in a block of flats and doorman at a restaurant . When he died , his younger daughter administered his estate. . Ashleys sister , Lilian Vera Hawkes married British film producer Basil Bleck on 18 December 1929 . Professional career . As Sylvia Hawkes , she worked as a lingerie model and became a Cochran Dancer . After this brief career in the chorus line of musical comedy , she appeared in West End plays . In 1924 , she debuted in Midnight Follies . She appeared in Primrose . In 1925 , she acted in Tell me More at Londons Winter Garden Theatre , and in The Whole Towns Talking . In the 1920s Ashley regularly appeared on stage with American writer Dorothy Fields in the comedy duo Silly and Dotty in Midnight Follies at the London Metropole . On 1 March 1941 , Lady Ashley filed articles of incorporation to establish an organisation known as the British Distressed Areas Fund . Organised along with her sister , Vera Bleck , Constance Bennett , and Virginia Fox Zanuck , as directors , the Fund focused on soliciting financial support to provide food , clothing and medical aid for refugees of World War II . The headquarters of the organisation was located in Los Angeles . Primrose audition . In their joint memoir Bring on the Girls! , P . G . Wodehouse and Guy Bolton relate the story of Ashleys audition for George Grossmith Jr . for the 1924 musical Primrose : Personal life . Ashley was married five times : - Major Lord Ashley ( married 3 February 1927 – 28 November 1934 ; divorced ) . - Douglas Fairbanks , Sr. , American actor ( married 7 March 1936 – 12 December 1939 , his death ) . - The 6th Baron Stanley of Alderley ( married 18 January 1944 – 1948 ; divorced ) . - Clark Gable , American actor ( married 20 December 1949 – 21 April 1952 ; divorced ) . - Prince Dimitri Jorjadze , hotel executive and race-car driver ( married 1954 ) . Lady Ashley died of cancer on 29 June 1977 at age 73 in Los Angeles . She is interred in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery , Hollywood ; her grave is 680 feet north of that of her second husband , Douglas Fairbanks , Sr. , at the north end of the Garden of Legends , aka Section 8 . External links . - National Portrait Gallery – Sylvia Ashley |
[
"Douglas Fairbanks , Sr"
] | easy | Who was the spouse of Sylvia Ashley from 1936 to 1939? | /wiki/Sylvia_Ashley#P26#1 | Sylvia Ashley Sylvia , Lady Ashley ( born Edith Louisa Hawkes;1904 – 29 June 1977 ) was an English model , actress , and socialite who was best known for her numerous marriages to British and Georgian noblemen and American movie stars . Early life . Ashley was born at 112 Hall Place , Paddington , London , England , the elder daughter of Arthur Hawkes , a horsekeeper , and Edith Florence Hyde . The family moved to nearby Wharncliffe Gardens , Lisson Grove , before 1910 . She later renamed herself Sylvia and preferred giving her year of birth as 1906 . Her 1927 marriage certificate records her as named Edith Louisa Sylvia Hawkes and her father as Arthur Hawkes ( deceased ) , gentleman . Her father was a livery stable employee , latterly porter in a block of flats and doorman at a restaurant . When he died , his younger daughter administered his estate. . Ashleys sister , Lilian Vera Hawkes married British film producer Basil Bleck on 18 December 1929 . Professional career . As Sylvia Hawkes , she worked as a lingerie model and became a Cochran Dancer . After this brief career in the chorus line of musical comedy , she appeared in West End plays . In 1924 , she debuted in Midnight Follies . She appeared in Primrose . In 1925 , she acted in Tell me More at Londons Winter Garden Theatre , and in The Whole Towns Talking . In the 1920s Ashley regularly appeared on stage with American writer Dorothy Fields in the comedy duo Silly and Dotty in Midnight Follies at the London Metropole . On 1 March 1941 , Lady Ashley filed articles of incorporation to establish an organisation known as the British Distressed Areas Fund . Organised along with her sister , Vera Bleck , Constance Bennett , and Virginia Fox Zanuck , as directors , the Fund focused on soliciting financial support to provide food , clothing and medical aid for refugees of World War II . The headquarters of the organisation was located in Los Angeles . Primrose audition . In their joint memoir Bring on the Girls! , P . G . Wodehouse and Guy Bolton relate the story of Ashleys audition for George Grossmith Jr . for the 1924 musical Primrose : Personal life . Ashley was married five times : - Major Lord Ashley ( married 3 February 1927 – 28 November 1934 ; divorced ) . - Douglas Fairbanks , Sr. , American actor ( married 7 March 1936 – 12 December 1939 , his death ) . - The 6th Baron Stanley of Alderley ( married 18 January 1944 – 1948 ; divorced ) . - Clark Gable , American actor ( married 20 December 1949 – 21 April 1952 ; divorced ) . - Prince Dimitri Jorjadze , hotel executive and race-car driver ( married 1954 ) . Lady Ashley died of cancer on 29 June 1977 at age 73 in Los Angeles . She is interred in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery , Hollywood ; her grave is 680 feet north of that of her second husband , Douglas Fairbanks , Sr. , at the north end of the Garden of Legends , aka Section 8 . External links . - National Portrait Gallery – Sylvia Ashley |
[
"The 6th Baron Stanley of Alderley"
] | easy | Who was the spouse of Sylvia Ashley from 1944 to 1948? | /wiki/Sylvia_Ashley#P26#2 | Sylvia Ashley Sylvia , Lady Ashley ( born Edith Louisa Hawkes;1904 – 29 June 1977 ) was an English model , actress , and socialite who was best known for her numerous marriages to British and Georgian noblemen and American movie stars . Early life . Ashley was born at 112 Hall Place , Paddington , London , England , the elder daughter of Arthur Hawkes , a horsekeeper , and Edith Florence Hyde . The family moved to nearby Wharncliffe Gardens , Lisson Grove , before 1910 . She later renamed herself Sylvia and preferred giving her year of birth as 1906 . Her 1927 marriage certificate records her as named Edith Louisa Sylvia Hawkes and her father as Arthur Hawkes ( deceased ) , gentleman . Her father was a livery stable employee , latterly porter in a block of flats and doorman at a restaurant . When he died , his younger daughter administered his estate. . Ashleys sister , Lilian Vera Hawkes married British film producer Basil Bleck on 18 December 1929 . Professional career . As Sylvia Hawkes , she worked as a lingerie model and became a Cochran Dancer . After this brief career in the chorus line of musical comedy , she appeared in West End plays . In 1924 , she debuted in Midnight Follies . She appeared in Primrose . In 1925 , she acted in Tell me More at Londons Winter Garden Theatre , and in The Whole Towns Talking . In the 1920s Ashley regularly appeared on stage with American writer Dorothy Fields in the comedy duo Silly and Dotty in Midnight Follies at the London Metropole . On 1 March 1941 , Lady Ashley filed articles of incorporation to establish an organisation known as the British Distressed Areas Fund . Organised along with her sister , Vera Bleck , Constance Bennett , and Virginia Fox Zanuck , as directors , the Fund focused on soliciting financial support to provide food , clothing and medical aid for refugees of World War II . The headquarters of the organisation was located in Los Angeles . Primrose audition . In their joint memoir Bring on the Girls! , P . G . Wodehouse and Guy Bolton relate the story of Ashleys audition for George Grossmith Jr . for the 1924 musical Primrose : Personal life . Ashley was married five times : - Major Lord Ashley ( married 3 February 1927 – 28 November 1934 ; divorced ) . - Douglas Fairbanks , Sr. , American actor ( married 7 March 1936 – 12 December 1939 , his death ) . - The 6th Baron Stanley of Alderley ( married 18 January 1944 – 1948 ; divorced ) . - Clark Gable , American actor ( married 20 December 1949 – 21 April 1952 ; divorced ) . - Prince Dimitri Jorjadze , hotel executive and race-car driver ( married 1954 ) . Lady Ashley died of cancer on 29 June 1977 at age 73 in Los Angeles . She is interred in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery , Hollywood ; her grave is 680 feet north of that of her second husband , Douglas Fairbanks , Sr. , at the north end of the Garden of Legends , aka Section 8 . External links . - National Portrait Gallery – Sylvia Ashley |
[
"Clark Gable"
] | easy | Who was Sylvia Ashley 's spouse from 1949 to 1952? | /wiki/Sylvia_Ashley#P26#3 | Sylvia Ashley Sylvia , Lady Ashley ( born Edith Louisa Hawkes;1904 – 29 June 1977 ) was an English model , actress , and socialite who was best known for her numerous marriages to British and Georgian noblemen and American movie stars . Early life . Ashley was born at 112 Hall Place , Paddington , London , England , the elder daughter of Arthur Hawkes , a horsekeeper , and Edith Florence Hyde . The family moved to nearby Wharncliffe Gardens , Lisson Grove , before 1910 . She later renamed herself Sylvia and preferred giving her year of birth as 1906 . Her 1927 marriage certificate records her as named Edith Louisa Sylvia Hawkes and her father as Arthur Hawkes ( deceased ) , gentleman . Her father was a livery stable employee , latterly porter in a block of flats and doorman at a restaurant . When he died , his younger daughter administered his estate. . Ashleys sister , Lilian Vera Hawkes married British film producer Basil Bleck on 18 December 1929 . Professional career . As Sylvia Hawkes , she worked as a lingerie model and became a Cochran Dancer . After this brief career in the chorus line of musical comedy , she appeared in West End plays . In 1924 , she debuted in Midnight Follies . She appeared in Primrose . In 1925 , she acted in Tell me More at Londons Winter Garden Theatre , and in The Whole Towns Talking . In the 1920s Ashley regularly appeared on stage with American writer Dorothy Fields in the comedy duo Silly and Dotty in Midnight Follies at the London Metropole . On 1 March 1941 , Lady Ashley filed articles of incorporation to establish an organisation known as the British Distressed Areas Fund . Organised along with her sister , Vera Bleck , Constance Bennett , and Virginia Fox Zanuck , as directors , the Fund focused on soliciting financial support to provide food , clothing and medical aid for refugees of World War II . The headquarters of the organisation was located in Los Angeles . Primrose audition . In their joint memoir Bring on the Girls! , P . G . Wodehouse and Guy Bolton relate the story of Ashleys audition for George Grossmith Jr . for the 1924 musical Primrose : Personal life . Ashley was married five times : - Major Lord Ashley ( married 3 February 1927 – 28 November 1934 ; divorced ) . - Douglas Fairbanks , Sr. , American actor ( married 7 March 1936 – 12 December 1939 , his death ) . - The 6th Baron Stanley of Alderley ( married 18 January 1944 – 1948 ; divorced ) . - Clark Gable , American actor ( married 20 December 1949 – 21 April 1952 ; divorced ) . - Prince Dimitri Jorjadze , hotel executive and race-car driver ( married 1954 ) . Lady Ashley died of cancer on 29 June 1977 at age 73 in Los Angeles . She is interred in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery , Hollywood ; her grave is 680 feet north of that of her second husband , Douglas Fairbanks , Sr. , at the north end of the Garden of Legends , aka Section 8 . External links . - National Portrait Gallery – Sylvia Ashley |
[
"Dimitri Jorjadze"
] | easy | Who was the spouse of Sylvia Ashley from 1954 to 1977? | /wiki/Sylvia_Ashley#P26#4 | Sylvia Ashley Sylvia , Lady Ashley ( born Edith Louisa Hawkes;1904 – 29 June 1977 ) was an English model , actress , and socialite who was best known for her numerous marriages to British and Georgian noblemen and American movie stars . Early life . Ashley was born at 112 Hall Place , Paddington , London , England , the elder daughter of Arthur Hawkes , a horsekeeper , and Edith Florence Hyde . The family moved to nearby Wharncliffe Gardens , Lisson Grove , before 1910 . She later renamed herself Sylvia and preferred giving her year of birth as 1906 . Her 1927 marriage certificate records her as named Edith Louisa Sylvia Hawkes and her father as Arthur Hawkes ( deceased ) , gentleman . Her father was a livery stable employee , latterly porter in a block of flats and doorman at a restaurant . When he died , his younger daughter administered his estate. . Ashleys sister , Lilian Vera Hawkes married British film producer Basil Bleck on 18 December 1929 . Professional career . As Sylvia Hawkes , she worked as a lingerie model and became a Cochran Dancer . After this brief career in the chorus line of musical comedy , she appeared in West End plays . In 1924 , she debuted in Midnight Follies . She appeared in Primrose . In 1925 , she acted in Tell me More at Londons Winter Garden Theatre , and in The Whole Towns Talking . In the 1920s Ashley regularly appeared on stage with American writer Dorothy Fields in the comedy duo Silly and Dotty in Midnight Follies at the London Metropole . On 1 March 1941 , Lady Ashley filed articles of incorporation to establish an organisation known as the British Distressed Areas Fund . Organised along with her sister , Vera Bleck , Constance Bennett , and Virginia Fox Zanuck , as directors , the Fund focused on soliciting financial support to provide food , clothing and medical aid for refugees of World War II . The headquarters of the organisation was located in Los Angeles . Primrose audition . In their joint memoir Bring on the Girls! , P . G . Wodehouse and Guy Bolton relate the story of Ashleys audition for George Grossmith Jr . for the 1924 musical Primrose : Personal life . Ashley was married five times : - Major Lord Ashley ( married 3 February 1927 – 28 November 1934 ; divorced ) . - Douglas Fairbanks , Sr. , American actor ( married 7 March 1936 – 12 December 1939 , his death ) . - The 6th Baron Stanley of Alderley ( married 18 January 1944 – 1948 ; divorced ) . - Clark Gable , American actor ( married 20 December 1949 – 21 April 1952 ; divorced ) . - Prince Dimitri Jorjadze , hotel executive and race-car driver ( married 1954 ) . Lady Ashley died of cancer on 29 June 1977 at age 73 in Los Angeles . She is interred in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery , Hollywood ; her grave is 680 feet north of that of her second husband , Douglas Fairbanks , Sr. , at the north end of the Garden of Legends , aka Section 8 . External links . - National Portrait Gallery – Sylvia Ashley |
[
"German Parliament"
] | easy | Which employer did Tom Enders work for from 1982 to 1985? | /wiki/Tom_Enders#P108#0 | Tom Enders Thomas Enders ( born December 21 , 1958 ) is a German business executive who served as the chief executive of Airbus ( formerly EADS , Airbus Group ) from 2012 until 2019 . Since 2019 , he has been the president of the German Council on Foreign Relations ( DGAP ) . Early life and education . The son of a shepherd , Enders studied economics , politics , and history at the University of Bonn and the University of California , Los Angeles . He completed his doctorate in political science at the age of 28 on a scholarship of Konrad Adenauer Foundation . Career . Enders started out his career with early work experience as an assistant at the German Parliament . In 1988 , he worked as a researcher at the German Council on Foreign Relations ( DGAP ) in Bonn and at the International Institute for Strategic Studies ( IISS ) in London . Enders also serves as a Major in the German Army Reserve , and spent two years in the planning staff of the Federal Ministry of Defence from 1989 until 1991 . Enders joined the marketing department of DaimlerChrysler Aerospace in 1991 and held several functions at DASA until he was promoted to head the defence and security systems business in the frame of the merger of EADS in 2000 . In 2005 , he was appointed co-CEO ( first with co-CEO Noël Forgeard , then Louis Gallois ) , a role he relinquished in 2007 when the company modified its corporate governance , giving away with double-CEO and double-Chairman structures . As a result of the governance change , Enders was appointed CEO of Airbus , the Groups largest Division . As CEO of the commercial aircraft division , he was responsible for the A320neo launch in 2010 , a sales success that forced Boeing to launch the 737 MAX . In May 2012 , the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders approved Enders nomination to become CEO of EADS . Shortly after his nomination , Enders embarked on a plan to merge with UK-based BAE Systems , which would have created the worlds leading defence company . However , the merger plan – the only remaining realistic opportunity to fulfill the companys Vision2020 strategy – failed ultimately due to political intervention . He also merged the group with the commercial aircraft division and took control of the CSeries , pending regulatory review . In late 2012 , EADS and its shareholders – namely Daimler AG , Lagardère Group and the French state – agreed to revamp the companys corporate governance , thereby considerably reducing political influence in the Group . Although Germany , France and Spain are shareholders of the group , none hold any special blocking rights , meaning the company is governed solely by the Board of Directors and the Executive Management . After the failure of the merger with BAE Systems , Enders initiated a review of the companys strategy , which was completed in July 2013 . Among others , the outcome resulted in the rebranding of the Group from EADS to Airbus Group in January 2014 . In early 2017 , Enders announced his intention to renew his three-year mandate in 2019 . On 15 December 2017 , the Airbus board – under the leadership of chairman Denis Ranque – confirmed Enders would not stay beyond April 2019 amid corruption allegations in sales campaigns . By the end of his time at Airbus , Enders was widely credited with unifying a company previously divided along national lines , as well as simplifying its governance to reduce political influence . In January 2021 , Enders joined the advisory board of the aerospace start-up Lilium . Role in politics . During his time in office , Enders clashed with the government of Chancellor Angela Merkel over industrial or defense policy and resigned from the conservative CSU party over Germanys opposition to the 2011 military intervention in Libya . He frequently accompanied Merkel on state visits abroad . In Germany , he served as chairman of the German Aerospace Industries Association ( BDLI ) from 2005 to 2012 and in the presidium of the Federation of German Industries ( BDI ) . Under the premiership of David Cameron , Enders was appointed to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdoms Business Advisory Group in his capacity as chief executive of Airbus and later as chief executive of EADS . Between 2010 and 2011 , he served on the High-Level Group on Aviation and Aeronautics Research launched by European Commissioners Siim Kallas and Máire Geoghegan-Quinn . Since 2015 , he has been serving as a member of the European Commission’s High-level Group of Personalities on Defence Research chaired by Elżbieta Bieńkowska . Controversy . During his time at Airbus , Enders grappled with scrutiny over the company’s sales practices after it uncovered inaccuracies in its filings to U.S . regulators over arms technology sales . He also faced criticism in French media and inside parts of the aerospace group for overseeing sweeping compliance probes that led to dozens of senior departures without specific allegations . In 2017 , Enders became one of more than a dozen people being formally investigated by Austria’s public prosecutor as part of a long-running probe into alleged fraud over a €2 billion deal for 18 Eurofighter combat jets . In remarks aimed at Defense Minister Hans Peter Doskozil , he called the claims “cheap election rhetoric,” and announced that “we will not let part of the Austrian government use us as a punching bag that it can beat to score cheap political points” . Later that year , French anti-corruption investigators questioned Enders and other company executives as witnesses in an investigation centered on the sale of Astrium satellites to Kazakhstan in 2010 . Other activities . Government agencies . - Economic Development Board ( EDB ) , Member of the International Advisory Council Corporate boards . - Lilium , Member of the Supervisory Board ( since 2021 ) - Knorr-Bremse , Member of the Supervisory Board ( since 2020 ) - Lufthansa , Member of the Supervisory Board ( since 2020 ) - Linde , Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board ( since 2017 ) - HSBC Trinkaus & Burkhardt , Member of the Advisory Board ( since 2012 ) - Carl Zeiss Optronics , Chairman of the Supervisory Board ( until 2012 ) Non-profit organizations . - AmCham Germany , Member of the Board of Directors - AeroSpace and Defence Industries Association of Europe , Member of the Board - Atlantik-Brücke , Member and former Chairman ( 2005-2009 ) - Atlantic Council , Member of the International Advisory Board - Berlin Bosphorus Initiative ( BBI ) , Member of the Advisory Board - Bilderberg Group , Member of the Steering Committee - German Council on Foreign Relations ( DGAP ) , Member of the Steering Committee - International Institute for Strategic Studies ( IISS ) , Member of the Advisory Council - Max Planck Society , Member of the Senate ( since 2014 ) - Munich Security Conference , Member of the Advisory Council ( since 2014 ) - Federation of German Industries ( BDI ) , Member of the Presidium ( 2009-2019 ) Recognition . - 2014 – European Manager of the Year - 2015 – Legion of Honour - 2017 – Aviation Week’s Person of the Year - 2019 – Tony Jannus Award for distinguished achievement in commercial air transportation . Personal life . Enders is married to Friederike , an economist . The couple has four sons and lives on a farm in Gmund am Tegernsee . Enders has a helicopter pilots license and is a fan of skydiving . In November 2010 , he performed a paradrop from the Airbus A400M Atlas . |
[
""
] | easy | What was the name of the employer Tom Enders work for from 1985 to 1987? | /wiki/Tom_Enders#P108#1 | Tom Enders Thomas Enders ( born December 21 , 1958 ) is a German business executive who served as the chief executive of Airbus ( formerly EADS , Airbus Group ) from 2012 until 2019 . Since 2019 , he has been the president of the German Council on Foreign Relations ( DGAP ) . Early life and education . The son of a shepherd , Enders studied economics , politics , and history at the University of Bonn and the University of California , Los Angeles . He completed his doctorate in political science at the age of 28 on a scholarship of Konrad Adenauer Foundation . Career . Enders started out his career with early work experience as an assistant at the German Parliament . In 1988 , he worked as a researcher at the German Council on Foreign Relations ( DGAP ) in Bonn and at the International Institute for Strategic Studies ( IISS ) in London . Enders also serves as a Major in the German Army Reserve , and spent two years in the planning staff of the Federal Ministry of Defence from 1989 until 1991 . Enders joined the marketing department of DaimlerChrysler Aerospace in 1991 and held several functions at DASA until he was promoted to head the defence and security systems business in the frame of the merger of EADS in 2000 . In 2005 , he was appointed co-CEO ( first with co-CEO Noël Forgeard , then Louis Gallois ) , a role he relinquished in 2007 when the company modified its corporate governance , giving away with double-CEO and double-Chairman structures . As a result of the governance change , Enders was appointed CEO of Airbus , the Groups largest Division . As CEO of the commercial aircraft division , he was responsible for the A320neo launch in 2010 , a sales success that forced Boeing to launch the 737 MAX . In May 2012 , the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders approved Enders nomination to become CEO of EADS . Shortly after his nomination , Enders embarked on a plan to merge with UK-based BAE Systems , which would have created the worlds leading defence company . However , the merger plan – the only remaining realistic opportunity to fulfill the companys Vision2020 strategy – failed ultimately due to political intervention . He also merged the group with the commercial aircraft division and took control of the CSeries , pending regulatory review . In late 2012 , EADS and its shareholders – namely Daimler AG , Lagardère Group and the French state – agreed to revamp the companys corporate governance , thereby considerably reducing political influence in the Group . Although Germany , France and Spain are shareholders of the group , none hold any special blocking rights , meaning the company is governed solely by the Board of Directors and the Executive Management . After the failure of the merger with BAE Systems , Enders initiated a review of the companys strategy , which was completed in July 2013 . Among others , the outcome resulted in the rebranding of the Group from EADS to Airbus Group in January 2014 . In early 2017 , Enders announced his intention to renew his three-year mandate in 2019 . On 15 December 2017 , the Airbus board – under the leadership of chairman Denis Ranque – confirmed Enders would not stay beyond April 2019 amid corruption allegations in sales campaigns . By the end of his time at Airbus , Enders was widely credited with unifying a company previously divided along national lines , as well as simplifying its governance to reduce political influence . In January 2021 , Enders joined the advisory board of the aerospace start-up Lilium . Role in politics . During his time in office , Enders clashed with the government of Chancellor Angela Merkel over industrial or defense policy and resigned from the conservative CSU party over Germanys opposition to the 2011 military intervention in Libya . He frequently accompanied Merkel on state visits abroad . In Germany , he served as chairman of the German Aerospace Industries Association ( BDLI ) from 2005 to 2012 and in the presidium of the Federation of German Industries ( BDI ) . Under the premiership of David Cameron , Enders was appointed to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdoms Business Advisory Group in his capacity as chief executive of Airbus and later as chief executive of EADS . Between 2010 and 2011 , he served on the High-Level Group on Aviation and Aeronautics Research launched by European Commissioners Siim Kallas and Máire Geoghegan-Quinn . Since 2015 , he has been serving as a member of the European Commission’s High-level Group of Personalities on Defence Research chaired by Elżbieta Bieńkowska . Controversy . During his time at Airbus , Enders grappled with scrutiny over the company’s sales practices after it uncovered inaccuracies in its filings to U.S . regulators over arms technology sales . He also faced criticism in French media and inside parts of the aerospace group for overseeing sweeping compliance probes that led to dozens of senior departures without specific allegations . In 2017 , Enders became one of more than a dozen people being formally investigated by Austria’s public prosecutor as part of a long-running probe into alleged fraud over a €2 billion deal for 18 Eurofighter combat jets . In remarks aimed at Defense Minister Hans Peter Doskozil , he called the claims “cheap election rhetoric,” and announced that “we will not let part of the Austrian government use us as a punching bag that it can beat to score cheap political points” . Later that year , French anti-corruption investigators questioned Enders and other company executives as witnesses in an investigation centered on the sale of Astrium satellites to Kazakhstan in 2010 . Other activities . Government agencies . - Economic Development Board ( EDB ) , Member of the International Advisory Council Corporate boards . - Lilium , Member of the Supervisory Board ( since 2021 ) - Knorr-Bremse , Member of the Supervisory Board ( since 2020 ) - Lufthansa , Member of the Supervisory Board ( since 2020 ) - Linde , Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board ( since 2017 ) - HSBC Trinkaus & Burkhardt , Member of the Advisory Board ( since 2012 ) - Carl Zeiss Optronics , Chairman of the Supervisory Board ( until 2012 ) Non-profit organizations . - AmCham Germany , Member of the Board of Directors - AeroSpace and Defence Industries Association of Europe , Member of the Board - Atlantik-Brücke , Member and former Chairman ( 2005-2009 ) - Atlantic Council , Member of the International Advisory Board - Berlin Bosphorus Initiative ( BBI ) , Member of the Advisory Board - Bilderberg Group , Member of the Steering Committee - German Council on Foreign Relations ( DGAP ) , Member of the Steering Committee - International Institute for Strategic Studies ( IISS ) , Member of the Advisory Council - Max Planck Society , Member of the Senate ( since 2014 ) - Munich Security Conference , Member of the Advisory Council ( since 2014 ) - Federation of German Industries ( BDI ) , Member of the Presidium ( 2009-2019 ) Recognition . - 2014 – European Manager of the Year - 2015 – Legion of Honour - 2017 – Aviation Week’s Person of the Year - 2019 – Tony Jannus Award for distinguished achievement in commercial air transportation . Personal life . Enders is married to Friederike , an economist . The couple has four sons and lives on a farm in Gmund am Tegernsee . Enders has a helicopter pilots license and is a fan of skydiving . In November 2010 , he performed a paradrop from the Airbus A400M Atlas . |
[
"German Council on Foreign Relations",
"International Institute for Strategic Studies",
"German Army Reserve"
] | easy | Which employer did Tom Enders work for from 1988 to 1989? | /wiki/Tom_Enders#P108#2 | Tom Enders Thomas Enders ( born December 21 , 1958 ) is a German business executive who served as the chief executive of Airbus ( formerly EADS , Airbus Group ) from 2012 until 2019 . Since 2019 , he has been the president of the German Council on Foreign Relations ( DGAP ) . Early life and education . The son of a shepherd , Enders studied economics , politics , and history at the University of Bonn and the University of California , Los Angeles . He completed his doctorate in political science at the age of 28 on a scholarship of Konrad Adenauer Foundation . Career . Enders started out his career with early work experience as an assistant at the German Parliament . In 1988 , he worked as a researcher at the German Council on Foreign Relations ( DGAP ) in Bonn and at the International Institute for Strategic Studies ( IISS ) in London . Enders also serves as a Major in the German Army Reserve , and spent two years in the planning staff of the Federal Ministry of Defence from 1989 until 1991 . Enders joined the marketing department of DaimlerChrysler Aerospace in 1991 and held several functions at DASA until he was promoted to head the defence and security systems business in the frame of the merger of EADS in 2000 . In 2005 , he was appointed co-CEO ( first with co-CEO Noël Forgeard , then Louis Gallois ) , a role he relinquished in 2007 when the company modified its corporate governance , giving away with double-CEO and double-Chairman structures . As a result of the governance change , Enders was appointed CEO of Airbus , the Groups largest Division . As CEO of the commercial aircraft division , he was responsible for the A320neo launch in 2010 , a sales success that forced Boeing to launch the 737 MAX . In May 2012 , the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders approved Enders nomination to become CEO of EADS . Shortly after his nomination , Enders embarked on a plan to merge with UK-based BAE Systems , which would have created the worlds leading defence company . However , the merger plan – the only remaining realistic opportunity to fulfill the companys Vision2020 strategy – failed ultimately due to political intervention . He also merged the group with the commercial aircraft division and took control of the CSeries , pending regulatory review . In late 2012 , EADS and its shareholders – namely Daimler AG , Lagardère Group and the French state – agreed to revamp the companys corporate governance , thereby considerably reducing political influence in the Group . Although Germany , France and Spain are shareholders of the group , none hold any special blocking rights , meaning the company is governed solely by the Board of Directors and the Executive Management . After the failure of the merger with BAE Systems , Enders initiated a review of the companys strategy , which was completed in July 2013 . Among others , the outcome resulted in the rebranding of the Group from EADS to Airbus Group in January 2014 . In early 2017 , Enders announced his intention to renew his three-year mandate in 2019 . On 15 December 2017 , the Airbus board – under the leadership of chairman Denis Ranque – confirmed Enders would not stay beyond April 2019 amid corruption allegations in sales campaigns . By the end of his time at Airbus , Enders was widely credited with unifying a company previously divided along national lines , as well as simplifying its governance to reduce political influence . In January 2021 , Enders joined the advisory board of the aerospace start-up Lilium . Role in politics . During his time in office , Enders clashed with the government of Chancellor Angela Merkel over industrial or defense policy and resigned from the conservative CSU party over Germanys opposition to the 2011 military intervention in Libya . He frequently accompanied Merkel on state visits abroad . In Germany , he served as chairman of the German Aerospace Industries Association ( BDLI ) from 2005 to 2012 and in the presidium of the Federation of German Industries ( BDI ) . Under the premiership of David Cameron , Enders was appointed to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdoms Business Advisory Group in his capacity as chief executive of Airbus and later as chief executive of EADS . Between 2010 and 2011 , he served on the High-Level Group on Aviation and Aeronautics Research launched by European Commissioners Siim Kallas and Máire Geoghegan-Quinn . Since 2015 , he has been serving as a member of the European Commission’s High-level Group of Personalities on Defence Research chaired by Elżbieta Bieńkowska . Controversy . During his time at Airbus , Enders grappled with scrutiny over the company’s sales practices after it uncovered inaccuracies in its filings to U.S . regulators over arms technology sales . He also faced criticism in French media and inside parts of the aerospace group for overseeing sweeping compliance probes that led to dozens of senior departures without specific allegations . In 2017 , Enders became one of more than a dozen people being formally investigated by Austria’s public prosecutor as part of a long-running probe into alleged fraud over a €2 billion deal for 18 Eurofighter combat jets . In remarks aimed at Defense Minister Hans Peter Doskozil , he called the claims “cheap election rhetoric,” and announced that “we will not let part of the Austrian government use us as a punching bag that it can beat to score cheap political points” . Later that year , French anti-corruption investigators questioned Enders and other company executives as witnesses in an investigation centered on the sale of Astrium satellites to Kazakhstan in 2010 . Other activities . Government agencies . - Economic Development Board ( EDB ) , Member of the International Advisory Council Corporate boards . - Lilium , Member of the Supervisory Board ( since 2021 ) - Knorr-Bremse , Member of the Supervisory Board ( since 2020 ) - Lufthansa , Member of the Supervisory Board ( since 2020 ) - Linde , Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board ( since 2017 ) - HSBC Trinkaus & Burkhardt , Member of the Advisory Board ( since 2012 ) - Carl Zeiss Optronics , Chairman of the Supervisory Board ( until 2012 ) Non-profit organizations . - AmCham Germany , Member of the Board of Directors - AeroSpace and Defence Industries Association of Europe , Member of the Board - Atlantik-Brücke , Member and former Chairman ( 2005-2009 ) - Atlantic Council , Member of the International Advisory Board - Berlin Bosphorus Initiative ( BBI ) , Member of the Advisory Board - Bilderberg Group , Member of the Steering Committee - German Council on Foreign Relations ( DGAP ) , Member of the Steering Committee - International Institute for Strategic Studies ( IISS ) , Member of the Advisory Council - Max Planck Society , Member of the Senate ( since 2014 ) - Munich Security Conference , Member of the Advisory Council ( since 2014 ) - Federation of German Industries ( BDI ) , Member of the Presidium ( 2009-2019 ) Recognition . - 2014 – European Manager of the Year - 2015 – Legion of Honour - 2017 – Aviation Week’s Person of the Year - 2019 – Tony Jannus Award for distinguished achievement in commercial air transportation . Personal life . Enders is married to Friederike , an economist . The couple has four sons and lives on a farm in Gmund am Tegernsee . Enders has a helicopter pilots license and is a fan of skydiving . In November 2010 , he performed a paradrop from the Airbus A400M Atlas . |
[
"amateur wrestler"
] | easy | What was Butch Levy 's occupation from 1941 to 1942? | /wiki/Butch_Levy#P106#0 | Butch Levy Leonard Bernard Butch / Len Levy ( February 19 , 1921 – February 9 , 1999 ) was an American professional athlete . The 1941 NCAA heavyweight wrestling champion and 1942 AAU champion , he was selected by the Cleveland Rams of the National Football League ( NFL ) in the fourth round of the 1942 NFL Draft . He instead enlisted in the United States Navy and played for one of that branchs organized military service teams , the Great Lakes Bluejackets . Following his discharge from the Navy , Levy played two seasons for the NFLs Rams , winning the NFL Championship in 1945 . He then played for the Los Angeles Dons of the All-America Football Conference ( AAFC ) from 1947 to 1948 , earning First Team All-AAFC honors in the latter year — his final season of professional football . Following his football career , Levy was a professional wrestler in the American Wrestling Association ( AWA ) . Early years . Levy was born to Abraham Levy and Rose Shapiro on February 19 , 1921 in Minneapolis , Minnesota . Butchs grandparents were Jewish immigrants from Lithuania and Russia . Levy attended West High School in Minneapolis , where he won a total of twelve letters in wrestling , football , baseball and hockey . He was the 1937 and 1938 Minnesota high school and Northwest AAU heavyweight wrestling champion . College career . Levy played for the Minnesota Golden Gophers from 1939 to 1941 . The Gophers won the national championship in 1940 and 1941 , finishing with an 8-0 record both seasons while Levy earned All-American honors both years . He garnered AP All-Western Conference first team recognition his senior year in 1941 . He was named to the Chicago College All-Star Game in 1942 . Levy participated in collegiate wrestling , winning the NCAA heavyweight championship in 1941 , becoming the first Golden Gopher to do so and also earned All-American honors the same year . He suffered a broken foot midway through the 1941-42 season , causing him to miss the rest of the year . He won the AAU heavyweight championship in wrestling in 1942 . Levy also lettered in baseball for the Golden Gophers in 1942 . He graduated with a bachelors degree in economics . He was inducted into the University of Minnesotas M Club Hall of Fame in 1994 . Professional football career . Levy was selected by the Cleveland Rams of the NFL with the 27th pick in the 1942 NFL Draft . He then spent three years in the United States Navy during World War II . Initially disallowed from joining the military due to poor eyesight , he was allowed entry after agreeing to play football for the Great Lakes Navy Bluejackets , one of the organized military service football teams . Levy , who played guard , was regarded as a large lineman by the standards of his era , standing 60 and weighing 260 pounds . He played in seven games for the Rams during the 1945 season . The Rams won the NFL Championship against the Washington Redskins on December 16 , 1945 . When the Rams moved to Los Angeles in 1946 , Levy followed , signing a one-year contract in March 1946 and appearing in ten games for the team in 1946 . He then played in 25 games for the Los Angeles Dons of the All-America Football Conference ( AAFC ) from 1947 to 1948 , earning All-AAFC first team honors in his final year . He retired from professional football at the end of the 1948 season . Professional wrestling career . Levy became a professional wrestler after his football career . He participated in the NWA Minneapolis Boxing & Wrestling Club / American Wrestling Association , wrestling under the ring name of Butch Levy . He was a two-time NWA World Tag Team champion , first with Verne Gagne and later with Leo Nomellini , both of whom also played for the Minnesota Golden Gophers . Levy met amateur wrestler Pat OConnor from New Zealand during a wrestling tour in Pats home country in 1950 . Levy then trained him to be a professional wrestler . OConnor later won the AWA World Heavyweight Championship and NWA World Heavyweight Championship . Personal life . Levy married Loretta Lucky Bellson in January 1944 and they had three children . Lucky died in 1997 . Len was Jewish and was active in the Jewish community . He worked in his fathers plumbing business before selling it in the late 1960s and becoming an insurance agent for Bankers Life . Levy became a stockbroker in the 1970s and later worked for Piper Jaffray . He was also a securities salesman . He suffered a brain tumor in 1991 . Levys son Rand said Butch was supposed to die but people were just astounded to see him a year later on the golf course . Levy died of cancer on February 9 , 1999 at his home in Minneapolis . |
[
""
] | easy | What was the occupation of Butch Levy from 1942 to 1947? | /wiki/Butch_Levy#P106#1 | Butch Levy Leonard Bernard Butch / Len Levy ( February 19 , 1921 – February 9 , 1999 ) was an American professional athlete . The 1941 NCAA heavyweight wrestling champion and 1942 AAU champion , he was selected by the Cleveland Rams of the National Football League ( NFL ) in the fourth round of the 1942 NFL Draft . He instead enlisted in the United States Navy and played for one of that branchs organized military service teams , the Great Lakes Bluejackets . Following his discharge from the Navy , Levy played two seasons for the NFLs Rams , winning the NFL Championship in 1945 . He then played for the Los Angeles Dons of the All-America Football Conference ( AAFC ) from 1947 to 1948 , earning First Team All-AAFC honors in the latter year — his final season of professional football . Following his football career , Levy was a professional wrestler in the American Wrestling Association ( AWA ) . Early years . Levy was born to Abraham Levy and Rose Shapiro on February 19 , 1921 in Minneapolis , Minnesota . Butchs grandparents were Jewish immigrants from Lithuania and Russia . Levy attended West High School in Minneapolis , where he won a total of twelve letters in wrestling , football , baseball and hockey . He was the 1937 and 1938 Minnesota high school and Northwest AAU heavyweight wrestling champion . College career . Levy played for the Minnesota Golden Gophers from 1939 to 1941 . The Gophers won the national championship in 1940 and 1941 , finishing with an 8-0 record both seasons while Levy earned All-American honors both years . He garnered AP All-Western Conference first team recognition his senior year in 1941 . He was named to the Chicago College All-Star Game in 1942 . Levy participated in collegiate wrestling , winning the NCAA heavyweight championship in 1941 , becoming the first Golden Gopher to do so and also earned All-American honors the same year . He suffered a broken foot midway through the 1941-42 season , causing him to miss the rest of the year . He won the AAU heavyweight championship in wrestling in 1942 . Levy also lettered in baseball for the Golden Gophers in 1942 . He graduated with a bachelors degree in economics . He was inducted into the University of Minnesotas M Club Hall of Fame in 1994 . Professional football career . Levy was selected by the Cleveland Rams of the NFL with the 27th pick in the 1942 NFL Draft . He then spent three years in the United States Navy during World War II . Initially disallowed from joining the military due to poor eyesight , he was allowed entry after agreeing to play football for the Great Lakes Navy Bluejackets , one of the organized military service football teams . Levy , who played guard , was regarded as a large lineman by the standards of his era , standing 60 and weighing 260 pounds . He played in seven games for the Rams during the 1945 season . The Rams won the NFL Championship against the Washington Redskins on December 16 , 1945 . When the Rams moved to Los Angeles in 1946 , Levy followed , signing a one-year contract in March 1946 and appearing in ten games for the team in 1946 . He then played in 25 games for the Los Angeles Dons of the All-America Football Conference ( AAFC ) from 1947 to 1948 , earning All-AAFC first team honors in his final year . He retired from professional football at the end of the 1948 season . Professional wrestling career . Levy became a professional wrestler after his football career . He participated in the NWA Minneapolis Boxing & Wrestling Club / American Wrestling Association , wrestling under the ring name of Butch Levy . He was a two-time NWA World Tag Team champion , first with Verne Gagne and later with Leo Nomellini , both of whom also played for the Minnesota Golden Gophers . Levy met amateur wrestler Pat OConnor from New Zealand during a wrestling tour in Pats home country in 1950 . Levy then trained him to be a professional wrestler . OConnor later won the AWA World Heavyweight Championship and NWA World Heavyweight Championship . Personal life . Levy married Loretta Lucky Bellson in January 1944 and they had three children . Lucky died in 1997 . Len was Jewish and was active in the Jewish community . He worked in his fathers plumbing business before selling it in the late 1960s and becoming an insurance agent for Bankers Life . Levy became a stockbroker in the 1970s and later worked for Piper Jaffray . He was also a securities salesman . He suffered a brain tumor in 1991 . Levys son Rand said Butch was supposed to die but people were just astounded to see him a year later on the golf course . Levy died of cancer on February 9 , 1999 at his home in Minneapolis . |
[
"professional wrestler"
] | easy | What was the occupation of Butch Levy from 1947 to 1967? | /wiki/Butch_Levy#P106#2 | Butch Levy Leonard Bernard Butch / Len Levy ( February 19 , 1921 – February 9 , 1999 ) was an American professional athlete . The 1941 NCAA heavyweight wrestling champion and 1942 AAU champion , he was selected by the Cleveland Rams of the National Football League ( NFL ) in the fourth round of the 1942 NFL Draft . He instead enlisted in the United States Navy and played for one of that branchs organized military service teams , the Great Lakes Bluejackets . Following his discharge from the Navy , Levy played two seasons for the NFLs Rams , winning the NFL Championship in 1945 . He then played for the Los Angeles Dons of the All-America Football Conference ( AAFC ) from 1947 to 1948 , earning First Team All-AAFC honors in the latter year — his final season of professional football . Following his football career , Levy was a professional wrestler in the American Wrestling Association ( AWA ) . Early years . Levy was born to Abraham Levy and Rose Shapiro on February 19 , 1921 in Minneapolis , Minnesota . Butchs grandparents were Jewish immigrants from Lithuania and Russia . Levy attended West High School in Minneapolis , where he won a total of twelve letters in wrestling , football , baseball and hockey . He was the 1937 and 1938 Minnesota high school and Northwest AAU heavyweight wrestling champion . College career . Levy played for the Minnesota Golden Gophers from 1939 to 1941 . The Gophers won the national championship in 1940 and 1941 , finishing with an 8-0 record both seasons while Levy earned All-American honors both years . He garnered AP All-Western Conference first team recognition his senior year in 1941 . He was named to the Chicago College All-Star Game in 1942 . Levy participated in collegiate wrestling , winning the NCAA heavyweight championship in 1941 , becoming the first Golden Gopher to do so and also earned All-American honors the same year . He suffered a broken foot midway through the 1941-42 season , causing him to miss the rest of the year . He won the AAU heavyweight championship in wrestling in 1942 . Levy also lettered in baseball for the Golden Gophers in 1942 . He graduated with a bachelors degree in economics . He was inducted into the University of Minnesotas M Club Hall of Fame in 1994 . Professional football career . Levy was selected by the Cleveland Rams of the NFL with the 27th pick in the 1942 NFL Draft . He then spent three years in the United States Navy during World War II . Initially disallowed from joining the military due to poor eyesight , he was allowed entry after agreeing to play football for the Great Lakes Navy Bluejackets , one of the organized military service football teams . Levy , who played guard , was regarded as a large lineman by the standards of his era , standing 60 and weighing 260 pounds . He played in seven games for the Rams during the 1945 season . The Rams won the NFL Championship against the Washington Redskins on December 16 , 1945 . When the Rams moved to Los Angeles in 1946 , Levy followed , signing a one-year contract in March 1946 and appearing in ten games for the team in 1946 . He then played in 25 games for the Los Angeles Dons of the All-America Football Conference ( AAFC ) from 1947 to 1948 , earning All-AAFC first team honors in his final year . He retired from professional football at the end of the 1948 season . Professional wrestling career . Levy became a professional wrestler after his football career . He participated in the NWA Minneapolis Boxing & Wrestling Club / American Wrestling Association , wrestling under the ring name of Butch Levy . He was a two-time NWA World Tag Team champion , first with Verne Gagne and later with Leo Nomellini , both of whom also played for the Minnesota Golden Gophers . Levy met amateur wrestler Pat OConnor from New Zealand during a wrestling tour in Pats home country in 1950 . Levy then trained him to be a professional wrestler . OConnor later won the AWA World Heavyweight Championship and NWA World Heavyweight Championship . Personal life . Levy married Loretta Lucky Bellson in January 1944 and they had three children . Lucky died in 1997 . Len was Jewish and was active in the Jewish community . He worked in his fathers plumbing business before selling it in the late 1960s and becoming an insurance agent for Bankers Life . Levy became a stockbroker in the 1970s and later worked for Piper Jaffray . He was also a securities salesman . He suffered a brain tumor in 1991 . Levys son Rand said Butch was supposed to die but people were just astounded to see him a year later on the golf course . Levy died of cancer on February 9 , 1999 at his home in Minneapolis . |
[
"Nissan Motors"
] | easy | Kenta Hasegawa played for which team from 1988 to 1989? | /wiki/Kenta_Hasegawa#P54#0 | Kenta Hasegawa Club career . Hasegawa was educated at and played for Shimizu Higashi High School . He won the national high school championship with his teammates including Katsumi Oenoki and Takumi Horiike . He continued his study and football at University of Tsukuba where he won the Kanto University League title in 1987 . After graduating from the university in 1988 , he joined Japan Soccer League side Nissan Motors ( current Yokohama F . Marinos ) . He contributed to the club winning the Emperors Cup twice in 1988 and 1989 . When Japans first-ever professional league J1 League started , Shimizu S-Pulse was founded in his local city . He joined the club in 1992 and re-united with his high school teammates Oenoki and Horiike . He helped the club to win the J.League Cup in 1996 . He retired as a Shimizu player after the club won the second stage of the J1 League 1999 season . He played 207 league matches and scored 45 league goals in 7 seasons at Shimizu . International career . Hasegawa was capped 27 times and scored 4 goals for the Japanese national team between 1989 and 1995 . His first international appearance came on January 20 , 1989 in a friendly against Iran in Teheran . He scored for the first time for his country on June 11 , 1989 in a 1990 World Cup qualification against Indonesia at Nishigaoka Soccer Stadium in Tokyo . He was a member of the Japan squad who participated in the 1994 World Cup qualification for the 1994 World Cup . In the crucial last match , Hasegawa was substituted in the 59th minute by Masahiro Fukuda and watched from the bench a late Iraqi equaliser dashed Japans hope to qualify for the finals in the US , the match that the Japanese fans now refer to as the Agony of Doha . Coaching career . After retiring from the game , Hasegawa started working as a pundit for national television NHK . He was also installed as the general manager of two university clubs , Hamamatsu University and Fuji Tokoha University ( 2000–2001 ) . He became the manager of Hamamatsu University and lead them to win the Tokai University League title and the Shizuoka Prefectural qualification for the Emperors Cup . He acquired the S-class coaching license that was required to manage a J1 League club in 2004 and became the manager of his old club Shimizu S-Pulse in 2005 . The club struggled and narrowly escaped relegation in the 2005 season but they fought back strongly in the 2006 season and finished 4th in the league ; a position equaled in 2007 . In 2008 Hasegawa led S-Pulse to the final of the J.League Cup and a fifth-placed finish in the league , a placing which included them being the strongest performing team in the second half of the season . He was rewarded with an extended contract which will keep him at S-Pulse until 2010 . He left Shimizu after he led the club to the final of 2010-11 Emperors Cup when his contract was expired . Hawegawa was appointed as a manager at J2 League club Gamba Osaka in 2013 . The club won the champions in 2013 and was promoted to J1 League . In 2014 , the club won all three major title in Japan ; J1 League , J.League Cup and Emperors Cup . He also was selected J.League Manager of the Year awards . In 2015 , the club won the champions at Emperors Cup and 2nd place at J1 League and J.League Cup . He resigned end of 2017 season . In 2018 , Hasegawa signed with FC Tokyo . Career statistics . Managerial . Update ; December 31 , 2018 In popular culture . In popular manga and anime series Chibi Maruko-chan , a boy called Kenta kun occasionally makes an appearance . He loves football and is a classmate of title character Chibi Maruko . Momoko Sakura , the author of the manga , created this character after Hasegawa . Sakura and Hasegawa attended the same primary school during the same period . Honours . As a coach . - Gamba Osaka - J.League Division 1 : 2014 - J.League Division 2 : 2013 - J.League Cup : 2014 - Emperors Cup : 2014 - Japanese Super Cup : 2015 - Individual - J.League Manager of the Year : 2014 External links . - Japan National Football Team Database - Kenta Hasegawa at Giant Bom |
[
""
] | easy | Kenta Hasegawa played for which team from 1989 to 1992? | /wiki/Kenta_Hasegawa#P54#1 | Kenta Hasegawa Club career . Hasegawa was educated at and played for Shimizu Higashi High School . He won the national high school championship with his teammates including Katsumi Oenoki and Takumi Horiike . He continued his study and football at University of Tsukuba where he won the Kanto University League title in 1987 . After graduating from the university in 1988 , he joined Japan Soccer League side Nissan Motors ( current Yokohama F . Marinos ) . He contributed to the club winning the Emperors Cup twice in 1988 and 1989 . When Japans first-ever professional league J1 League started , Shimizu S-Pulse was founded in his local city . He joined the club in 1992 and re-united with his high school teammates Oenoki and Horiike . He helped the club to win the J.League Cup in 1996 . He retired as a Shimizu player after the club won the second stage of the J1 League 1999 season . He played 207 league matches and scored 45 league goals in 7 seasons at Shimizu . International career . Hasegawa was capped 27 times and scored 4 goals for the Japanese national team between 1989 and 1995 . His first international appearance came on January 20 , 1989 in a friendly against Iran in Teheran . He scored for the first time for his country on June 11 , 1989 in a 1990 World Cup qualification against Indonesia at Nishigaoka Soccer Stadium in Tokyo . He was a member of the Japan squad who participated in the 1994 World Cup qualification for the 1994 World Cup . In the crucial last match , Hasegawa was substituted in the 59th minute by Masahiro Fukuda and watched from the bench a late Iraqi equaliser dashed Japans hope to qualify for the finals in the US , the match that the Japanese fans now refer to as the Agony of Doha . Coaching career . After retiring from the game , Hasegawa started working as a pundit for national television NHK . He was also installed as the general manager of two university clubs , Hamamatsu University and Fuji Tokoha University ( 2000–2001 ) . He became the manager of Hamamatsu University and lead them to win the Tokai University League title and the Shizuoka Prefectural qualification for the Emperors Cup . He acquired the S-class coaching license that was required to manage a J1 League club in 2004 and became the manager of his old club Shimizu S-Pulse in 2005 . The club struggled and narrowly escaped relegation in the 2005 season but they fought back strongly in the 2006 season and finished 4th in the league ; a position equaled in 2007 . In 2008 Hasegawa led S-Pulse to the final of the J.League Cup and a fifth-placed finish in the league , a placing which included them being the strongest performing team in the second half of the season . He was rewarded with an extended contract which will keep him at S-Pulse until 2010 . He left Shimizu after he led the club to the final of 2010-11 Emperors Cup when his contract was expired . Hawegawa was appointed as a manager at J2 League club Gamba Osaka in 2013 . The club won the champions in 2013 and was promoted to J1 League . In 2014 , the club won all three major title in Japan ; J1 League , J.League Cup and Emperors Cup . He also was selected J.League Manager of the Year awards . In 2015 , the club won the champions at Emperors Cup and 2nd place at J1 League and J.League Cup . He resigned end of 2017 season . In 2018 , Hasegawa signed with FC Tokyo . Career statistics . Managerial . Update ; December 31 , 2018 In popular culture . In popular manga and anime series Chibi Maruko-chan , a boy called Kenta kun occasionally makes an appearance . He loves football and is a classmate of title character Chibi Maruko . Momoko Sakura , the author of the manga , created this character after Hasegawa . Sakura and Hasegawa attended the same primary school during the same period . Honours . As a coach . - Gamba Osaka - J.League Division 1 : 2014 - J.League Division 2 : 2013 - J.League Cup : 2014 - Emperors Cup : 2014 - Japanese Super Cup : 2015 - Individual - J.League Manager of the Year : 2014 External links . - Japan National Football Team Database - Kenta Hasegawa at Giant Bom |
[
"Shimizu S-Pulse"
] | easy | Which team did the player Kenta Hasegawa belong to from 1992 to 1995? | /wiki/Kenta_Hasegawa#P54#2 | Kenta Hasegawa Club career . Hasegawa was educated at and played for Shimizu Higashi High School . He won the national high school championship with his teammates including Katsumi Oenoki and Takumi Horiike . He continued his study and football at University of Tsukuba where he won the Kanto University League title in 1987 . After graduating from the university in 1988 , he joined Japan Soccer League side Nissan Motors ( current Yokohama F . Marinos ) . He contributed to the club winning the Emperors Cup twice in 1988 and 1989 . When Japans first-ever professional league J1 League started , Shimizu S-Pulse was founded in his local city . He joined the club in 1992 and re-united with his high school teammates Oenoki and Horiike . He helped the club to win the J.League Cup in 1996 . He retired as a Shimizu player after the club won the second stage of the J1 League 1999 season . He played 207 league matches and scored 45 league goals in 7 seasons at Shimizu . International career . Hasegawa was capped 27 times and scored 4 goals for the Japanese national team between 1989 and 1995 . His first international appearance came on January 20 , 1989 in a friendly against Iran in Teheran . He scored for the first time for his country on June 11 , 1989 in a 1990 World Cup qualification against Indonesia at Nishigaoka Soccer Stadium in Tokyo . He was a member of the Japan squad who participated in the 1994 World Cup qualification for the 1994 World Cup . In the crucial last match , Hasegawa was substituted in the 59th minute by Masahiro Fukuda and watched from the bench a late Iraqi equaliser dashed Japans hope to qualify for the finals in the US , the match that the Japanese fans now refer to as the Agony of Doha . Coaching career . After retiring from the game , Hasegawa started working as a pundit for national television NHK . He was also installed as the general manager of two university clubs , Hamamatsu University and Fuji Tokoha University ( 2000–2001 ) . He became the manager of Hamamatsu University and lead them to win the Tokai University League title and the Shizuoka Prefectural qualification for the Emperors Cup . He acquired the S-class coaching license that was required to manage a J1 League club in 2004 and became the manager of his old club Shimizu S-Pulse in 2005 . The club struggled and narrowly escaped relegation in the 2005 season but they fought back strongly in the 2006 season and finished 4th in the league ; a position equaled in 2007 . In 2008 Hasegawa led S-Pulse to the final of the J.League Cup and a fifth-placed finish in the league , a placing which included them being the strongest performing team in the second half of the season . He was rewarded with an extended contract which will keep him at S-Pulse until 2010 . He left Shimizu after he led the club to the final of 2010-11 Emperors Cup when his contract was expired . Hawegawa was appointed as a manager at J2 League club Gamba Osaka in 2013 . The club won the champions in 2013 and was promoted to J1 League . In 2014 , the club won all three major title in Japan ; J1 League , J.League Cup and Emperors Cup . He also was selected J.League Manager of the Year awards . In 2015 , the club won the champions at Emperors Cup and 2nd place at J1 League and J.League Cup . He resigned end of 2017 season . In 2018 , Hasegawa signed with FC Tokyo . Career statistics . Managerial . Update ; December 31 , 2018 In popular culture . In popular manga and anime series Chibi Maruko-chan , a boy called Kenta kun occasionally makes an appearance . He loves football and is a classmate of title character Chibi Maruko . Momoko Sakura , the author of the manga , created this character after Hasegawa . Sakura and Hasegawa attended the same primary school during the same period . Honours . As a coach . - Gamba Osaka - J.League Division 1 : 2014 - J.League Division 2 : 2013 - J.League Cup : 2014 - Emperors Cup : 2014 - Japanese Super Cup : 2015 - Individual - J.League Manager of the Year : 2014 External links . - Japan National Football Team Database - Kenta Hasegawa at Giant Bom |
[
"Iffley Glee Club"
] | easy | What was the official name of Oxford Harmonic Choir from 1921 to 1922? | /wiki/Oxford_Harmonic_Choir#P1448#0 | Oxford Harmonic Choir Oxford Harmonic Choir is a large , mixed-voice amateur choir based in Oxford , England . It is the second-oldest non-collegiate choir in Oxford , having been founded in 1921 , and according to The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians is one of the institutions of lasting significance to Oxfords musical life that were established during this period . Currently the choir has around 150 singing members and usually performs three concerts annually in either the Sheldonian Theatre or Oxford Town Hall with the Orchestra of Stowe Opera . History . Originally the choir was known as the Iffley Glee Club , and after renaming itself the Iffley Choral Society in 1923 , it became Oxford Harmonic Society in 1924 after moving base to central Oxford . In August 2014 the choir changed its name to Oxford Harmonic Choir . A notable element of Oxford Harmonic Choirs performing history has been participation in various music festivals held in Oxford . These included a performance of Haydns Creation in 1932 as part of a three-day Haydn festival which was described in The New York Times as by far the most genial as well as the most admirable commemoration Great Britain has had of one whose popularity in the eighteenth century rivalled that of Handel himself . Other festivals involving performances by the choir included the 1948 Oxford Festival of British Music and the 1950 Oxford Festival of Johann Sebastian Bach and the 1951 Oxford Festival of Arts linked to the Festival of Britain . Another long-established and oft-noted tradition of the choir is the programming of rarely performed works in addition to the standard choral repertoire . Examples of this include : - Thomas Arnes oratorio Judith on 19 February 1950 – quite possibly the last performance of this work in the UK and one of only a handful post 1800 . - Max Bruchs Das Feuerkreuz on 29 March 2003 – one of several lesser-known choral works by Bruch performed by the choir in recent years . - Carl Loewes Passion Oratorio on 31 March 2012 – the UK premiere of this work originally composed in 1847 . Since 1985 , the choir has also taken part in a number of joint performances with the Bonn Philharmonic Choir in both Bonn and Oxford as part of activities celebrating the links between these twinned cities . One of the highlights of this partnership was a performance of Elgars Dream of Gerontius in Bonn on 22 September 1991 , also involving the Cologne Philharmonic . In addition to a highly enthusiastic response from the audience and reviewers from the Bonn press , the concert also gained considerable attention from The Elgar Society . Notable conductors . From 1923 to 1930 the choirs conductor was Reginald Jacques , who subsequently went on to conduct The Bach Choir in London for many years . Other conductors of note included Sir John Dykes Bower ( 1931–33 ) Sydney Watson ( 1933–39 ) , George Thewlis ( 1941–61 ) , Sir David Lumsden ( 1961–63 ) , Richard Silk ( 1963–71 ) , Peter Ward Jones ( 1971–80 ) , Philip Cave ( 1980–89 ) and Professor Brian Trowell ( 1989–90 ) . Robert Secret has been the choirs conductor since 1990 . Notable soloists and orchestras . Over the years a significant number of well-known and well-loved professional soloists have taken part in the choirs concerts . The following are a selection : - Soprano – Isobel Baillie , Susan Bullock , Lynne Dawson , Heather Harper , Margaret Ritchie , Dorothy Silk . - Contralto – Muriel Brunskill , Jean Rigby , Monica Sinclair , Helen Watts . - Countertenor – James Bowman , Paul Esswood . - Tenor – John Mark Ainsley , John Elwes , Gerald English , Philip Langridge , Peter Pears , Steuart Wilson , Alexander Young . - Bass & Baritone – John Carol Case , Thomas Hemsley , Roy Henderson , Henry Herford , Brian Kay , Dennis Noble , John Noble , Stephen Varcoe . Although concerts have usually involved local orchestras ( sometimes amateur and sometimes professional ) , on occasion the choir has employed well-known household names . The most notable of these include the New Queens Hall Orchestra under Sir Henry Wood in 1927 , two concerts with the London Symphony Orchestra in 1944 and 1949 , and The Kings Consort in 1989 . In addition , the choir was also invited on several occasions to participate in performances promoted by Oxford Subscription Concerts ( an organisation that put on numerous concerts in Oxford for several decades from 1920 onwards ) . These Subscription Concerts included the choir performing alongside the London Symphony Orchestra under Sir Hugh Allen in 1929 and the London Philharmonic Orchestra under Sir Malcolm Sargent in 1935 . References . - F . Bonavia . London 4 June 1932 Some recent British broadcasts The New York Times 12 June 1932 ( subscription required ) . - John Caldwell , Emma Hornby & David Maw . Essays on the history of English Music in honour of John Caldwell . Boydell & Brewer 2010 . , . - Elgar Society Journal . Elgar Society 1992 & 1995 . - Handbook to the University of Oxford . Clarendon Press 1966 . - Christopher Hibbert , Edward Hibbert . The Encyclopaedia of Oxford . Macmillan 1998 . . - John L . Holmes . Conductors on record . Victor Gollancz Ltd 1982 . . - Trevor Hyman . Oxford Harmonic Society : The First Seventy-Five Years . Oxford Harmonic Society 1998 . A copy is held in the Bodleian Library – Aleph System No . 013263395 . - Keesings Record of World Events May 6th 1951 ( subscription required ) - Michael Kennedy . The Oxford Dictionary of Music , 2nd Edition . Oxford University Press 1994 . . - Stanley Sadie . The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians , 2nd Edition , Volume 18 . Macmillan 2001 . . - Peter A . Tasch . The dramatic cobbler : the life and works of Isaac Bickerstaff . Bucknell University Press 1972 . , . External links . - Oxford Harmonic Choirs website . http://www.oxfordharmonicchoir.org/ |
[
"Iffley Choral Society",
"Oxford Harmonic Society"
] | easy | Oxford Harmonic Choir was officially named what from 1922 to 2014? | /wiki/Oxford_Harmonic_Choir#P1448#1 | Oxford Harmonic Choir Oxford Harmonic Choir is a large , mixed-voice amateur choir based in Oxford , England . It is the second-oldest non-collegiate choir in Oxford , having been founded in 1921 , and according to The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians is one of the institutions of lasting significance to Oxfords musical life that were established during this period . Currently the choir has around 150 singing members and usually performs three concerts annually in either the Sheldonian Theatre or Oxford Town Hall with the Orchestra of Stowe Opera . History . Originally the choir was known as the Iffley Glee Club , and after renaming itself the Iffley Choral Society in 1923 , it became Oxford Harmonic Society in 1924 after moving base to central Oxford . In August 2014 the choir changed its name to Oxford Harmonic Choir . A notable element of Oxford Harmonic Choirs performing history has been participation in various music festivals held in Oxford . These included a performance of Haydns Creation in 1932 as part of a three-day Haydn festival which was described in The New York Times as by far the most genial as well as the most admirable commemoration Great Britain has had of one whose popularity in the eighteenth century rivalled that of Handel himself . Other festivals involving performances by the choir included the 1948 Oxford Festival of British Music and the 1950 Oxford Festival of Johann Sebastian Bach and the 1951 Oxford Festival of Arts linked to the Festival of Britain . Another long-established and oft-noted tradition of the choir is the programming of rarely performed works in addition to the standard choral repertoire . Examples of this include : - Thomas Arnes oratorio Judith on 19 February 1950 – quite possibly the last performance of this work in the UK and one of only a handful post 1800 . - Max Bruchs Das Feuerkreuz on 29 March 2003 – one of several lesser-known choral works by Bruch performed by the choir in recent years . - Carl Loewes Passion Oratorio on 31 March 2012 – the UK premiere of this work originally composed in 1847 . Since 1985 , the choir has also taken part in a number of joint performances with the Bonn Philharmonic Choir in both Bonn and Oxford as part of activities celebrating the links between these twinned cities . One of the highlights of this partnership was a performance of Elgars Dream of Gerontius in Bonn on 22 September 1991 , also involving the Cologne Philharmonic . In addition to a highly enthusiastic response from the audience and reviewers from the Bonn press , the concert also gained considerable attention from The Elgar Society . Notable conductors . From 1923 to 1930 the choirs conductor was Reginald Jacques , who subsequently went on to conduct The Bach Choir in London for many years . Other conductors of note included Sir John Dykes Bower ( 1931–33 ) Sydney Watson ( 1933–39 ) , George Thewlis ( 1941–61 ) , Sir David Lumsden ( 1961–63 ) , Richard Silk ( 1963–71 ) , Peter Ward Jones ( 1971–80 ) , Philip Cave ( 1980–89 ) and Professor Brian Trowell ( 1989–90 ) . Robert Secret has been the choirs conductor since 1990 . Notable soloists and orchestras . Over the years a significant number of well-known and well-loved professional soloists have taken part in the choirs concerts . The following are a selection : - Soprano – Isobel Baillie , Susan Bullock , Lynne Dawson , Heather Harper , Margaret Ritchie , Dorothy Silk . - Contralto – Muriel Brunskill , Jean Rigby , Monica Sinclair , Helen Watts . - Countertenor – James Bowman , Paul Esswood . - Tenor – John Mark Ainsley , John Elwes , Gerald English , Philip Langridge , Peter Pears , Steuart Wilson , Alexander Young . - Bass & Baritone – John Carol Case , Thomas Hemsley , Roy Henderson , Henry Herford , Brian Kay , Dennis Noble , John Noble , Stephen Varcoe . Although concerts have usually involved local orchestras ( sometimes amateur and sometimes professional ) , on occasion the choir has employed well-known household names . The most notable of these include the New Queens Hall Orchestra under Sir Henry Wood in 1927 , two concerts with the London Symphony Orchestra in 1944 and 1949 , and The Kings Consort in 1989 . In addition , the choir was also invited on several occasions to participate in performances promoted by Oxford Subscription Concerts ( an organisation that put on numerous concerts in Oxford for several decades from 1920 onwards ) . These Subscription Concerts included the choir performing alongside the London Symphony Orchestra under Sir Hugh Allen in 1929 and the London Philharmonic Orchestra under Sir Malcolm Sargent in 1935 . References . - F . Bonavia . London 4 June 1932 Some recent British broadcasts The New York Times 12 June 1932 ( subscription required ) . - John Caldwell , Emma Hornby & David Maw . Essays on the history of English Music in honour of John Caldwell . Boydell & Brewer 2010 . , . - Elgar Society Journal . Elgar Society 1992 & 1995 . - Handbook to the University of Oxford . Clarendon Press 1966 . - Christopher Hibbert , Edward Hibbert . The Encyclopaedia of Oxford . Macmillan 1998 . . - John L . Holmes . Conductors on record . Victor Gollancz Ltd 1982 . . - Trevor Hyman . Oxford Harmonic Society : The First Seventy-Five Years . Oxford Harmonic Society 1998 . A copy is held in the Bodleian Library – Aleph System No . 013263395 . - Keesings Record of World Events May 6th 1951 ( subscription required ) - Michael Kennedy . The Oxford Dictionary of Music , 2nd Edition . Oxford University Press 1994 . . - Stanley Sadie . The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians , 2nd Edition , Volume 18 . Macmillan 2001 . . - Peter A . Tasch . The dramatic cobbler : the life and works of Isaac Bickerstaff . Bucknell University Press 1972 . , . External links . - Oxford Harmonic Choirs website . http://www.oxfordharmonicchoir.org/ |
[
"Oxford Harmonic Choir"
] | easy | Oxford Harmonic Choir was officially named what from 2014 to 2015? | /wiki/Oxford_Harmonic_Choir#P1448#2 | Oxford Harmonic Choir Oxford Harmonic Choir is a large , mixed-voice amateur choir based in Oxford , England . It is the second-oldest non-collegiate choir in Oxford , having been founded in 1921 , and according to The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians is one of the institutions of lasting significance to Oxfords musical life that were established during this period . Currently the choir has around 150 singing members and usually performs three concerts annually in either the Sheldonian Theatre or Oxford Town Hall with the Orchestra of Stowe Opera . History . Originally the choir was known as the Iffley Glee Club , and after renaming itself the Iffley Choral Society in 1923 , it became Oxford Harmonic Society in 1924 after moving base to central Oxford . In August 2014 the choir changed its name to Oxford Harmonic Choir . A notable element of Oxford Harmonic Choirs performing history has been participation in various music festivals held in Oxford . These included a performance of Haydns Creation in 1932 as part of a three-day Haydn festival which was described in The New York Times as by far the most genial as well as the most admirable commemoration Great Britain has had of one whose popularity in the eighteenth century rivalled that of Handel himself . Other festivals involving performances by the choir included the 1948 Oxford Festival of British Music and the 1950 Oxford Festival of Johann Sebastian Bach and the 1951 Oxford Festival of Arts linked to the Festival of Britain . Another long-established and oft-noted tradition of the choir is the programming of rarely performed works in addition to the standard choral repertoire . Examples of this include : - Thomas Arnes oratorio Judith on 19 February 1950 – quite possibly the last performance of this work in the UK and one of only a handful post 1800 . - Max Bruchs Das Feuerkreuz on 29 March 2003 – one of several lesser-known choral works by Bruch performed by the choir in recent years . - Carl Loewes Passion Oratorio on 31 March 2012 – the UK premiere of this work originally composed in 1847 . Since 1985 , the choir has also taken part in a number of joint performances with the Bonn Philharmonic Choir in both Bonn and Oxford as part of activities celebrating the links between these twinned cities . One of the highlights of this partnership was a performance of Elgars Dream of Gerontius in Bonn on 22 September 1991 , also involving the Cologne Philharmonic . In addition to a highly enthusiastic response from the audience and reviewers from the Bonn press , the concert also gained considerable attention from The Elgar Society . Notable conductors . From 1923 to 1930 the choirs conductor was Reginald Jacques , who subsequently went on to conduct The Bach Choir in London for many years . Other conductors of note included Sir John Dykes Bower ( 1931–33 ) Sydney Watson ( 1933–39 ) , George Thewlis ( 1941–61 ) , Sir David Lumsden ( 1961–63 ) , Richard Silk ( 1963–71 ) , Peter Ward Jones ( 1971–80 ) , Philip Cave ( 1980–89 ) and Professor Brian Trowell ( 1989–90 ) . Robert Secret has been the choirs conductor since 1990 . Notable soloists and orchestras . Over the years a significant number of well-known and well-loved professional soloists have taken part in the choirs concerts . The following are a selection : - Soprano – Isobel Baillie , Susan Bullock , Lynne Dawson , Heather Harper , Margaret Ritchie , Dorothy Silk . - Contralto – Muriel Brunskill , Jean Rigby , Monica Sinclair , Helen Watts . - Countertenor – James Bowman , Paul Esswood . - Tenor – John Mark Ainsley , John Elwes , Gerald English , Philip Langridge , Peter Pears , Steuart Wilson , Alexander Young . - Bass & Baritone – John Carol Case , Thomas Hemsley , Roy Henderson , Henry Herford , Brian Kay , Dennis Noble , John Noble , Stephen Varcoe . Although concerts have usually involved local orchestras ( sometimes amateur and sometimes professional ) , on occasion the choir has employed well-known household names . The most notable of these include the New Queens Hall Orchestra under Sir Henry Wood in 1927 , two concerts with the London Symphony Orchestra in 1944 and 1949 , and The Kings Consort in 1989 . In addition , the choir was also invited on several occasions to participate in performances promoted by Oxford Subscription Concerts ( an organisation that put on numerous concerts in Oxford for several decades from 1920 onwards ) . These Subscription Concerts included the choir performing alongside the London Symphony Orchestra under Sir Hugh Allen in 1929 and the London Philharmonic Orchestra under Sir Malcolm Sargent in 1935 . References . - F . Bonavia . London 4 June 1932 Some recent British broadcasts The New York Times 12 June 1932 ( subscription required ) . - John Caldwell , Emma Hornby & David Maw . Essays on the history of English Music in honour of John Caldwell . Boydell & Brewer 2010 . , . - Elgar Society Journal . Elgar Society 1992 & 1995 . - Handbook to the University of Oxford . Clarendon Press 1966 . - Christopher Hibbert , Edward Hibbert . The Encyclopaedia of Oxford . Macmillan 1998 . . - John L . Holmes . Conductors on record . Victor Gollancz Ltd 1982 . . - Trevor Hyman . Oxford Harmonic Society : The First Seventy-Five Years . Oxford Harmonic Society 1998 . A copy is held in the Bodleian Library – Aleph System No . 013263395 . - Keesings Record of World Events May 6th 1951 ( subscription required ) - Michael Kennedy . The Oxford Dictionary of Music , 2nd Edition . Oxford University Press 1994 . . - Stanley Sadie . The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians , 2nd Edition , Volume 18 . Macmillan 2001 . . - Peter A . Tasch . The dramatic cobbler : the life and works of Isaac Bickerstaff . Bucknell University Press 1972 . , . External links . - Oxford Harmonic Choirs website . http://www.oxfordharmonicchoir.org/ |
[
"a Cistercian monk"
] | easy | What was the position of Henry Murdac from 1134 to 1143? | /wiki/Henry_Murdac#P39#0 | Henry Murdac Henry Murdac ( died 1153 ) was abbot of Fountains Abbey and Archbishop of York in medieval England , Early life . Murdac was a native of Yorkshire . He was friendly with Archbishop Thurstan of York , who secured his promotion in the cathedral chapter of York Minster , however Murdac resigned soon afterwards when Bernard of Clairvaux invited him to become a Cistercian monk at Clairvaux Abbey . He was a friend and companion there of the future Pope Eugene III . He was later appointed the first abbot of Vauclair Abbey in the diocese of Laon and in 1144 returned to Yorkshire to assume the abbacy at Fountains . Henry was a strict disciplinarian and a magnificent administrator , enforcing his rules by example , in living a life of great austerity and constantly wearing sackcloth next to his skin . Murdac was also at the forefront of opposition to the appointment of William FitzHerbert to the see of York , by King Stephen of England . William , who was the kings nephew , was accused by some of simony and unchaste living ; in a letter to Pope Innocent II , Bernard maintained that fitzHerbert was rotten from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head . FitzHerbert was first suspended by the pope in 1147 , then formally deposed at the Council of Rheims at the instigation of Pope Eugene III , like Murdac , a former monk of Clairvaux . Archbishop . Murdac was then installed as the new archbishop , being consecrated on 7 December 1147 by Eugene III . He was the first Cistercian bishop in England , as well as being the first bishop or archbishop elected since the Norman Conquest without the approval of the king . However , Yorks cathedral chapter refused to acknowledge his appointment , so he retired to Ripon . King Stephen also refused to recognise him , sequestering the stalls of York and imposing a fine on the town of Beverley for harbouring him . In retaliation , Murdac excommunicated Hugh de Puiset , Treasurer of York , and his other enemies and laid the city under interdict . Puiset , in return , excommunicated the Archbishop and ordered the services to be conducted as usual . In this he was supported by Eustace , son of Stephen . Murdac , in retaliation for Stephens refusal to recognise his election , supported King David I of Scotland in 1149 , when David invaded the north of England . David was ostensibly invading to put his nephew Henry Plantagenet on the English throne , but modern historians feel that David was also pursuing his own aims of strengthening his kingdom . Murdac probably took the step of aligning himself with the Scots because of Murdacs desire to establish Yorks independence from the primacy of the see of Canterbury . Murdac hoped that David would be able to install Murdac in York , where the archbishop had been refused entry . In 1150 Stephen finally recognised Henry Murdac as Archbishop of York , probably hoping that Henry would then intercede with Eugenius to secure the coronation of Eustace , but that did not happen . Murdac also continued to lack support in the city of York itself , and continued to reside at Ripon . Finally , in January 1151 , Henry was able to enter York . Later in 1151 the archbishop travelled to Rome to consult with the pope about Eustaces coronation , but was unable to secure permission from the pope . In 1153 Puiset was elected Bishop of Durham , which greatly offended Murdac chiefly because he , as metropolitan of the province , had not been consulted . He excommunicated the prior and Archdeacon of Durham , who came to York to implore mercy and absolution . The King and his son Eustace implored him to grant the rebels absolution , but he refused , until they came to Beverley , acknowledged their fault , and submitted to scourging at the entrance to the Minster when he did finally absolve them . Murdac spent five of his six years as Archbishop at Ripon . Despite everything , he retained his influence over Fountains and the three succeeding abbots , Maurice ( 1148 ) , Thorald ( 1148–1150 ) and Richard ( 1150–1170 ) , were suffragan abbots under him . Death and afterwards . Henry died at Beverley on 14 October 1153 . Following Henrys death , William FitzHerbert was reinstalled as archbishop and made his peace with the community at Fountains . Murdac was buried at York Minster . His nephew Hugh Murdac was a canon at York Minster and was elected as Archdeacon of Cleveland in 1201 but not confirmed in that office . |
[
"Archbishop at Ripon"
] | easy | What position did Henry Murdac take from 1143 to 1147? | /wiki/Henry_Murdac#P39#1 | Henry Murdac Henry Murdac ( died 1153 ) was abbot of Fountains Abbey and Archbishop of York in medieval England , Early life . Murdac was a native of Yorkshire . He was friendly with Archbishop Thurstan of York , who secured his promotion in the cathedral chapter of York Minster , however Murdac resigned soon afterwards when Bernard of Clairvaux invited him to become a Cistercian monk at Clairvaux Abbey . He was a friend and companion there of the future Pope Eugene III . He was later appointed the first abbot of Vauclair Abbey in the diocese of Laon and in 1144 returned to Yorkshire to assume the abbacy at Fountains . Henry was a strict disciplinarian and a magnificent administrator , enforcing his rules by example , in living a life of great austerity and constantly wearing sackcloth next to his skin . Murdac was also at the forefront of opposition to the appointment of William FitzHerbert to the see of York , by King Stephen of England . William , who was the kings nephew , was accused by some of simony and unchaste living ; in a letter to Pope Innocent II , Bernard maintained that fitzHerbert was rotten from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head . FitzHerbert was first suspended by the pope in 1147 , then formally deposed at the Council of Rheims at the instigation of Pope Eugene III , like Murdac , a former monk of Clairvaux . Archbishop . Murdac was then installed as the new archbishop , being consecrated on 7 December 1147 by Eugene III . He was the first Cistercian bishop in England , as well as being the first bishop or archbishop elected since the Norman Conquest without the approval of the king . However , Yorks cathedral chapter refused to acknowledge his appointment , so he retired to Ripon . King Stephen also refused to recognise him , sequestering the stalls of York and imposing a fine on the town of Beverley for harbouring him . In retaliation , Murdac excommunicated Hugh de Puiset , Treasurer of York , and his other enemies and laid the city under interdict . Puiset , in return , excommunicated the Archbishop and ordered the services to be conducted as usual . In this he was supported by Eustace , son of Stephen . Murdac , in retaliation for Stephens refusal to recognise his election , supported King David I of Scotland in 1149 , when David invaded the north of England . David was ostensibly invading to put his nephew Henry Plantagenet on the English throne , but modern historians feel that David was also pursuing his own aims of strengthening his kingdom . Murdac probably took the step of aligning himself with the Scots because of Murdacs desire to establish Yorks independence from the primacy of the see of Canterbury . Murdac hoped that David would be able to install Murdac in York , where the archbishop had been refused entry . In 1150 Stephen finally recognised Henry Murdac as Archbishop of York , probably hoping that Henry would then intercede with Eugenius to secure the coronation of Eustace , but that did not happen . Murdac also continued to lack support in the city of York itself , and continued to reside at Ripon . Finally , in January 1151 , Henry was able to enter York . Later in 1151 the archbishop travelled to Rome to consult with the pope about Eustaces coronation , but was unable to secure permission from the pope . In 1153 Puiset was elected Bishop of Durham , which greatly offended Murdac chiefly because he , as metropolitan of the province , had not been consulted . He excommunicated the prior and Archdeacon of Durham , who came to York to implore mercy and absolution . The King and his son Eustace implored him to grant the rebels absolution , but he refused , until they came to Beverley , acknowledged their fault , and submitted to scourging at the entrance to the Minster when he did finally absolve them . Murdac spent five of his six years as Archbishop at Ripon . Despite everything , he retained his influence over Fountains and the three succeeding abbots , Maurice ( 1148 ) , Thorald ( 1148–1150 ) and Richard ( 1150–1170 ) , were suffragan abbots under him . Death and afterwards . Henry died at Beverley on 14 October 1153 . Following Henrys death , William FitzHerbert was reinstalled as archbishop and made his peace with the community at Fountains . Murdac was buried at York Minster . His nephew Hugh Murdac was a canon at York Minster and was elected as Archdeacon of Cleveland in 1201 but not confirmed in that office . |
[
"Member of Parliament for Greenwich"
] | easy | Which position did George Hume (politician) hold from Nov 1922 to Nov 1923? | /wiki/George_Hume_(politician)#P39#0 | George Hume ( politician ) Sir George Hopwood Hume ( 24 May 1866 – 13 September 1946 ) was a British Conservative politician and leader of the London County Council . He was born in the Ukrainian city of Poltava , then in the Russian Empire . His father was George Hume , a Scottish mechanical engineer , and British vice consul at Kiev and Kharkov . He was educated in Russia , Switzerland and at the Finsbury Technical College , London . He was apprenticed as an electrical engineer at Siemens Brothers , later studying law and was called to the bar at the Middle Temple in 1900 . In 1901 he married Jeanne Alice Ladrierre of Lausanne , who died in 1922 . Political career . Greenwich Borough Council . Hume entered politics in November 1900 when he was elected to the newly constituted Greenwich Borough Council as a member of the Conservative-backed Moderate grouping . He topped the poll in the Charlton ward , and became leader as the Moderates took control of the new council . London County Council . In March 1910 Hume was elected to the London County Council to represent Greenwich . He was a member of the majority Municipal Reform Party , the title used by the Conservatives , on the county council . He was re-elected in 1913 , and was appointed chairman of the Highways Committee . In this capacity in May 1914 he presided over a ceremony to commission new turbines at the Greenwich Power Station of the London County Council Tramways . Leader of the council . In 1918 Hume succeeded Ronald Collet Norman as leader of the Municipal Reformers and thus the council . Although the party had a majority of seats , they had formed a wartime coalition with the opposition Progressives . Hume , who was re-elected in 1919 , continued this agreement until 1922 . Hume was elevated to the rank of county alderman in 1922 which he was to hold until his death . In 1924 he was knighted . In 1925 he resigned as council leader , and in 1926 was elected to the ceremonial post of Chairman of the L.C.C . Member of Parliament for Greenwich . In 1922 Hume was nominated as Conservative candidate for the parliamentary constituency of Greenwich . He was elected by a large majority over his Labour Party opponent , Edward Palmer . A further election was held in 1923 , and Palmer unseated Hume . Hume unseated Palmer at the 1924 election , only for the situation to be reversed in 1929 . In 1931 Hume regained the seat , with Palmers vote reduced by the presence of a Communist candidate , and was re-elected four years later . Apart from his municipal and parliamentary offices , Hume was a member of the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee , the Thames Conservancy Board and the London and Home Counties Joint Electricity Authority . In 1932 he married Dorothy Hunt Blundell . In 1938 he indicated his intention to stand down at the next election . In the event , elections were postponed due to the Second World War , and he remained in the Commons until 1945 . Sir George Hume died at his home at Blackheath , London in September 1946 , aged 80 . |
[
"Member of Parliament for Greenwich"
] | easy | Which position did George Hume (politician) hold from Oct 1924 to May 1929? | /wiki/George_Hume_(politician)#P39#1 | George Hume ( politician ) Sir George Hopwood Hume ( 24 May 1866 – 13 September 1946 ) was a British Conservative politician and leader of the London County Council . He was born in the Ukrainian city of Poltava , then in the Russian Empire . His father was George Hume , a Scottish mechanical engineer , and British vice consul at Kiev and Kharkov . He was educated in Russia , Switzerland and at the Finsbury Technical College , London . He was apprenticed as an electrical engineer at Siemens Brothers , later studying law and was called to the bar at the Middle Temple in 1900 . In 1901 he married Jeanne Alice Ladrierre of Lausanne , who died in 1922 . Political career . Greenwich Borough Council . Hume entered politics in November 1900 when he was elected to the newly constituted Greenwich Borough Council as a member of the Conservative-backed Moderate grouping . He topped the poll in the Charlton ward , and became leader as the Moderates took control of the new council . London County Council . In March 1910 Hume was elected to the London County Council to represent Greenwich . He was a member of the majority Municipal Reform Party , the title used by the Conservatives , on the county council . He was re-elected in 1913 , and was appointed chairman of the Highways Committee . In this capacity in May 1914 he presided over a ceremony to commission new turbines at the Greenwich Power Station of the London County Council Tramways . Leader of the council . In 1918 Hume succeeded Ronald Collet Norman as leader of the Municipal Reformers and thus the council . Although the party had a majority of seats , they had formed a wartime coalition with the opposition Progressives . Hume , who was re-elected in 1919 , continued this agreement until 1922 . Hume was elevated to the rank of county alderman in 1922 which he was to hold until his death . In 1924 he was knighted . In 1925 he resigned as council leader , and in 1926 was elected to the ceremonial post of Chairman of the L.C.C . Member of Parliament for Greenwich . In 1922 Hume was nominated as Conservative candidate for the parliamentary constituency of Greenwich . He was elected by a large majority over his Labour Party opponent , Edward Palmer . A further election was held in 1923 , and Palmer unseated Hume . Hume unseated Palmer at the 1924 election , only for the situation to be reversed in 1929 . In 1931 Hume regained the seat , with Palmers vote reduced by the presence of a Communist candidate , and was re-elected four years later . Apart from his municipal and parliamentary offices , Hume was a member of the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee , the Thames Conservancy Board and the London and Home Counties Joint Electricity Authority . In 1932 he married Dorothy Hunt Blundell . In 1938 he indicated his intention to stand down at the next election . In the event , elections were postponed due to the Second World War , and he remained in the Commons until 1945 . Sir George Hume died at his home at Blackheath , London in September 1946 , aged 80 . |
[
"Member of Parliament for Greenwich"
] | easy | What position did George Hume (politician) take from Oct 1931 to Oct 1935? | /wiki/George_Hume_(politician)#P39#2 | George Hume ( politician ) Sir George Hopwood Hume ( 24 May 1866 – 13 September 1946 ) was a British Conservative politician and leader of the London County Council . He was born in the Ukrainian city of Poltava , then in the Russian Empire . His father was George Hume , a Scottish mechanical engineer , and British vice consul at Kiev and Kharkov . He was educated in Russia , Switzerland and at the Finsbury Technical College , London . He was apprenticed as an electrical engineer at Siemens Brothers , later studying law and was called to the bar at the Middle Temple in 1900 . In 1901 he married Jeanne Alice Ladrierre of Lausanne , who died in 1922 . Political career . Greenwich Borough Council . Hume entered politics in November 1900 when he was elected to the newly constituted Greenwich Borough Council as a member of the Conservative-backed Moderate grouping . He topped the poll in the Charlton ward , and became leader as the Moderates took control of the new council . London County Council . In March 1910 Hume was elected to the London County Council to represent Greenwich . He was a member of the majority Municipal Reform Party , the title used by the Conservatives , on the county council . He was re-elected in 1913 , and was appointed chairman of the Highways Committee . In this capacity in May 1914 he presided over a ceremony to commission new turbines at the Greenwich Power Station of the London County Council Tramways . Leader of the council . In 1918 Hume succeeded Ronald Collet Norman as leader of the Municipal Reformers and thus the council . Although the party had a majority of seats , they had formed a wartime coalition with the opposition Progressives . Hume , who was re-elected in 1919 , continued this agreement until 1922 . Hume was elevated to the rank of county alderman in 1922 which he was to hold until his death . In 1924 he was knighted . In 1925 he resigned as council leader , and in 1926 was elected to the ceremonial post of Chairman of the L.C.C . Member of Parliament for Greenwich . In 1922 Hume was nominated as Conservative candidate for the parliamentary constituency of Greenwich . He was elected by a large majority over his Labour Party opponent , Edward Palmer . A further election was held in 1923 , and Palmer unseated Hume . Hume unseated Palmer at the 1924 election , only for the situation to be reversed in 1929 . In 1931 Hume regained the seat , with Palmers vote reduced by the presence of a Communist candidate , and was re-elected four years later . Apart from his municipal and parliamentary offices , Hume was a member of the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee , the Thames Conservancy Board and the London and Home Counties Joint Electricity Authority . In 1932 he married Dorothy Hunt Blundell . In 1938 he indicated his intention to stand down at the next election . In the event , elections were postponed due to the Second World War , and he remained in the Commons until 1945 . Sir George Hume died at his home at Blackheath , London in September 1946 , aged 80 . |
[
"Member of Parliament for Greenwich"
] | easy | What position did George Hume (politician) take from Nov 1935 to Jun 1945? | /wiki/George_Hume_(politician)#P39#3 | George Hume ( politician ) Sir George Hopwood Hume ( 24 May 1866 – 13 September 1946 ) was a British Conservative politician and leader of the London County Council . He was born in the Ukrainian city of Poltava , then in the Russian Empire . His father was George Hume , a Scottish mechanical engineer , and British vice consul at Kiev and Kharkov . He was educated in Russia , Switzerland and at the Finsbury Technical College , London . He was apprenticed as an electrical engineer at Siemens Brothers , later studying law and was called to the bar at the Middle Temple in 1900 . In 1901 he married Jeanne Alice Ladrierre of Lausanne , who died in 1922 . Political career . Greenwich Borough Council . Hume entered politics in November 1900 when he was elected to the newly constituted Greenwich Borough Council as a member of the Conservative-backed Moderate grouping . He topped the poll in the Charlton ward , and became leader as the Moderates took control of the new council . London County Council . In March 1910 Hume was elected to the London County Council to represent Greenwich . He was a member of the majority Municipal Reform Party , the title used by the Conservatives , on the county council . He was re-elected in 1913 , and was appointed chairman of the Highways Committee . In this capacity in May 1914 he presided over a ceremony to commission new turbines at the Greenwich Power Station of the London County Council Tramways . Leader of the council . In 1918 Hume succeeded Ronald Collet Norman as leader of the Municipal Reformers and thus the council . Although the party had a majority of seats , they had formed a wartime coalition with the opposition Progressives . Hume , who was re-elected in 1919 , continued this agreement until 1922 . Hume was elevated to the rank of county alderman in 1922 which he was to hold until his death . In 1924 he was knighted . In 1925 he resigned as council leader , and in 1926 was elected to the ceremonial post of Chairman of the L.C.C . Member of Parliament for Greenwich . In 1922 Hume was nominated as Conservative candidate for the parliamentary constituency of Greenwich . He was elected by a large majority over his Labour Party opponent , Edward Palmer . A further election was held in 1923 , and Palmer unseated Hume . Hume unseated Palmer at the 1924 election , only for the situation to be reversed in 1929 . In 1931 Hume regained the seat , with Palmers vote reduced by the presence of a Communist candidate , and was re-elected four years later . Apart from his municipal and parliamentary offices , Hume was a member of the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee , the Thames Conservancy Board and the London and Home Counties Joint Electricity Authority . In 1932 he married Dorothy Hunt Blundell . In 1938 he indicated his intention to stand down at the next election . In the event , elections were postponed due to the Second World War , and he remained in the Commons until 1945 . Sir George Hume died at his home at Blackheath , London in September 1946 , aged 80 . |
[
"Watford"
] | easy | Which team did Lewis Young play for from 2008 to 2010? | /wiki/Lewis_Young#P54#0 | Lewis Young Lewis Jack Young ( born 27 September 1989 ) is an English professional footballer who plays for club Crawley Town . He can play either as a striker , as a right winger or as , most recently , a right back . Club career . For the 2008–09 season , Young was given the number 32 shirt for Watford and for the 2009–10 season , number 21 . He made his debut as a substitute in Watfords 1–0 victory over Bristol Rovers in the League Cup on 12 August 2008 . On Boxing Day of 2008 , Young made his league debut for Watford in a 4–2 home defeat against Bristol City , replacing Mat Sadler at half-time . In 2010 , towards the end of Youngs Watford career , he joined Hereford United on a one-month loan deal . On 20 March 2010 , Young made his Hereford United debut in a 2–0 victory over Bradford City , playing the full 90 minutes . Young joined League Two side Burton Albion on 22 July 2010 , following an extended trial period . He made his debut for the Brewers in a League Two match against Oxford United on 7 August 2010 . In March 2011 , Young joined Forest Green Rovers on a short-term loan deal . He played just once for Forest Green before being recalled by Burton because of an injury crisis . Young was released from the Brewers in May 2011 . On 7 July 2011 , Young joined Northampton Town on a one-year deal , after a successful trial . On 6 August 2011 , Young made his Northampton debut in their 0–0 draw with Accrington Stanley , replacing Paul Turnbull in the 70th minute . Young went onto appear in thirty league games for the Cobblers before leaving in June 2012 on the expiry of his contract . On 2 July 2012 , Young signed for League One side Yeovil Town on a one-year contract , linking up with former manager Gary Johnson . A season hampered by injury saw Young make 17 appearances although only two of them starts and was an unused substitute as Yeovil won the 2013 League One play-off Final and secured promotion to the Football League Championship . On 31 August 2013 , Young was released by Yeovil after the expiry of his short-term contract , in total he made 17 appearances in his twelve months with the Glovers . On 20 September 2013 , Young joined Football Conference side Aldershot Town on a six-month contract . A day later , Young made his Aldershot debut in their 2–0 victory over Wrexham , featuring for 67 minutes before being replaced by Jordan Roberts . On 3 December 2013 , Young scored twice in Aldershots 5–2 away victory over Weston-super-Mare in the first round of the FA Trophy . On 28 February 2014 , Young joined Bury until the end of the 2013–14 season after a successful trial period . Young joined Crawley Town on 14 July 2014 on a one-year deal , becoming Crawley Towns 11th summer signing . On 9 August 2014 , Young made his Crawley debut in a 1–0 victory against Barnsley , featuring for 56 minutes before being replaced by Charles Banya . On 3 February 2018 , he scored his first ever professional goal during Crawleys 2–1 away victory over Chesterfield , claiming the winner in the 93rd minute . In July 2018 , he signed a new two-year contract . He signed a two-year contract extension in the summer of 2020 . Personal life . Lewis is the younger brother of Inter Milan footballer Ashley Young , and is of Jamaican descent through his father . Honours . - Yeovil Town - Football League One play-offs : 2012–13 |
[
"Burton Albion"
] | easy | Lewis Young played for which team from 2010 to 2011? | /wiki/Lewis_Young#P54#1 | Lewis Young Lewis Jack Young ( born 27 September 1989 ) is an English professional footballer who plays for club Crawley Town . He can play either as a striker , as a right winger or as , most recently , a right back . Club career . For the 2008–09 season , Young was given the number 32 shirt for Watford and for the 2009–10 season , number 21 . He made his debut as a substitute in Watfords 1–0 victory over Bristol Rovers in the League Cup on 12 August 2008 . On Boxing Day of 2008 , Young made his league debut for Watford in a 4–2 home defeat against Bristol City , replacing Mat Sadler at half-time . In 2010 , towards the end of Youngs Watford career , he joined Hereford United on a one-month loan deal . On 20 March 2010 , Young made his Hereford United debut in a 2–0 victory over Bradford City , playing the full 90 minutes . Young joined League Two side Burton Albion on 22 July 2010 , following an extended trial period . He made his debut for the Brewers in a League Two match against Oxford United on 7 August 2010 . In March 2011 , Young joined Forest Green Rovers on a short-term loan deal . He played just once for Forest Green before being recalled by Burton because of an injury crisis . Young was released from the Brewers in May 2011 . On 7 July 2011 , Young joined Northampton Town on a one-year deal , after a successful trial . On 6 August 2011 , Young made his Northampton debut in their 0–0 draw with Accrington Stanley , replacing Paul Turnbull in the 70th minute . Young went onto appear in thirty league games for the Cobblers before leaving in June 2012 on the expiry of his contract . On 2 July 2012 , Young signed for League One side Yeovil Town on a one-year contract , linking up with former manager Gary Johnson . A season hampered by injury saw Young make 17 appearances although only two of them starts and was an unused substitute as Yeovil won the 2013 League One play-off Final and secured promotion to the Football League Championship . On 31 August 2013 , Young was released by Yeovil after the expiry of his short-term contract , in total he made 17 appearances in his twelve months with the Glovers . On 20 September 2013 , Young joined Football Conference side Aldershot Town on a six-month contract . A day later , Young made his Aldershot debut in their 2–0 victory over Wrexham , featuring for 67 minutes before being replaced by Jordan Roberts . On 3 December 2013 , Young scored twice in Aldershots 5–2 away victory over Weston-super-Mare in the first round of the FA Trophy . On 28 February 2014 , Young joined Bury until the end of the 2013–14 season after a successful trial period . Young joined Crawley Town on 14 July 2014 on a one-year deal , becoming Crawley Towns 11th summer signing . On 9 August 2014 , Young made his Crawley debut in a 1–0 victory against Barnsley , featuring for 56 minutes before being replaced by Charles Banya . On 3 February 2018 , he scored his first ever professional goal during Crawleys 2–1 away victory over Chesterfield , claiming the winner in the 93rd minute . In July 2018 , he signed a new two-year contract . He signed a two-year contract extension in the summer of 2020 . Personal life . Lewis is the younger brother of Inter Milan footballer Ashley Young , and is of Jamaican descent through his father . Honours . - Yeovil Town - Football League One play-offs : 2012–13 |
[
"Northampton Town"
] | easy | Which team did the player Lewis Young belong to from 2011 to 2012? | /wiki/Lewis_Young#P54#2 | Lewis Young Lewis Jack Young ( born 27 September 1989 ) is an English professional footballer who plays for club Crawley Town . He can play either as a striker , as a right winger or as , most recently , a right back . Club career . For the 2008–09 season , Young was given the number 32 shirt for Watford and for the 2009–10 season , number 21 . He made his debut as a substitute in Watfords 1–0 victory over Bristol Rovers in the League Cup on 12 August 2008 . On Boxing Day of 2008 , Young made his league debut for Watford in a 4–2 home defeat against Bristol City , replacing Mat Sadler at half-time . In 2010 , towards the end of Youngs Watford career , he joined Hereford United on a one-month loan deal . On 20 March 2010 , Young made his Hereford United debut in a 2–0 victory over Bradford City , playing the full 90 minutes . Young joined League Two side Burton Albion on 22 July 2010 , following an extended trial period . He made his debut for the Brewers in a League Two match against Oxford United on 7 August 2010 . In March 2011 , Young joined Forest Green Rovers on a short-term loan deal . He played just once for Forest Green before being recalled by Burton because of an injury crisis . Young was released from the Brewers in May 2011 . On 7 July 2011 , Young joined Northampton Town on a one-year deal , after a successful trial . On 6 August 2011 , Young made his Northampton debut in their 0–0 draw with Accrington Stanley , replacing Paul Turnbull in the 70th minute . Young went onto appear in thirty league games for the Cobblers before leaving in June 2012 on the expiry of his contract . On 2 July 2012 , Young signed for League One side Yeovil Town on a one-year contract , linking up with former manager Gary Johnson . A season hampered by injury saw Young make 17 appearances although only two of them starts and was an unused substitute as Yeovil won the 2013 League One play-off Final and secured promotion to the Football League Championship . On 31 August 2013 , Young was released by Yeovil after the expiry of his short-term contract , in total he made 17 appearances in his twelve months with the Glovers . On 20 September 2013 , Young joined Football Conference side Aldershot Town on a six-month contract . A day later , Young made his Aldershot debut in their 2–0 victory over Wrexham , featuring for 67 minutes before being replaced by Jordan Roberts . On 3 December 2013 , Young scored twice in Aldershots 5–2 away victory over Weston-super-Mare in the first round of the FA Trophy . On 28 February 2014 , Young joined Bury until the end of the 2013–14 season after a successful trial period . Young joined Crawley Town on 14 July 2014 on a one-year deal , becoming Crawley Towns 11th summer signing . On 9 August 2014 , Young made his Crawley debut in a 1–0 victory against Barnsley , featuring for 56 minutes before being replaced by Charles Banya . On 3 February 2018 , he scored his first ever professional goal during Crawleys 2–1 away victory over Chesterfield , claiming the winner in the 93rd minute . In July 2018 , he signed a new two-year contract . He signed a two-year contract extension in the summer of 2020 . Personal life . Lewis is the younger brother of Inter Milan footballer Ashley Young , and is of Jamaican descent through his father . Honours . - Yeovil Town - Football League One play-offs : 2012–13 |
[
"Yeovil Town"
] | easy | Which team did the player Lewis Young belong to from 2012 to 2013? | /wiki/Lewis_Young#P54#3 | Lewis Young Lewis Jack Young ( born 27 September 1989 ) is an English professional footballer who plays for club Crawley Town . He can play either as a striker , as a right winger or as , most recently , a right back . Club career . For the 2008–09 season , Young was given the number 32 shirt for Watford and for the 2009–10 season , number 21 . He made his debut as a substitute in Watfords 1–0 victory over Bristol Rovers in the League Cup on 12 August 2008 . On Boxing Day of 2008 , Young made his league debut for Watford in a 4–2 home defeat against Bristol City , replacing Mat Sadler at half-time . In 2010 , towards the end of Youngs Watford career , he joined Hereford United on a one-month loan deal . On 20 March 2010 , Young made his Hereford United debut in a 2–0 victory over Bradford City , playing the full 90 minutes . Young joined League Two side Burton Albion on 22 July 2010 , following an extended trial period . He made his debut for the Brewers in a League Two match against Oxford United on 7 August 2010 . In March 2011 , Young joined Forest Green Rovers on a short-term loan deal . He played just once for Forest Green before being recalled by Burton because of an injury crisis . Young was released from the Brewers in May 2011 . On 7 July 2011 , Young joined Northampton Town on a one-year deal , after a successful trial . On 6 August 2011 , Young made his Northampton debut in their 0–0 draw with Accrington Stanley , replacing Paul Turnbull in the 70th minute . Young went onto appear in thirty league games for the Cobblers before leaving in June 2012 on the expiry of his contract . On 2 July 2012 , Young signed for League One side Yeovil Town on a one-year contract , linking up with former manager Gary Johnson . A season hampered by injury saw Young make 17 appearances although only two of them starts and was an unused substitute as Yeovil won the 2013 League One play-off Final and secured promotion to the Football League Championship . On 31 August 2013 , Young was released by Yeovil after the expiry of his short-term contract , in total he made 17 appearances in his twelve months with the Glovers . On 20 September 2013 , Young joined Football Conference side Aldershot Town on a six-month contract . A day later , Young made his Aldershot debut in their 2–0 victory over Wrexham , featuring for 67 minutes before being replaced by Jordan Roberts . On 3 December 2013 , Young scored twice in Aldershots 5–2 away victory over Weston-super-Mare in the first round of the FA Trophy . On 28 February 2014 , Young joined Bury until the end of the 2013–14 season after a successful trial period . Young joined Crawley Town on 14 July 2014 on a one-year deal , becoming Crawley Towns 11th summer signing . On 9 August 2014 , Young made his Crawley debut in a 1–0 victory against Barnsley , featuring for 56 minutes before being replaced by Charles Banya . On 3 February 2018 , he scored his first ever professional goal during Crawleys 2–1 away victory over Chesterfield , claiming the winner in the 93rd minute . In July 2018 , he signed a new two-year contract . He signed a two-year contract extension in the summer of 2020 . Personal life . Lewis is the younger brother of Inter Milan footballer Ashley Young , and is of Jamaican descent through his father . Honours . - Yeovil Town - Football League One play-offs : 2012–13 |
[
"Aldershot Town"
] | easy | Which team did Lewis Young play for from 2013 to 2014? | /wiki/Lewis_Young#P54#4 | Lewis Young Lewis Jack Young ( born 27 September 1989 ) is an English professional footballer who plays for club Crawley Town . He can play either as a striker , as a right winger or as , most recently , a right back . Club career . For the 2008–09 season , Young was given the number 32 shirt for Watford and for the 2009–10 season , number 21 . He made his debut as a substitute in Watfords 1–0 victory over Bristol Rovers in the League Cup on 12 August 2008 . On Boxing Day of 2008 , Young made his league debut for Watford in a 4–2 home defeat against Bristol City , replacing Mat Sadler at half-time . In 2010 , towards the end of Youngs Watford career , he joined Hereford United on a one-month loan deal . On 20 March 2010 , Young made his Hereford United debut in a 2–0 victory over Bradford City , playing the full 90 minutes . Young joined League Two side Burton Albion on 22 July 2010 , following an extended trial period . He made his debut for the Brewers in a League Two match against Oxford United on 7 August 2010 . In March 2011 , Young joined Forest Green Rovers on a short-term loan deal . He played just once for Forest Green before being recalled by Burton because of an injury crisis . Young was released from the Brewers in May 2011 . On 7 July 2011 , Young joined Northampton Town on a one-year deal , after a successful trial . On 6 August 2011 , Young made his Northampton debut in their 0–0 draw with Accrington Stanley , replacing Paul Turnbull in the 70th minute . Young went onto appear in thirty league games for the Cobblers before leaving in June 2012 on the expiry of his contract . On 2 July 2012 , Young signed for League One side Yeovil Town on a one-year contract , linking up with former manager Gary Johnson . A season hampered by injury saw Young make 17 appearances although only two of them starts and was an unused substitute as Yeovil won the 2013 League One play-off Final and secured promotion to the Football League Championship . On 31 August 2013 , Young was released by Yeovil after the expiry of his short-term contract , in total he made 17 appearances in his twelve months with the Glovers . On 20 September 2013 , Young joined Football Conference side Aldershot Town on a six-month contract . A day later , Young made his Aldershot debut in their 2–0 victory over Wrexham , featuring for 67 minutes before being replaced by Jordan Roberts . On 3 December 2013 , Young scored twice in Aldershots 5–2 away victory over Weston-super-Mare in the first round of the FA Trophy . On 28 February 2014 , Young joined Bury until the end of the 2013–14 season after a successful trial period . Young joined Crawley Town on 14 July 2014 on a one-year deal , becoming Crawley Towns 11th summer signing . On 9 August 2014 , Young made his Crawley debut in a 1–0 victory against Barnsley , featuring for 56 minutes before being replaced by Charles Banya . On 3 February 2018 , he scored his first ever professional goal during Crawleys 2–1 away victory over Chesterfield , claiming the winner in the 93rd minute . In July 2018 , he signed a new two-year contract . He signed a two-year contract extension in the summer of 2020 . Personal life . Lewis is the younger brother of Inter Milan footballer Ashley Young , and is of Jamaican descent through his father . Honours . - Yeovil Town - Football League One play-offs : 2012–13 |
[
"Crawley Town"
] | easy | Lewis Young played for which team from 2014 to 2015? | /wiki/Lewis_Young#P54#5 | Lewis Young Lewis Jack Young ( born 27 September 1989 ) is an English professional footballer who plays for club Crawley Town . He can play either as a striker , as a right winger or as , most recently , a right back . Club career . For the 2008–09 season , Young was given the number 32 shirt for Watford and for the 2009–10 season , number 21 . He made his debut as a substitute in Watfords 1–0 victory over Bristol Rovers in the League Cup on 12 August 2008 . On Boxing Day of 2008 , Young made his league debut for Watford in a 4–2 home defeat against Bristol City , replacing Mat Sadler at half-time . In 2010 , towards the end of Youngs Watford career , he joined Hereford United on a one-month loan deal . On 20 March 2010 , Young made his Hereford United debut in a 2–0 victory over Bradford City , playing the full 90 minutes . Young joined League Two side Burton Albion on 22 July 2010 , following an extended trial period . He made his debut for the Brewers in a League Two match against Oxford United on 7 August 2010 . In March 2011 , Young joined Forest Green Rovers on a short-term loan deal . He played just once for Forest Green before being recalled by Burton because of an injury crisis . Young was released from the Brewers in May 2011 . On 7 July 2011 , Young joined Northampton Town on a one-year deal , after a successful trial . On 6 August 2011 , Young made his Northampton debut in their 0–0 draw with Accrington Stanley , replacing Paul Turnbull in the 70th minute . Young went onto appear in thirty league games for the Cobblers before leaving in June 2012 on the expiry of his contract . On 2 July 2012 , Young signed for League One side Yeovil Town on a one-year contract , linking up with former manager Gary Johnson . A season hampered by injury saw Young make 17 appearances although only two of them starts and was an unused substitute as Yeovil won the 2013 League One play-off Final and secured promotion to the Football League Championship . On 31 August 2013 , Young was released by Yeovil after the expiry of his short-term contract , in total he made 17 appearances in his twelve months with the Glovers . On 20 September 2013 , Young joined Football Conference side Aldershot Town on a six-month contract . A day later , Young made his Aldershot debut in their 2–0 victory over Wrexham , featuring for 67 minutes before being replaced by Jordan Roberts . On 3 December 2013 , Young scored twice in Aldershots 5–2 away victory over Weston-super-Mare in the first round of the FA Trophy . On 28 February 2014 , Young joined Bury until the end of the 2013–14 season after a successful trial period . Young joined Crawley Town on 14 July 2014 on a one-year deal , becoming Crawley Towns 11th summer signing . On 9 August 2014 , Young made his Crawley debut in a 1–0 victory against Barnsley , featuring for 56 minutes before being replaced by Charles Banya . On 3 February 2018 , he scored his first ever professional goal during Crawleys 2–1 away victory over Chesterfield , claiming the winner in the 93rd minute . In July 2018 , he signed a new two-year contract . He signed a two-year contract extension in the summer of 2020 . Personal life . Lewis is the younger brother of Inter Milan footballer Ashley Young , and is of Jamaican descent through his father . Honours . - Yeovil Town - Football League One play-offs : 2012–13 |
[
"Princeton"
] | easy | Carolyn Abbate was an employee for whom from 1984 to 2005? | /wiki/Carolyn_Abbate#P108#0 | Carolyn Abbate Carolyn Abbate ( born November 20 , 1956 ) is an American musicologist , described by the Harvard Gazette as one of the world’s most accomplished and admired music historians . She is currently Paul and Catherine Buttenwieser University Professor at Harvard University . A practitioner of the field’s traditional methodologies , she challenged their limits , mobilizing literary theory and philosophy to provoke new ways of thinking about music and understanding its experience . From her earliest essays she has questioned familiar approaches to well-known works , reaching beyond their printed scores and composer intentions , to explore the particular , physical impact of the medium upon performer and audience alike . Her research focuses primarily on the operatic repertory of the 19th century , offering creative and innovative approaches to understanding these works critically and historically . Some of her more recent work has addressed topics such as film studies and performance studies more generally . Early life and education . Abbate was born to Dolores R . ( Kollmeyer ) and Russell V . Abbate ; she has two sisters . Abbate completed her BA at Yale University in 1977 . While still an undergraduate at Yale , she reconstructed the score of Claude Debussy’s La chute de la maison Usher ( The Fall of the House of Usher ) – a work long regarded as unsalvageably incomplete . She continued her studies in Munich and Princeton , completing her PhD at Princeton University under J . Merrill Knapp in 1984 . Career . She took a position in the Music Department at Princeton that year , and was named full professor in 1991 , becoming at that time the youngest humanities faculty member appointed to that rank . She was awarded the Dent Medal of the Royal Musical Association in 1993 , and received a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1994 . In 2005 , she accepted an appointment at Harvard University and from 2008 to 2012 taught in the Music Department at the University of Pennsylvania as the Christopher H . Browne Distinguished Professor of Music . In 2013 , she returned to Harvard , where she was named Paul and Catherine Buttenwieser University Professor in 2014 . She has also held appointments at the University of California , Berkeley , and the Freie Universität in Berlin , and has been a fellow of the Wissenschaftskolleg in Berlin , Kings College , Cambridge , and the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton . Musicological work . Abbates dissertation , entitled The Parisian Tannhäuser , addressed historical and aesthetic issues related to the Parisian premiere of Richard Wagners opera in 1861 . A significant excerpt from this work was published in the Journal of the American Musicological Society in 1983 . In 1990 , she published a translation of Jean-Jacques Nattiezs Musicologie générale et sémiologie under the title Music and Discourse : Toward a Semiology of Music . Her first monograph , Unsung Voices : Opera and Musical Narrative in the Nineteenth Century , was published by Princeton University Press in 1991 and has since proved one of the most provocative and influential recent musicological studies . In this book , Abbate explores the metaphor of musical narrative in six extended case studies . She describes her work as follows : The six chapters that follow explore examples ranging from Paul Dukass Sorcerers Apprentice to Mozarts Marriage of Figaro and Wagners Ring , seeking out examples of narrative moments in music and developing critical apparatus based on an awareness of different registers of musical listening . For example , she pursues the question of operatic deafness : asking whether and when we can claim that operatic characters hear the same music that we do , and what the consequences of such an awareness might be . Her second monograph , In Search of Opera , reflects a close engagement with the aesthetic philosophy of Vladimir Jankélévitch , resulting in an exploration of the intersections of the ineffable and the performative aspects of opera . As in Unsung Voices , Abbate proceeds through a series of case studies , this time exploring works ranging from Mozarts Magic Flute to Wagners Parsifal and Debussys Pelleas et Melisande . Abbates engagement with Jankélévitch also yielded a translation of his La musique et lineffable in 2003 , as well as a provocative article in Critical Inquiry entitled Music--Drastic or Gnostic? . The latter offers a reappraisal of the value of hermeneutic musicological scholarship , favoring meditations on music as performance ( drastic ) to those on music as encoded meaning ( gnostic ) . Personal life . Abbate was married to Lee Clark Mitchell . She has 2 sons . Select publications . - Tristan in the Composition of Pelleas , 19th Century Music , v ( 1981–2 ) , 117–40 - Der junge Wagner malgre lui : die frühen Tannhäuser-Entwurfe und Wagners übliche Nummern … Wagnerliteratur – Wagnerforschung : Munich 1983 , 59–68 - The Parisian Vénus and the Paris Tannhäuser , Journal of the American Musicological Society , xxxvi ( 1983 ) , 73–123 - With Roger Parker : Analyzing Opera : Verdi and Wagner . Ithaca , NY , 1984 [ incl . Introduction : On Analyzing Opera , pp . 1–26 [ with Parker ] ; Opera as Symphony : a Wagnerian Myth , pp . 92–124 . - The Parisian Tannhäuser ( diss. , Princeton U. , 1984 ) - Eriks Dream and Tannhäusers Journey , in Reading Opera . Ithaca , NY , 1986 , pp . 129–67 - What the Sorcerer Said , in 19th Century Music , xii ( 1988–9 ) ,pp . 221–30 - Elektras Voice : Music and Language in Strausss Opera , in Richard Strauss : Elektra , ed . D . Puffett ( Cambridge , 1989 ) , pp . 107–27 - Wagner , On Modulation , and Tristan in Cambridge Opera Journal , i ( 1989 ) , pp . 33–58 - Dismembering Mozart in Cambridge Opera Journal , ii ( 1990 ) , pp . 187–95 - Music and Discourse : Toward a Semiology of Music ( Princeton , NJ , 1990 ) [ trans . of J.-J . Nattiez : Musicologie générale et sémiologie ( Paris , 1987 ) ] - Unsung Voices : Opera and Musical Narrative in the Nineteenth Century ( Princeton , NJ , 1991 , 2/1996 ) - Opera , or The Envoicing of Women , Musicology and Difference : Gender and Sexuality in Music Scholarship , ed . R.A . Solie ( Berkeley , 1993 ) , 225–58 - Mythische Stimmen , sterbliche Körper , Richard Wagner : “Der Ring des Nibelungen” : Ansichten des Mythos , ed . U . Bermbach und D . Borchmeyer ( Stuttgart , 1995 ) , 75–86 - In Search of Opera ( Princeton , 2001 ) - Music and the Ineffable ( Princeton , 2003 ) [ trans of . V . Jankélévitch : La musique et lineffable ( Paris , 1961 ) ] - Music--Drastic or Gnostic ? Critical Inquiry , xxx ( 2004 ) , 505-536 - Das Ephemere Übersehen , in Latenz : blinde Passagiere in den Geisteswissenschaften ( Göttingen , 2011 ) , 24-50 . - With Roger Parker : A History of Opera . New York : W . W . Norton , 2012 |
[
"Harvard University"
] | easy | Which employer did Carolyn Abbate work for from 2005 to 2008? | /wiki/Carolyn_Abbate#P108#1 | Carolyn Abbate Carolyn Abbate ( born November 20 , 1956 ) is an American musicologist , described by the Harvard Gazette as one of the world’s most accomplished and admired music historians . She is currently Paul and Catherine Buttenwieser University Professor at Harvard University . A practitioner of the field’s traditional methodologies , she challenged their limits , mobilizing literary theory and philosophy to provoke new ways of thinking about music and understanding its experience . From her earliest essays she has questioned familiar approaches to well-known works , reaching beyond their printed scores and composer intentions , to explore the particular , physical impact of the medium upon performer and audience alike . Her research focuses primarily on the operatic repertory of the 19th century , offering creative and innovative approaches to understanding these works critically and historically . Some of her more recent work has addressed topics such as film studies and performance studies more generally . Early life and education . Abbate was born to Dolores R . ( Kollmeyer ) and Russell V . Abbate ; she has two sisters . Abbate completed her BA at Yale University in 1977 . While still an undergraduate at Yale , she reconstructed the score of Claude Debussy’s La chute de la maison Usher ( The Fall of the House of Usher ) – a work long regarded as unsalvageably incomplete . She continued her studies in Munich and Princeton , completing her PhD at Princeton University under J . Merrill Knapp in 1984 . Career . She took a position in the Music Department at Princeton that year , and was named full professor in 1991 , becoming at that time the youngest humanities faculty member appointed to that rank . She was awarded the Dent Medal of the Royal Musical Association in 1993 , and received a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1994 . In 2005 , she accepted an appointment at Harvard University and from 2008 to 2012 taught in the Music Department at the University of Pennsylvania as the Christopher H . Browne Distinguished Professor of Music . In 2013 , she returned to Harvard , where she was named Paul and Catherine Buttenwieser University Professor in 2014 . She has also held appointments at the University of California , Berkeley , and the Freie Universität in Berlin , and has been a fellow of the Wissenschaftskolleg in Berlin , Kings College , Cambridge , and the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton . Musicological work . Abbates dissertation , entitled The Parisian Tannhäuser , addressed historical and aesthetic issues related to the Parisian premiere of Richard Wagners opera in 1861 . A significant excerpt from this work was published in the Journal of the American Musicological Society in 1983 . In 1990 , she published a translation of Jean-Jacques Nattiezs Musicologie générale et sémiologie under the title Music and Discourse : Toward a Semiology of Music . Her first monograph , Unsung Voices : Opera and Musical Narrative in the Nineteenth Century , was published by Princeton University Press in 1991 and has since proved one of the most provocative and influential recent musicological studies . In this book , Abbate explores the metaphor of musical narrative in six extended case studies . She describes her work as follows : The six chapters that follow explore examples ranging from Paul Dukass Sorcerers Apprentice to Mozarts Marriage of Figaro and Wagners Ring , seeking out examples of narrative moments in music and developing critical apparatus based on an awareness of different registers of musical listening . For example , she pursues the question of operatic deafness : asking whether and when we can claim that operatic characters hear the same music that we do , and what the consequences of such an awareness might be . Her second monograph , In Search of Opera , reflects a close engagement with the aesthetic philosophy of Vladimir Jankélévitch , resulting in an exploration of the intersections of the ineffable and the performative aspects of opera . As in Unsung Voices , Abbate proceeds through a series of case studies , this time exploring works ranging from Mozarts Magic Flute to Wagners Parsifal and Debussys Pelleas et Melisande . Abbates engagement with Jankélévitch also yielded a translation of his La musique et lineffable in 2003 , as well as a provocative article in Critical Inquiry entitled Music--Drastic or Gnostic? . The latter offers a reappraisal of the value of hermeneutic musicological scholarship , favoring meditations on music as performance ( drastic ) to those on music as encoded meaning ( gnostic ) . Personal life . Abbate was married to Lee Clark Mitchell . She has 2 sons . Select publications . - Tristan in the Composition of Pelleas , 19th Century Music , v ( 1981–2 ) , 117–40 - Der junge Wagner malgre lui : die frühen Tannhäuser-Entwurfe und Wagners übliche Nummern … Wagnerliteratur – Wagnerforschung : Munich 1983 , 59–68 - The Parisian Vénus and the Paris Tannhäuser , Journal of the American Musicological Society , xxxvi ( 1983 ) , 73–123 - With Roger Parker : Analyzing Opera : Verdi and Wagner . Ithaca , NY , 1984 [ incl . Introduction : On Analyzing Opera , pp . 1–26 [ with Parker ] ; Opera as Symphony : a Wagnerian Myth , pp . 92–124 . - The Parisian Tannhäuser ( diss. , Princeton U. , 1984 ) - Eriks Dream and Tannhäusers Journey , in Reading Opera . Ithaca , NY , 1986 , pp . 129–67 - What the Sorcerer Said , in 19th Century Music , xii ( 1988–9 ) ,pp . 221–30 - Elektras Voice : Music and Language in Strausss Opera , in Richard Strauss : Elektra , ed . D . Puffett ( Cambridge , 1989 ) , pp . 107–27 - Wagner , On Modulation , and Tristan in Cambridge Opera Journal , i ( 1989 ) , pp . 33–58 - Dismembering Mozart in Cambridge Opera Journal , ii ( 1990 ) , pp . 187–95 - Music and Discourse : Toward a Semiology of Music ( Princeton , NJ , 1990 ) [ trans . of J.-J . Nattiez : Musicologie générale et sémiologie ( Paris , 1987 ) ] - Unsung Voices : Opera and Musical Narrative in the Nineteenth Century ( Princeton , NJ , 1991 , 2/1996 ) - Opera , or The Envoicing of Women , Musicology and Difference : Gender and Sexuality in Music Scholarship , ed . R.A . Solie ( Berkeley , 1993 ) , 225–58 - Mythische Stimmen , sterbliche Körper , Richard Wagner : “Der Ring des Nibelungen” : Ansichten des Mythos , ed . U . Bermbach und D . Borchmeyer ( Stuttgart , 1995 ) , 75–86 - In Search of Opera ( Princeton , 2001 ) - Music and the Ineffable ( Princeton , 2003 ) [ trans of . V . Jankélévitch : La musique et lineffable ( Paris , 1961 ) ] - Music--Drastic or Gnostic ? Critical Inquiry , xxx ( 2004 ) , 505-536 - Das Ephemere Übersehen , in Latenz : blinde Passagiere in den Geisteswissenschaften ( Göttingen , 2011 ) , 24-50 . - With Roger Parker : A History of Opera . New York : W . W . Norton , 2012 |
[
"University of Pennsylvania"
] | easy | What was the name of the employer Carolyn Abbate work for from 2008 to 2012? | /wiki/Carolyn_Abbate#P108#2 | Carolyn Abbate Carolyn Abbate ( born November 20 , 1956 ) is an American musicologist , described by the Harvard Gazette as one of the world’s most accomplished and admired music historians . She is currently Paul and Catherine Buttenwieser University Professor at Harvard University . A practitioner of the field’s traditional methodologies , she challenged their limits , mobilizing literary theory and philosophy to provoke new ways of thinking about music and understanding its experience . From her earliest essays she has questioned familiar approaches to well-known works , reaching beyond their printed scores and composer intentions , to explore the particular , physical impact of the medium upon performer and audience alike . Her research focuses primarily on the operatic repertory of the 19th century , offering creative and innovative approaches to understanding these works critically and historically . Some of her more recent work has addressed topics such as film studies and performance studies more generally . Early life and education . Abbate was born to Dolores R . ( Kollmeyer ) and Russell V . Abbate ; she has two sisters . Abbate completed her BA at Yale University in 1977 . While still an undergraduate at Yale , she reconstructed the score of Claude Debussy’s La chute de la maison Usher ( The Fall of the House of Usher ) – a work long regarded as unsalvageably incomplete . She continued her studies in Munich and Princeton , completing her PhD at Princeton University under J . Merrill Knapp in 1984 . Career . She took a position in the Music Department at Princeton that year , and was named full professor in 1991 , becoming at that time the youngest humanities faculty member appointed to that rank . She was awarded the Dent Medal of the Royal Musical Association in 1993 , and received a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1994 . In 2005 , she accepted an appointment at Harvard University and from 2008 to 2012 taught in the Music Department at the University of Pennsylvania as the Christopher H . Browne Distinguished Professor of Music . In 2013 , she returned to Harvard , where she was named Paul and Catherine Buttenwieser University Professor in 2014 . She has also held appointments at the University of California , Berkeley , and the Freie Universität in Berlin , and has been a fellow of the Wissenschaftskolleg in Berlin , Kings College , Cambridge , and the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton . Musicological work . Abbates dissertation , entitled The Parisian Tannhäuser , addressed historical and aesthetic issues related to the Parisian premiere of Richard Wagners opera in 1861 . A significant excerpt from this work was published in the Journal of the American Musicological Society in 1983 . In 1990 , she published a translation of Jean-Jacques Nattiezs Musicologie générale et sémiologie under the title Music and Discourse : Toward a Semiology of Music . Her first monograph , Unsung Voices : Opera and Musical Narrative in the Nineteenth Century , was published by Princeton University Press in 1991 and has since proved one of the most provocative and influential recent musicological studies . In this book , Abbate explores the metaphor of musical narrative in six extended case studies . She describes her work as follows : The six chapters that follow explore examples ranging from Paul Dukass Sorcerers Apprentice to Mozarts Marriage of Figaro and Wagners Ring , seeking out examples of narrative moments in music and developing critical apparatus based on an awareness of different registers of musical listening . For example , she pursues the question of operatic deafness : asking whether and when we can claim that operatic characters hear the same music that we do , and what the consequences of such an awareness might be . Her second monograph , In Search of Opera , reflects a close engagement with the aesthetic philosophy of Vladimir Jankélévitch , resulting in an exploration of the intersections of the ineffable and the performative aspects of opera . As in Unsung Voices , Abbate proceeds through a series of case studies , this time exploring works ranging from Mozarts Magic Flute to Wagners Parsifal and Debussys Pelleas et Melisande . Abbates engagement with Jankélévitch also yielded a translation of his La musique et lineffable in 2003 , as well as a provocative article in Critical Inquiry entitled Music--Drastic or Gnostic? . The latter offers a reappraisal of the value of hermeneutic musicological scholarship , favoring meditations on music as performance ( drastic ) to those on music as encoded meaning ( gnostic ) . Personal life . Abbate was married to Lee Clark Mitchell . She has 2 sons . Select publications . - Tristan in the Composition of Pelleas , 19th Century Music , v ( 1981–2 ) , 117–40 - Der junge Wagner malgre lui : die frühen Tannhäuser-Entwurfe und Wagners übliche Nummern … Wagnerliteratur – Wagnerforschung : Munich 1983 , 59–68 - The Parisian Vénus and the Paris Tannhäuser , Journal of the American Musicological Society , xxxvi ( 1983 ) , 73–123 - With Roger Parker : Analyzing Opera : Verdi and Wagner . Ithaca , NY , 1984 [ incl . Introduction : On Analyzing Opera , pp . 1–26 [ with Parker ] ; Opera as Symphony : a Wagnerian Myth , pp . 92–124 . - The Parisian Tannhäuser ( diss. , Princeton U. , 1984 ) - Eriks Dream and Tannhäusers Journey , in Reading Opera . Ithaca , NY , 1986 , pp . 129–67 - What the Sorcerer Said , in 19th Century Music , xii ( 1988–9 ) ,pp . 221–30 - Elektras Voice : Music and Language in Strausss Opera , in Richard Strauss : Elektra , ed . D . Puffett ( Cambridge , 1989 ) , pp . 107–27 - Wagner , On Modulation , and Tristan in Cambridge Opera Journal , i ( 1989 ) , pp . 33–58 - Dismembering Mozart in Cambridge Opera Journal , ii ( 1990 ) , pp . 187–95 - Music and Discourse : Toward a Semiology of Music ( Princeton , NJ , 1990 ) [ trans . of J.-J . Nattiez : Musicologie générale et sémiologie ( Paris , 1987 ) ] - Unsung Voices : Opera and Musical Narrative in the Nineteenth Century ( Princeton , NJ , 1991 , 2/1996 ) - Opera , or The Envoicing of Women , Musicology and Difference : Gender and Sexuality in Music Scholarship , ed . R.A . Solie ( Berkeley , 1993 ) , 225–58 - Mythische Stimmen , sterbliche Körper , Richard Wagner : “Der Ring des Nibelungen” : Ansichten des Mythos , ed . U . Bermbach und D . Borchmeyer ( Stuttgart , 1995 ) , 75–86 - In Search of Opera ( Princeton , 2001 ) - Music and the Ineffable ( Princeton , 2003 ) [ trans of . V . Jankélévitch : La musique et lineffable ( Paris , 1961 ) ] - Music--Drastic or Gnostic ? Critical Inquiry , xxx ( 2004 ) , 505-536 - Das Ephemere Übersehen , in Latenz : blinde Passagiere in den Geisteswissenschaften ( Göttingen , 2011 ) , 24-50 . - With Roger Parker : A History of Opera . New York : W . W . Norton , 2012 |
[
"Harvard"
] | easy | Which employer did Carolyn Abbate work for from 2013 to 2014? | /wiki/Carolyn_Abbate#P108#3 | Carolyn Abbate Carolyn Abbate ( born November 20 , 1956 ) is an American musicologist , described by the Harvard Gazette as one of the world’s most accomplished and admired music historians . She is currently Paul and Catherine Buttenwieser University Professor at Harvard University . A practitioner of the field’s traditional methodologies , she challenged their limits , mobilizing literary theory and philosophy to provoke new ways of thinking about music and understanding its experience . From her earliest essays she has questioned familiar approaches to well-known works , reaching beyond their printed scores and composer intentions , to explore the particular , physical impact of the medium upon performer and audience alike . Her research focuses primarily on the operatic repertory of the 19th century , offering creative and innovative approaches to understanding these works critically and historically . Some of her more recent work has addressed topics such as film studies and performance studies more generally . Early life and education . Abbate was born to Dolores R . ( Kollmeyer ) and Russell V . Abbate ; she has two sisters . Abbate completed her BA at Yale University in 1977 . While still an undergraduate at Yale , she reconstructed the score of Claude Debussy’s La chute de la maison Usher ( The Fall of the House of Usher ) – a work long regarded as unsalvageably incomplete . She continued her studies in Munich and Princeton , completing her PhD at Princeton University under J . Merrill Knapp in 1984 . Career . She took a position in the Music Department at Princeton that year , and was named full professor in 1991 , becoming at that time the youngest humanities faculty member appointed to that rank . She was awarded the Dent Medal of the Royal Musical Association in 1993 , and received a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1994 . In 2005 , she accepted an appointment at Harvard University and from 2008 to 2012 taught in the Music Department at the University of Pennsylvania as the Christopher H . Browne Distinguished Professor of Music . In 2013 , she returned to Harvard , where she was named Paul and Catherine Buttenwieser University Professor in 2014 . She has also held appointments at the University of California , Berkeley , and the Freie Universität in Berlin , and has been a fellow of the Wissenschaftskolleg in Berlin , Kings College , Cambridge , and the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton . Musicological work . Abbates dissertation , entitled The Parisian Tannhäuser , addressed historical and aesthetic issues related to the Parisian premiere of Richard Wagners opera in 1861 . A significant excerpt from this work was published in the Journal of the American Musicological Society in 1983 . In 1990 , she published a translation of Jean-Jacques Nattiezs Musicologie générale et sémiologie under the title Music and Discourse : Toward a Semiology of Music . Her first monograph , Unsung Voices : Opera and Musical Narrative in the Nineteenth Century , was published by Princeton University Press in 1991 and has since proved one of the most provocative and influential recent musicological studies . In this book , Abbate explores the metaphor of musical narrative in six extended case studies . She describes her work as follows : The six chapters that follow explore examples ranging from Paul Dukass Sorcerers Apprentice to Mozarts Marriage of Figaro and Wagners Ring , seeking out examples of narrative moments in music and developing critical apparatus based on an awareness of different registers of musical listening . For example , she pursues the question of operatic deafness : asking whether and when we can claim that operatic characters hear the same music that we do , and what the consequences of such an awareness might be . Her second monograph , In Search of Opera , reflects a close engagement with the aesthetic philosophy of Vladimir Jankélévitch , resulting in an exploration of the intersections of the ineffable and the performative aspects of opera . As in Unsung Voices , Abbate proceeds through a series of case studies , this time exploring works ranging from Mozarts Magic Flute to Wagners Parsifal and Debussys Pelleas et Melisande . Abbates engagement with Jankélévitch also yielded a translation of his La musique et lineffable in 2003 , as well as a provocative article in Critical Inquiry entitled Music--Drastic or Gnostic? . The latter offers a reappraisal of the value of hermeneutic musicological scholarship , favoring meditations on music as performance ( drastic ) to those on music as encoded meaning ( gnostic ) . Personal life . Abbate was married to Lee Clark Mitchell . She has 2 sons . Select publications . - Tristan in the Composition of Pelleas , 19th Century Music , v ( 1981–2 ) , 117–40 - Der junge Wagner malgre lui : die frühen Tannhäuser-Entwurfe und Wagners übliche Nummern … Wagnerliteratur – Wagnerforschung : Munich 1983 , 59–68 - The Parisian Vénus and the Paris Tannhäuser , Journal of the American Musicological Society , xxxvi ( 1983 ) , 73–123 - With Roger Parker : Analyzing Opera : Verdi and Wagner . Ithaca , NY , 1984 [ incl . Introduction : On Analyzing Opera , pp . 1–26 [ with Parker ] ; Opera as Symphony : a Wagnerian Myth , pp . 92–124 . - The Parisian Tannhäuser ( diss. , Princeton U. , 1984 ) - Eriks Dream and Tannhäusers Journey , in Reading Opera . Ithaca , NY , 1986 , pp . 129–67 - What the Sorcerer Said , in 19th Century Music , xii ( 1988–9 ) ,pp . 221–30 - Elektras Voice : Music and Language in Strausss Opera , in Richard Strauss : Elektra , ed . D . Puffett ( Cambridge , 1989 ) , pp . 107–27 - Wagner , On Modulation , and Tristan in Cambridge Opera Journal , i ( 1989 ) , pp . 33–58 - Dismembering Mozart in Cambridge Opera Journal , ii ( 1990 ) , pp . 187–95 - Music and Discourse : Toward a Semiology of Music ( Princeton , NJ , 1990 ) [ trans . of J.-J . Nattiez : Musicologie générale et sémiologie ( Paris , 1987 ) ] - Unsung Voices : Opera and Musical Narrative in the Nineteenth Century ( Princeton , NJ , 1991 , 2/1996 ) - Opera , or The Envoicing of Women , Musicology and Difference : Gender and Sexuality in Music Scholarship , ed . R.A . Solie ( Berkeley , 1993 ) , 225–58 - Mythische Stimmen , sterbliche Körper , Richard Wagner : “Der Ring des Nibelungen” : Ansichten des Mythos , ed . U . Bermbach und D . Borchmeyer ( Stuttgart , 1995 ) , 75–86 - In Search of Opera ( Princeton , 2001 ) - Music and the Ineffable ( Princeton , 2003 ) [ trans of . V . Jankélévitch : La musique et lineffable ( Paris , 1961 ) ] - Music--Drastic or Gnostic ? Critical Inquiry , xxx ( 2004 ) , 505-536 - Das Ephemere Übersehen , in Latenz : blinde Passagiere in den Geisteswissenschaften ( Göttingen , 2011 ) , 24-50 . - With Roger Parker : A History of Opera . New York : W . W . Norton , 2012 |
[
"head of the Syriza parliamentary group"
] | easy | Alexis Tsipras took which position from Oct 2009 to Jun 2012? | /wiki/Alexis_Tsipras#P39#0 | Alexis Tsipras Alexis Tsipras ( , ; born 28 July 1974 ) is a Greek politician serving as Leader of the Official Opposition since 2019 . The leader of left-wing party Syriza since 2009 , he served as Prime Minister of Greece from 2015 to 2019 . Tsipras has been Leader of the Coalition of the Radical Left ( Syriza ) , a left wing political party , since 2009 . He was the fourth Greek Prime Minister who has governed in the course of the 2010s government-debt crisis . Originally an outspoken critic of the austerity policies implemented during the crisis , his tenure in office was marked by an intense austerity policy , mostly in the context of the third EU bailout to Greece ( 2015–2018 ) . Tsipras was born in Athens in 1974 . He joined the Communist Youth of Greece in the late 1980s and in the 1990s was politically active in student protests against education reform plans , becoming the movements spokesperson . He studied civil engineering at the National Technical University of Athens , graduating in 2000 , later undertaking post-graduate studies in urban and regional planning . He worked as a civil engineer in the construction industry , based primarily in Athens . From 1999 to 2003 , Tsipras served as the secretary of Synaspismos Youth . He was elected as a member of the Central Committee of Synaspismos in 2004 and later the Political Secretariat . In the 2006 local election , he ran as Syrizas candidate for Mayor of Athens , winning 10.5% . In 2008 , he was elected as Leader of Syriza , succeeding Alekos Alavanos . He was first elected to the Hellenic Parliament representing Athens A in the 2009 election and was re-elected in May and June 2012 , subsequently becoming Leader of the Opposition and appointing his own shadow cabinet . In January 2015 , Tsipras led Syriza to victory in a snap legislative election , winning 149 out of 300 seats in the Hellenic Parliament and forming a coalition with the Independent Greeks . On 20 August 2015 , seven months into his term as prime minister , he lost his majority after intraparty defections ; he then announced his resignation and called for a snap election to take place the following month . In the September 2015 election that followed , Tsipras led Syriza to another victory , winning 145 out of 300 seats and re-forming the coalition with the Independent Greeks . During his premiership , he oversaw negotiations regarding the Greek government-debt crisis , initiated the Greek bailout referendum and responded to the European migrant crisis . In 2015 , he was named by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people globally . As Prime Minister of Greece , the opposition parties accused Tsipras of , among other things , having capitulated to enacting increasingly harsh austerity measures to keep his country on the surface ( in contrast with his pre-election promises ) and of having exacerbated problems that already existed in the Greek economy , with the country having lost about 25% of its GDP since the start of the crisis . Early life and career . Alexios ( Alexis ) Tsipras was born 28 July 1974 in Athens . His father , Pavlos , was from Athamania in Epirus and was a public works contractor , while his mother , Aristi , was born in Eleftheroupoli , a town in Greek Macedonia . His maternal grandparents were from the village of Babaeski , Eastern Thrace , Turkey and moved to Eleftheroupoli as a result of the 1923 population exchange between Greece and Turkey . Tsipras joined the Communist Youth of Greece in the late 1980s . In the early 1990s , as a student at Ampelokipoi Multi-disciplinary High School , he was politically active in the student uprising and the school occupations against the controversial law of Education Minister Vasilis Kontogiannopoulos . He rose to prominence as a representative of the student movement when he was featured as a guest on a television show hosted by journalist Anna Panagiotarea . During the interview , Panagiotarea implied that Tsipras was being disingenuous in defending middle and high school students right to absenteeism without parental notification in the context of protests . Newspapers and opposition politicians contrasted his early activism for the free state education to his choice to enroll his children in private schools when he became prime-minister . Tsipras studied civil engineering at the National Technical University of Athens , graduating in 2000 , before undertaking postgraduate studies in Urban and Regional Planning following an inter-departmental MPhil at the School of Architecture of NTUA . Alongside his postgraduate studies , he began working as a civil engineer in the construction industry . He wrote three studies and projects on the theme of the city of Athens . As a university student , Tsipras joined the ranks of the renascent left-wing movement , particularly the Enceladus ( ) group , and as member of it , he was elected to the executive board of the students union of the Civil Engineering School of NTUA and also served as student representative on the University Senate . From 1995 to 1997 he was an elected member of the Central Council of the National Students Union of Greece ( EFEE ) . Political career , 1999–2015 . After the departure of the Communist Party of Greece from Synaspismos in 1991 , Tsipras remained in the coalition . In May 1999 he became the first political secretary of Synaspismos youth-wing , the Synaspismos Youth . During this period he was described as a centrist , different from the very clear radical , left-wing profile he would later maintain as leader of Synaspismos . He won many awards during this time . In November 2003 , he was succeeded by Tasos Koronakis and moved on to the mother party . He managed quite efficiently to maintain a strong adherence to the policy of the party , effectively out talking both the left and right political wings . As secretary of Synaspismos Youth , he took an active part in the process of creating the Greek Social Forum and attended many of the international protests and marches against neoliberal globalization . In December 2004 , at the 4th Congress of Synaspismos , he was elected a member of the partys Central Political Committee and consequently to the Political Secretariat , where he was responsible for educational and youth issues . Tsipras first entered the limelight of mainstream Greek politics during the 2006 local election when he ran for Mayor of Athens under the Anoikhti Poli ( Greek : Ανοιχτή Πόλη , Open City ) Syriza ticket that gained 10.51% of the Athenian vote , finishing third overall . Tsipras won a seat on the Municipality of Athens council by virtue of him being first on the Syriza list . He did not run for the Greek Parliament in the 2007 election , choosing to continue the completion his term as a member of the municipal council of Athens . Tsipras was elected Leader of Synaspismos during its 5th Congress on 10 February 2008 , after its previous Leader Alekos Alavanos decided not to stand for election again due to personal reasons . Tsipras became leader of Synaspismos at the age of 33 , thus becoming the youngest leader of a Greek political party since 1931 . In the 2009 election , he was elected to the Hellenic Parliament for Athens A and was subsequently voted unanimously to be the head of the Syriza parliamentary group . Tsipras led SYRIZA through the 2012 elections , overseeing a swing of over 22% to the party and becoming the Leader of the Opposition and head of the Shadow Cabinet of Alexis Tsipras . In December 2013 , Tsipras was the first candidate proposed for the position of president of the Commission of the European Union by the European United Left–Nordic Green Left ( GUE/NGL ) . The vote was an EU member states election to the European Parliament in May 2014 . Tsipras campaigned as the only candidate of the south periphery countries . At the beginning of May 2014 , in a speech in Berlin , he clarified many of his positions , in opposition to the allegedly Merkel-dominated neoliberal political course in Europe . Tsipras declared a substantial change for a better future for all Europeans is visible within 10 years . He addressed those who lost out in the fallout of the financial crises from 2008 to 2014 , which produced unexpectedly high jobless rates in most of the EU . The speech was given in English to a German audience and intended to be listened to throughout Europe . Although the GUE/NGL won in Greece , winning six of the 21 Greek seats in the European Parliament , it finished fifth in Europe overall . Prime Minister . First term ( January–August 2015 ) . Tsipras led Syriza to victory in the general election held on 25 January 2015 , falling short of an outright majority in Parliament by just two seats . The following morning , Tsipras reached an agreement with the right-wing populist Independent Greeks party to form a coalition . On the same day he was sworn in by President Karolos Papoulias as the youngest Prime Minister in Greek history since 1865 , using the words I declare in my name , honour and conscience to uphold the Constitution and its laws . Tsipras was also the first prime minister to take a civil oath rather than a religious oath of office , marking a rupture with Greek orthodox ceremonial culture . While reaffirming the good relations between his party and the Church , he generated further religious controversy during a meeting with Archbishop Ieronymos . Tsipras explained that as an atheist who neither married in a religious ceremony nor baptised his children , he would not take a religious oath of office . In his first act after being sworn in , Tsipras visited the Resistance Memorial in Kaisariani , laying down red roses to commemorate the 200 members of the Greek Resistance executed by the German Wehrmacht on 1 May 1944 . During the first meeting of the new cabinet , Tsipras declared the priorities of his government to be the fight against the humanitarian crisis in Greece , negotiations with the EU and the International Monetary Fund on restructuring the Greek debt , and the implementation of promises made by SYRIZA such as the abolition of the previous governments privatization policies . On 3 February , Tsipras made his first official state visit , meeting with his Italian counterpart Matteo Renzi in Rome . They held a joint press conference expressing concerns about austerity measures imposed by the Juncker Commission and stated that economic growth is the only way to exit from the crisis . After the press conference , Renzi presented Tsipras with an Italian tie as a gift . Tsipras , who is notable for never wearing ties , thanked Renzi and said that he would wear the gift in celebration when Greece had successfully renegotiated the austerity measures . On 20 February , the Eurogroup came to an agreement with Greece to extend the Greek bailout for four months . Tsipras had also announced a trip to Moscow on 8 April , in a bid to secure Russian support . On 31 May , Tsipras laid out his complaints and outlined his plan in a recap of events since his election . He concluded that there were at least two competing visions for the integration of Europe , both of which he seemed to reject , and that certain unnamed institutional actors had an obsession with their own technocratic programme . On 22 June , Tsipras presented a new Greek proposal , which included raising the retirement age gradually to 67 and curbing early retirement . It also offered to reform the value-added-tax system to set the main rate at 23 percent . On 29 June Greek banks stayed shut and Tsipras said they would remain so to impose capital control . Trading in Greek stocks and bonds halted as well . Bailout referendum . On 27 June 2015 , Tsipras announced a referendum to decide whether or not Greece should accept the bailout conditions proposed jointly by the Juncker Commission , the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank . Tsipras recommended a No vote . On 3 July , during an address to at least 250,000 people gathered in the capitals Syntagma Square in front of parliament , he rejected some leaders warnings that a No result in Sundays plebiscite could see Greece forced to leave the eurozone . He declared On Sunday , we are not simply deciding to remain in Europe—we are deciding to live with dignity in Europe . The result of the referendum was 61.3 percent voting No . Fidel Castro sent a letter to Tsipras congratulating him for the victory of NO . In that letter he said that the courage of Greece was admired by the people of Latin America and Caribbean . Bailout agreement . After several days of negotiation , on 13 July 2015 , Tsipras came to an agreement with lenders . Greece was to get a loan of 82 to 86 billion euros , which would be handed to Greece gradually from 2015 until June 2018 . In return , Greece would have to increase the VAT , reform the pension system , assure the independence of ELSTAT , automatically cut public spending to get primary surpluses , reform justice so decisions can be made faster , follow the reforms proposed by OECD , revoke the laws passed by Tsipras except for the one concerning the humanitarian crisis , recapitalize the banks , privatize 50 billion of state assets , and decrease the cost of the public sector . In return , Greece would be given the Juncker package , 35 billion euros , which is meant to help the Greek economy grow . The Syriza-led government of Greece accepted a bailout package that contains larger pension cuts and tax increases than the one rejected by Greek voters in the referendum . On 14 August , the Greek parliament backed the countrys new bailout deal , although more than 40 MPs from Syriza voted against the deal and Tsipras had to rely on the support of the pro-EU opposition : New Democracy , To Potami and PASOK . Tsipras told MPs they were facing a choice between staying alive or suicide . He also said : I have my conscience clear that it is the best we could achieve under the current balance of power in Europe , under conditions of economic and financial asphyxiation imposed upon us . Resignation . On 20 August 2015 , Tsipras resigned from position of the Prime Minister of Greece due to the rebellion of MPs from his own party Syriza and called for a snap election . He made the announcement in a televised state address . After opposition parties failed to form a government , Vassiliki Thanou-Christophilou was appointed as an interim prime minister until elections could be held . Second term ( September 2015–July 2019 ) . Re-election . Despite a low turnout of only 57% versus 64% in previous elections , at the 20 September election , Tsipras received a solid vote of confidence , with Syriza achieving 35.50% of the vote , enough to form a coalition with ANEL . Among others , Tsipras appointed in his new government Dimitris Kammenos , a politician from ANEL , as deputy minister for infrastructure , transport and networks , causing reactions because of Kammenos anti-Semitic , racist and homophobic comments on Twitter , such as accusations of 9/11 being a Jewish plot . The outcry against him eventually forced Kammenos to resign , being a minister for less than 12 hours . Second government . At a September 2015 Clinton Global Initiative event , Tsipras spoke to Bill Clinton about the need to restructure the Greek debt , to make reforms in public administration and bring investments . The same month , Defense Minister Panos Kammenos celebrated the Greek victory in the battle of Salamina , causing criticism due to the juntas celebrations of similar events with the same style . In 2015 , Tsipras and Kammenos oversaw the military exercise Parmenion . In October 2015 , Tsipras sacked Greeces top tax collection official , Katerina Savvaidou , because she had allegedly granted an extension to television stations to pay a 20% tax on advertising . The governments fiscal measures prompted some backlash , with farmers threatening to bring their tractors into Athens and pharmacists going on strike . In November 2015 , Tsipras received an angry reception at a refugee camp in Lesbos by around a hundred protesters , wearing life jackets and brandishing placards calling on the European Union to stop deaths by allowing asylum seekers safe and legal passage to Europe . In November 2015 , after being jeered by anarchists , Tsipras compared them in his speech in Parliament to Golden Dawn and said that there was no need for uncalled saviors who think that they can determinate life and death . In November 2015 , Tsipras became the first Greek prime minister to visit Turkeys Aegean province of Izmir since the days of the Occupation of Smyrna , meeting Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu ; they agreed to cooperate on the refugee crisis and to establish technical cooperation between Greek and Turkish coast guards . In December 2015 , he introduced the Cohabitation agreement for the same sex-couples.The bill was approveed by the Greek Parliament on 23 December 2015 . On March 19 , 2016 , Tsipras spoke at a conference of the Alliance Against Austerity for Democracy in Europe held in Athens . In his speech , he expressed concern over the possibility of Donald Trump becoming US President . He said as follows : “Tell me who of you would believe a few months ago that in the US today , the front-runner on behalf of the Republicans for the nomination of the candidate President would be Mr . Trump ? And of course what this nomination marks , the ideas it represents , the appeal it reaches , and the threat to become even President – I hope we will not face this evil.” In May 2016 , new austerity measures proposed by Tsipras passed Parliament . The legislation increased taxes to middle- and high-level income earners ; make across-the-board budget cuts amounting to about 3% of Greeces GDP ; removed value-added-tax discounts ; cut pensions ; and increase deregulation . Tsipras called for calm on the streets and defended the austerity package , saying it fell in line with the agreement reached with the EU the previous year . Further austerity legislation included a provision for contingency measures , including wage and pension cuts , that would take effect automatically if budget targets were derailed next year . Taxes on cigarettes , coffee and craft beer were also raised , while an unpopular property tax was restructured to increase revenues from larger buildings . A new privatisation agency was set up which would have a 99-year remit to develop and sell state-owned property . Tsipras defended his adoption of new fiscal measures , telling Parliament : Spring may be almost over but we are looking forward to an economic spring and a return to growth this year . In a July 2017 , Tsipras opined that the Greek economy was on the up and that the worst is clearly behind us . He also expressed confidence that Greece will no longer have to rely on bailouts and international oversight in 2018 . According to media reports from mid-July , Greece was considering rejoining the bond market for the first time since 2014 to borrow from the capital market . It was speculated that the government could issue a five-year bond at a time when yields on Greek bonds are their lowest since the country left the market in 2014 . The announcement came a few days after the IMF in principle approved Greece for a conditional loan of up to $1.8 billion . The IMF made the payment of the loans contingent on Greeces debt sustainability , demanding that euro-zone countries provide debt relief to the country . In October 2017 Prime Minister Tsipras met with President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington , D.C. , at which Trump told Tsipras that he supported a responsible debt relief plan for Greece as they recovered from the economic crisis in the country . Trump added that his administration had informed Congress of a potential sale to upgrade the F-16 aircraft in Greeces air force , a deal that could be worth $2.4 billion . Greece officially concluded its three-year European Stability Mechanism ( ESM ) financial assistance programme on 20 August 2018 , following the disbursement of €61.9 billion by the ESM over three years to support the countrys macroeconomic adjustment and bank recapitalization . ESM Members agreed on the financial assistance package in August 2015 . The conclusion of the ESM programme marks a very important moment and historic for all of us . We had eight very difficult years , often painful years , but now Greece can finally turn a page in a crisis that has lasted too long , according to EU Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs Pierre Moscovici . A day after Moscovicis statement , Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said during a state address from the island of Ithaca : A new day is dawning in our country , today is the beginning of a new era . Tsipras furthermore asserted that the country had regained its sovereignty to determine its own future , reaching a destination that would allow the Greeks to make our place as it deserves to be . In January 2019 , Greece Defence Minister Panos Kammenos and his Independent Greeks party quit Greeces ruling coalition over a deal struck on the Macedonia naming dispute , potentially leaving the governing coalition without a workable majority in parliament . Despite this , some days later , Tsipras managed to win a confidence vote and gain again the support of the absolute majority of the Greek parliament ( 151 votes ) for his government ( this time backed by one political party , i.e . SYRIZA ) . The confidence vote was followed by the successful ratification of the Greek parliament with 153 votes of the Prespa Agreement , an agreement which resolved a long-standing dispute and named Greeces northern neighbour as North Macedonia . Syriza suffered a harsh defeat in the European election on 26 May 2019 , losing to the opposition party New Democracy . Following the defeat , snap elections were called . Syriza was defeated in the 2019 legislative election , scoring 31.53% of votes and securing only 86 seats in the Hellenic Parliament . Tsipras conceded defeat and resigned the following day . His first non-official biography has been written by a French journalist named Fabien Perrier . It is published by François Bourin in France and by Topos in Greece . Personal life . Tsipras is married . His registered partner is Peristera Betty Baziana , an electrical and computer engineer . They met in 1987 , at the age of 13 , at Ampelokipoi Branch High School . Both eventually became members of the Communist Youth of Greece . They live together in Athens with their two sons . Their younger sons middle name is Ernesto , a tribute to the Marxist revolutionary Ernesto Che Guevara . Tsipras is an avid football fan and , having grown up near the stadium , supports Panathinaikos , attending every home game that he can . Tsipras is a self-described atheist . His cousin , Giorgos Tsipras , is also a Syriza MP . |
[
"Leader of the Opposition"
] | easy | Which position did Alexis Tsipras hold from Jun 2012 to 2015? | /wiki/Alexis_Tsipras#P39#1 | Alexis Tsipras Alexis Tsipras ( , ; born 28 July 1974 ) is a Greek politician serving as Leader of the Official Opposition since 2019 . The leader of left-wing party Syriza since 2009 , he served as Prime Minister of Greece from 2015 to 2019 . Tsipras has been Leader of the Coalition of the Radical Left ( Syriza ) , a left wing political party , since 2009 . He was the fourth Greek Prime Minister who has governed in the course of the 2010s government-debt crisis . Originally an outspoken critic of the austerity policies implemented during the crisis , his tenure in office was marked by an intense austerity policy , mostly in the context of the third EU bailout to Greece ( 2015–2018 ) . Tsipras was born in Athens in 1974 . He joined the Communist Youth of Greece in the late 1980s and in the 1990s was politically active in student protests against education reform plans , becoming the movements spokesperson . He studied civil engineering at the National Technical University of Athens , graduating in 2000 , later undertaking post-graduate studies in urban and regional planning . He worked as a civil engineer in the construction industry , based primarily in Athens . From 1999 to 2003 , Tsipras served as the secretary of Synaspismos Youth . He was elected as a member of the Central Committee of Synaspismos in 2004 and later the Political Secretariat . In the 2006 local election , he ran as Syrizas candidate for Mayor of Athens , winning 10.5% . In 2008 , he was elected as Leader of Syriza , succeeding Alekos Alavanos . He was first elected to the Hellenic Parliament representing Athens A in the 2009 election and was re-elected in May and June 2012 , subsequently becoming Leader of the Opposition and appointing his own shadow cabinet . In January 2015 , Tsipras led Syriza to victory in a snap legislative election , winning 149 out of 300 seats in the Hellenic Parliament and forming a coalition with the Independent Greeks . On 20 August 2015 , seven months into his term as prime minister , he lost his majority after intraparty defections ; he then announced his resignation and called for a snap election to take place the following month . In the September 2015 election that followed , Tsipras led Syriza to another victory , winning 145 out of 300 seats and re-forming the coalition with the Independent Greeks . During his premiership , he oversaw negotiations regarding the Greek government-debt crisis , initiated the Greek bailout referendum and responded to the European migrant crisis . In 2015 , he was named by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people globally . As Prime Minister of Greece , the opposition parties accused Tsipras of , among other things , having capitulated to enacting increasingly harsh austerity measures to keep his country on the surface ( in contrast with his pre-election promises ) and of having exacerbated problems that already existed in the Greek economy , with the country having lost about 25% of its GDP since the start of the crisis . Early life and career . Alexios ( Alexis ) Tsipras was born 28 July 1974 in Athens . His father , Pavlos , was from Athamania in Epirus and was a public works contractor , while his mother , Aristi , was born in Eleftheroupoli , a town in Greek Macedonia . His maternal grandparents were from the village of Babaeski , Eastern Thrace , Turkey and moved to Eleftheroupoli as a result of the 1923 population exchange between Greece and Turkey . Tsipras joined the Communist Youth of Greece in the late 1980s . In the early 1990s , as a student at Ampelokipoi Multi-disciplinary High School , he was politically active in the student uprising and the school occupations against the controversial law of Education Minister Vasilis Kontogiannopoulos . He rose to prominence as a representative of the student movement when he was featured as a guest on a television show hosted by journalist Anna Panagiotarea . During the interview , Panagiotarea implied that Tsipras was being disingenuous in defending middle and high school students right to absenteeism without parental notification in the context of protests . Newspapers and opposition politicians contrasted his early activism for the free state education to his choice to enroll his children in private schools when he became prime-minister . Tsipras studied civil engineering at the National Technical University of Athens , graduating in 2000 , before undertaking postgraduate studies in Urban and Regional Planning following an inter-departmental MPhil at the School of Architecture of NTUA . Alongside his postgraduate studies , he began working as a civil engineer in the construction industry . He wrote three studies and projects on the theme of the city of Athens . As a university student , Tsipras joined the ranks of the renascent left-wing movement , particularly the Enceladus ( ) group , and as member of it , he was elected to the executive board of the students union of the Civil Engineering School of NTUA and also served as student representative on the University Senate . From 1995 to 1997 he was an elected member of the Central Council of the National Students Union of Greece ( EFEE ) . Political career , 1999–2015 . After the departure of the Communist Party of Greece from Synaspismos in 1991 , Tsipras remained in the coalition . In May 1999 he became the first political secretary of Synaspismos youth-wing , the Synaspismos Youth . During this period he was described as a centrist , different from the very clear radical , left-wing profile he would later maintain as leader of Synaspismos . He won many awards during this time . In November 2003 , he was succeeded by Tasos Koronakis and moved on to the mother party . He managed quite efficiently to maintain a strong adherence to the policy of the party , effectively out talking both the left and right political wings . As secretary of Synaspismos Youth , he took an active part in the process of creating the Greek Social Forum and attended many of the international protests and marches against neoliberal globalization . In December 2004 , at the 4th Congress of Synaspismos , he was elected a member of the partys Central Political Committee and consequently to the Political Secretariat , where he was responsible for educational and youth issues . Tsipras first entered the limelight of mainstream Greek politics during the 2006 local election when he ran for Mayor of Athens under the Anoikhti Poli ( Greek : Ανοιχτή Πόλη , Open City ) Syriza ticket that gained 10.51% of the Athenian vote , finishing third overall . Tsipras won a seat on the Municipality of Athens council by virtue of him being first on the Syriza list . He did not run for the Greek Parliament in the 2007 election , choosing to continue the completion his term as a member of the municipal council of Athens . Tsipras was elected Leader of Synaspismos during its 5th Congress on 10 February 2008 , after its previous Leader Alekos Alavanos decided not to stand for election again due to personal reasons . Tsipras became leader of Synaspismos at the age of 33 , thus becoming the youngest leader of a Greek political party since 1931 . In the 2009 election , he was elected to the Hellenic Parliament for Athens A and was subsequently voted unanimously to be the head of the Syriza parliamentary group . Tsipras led SYRIZA through the 2012 elections , overseeing a swing of over 22% to the party and becoming the Leader of the Opposition and head of the Shadow Cabinet of Alexis Tsipras . In December 2013 , Tsipras was the first candidate proposed for the position of president of the Commission of the European Union by the European United Left–Nordic Green Left ( GUE/NGL ) . The vote was an EU member states election to the European Parliament in May 2014 . Tsipras campaigned as the only candidate of the south periphery countries . At the beginning of May 2014 , in a speech in Berlin , he clarified many of his positions , in opposition to the allegedly Merkel-dominated neoliberal political course in Europe . Tsipras declared a substantial change for a better future for all Europeans is visible within 10 years . He addressed those who lost out in the fallout of the financial crises from 2008 to 2014 , which produced unexpectedly high jobless rates in most of the EU . The speech was given in English to a German audience and intended to be listened to throughout Europe . Although the GUE/NGL won in Greece , winning six of the 21 Greek seats in the European Parliament , it finished fifth in Europe overall . Prime Minister . First term ( January–August 2015 ) . Tsipras led Syriza to victory in the general election held on 25 January 2015 , falling short of an outright majority in Parliament by just two seats . The following morning , Tsipras reached an agreement with the right-wing populist Independent Greeks party to form a coalition . On the same day he was sworn in by President Karolos Papoulias as the youngest Prime Minister in Greek history since 1865 , using the words I declare in my name , honour and conscience to uphold the Constitution and its laws . Tsipras was also the first prime minister to take a civil oath rather than a religious oath of office , marking a rupture with Greek orthodox ceremonial culture . While reaffirming the good relations between his party and the Church , he generated further religious controversy during a meeting with Archbishop Ieronymos . Tsipras explained that as an atheist who neither married in a religious ceremony nor baptised his children , he would not take a religious oath of office . In his first act after being sworn in , Tsipras visited the Resistance Memorial in Kaisariani , laying down red roses to commemorate the 200 members of the Greek Resistance executed by the German Wehrmacht on 1 May 1944 . During the first meeting of the new cabinet , Tsipras declared the priorities of his government to be the fight against the humanitarian crisis in Greece , negotiations with the EU and the International Monetary Fund on restructuring the Greek debt , and the implementation of promises made by SYRIZA such as the abolition of the previous governments privatization policies . On 3 February , Tsipras made his first official state visit , meeting with his Italian counterpart Matteo Renzi in Rome . They held a joint press conference expressing concerns about austerity measures imposed by the Juncker Commission and stated that economic growth is the only way to exit from the crisis . After the press conference , Renzi presented Tsipras with an Italian tie as a gift . Tsipras , who is notable for never wearing ties , thanked Renzi and said that he would wear the gift in celebration when Greece had successfully renegotiated the austerity measures . On 20 February , the Eurogroup came to an agreement with Greece to extend the Greek bailout for four months . Tsipras had also announced a trip to Moscow on 8 April , in a bid to secure Russian support . On 31 May , Tsipras laid out his complaints and outlined his plan in a recap of events since his election . He concluded that there were at least two competing visions for the integration of Europe , both of which he seemed to reject , and that certain unnamed institutional actors had an obsession with their own technocratic programme . On 22 June , Tsipras presented a new Greek proposal , which included raising the retirement age gradually to 67 and curbing early retirement . It also offered to reform the value-added-tax system to set the main rate at 23 percent . On 29 June Greek banks stayed shut and Tsipras said they would remain so to impose capital control . Trading in Greek stocks and bonds halted as well . Bailout referendum . On 27 June 2015 , Tsipras announced a referendum to decide whether or not Greece should accept the bailout conditions proposed jointly by the Juncker Commission , the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank . Tsipras recommended a No vote . On 3 July , during an address to at least 250,000 people gathered in the capitals Syntagma Square in front of parliament , he rejected some leaders warnings that a No result in Sundays plebiscite could see Greece forced to leave the eurozone . He declared On Sunday , we are not simply deciding to remain in Europe—we are deciding to live with dignity in Europe . The result of the referendum was 61.3 percent voting No . Fidel Castro sent a letter to Tsipras congratulating him for the victory of NO . In that letter he said that the courage of Greece was admired by the people of Latin America and Caribbean . Bailout agreement . After several days of negotiation , on 13 July 2015 , Tsipras came to an agreement with lenders . Greece was to get a loan of 82 to 86 billion euros , which would be handed to Greece gradually from 2015 until June 2018 . In return , Greece would have to increase the VAT , reform the pension system , assure the independence of ELSTAT , automatically cut public spending to get primary surpluses , reform justice so decisions can be made faster , follow the reforms proposed by OECD , revoke the laws passed by Tsipras except for the one concerning the humanitarian crisis , recapitalize the banks , privatize 50 billion of state assets , and decrease the cost of the public sector . In return , Greece would be given the Juncker package , 35 billion euros , which is meant to help the Greek economy grow . The Syriza-led government of Greece accepted a bailout package that contains larger pension cuts and tax increases than the one rejected by Greek voters in the referendum . On 14 August , the Greek parliament backed the countrys new bailout deal , although more than 40 MPs from Syriza voted against the deal and Tsipras had to rely on the support of the pro-EU opposition : New Democracy , To Potami and PASOK . Tsipras told MPs they were facing a choice between staying alive or suicide . He also said : I have my conscience clear that it is the best we could achieve under the current balance of power in Europe , under conditions of economic and financial asphyxiation imposed upon us . Resignation . On 20 August 2015 , Tsipras resigned from position of the Prime Minister of Greece due to the rebellion of MPs from his own party Syriza and called for a snap election . He made the announcement in a televised state address . After opposition parties failed to form a government , Vassiliki Thanou-Christophilou was appointed as an interim prime minister until elections could be held . Second term ( September 2015–July 2019 ) . Re-election . Despite a low turnout of only 57% versus 64% in previous elections , at the 20 September election , Tsipras received a solid vote of confidence , with Syriza achieving 35.50% of the vote , enough to form a coalition with ANEL . Among others , Tsipras appointed in his new government Dimitris Kammenos , a politician from ANEL , as deputy minister for infrastructure , transport and networks , causing reactions because of Kammenos anti-Semitic , racist and homophobic comments on Twitter , such as accusations of 9/11 being a Jewish plot . The outcry against him eventually forced Kammenos to resign , being a minister for less than 12 hours . Second government . At a September 2015 Clinton Global Initiative event , Tsipras spoke to Bill Clinton about the need to restructure the Greek debt , to make reforms in public administration and bring investments . The same month , Defense Minister Panos Kammenos celebrated the Greek victory in the battle of Salamina , causing criticism due to the juntas celebrations of similar events with the same style . In 2015 , Tsipras and Kammenos oversaw the military exercise Parmenion . In October 2015 , Tsipras sacked Greeces top tax collection official , Katerina Savvaidou , because she had allegedly granted an extension to television stations to pay a 20% tax on advertising . The governments fiscal measures prompted some backlash , with farmers threatening to bring their tractors into Athens and pharmacists going on strike . In November 2015 , Tsipras received an angry reception at a refugee camp in Lesbos by around a hundred protesters , wearing life jackets and brandishing placards calling on the European Union to stop deaths by allowing asylum seekers safe and legal passage to Europe . In November 2015 , after being jeered by anarchists , Tsipras compared them in his speech in Parliament to Golden Dawn and said that there was no need for uncalled saviors who think that they can determinate life and death . In November 2015 , Tsipras became the first Greek prime minister to visit Turkeys Aegean province of Izmir since the days of the Occupation of Smyrna , meeting Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu ; they agreed to cooperate on the refugee crisis and to establish technical cooperation between Greek and Turkish coast guards . In December 2015 , he introduced the Cohabitation agreement for the same sex-couples.The bill was approveed by the Greek Parliament on 23 December 2015 . On March 19 , 2016 , Tsipras spoke at a conference of the Alliance Against Austerity for Democracy in Europe held in Athens . In his speech , he expressed concern over the possibility of Donald Trump becoming US President . He said as follows : “Tell me who of you would believe a few months ago that in the US today , the front-runner on behalf of the Republicans for the nomination of the candidate President would be Mr . Trump ? And of course what this nomination marks , the ideas it represents , the appeal it reaches , and the threat to become even President – I hope we will not face this evil.” In May 2016 , new austerity measures proposed by Tsipras passed Parliament . The legislation increased taxes to middle- and high-level income earners ; make across-the-board budget cuts amounting to about 3% of Greeces GDP ; removed value-added-tax discounts ; cut pensions ; and increase deregulation . Tsipras called for calm on the streets and defended the austerity package , saying it fell in line with the agreement reached with the EU the previous year . Further austerity legislation included a provision for contingency measures , including wage and pension cuts , that would take effect automatically if budget targets were derailed next year . Taxes on cigarettes , coffee and craft beer were also raised , while an unpopular property tax was restructured to increase revenues from larger buildings . A new privatisation agency was set up which would have a 99-year remit to develop and sell state-owned property . Tsipras defended his adoption of new fiscal measures , telling Parliament : Spring may be almost over but we are looking forward to an economic spring and a return to growth this year . In a July 2017 , Tsipras opined that the Greek economy was on the up and that the worst is clearly behind us . He also expressed confidence that Greece will no longer have to rely on bailouts and international oversight in 2018 . According to media reports from mid-July , Greece was considering rejoining the bond market for the first time since 2014 to borrow from the capital market . It was speculated that the government could issue a five-year bond at a time when yields on Greek bonds are their lowest since the country left the market in 2014 . The announcement came a few days after the IMF in principle approved Greece for a conditional loan of up to $1.8 billion . The IMF made the payment of the loans contingent on Greeces debt sustainability , demanding that euro-zone countries provide debt relief to the country . In October 2017 Prime Minister Tsipras met with President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington , D.C. , at which Trump told Tsipras that he supported a responsible debt relief plan for Greece as they recovered from the economic crisis in the country . Trump added that his administration had informed Congress of a potential sale to upgrade the F-16 aircraft in Greeces air force , a deal that could be worth $2.4 billion . Greece officially concluded its three-year European Stability Mechanism ( ESM ) financial assistance programme on 20 August 2018 , following the disbursement of €61.9 billion by the ESM over three years to support the countrys macroeconomic adjustment and bank recapitalization . ESM Members agreed on the financial assistance package in August 2015 . The conclusion of the ESM programme marks a very important moment and historic for all of us . We had eight very difficult years , often painful years , but now Greece can finally turn a page in a crisis that has lasted too long , according to EU Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs Pierre Moscovici . A day after Moscovicis statement , Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said during a state address from the island of Ithaca : A new day is dawning in our country , today is the beginning of a new era . Tsipras furthermore asserted that the country had regained its sovereignty to determine its own future , reaching a destination that would allow the Greeks to make our place as it deserves to be . In January 2019 , Greece Defence Minister Panos Kammenos and his Independent Greeks party quit Greeces ruling coalition over a deal struck on the Macedonia naming dispute , potentially leaving the governing coalition without a workable majority in parliament . Despite this , some days later , Tsipras managed to win a confidence vote and gain again the support of the absolute majority of the Greek parliament ( 151 votes ) for his government ( this time backed by one political party , i.e . SYRIZA ) . The confidence vote was followed by the successful ratification of the Greek parliament with 153 votes of the Prespa Agreement , an agreement which resolved a long-standing dispute and named Greeces northern neighbour as North Macedonia . Syriza suffered a harsh defeat in the European election on 26 May 2019 , losing to the opposition party New Democracy . Following the defeat , snap elections were called . Syriza was defeated in the 2019 legislative election , scoring 31.53% of votes and securing only 86 seats in the Hellenic Parliament . Tsipras conceded defeat and resigned the following day . His first non-official biography has been written by a French journalist named Fabien Perrier . It is published by François Bourin in France and by Topos in Greece . Personal life . Tsipras is married . His registered partner is Peristera Betty Baziana , an electrical and computer engineer . They met in 1987 , at the age of 13 , at Ampelokipoi Branch High School . Both eventually became members of the Communist Youth of Greece . They live together in Athens with their two sons . Their younger sons middle name is Ernesto , a tribute to the Marxist revolutionary Ernesto Che Guevara . Tsipras is an avid football fan and , having grown up near the stadium , supports Panathinaikos , attending every home game that he can . Tsipras is a self-described atheist . His cousin , Giorgos Tsipras , is also a Syriza MP . |
[
"Prime Minister of Greece"
] | easy | Which position did Alexis Tsipras hold from 2015 to Aug 2015? | /wiki/Alexis_Tsipras#P39#2 | Alexis Tsipras Alexis Tsipras ( , ; born 28 July 1974 ) is a Greek politician serving as Leader of the Official Opposition since 2019 . The leader of left-wing party Syriza since 2009 , he served as Prime Minister of Greece from 2015 to 2019 . Tsipras has been Leader of the Coalition of the Radical Left ( Syriza ) , a left wing political party , since 2009 . He was the fourth Greek Prime Minister who has governed in the course of the 2010s government-debt crisis . Originally an outspoken critic of the austerity policies implemented during the crisis , his tenure in office was marked by an intense austerity policy , mostly in the context of the third EU bailout to Greece ( 2015–2018 ) . Tsipras was born in Athens in 1974 . He joined the Communist Youth of Greece in the late 1980s and in the 1990s was politically active in student protests against education reform plans , becoming the movements spokesperson . He studied civil engineering at the National Technical University of Athens , graduating in 2000 , later undertaking post-graduate studies in urban and regional planning . He worked as a civil engineer in the construction industry , based primarily in Athens . From 1999 to 2003 , Tsipras served as the secretary of Synaspismos Youth . He was elected as a member of the Central Committee of Synaspismos in 2004 and later the Political Secretariat . In the 2006 local election , he ran as Syrizas candidate for Mayor of Athens , winning 10.5% . In 2008 , he was elected as Leader of Syriza , succeeding Alekos Alavanos . He was first elected to the Hellenic Parliament representing Athens A in the 2009 election and was re-elected in May and June 2012 , subsequently becoming Leader of the Opposition and appointing his own shadow cabinet . In January 2015 , Tsipras led Syriza to victory in a snap legislative election , winning 149 out of 300 seats in the Hellenic Parliament and forming a coalition with the Independent Greeks . On 20 August 2015 , seven months into his term as prime minister , he lost his majority after intraparty defections ; he then announced his resignation and called for a snap election to take place the following month . In the September 2015 election that followed , Tsipras led Syriza to another victory , winning 145 out of 300 seats and re-forming the coalition with the Independent Greeks . During his premiership , he oversaw negotiations regarding the Greek government-debt crisis , initiated the Greek bailout referendum and responded to the European migrant crisis . In 2015 , he was named by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people globally . As Prime Minister of Greece , the opposition parties accused Tsipras of , among other things , having capitulated to enacting increasingly harsh austerity measures to keep his country on the surface ( in contrast with his pre-election promises ) and of having exacerbated problems that already existed in the Greek economy , with the country having lost about 25% of its GDP since the start of the crisis . Early life and career . Alexios ( Alexis ) Tsipras was born 28 July 1974 in Athens . His father , Pavlos , was from Athamania in Epirus and was a public works contractor , while his mother , Aristi , was born in Eleftheroupoli , a town in Greek Macedonia . His maternal grandparents were from the village of Babaeski , Eastern Thrace , Turkey and moved to Eleftheroupoli as a result of the 1923 population exchange between Greece and Turkey . Tsipras joined the Communist Youth of Greece in the late 1980s . In the early 1990s , as a student at Ampelokipoi Multi-disciplinary High School , he was politically active in the student uprising and the school occupations against the controversial law of Education Minister Vasilis Kontogiannopoulos . He rose to prominence as a representative of the student movement when he was featured as a guest on a television show hosted by journalist Anna Panagiotarea . During the interview , Panagiotarea implied that Tsipras was being disingenuous in defending middle and high school students right to absenteeism without parental notification in the context of protests . Newspapers and opposition politicians contrasted his early activism for the free state education to his choice to enroll his children in private schools when he became prime-minister . Tsipras studied civil engineering at the National Technical University of Athens , graduating in 2000 , before undertaking postgraduate studies in Urban and Regional Planning following an inter-departmental MPhil at the School of Architecture of NTUA . Alongside his postgraduate studies , he began working as a civil engineer in the construction industry . He wrote three studies and projects on the theme of the city of Athens . As a university student , Tsipras joined the ranks of the renascent left-wing movement , particularly the Enceladus ( ) group , and as member of it , he was elected to the executive board of the students union of the Civil Engineering School of NTUA and also served as student representative on the University Senate . From 1995 to 1997 he was an elected member of the Central Council of the National Students Union of Greece ( EFEE ) . Political career , 1999–2015 . After the departure of the Communist Party of Greece from Synaspismos in 1991 , Tsipras remained in the coalition . In May 1999 he became the first political secretary of Synaspismos youth-wing , the Synaspismos Youth . During this period he was described as a centrist , different from the very clear radical , left-wing profile he would later maintain as leader of Synaspismos . He won many awards during this time . In November 2003 , he was succeeded by Tasos Koronakis and moved on to the mother party . He managed quite efficiently to maintain a strong adherence to the policy of the party , effectively out talking both the left and right political wings . As secretary of Synaspismos Youth , he took an active part in the process of creating the Greek Social Forum and attended many of the international protests and marches against neoliberal globalization . In December 2004 , at the 4th Congress of Synaspismos , he was elected a member of the partys Central Political Committee and consequently to the Political Secretariat , where he was responsible for educational and youth issues . Tsipras first entered the limelight of mainstream Greek politics during the 2006 local election when he ran for Mayor of Athens under the Anoikhti Poli ( Greek : Ανοιχτή Πόλη , Open City ) Syriza ticket that gained 10.51% of the Athenian vote , finishing third overall . Tsipras won a seat on the Municipality of Athens council by virtue of him being first on the Syriza list . He did not run for the Greek Parliament in the 2007 election , choosing to continue the completion his term as a member of the municipal council of Athens . Tsipras was elected Leader of Synaspismos during its 5th Congress on 10 February 2008 , after its previous Leader Alekos Alavanos decided not to stand for election again due to personal reasons . Tsipras became leader of Synaspismos at the age of 33 , thus becoming the youngest leader of a Greek political party since 1931 . In the 2009 election , he was elected to the Hellenic Parliament for Athens A and was subsequently voted unanimously to be the head of the Syriza parliamentary group . Tsipras led SYRIZA through the 2012 elections , overseeing a swing of over 22% to the party and becoming the Leader of the Opposition and head of the Shadow Cabinet of Alexis Tsipras . In December 2013 , Tsipras was the first candidate proposed for the position of president of the Commission of the European Union by the European United Left–Nordic Green Left ( GUE/NGL ) . The vote was an EU member states election to the European Parliament in May 2014 . Tsipras campaigned as the only candidate of the south periphery countries . At the beginning of May 2014 , in a speech in Berlin , he clarified many of his positions , in opposition to the allegedly Merkel-dominated neoliberal political course in Europe . Tsipras declared a substantial change for a better future for all Europeans is visible within 10 years . He addressed those who lost out in the fallout of the financial crises from 2008 to 2014 , which produced unexpectedly high jobless rates in most of the EU . The speech was given in English to a German audience and intended to be listened to throughout Europe . Although the GUE/NGL won in Greece , winning six of the 21 Greek seats in the European Parliament , it finished fifth in Europe overall . Prime Minister . First term ( January–August 2015 ) . Tsipras led Syriza to victory in the general election held on 25 January 2015 , falling short of an outright majority in Parliament by just two seats . The following morning , Tsipras reached an agreement with the right-wing populist Independent Greeks party to form a coalition . On the same day he was sworn in by President Karolos Papoulias as the youngest Prime Minister in Greek history since 1865 , using the words I declare in my name , honour and conscience to uphold the Constitution and its laws . Tsipras was also the first prime minister to take a civil oath rather than a religious oath of office , marking a rupture with Greek orthodox ceremonial culture . While reaffirming the good relations between his party and the Church , he generated further religious controversy during a meeting with Archbishop Ieronymos . Tsipras explained that as an atheist who neither married in a religious ceremony nor baptised his children , he would not take a religious oath of office . In his first act after being sworn in , Tsipras visited the Resistance Memorial in Kaisariani , laying down red roses to commemorate the 200 members of the Greek Resistance executed by the German Wehrmacht on 1 May 1944 . During the first meeting of the new cabinet , Tsipras declared the priorities of his government to be the fight against the humanitarian crisis in Greece , negotiations with the EU and the International Monetary Fund on restructuring the Greek debt , and the implementation of promises made by SYRIZA such as the abolition of the previous governments privatization policies . On 3 February , Tsipras made his first official state visit , meeting with his Italian counterpart Matteo Renzi in Rome . They held a joint press conference expressing concerns about austerity measures imposed by the Juncker Commission and stated that economic growth is the only way to exit from the crisis . After the press conference , Renzi presented Tsipras with an Italian tie as a gift . Tsipras , who is notable for never wearing ties , thanked Renzi and said that he would wear the gift in celebration when Greece had successfully renegotiated the austerity measures . On 20 February , the Eurogroup came to an agreement with Greece to extend the Greek bailout for four months . Tsipras had also announced a trip to Moscow on 8 April , in a bid to secure Russian support . On 31 May , Tsipras laid out his complaints and outlined his plan in a recap of events since his election . He concluded that there were at least two competing visions for the integration of Europe , both of which he seemed to reject , and that certain unnamed institutional actors had an obsession with their own technocratic programme . On 22 June , Tsipras presented a new Greek proposal , which included raising the retirement age gradually to 67 and curbing early retirement . It also offered to reform the value-added-tax system to set the main rate at 23 percent . On 29 June Greek banks stayed shut and Tsipras said they would remain so to impose capital control . Trading in Greek stocks and bonds halted as well . Bailout referendum . On 27 June 2015 , Tsipras announced a referendum to decide whether or not Greece should accept the bailout conditions proposed jointly by the Juncker Commission , the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank . Tsipras recommended a No vote . On 3 July , during an address to at least 250,000 people gathered in the capitals Syntagma Square in front of parliament , he rejected some leaders warnings that a No result in Sundays plebiscite could see Greece forced to leave the eurozone . He declared On Sunday , we are not simply deciding to remain in Europe—we are deciding to live with dignity in Europe . The result of the referendum was 61.3 percent voting No . Fidel Castro sent a letter to Tsipras congratulating him for the victory of NO . In that letter he said that the courage of Greece was admired by the people of Latin America and Caribbean . Bailout agreement . After several days of negotiation , on 13 July 2015 , Tsipras came to an agreement with lenders . Greece was to get a loan of 82 to 86 billion euros , which would be handed to Greece gradually from 2015 until June 2018 . In return , Greece would have to increase the VAT , reform the pension system , assure the independence of ELSTAT , automatically cut public spending to get primary surpluses , reform justice so decisions can be made faster , follow the reforms proposed by OECD , revoke the laws passed by Tsipras except for the one concerning the humanitarian crisis , recapitalize the banks , privatize 50 billion of state assets , and decrease the cost of the public sector . In return , Greece would be given the Juncker package , 35 billion euros , which is meant to help the Greek economy grow . The Syriza-led government of Greece accepted a bailout package that contains larger pension cuts and tax increases than the one rejected by Greek voters in the referendum . On 14 August , the Greek parliament backed the countrys new bailout deal , although more than 40 MPs from Syriza voted against the deal and Tsipras had to rely on the support of the pro-EU opposition : New Democracy , To Potami and PASOK . Tsipras told MPs they were facing a choice between staying alive or suicide . He also said : I have my conscience clear that it is the best we could achieve under the current balance of power in Europe , under conditions of economic and financial asphyxiation imposed upon us . Resignation . On 20 August 2015 , Tsipras resigned from position of the Prime Minister of Greece due to the rebellion of MPs from his own party Syriza and called for a snap election . He made the announcement in a televised state address . After opposition parties failed to form a government , Vassiliki Thanou-Christophilou was appointed as an interim prime minister until elections could be held . Second term ( September 2015–July 2019 ) . Re-election . Despite a low turnout of only 57% versus 64% in previous elections , at the 20 September election , Tsipras received a solid vote of confidence , with Syriza achieving 35.50% of the vote , enough to form a coalition with ANEL . Among others , Tsipras appointed in his new government Dimitris Kammenos , a politician from ANEL , as deputy minister for infrastructure , transport and networks , causing reactions because of Kammenos anti-Semitic , racist and homophobic comments on Twitter , such as accusations of 9/11 being a Jewish plot . The outcry against him eventually forced Kammenos to resign , being a minister for less than 12 hours . Second government . At a September 2015 Clinton Global Initiative event , Tsipras spoke to Bill Clinton about the need to restructure the Greek debt , to make reforms in public administration and bring investments . The same month , Defense Minister Panos Kammenos celebrated the Greek victory in the battle of Salamina , causing criticism due to the juntas celebrations of similar events with the same style . In 2015 , Tsipras and Kammenos oversaw the military exercise Parmenion . In October 2015 , Tsipras sacked Greeces top tax collection official , Katerina Savvaidou , because she had allegedly granted an extension to television stations to pay a 20% tax on advertising . The governments fiscal measures prompted some backlash , with farmers threatening to bring their tractors into Athens and pharmacists going on strike . In November 2015 , Tsipras received an angry reception at a refugee camp in Lesbos by around a hundred protesters , wearing life jackets and brandishing placards calling on the European Union to stop deaths by allowing asylum seekers safe and legal passage to Europe . In November 2015 , after being jeered by anarchists , Tsipras compared them in his speech in Parliament to Golden Dawn and said that there was no need for uncalled saviors who think that they can determinate life and death . In November 2015 , Tsipras became the first Greek prime minister to visit Turkeys Aegean province of Izmir since the days of the Occupation of Smyrna , meeting Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu ; they agreed to cooperate on the refugee crisis and to establish technical cooperation between Greek and Turkish coast guards . In December 2015 , he introduced the Cohabitation agreement for the same sex-couples.The bill was approveed by the Greek Parliament on 23 December 2015 . On March 19 , 2016 , Tsipras spoke at a conference of the Alliance Against Austerity for Democracy in Europe held in Athens . In his speech , he expressed concern over the possibility of Donald Trump becoming US President . He said as follows : “Tell me who of you would believe a few months ago that in the US today , the front-runner on behalf of the Republicans for the nomination of the candidate President would be Mr . Trump ? And of course what this nomination marks , the ideas it represents , the appeal it reaches , and the threat to become even President – I hope we will not face this evil.” In May 2016 , new austerity measures proposed by Tsipras passed Parliament . The legislation increased taxes to middle- and high-level income earners ; make across-the-board budget cuts amounting to about 3% of Greeces GDP ; removed value-added-tax discounts ; cut pensions ; and increase deregulation . Tsipras called for calm on the streets and defended the austerity package , saying it fell in line with the agreement reached with the EU the previous year . Further austerity legislation included a provision for contingency measures , including wage and pension cuts , that would take effect automatically if budget targets were derailed next year . Taxes on cigarettes , coffee and craft beer were also raised , while an unpopular property tax was restructured to increase revenues from larger buildings . A new privatisation agency was set up which would have a 99-year remit to develop and sell state-owned property . Tsipras defended his adoption of new fiscal measures , telling Parliament : Spring may be almost over but we are looking forward to an economic spring and a return to growth this year . In a July 2017 , Tsipras opined that the Greek economy was on the up and that the worst is clearly behind us . He also expressed confidence that Greece will no longer have to rely on bailouts and international oversight in 2018 . According to media reports from mid-July , Greece was considering rejoining the bond market for the first time since 2014 to borrow from the capital market . It was speculated that the government could issue a five-year bond at a time when yields on Greek bonds are their lowest since the country left the market in 2014 . The announcement came a few days after the IMF in principle approved Greece for a conditional loan of up to $1.8 billion . The IMF made the payment of the loans contingent on Greeces debt sustainability , demanding that euro-zone countries provide debt relief to the country . In October 2017 Prime Minister Tsipras met with President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington , D.C. , at which Trump told Tsipras that he supported a responsible debt relief plan for Greece as they recovered from the economic crisis in the country . Trump added that his administration had informed Congress of a potential sale to upgrade the F-16 aircraft in Greeces air force , a deal that could be worth $2.4 billion . Greece officially concluded its three-year European Stability Mechanism ( ESM ) financial assistance programme on 20 August 2018 , following the disbursement of €61.9 billion by the ESM over three years to support the countrys macroeconomic adjustment and bank recapitalization . ESM Members agreed on the financial assistance package in August 2015 . The conclusion of the ESM programme marks a very important moment and historic for all of us . We had eight very difficult years , often painful years , but now Greece can finally turn a page in a crisis that has lasted too long , according to EU Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs Pierre Moscovici . A day after Moscovicis statement , Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said during a state address from the island of Ithaca : A new day is dawning in our country , today is the beginning of a new era . Tsipras furthermore asserted that the country had regained its sovereignty to determine its own future , reaching a destination that would allow the Greeks to make our place as it deserves to be . In January 2019 , Greece Defence Minister Panos Kammenos and his Independent Greeks party quit Greeces ruling coalition over a deal struck on the Macedonia naming dispute , potentially leaving the governing coalition without a workable majority in parliament . Despite this , some days later , Tsipras managed to win a confidence vote and gain again the support of the absolute majority of the Greek parliament ( 151 votes ) for his government ( this time backed by one political party , i.e . SYRIZA ) . The confidence vote was followed by the successful ratification of the Greek parliament with 153 votes of the Prespa Agreement , an agreement which resolved a long-standing dispute and named Greeces northern neighbour as North Macedonia . Syriza suffered a harsh defeat in the European election on 26 May 2019 , losing to the opposition party New Democracy . Following the defeat , snap elections were called . Syriza was defeated in the 2019 legislative election , scoring 31.53% of votes and securing only 86 seats in the Hellenic Parliament . Tsipras conceded defeat and resigned the following day . His first non-official biography has been written by a French journalist named Fabien Perrier . It is published by François Bourin in France and by Topos in Greece . Personal life . Tsipras is married . His registered partner is Peristera Betty Baziana , an electrical and computer engineer . They met in 1987 , at the age of 13 , at Ampelokipoi Branch High School . Both eventually became members of the Communist Youth of Greece . They live together in Athens with their two sons . Their younger sons middle name is Ernesto , a tribute to the Marxist revolutionary Ernesto Che Guevara . Tsipras is an avid football fan and , having grown up near the stadium , supports Panathinaikos , attending every home game that he can . Tsipras is a self-described atheist . His cousin , Giorgos Tsipras , is also a Syriza MP . |
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] | easy | What was the position of Alexis Tsipras in Aug 2015? | /wiki/Alexis_Tsipras#P39#3 | Alexis Tsipras Alexis Tsipras ( , ; born 28 July 1974 ) is a Greek politician serving as Leader of the Official Opposition since 2019 . The leader of left-wing party Syriza since 2009 , he served as Prime Minister of Greece from 2015 to 2019 . Tsipras has been Leader of the Coalition of the Radical Left ( Syriza ) , a left wing political party , since 2009 . He was the fourth Greek Prime Minister who has governed in the course of the 2010s government-debt crisis . Originally an outspoken critic of the austerity policies implemented during the crisis , his tenure in office was marked by an intense austerity policy , mostly in the context of the third EU bailout to Greece ( 2015–2018 ) . Tsipras was born in Athens in 1974 . He joined the Communist Youth of Greece in the late 1980s and in the 1990s was politically active in student protests against education reform plans , becoming the movements spokesperson . He studied civil engineering at the National Technical University of Athens , graduating in 2000 , later undertaking post-graduate studies in urban and regional planning . He worked as a civil engineer in the construction industry , based primarily in Athens . From 1999 to 2003 , Tsipras served as the secretary of Synaspismos Youth . He was elected as a member of the Central Committee of Synaspismos in 2004 and later the Political Secretariat . In the 2006 local election , he ran as Syrizas candidate for Mayor of Athens , winning 10.5% . In 2008 , he was elected as Leader of Syriza , succeeding Alekos Alavanos . He was first elected to the Hellenic Parliament representing Athens A in the 2009 election and was re-elected in May and June 2012 , subsequently becoming Leader of the Opposition and appointing his own shadow cabinet . In January 2015 , Tsipras led Syriza to victory in a snap legislative election , winning 149 out of 300 seats in the Hellenic Parliament and forming a coalition with the Independent Greeks . On 20 August 2015 , seven months into his term as prime minister , he lost his majority after intraparty defections ; he then announced his resignation and called for a snap election to take place the following month . In the September 2015 election that followed , Tsipras led Syriza to another victory , winning 145 out of 300 seats and re-forming the coalition with the Independent Greeks . During his premiership , he oversaw negotiations regarding the Greek government-debt crisis , initiated the Greek bailout referendum and responded to the European migrant crisis . In 2015 , he was named by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people globally . As Prime Minister of Greece , the opposition parties accused Tsipras of , among other things , having capitulated to enacting increasingly harsh austerity measures to keep his country on the surface ( in contrast with his pre-election promises ) and of having exacerbated problems that already existed in the Greek economy , with the country having lost about 25% of its GDP since the start of the crisis . Early life and career . Alexios ( Alexis ) Tsipras was born 28 July 1974 in Athens . His father , Pavlos , was from Athamania in Epirus and was a public works contractor , while his mother , Aristi , was born in Eleftheroupoli , a town in Greek Macedonia . His maternal grandparents were from the village of Babaeski , Eastern Thrace , Turkey and moved to Eleftheroupoli as a result of the 1923 population exchange between Greece and Turkey . Tsipras joined the Communist Youth of Greece in the late 1980s . In the early 1990s , as a student at Ampelokipoi Multi-disciplinary High School , he was politically active in the student uprising and the school occupations against the controversial law of Education Minister Vasilis Kontogiannopoulos . He rose to prominence as a representative of the student movement when he was featured as a guest on a television show hosted by journalist Anna Panagiotarea . During the interview , Panagiotarea implied that Tsipras was being disingenuous in defending middle and high school students right to absenteeism without parental notification in the context of protests . Newspapers and opposition politicians contrasted his early activism for the free state education to his choice to enroll his children in private schools when he became prime-minister . Tsipras studied civil engineering at the National Technical University of Athens , graduating in 2000 , before undertaking postgraduate studies in Urban and Regional Planning following an inter-departmental MPhil at the School of Architecture of NTUA . Alongside his postgraduate studies , he began working as a civil engineer in the construction industry . He wrote three studies and projects on the theme of the city of Athens . As a university student , Tsipras joined the ranks of the renascent left-wing movement , particularly the Enceladus ( ) group , and as member of it , he was elected to the executive board of the students union of the Civil Engineering School of NTUA and also served as student representative on the University Senate . From 1995 to 1997 he was an elected member of the Central Council of the National Students Union of Greece ( EFEE ) . Political career , 1999–2015 . After the departure of the Communist Party of Greece from Synaspismos in 1991 , Tsipras remained in the coalition . In May 1999 he became the first political secretary of Synaspismos youth-wing , the Synaspismos Youth . During this period he was described as a centrist , different from the very clear radical , left-wing profile he would later maintain as leader of Synaspismos . He won many awards during this time . In November 2003 , he was succeeded by Tasos Koronakis and moved on to the mother party . He managed quite efficiently to maintain a strong adherence to the policy of the party , effectively out talking both the left and right political wings . As secretary of Synaspismos Youth , he took an active part in the process of creating the Greek Social Forum and attended many of the international protests and marches against neoliberal globalization . In December 2004 , at the 4th Congress of Synaspismos , he was elected a member of the partys Central Political Committee and consequently to the Political Secretariat , where he was responsible for educational and youth issues . Tsipras first entered the limelight of mainstream Greek politics during the 2006 local election when he ran for Mayor of Athens under the Anoikhti Poli ( Greek : Ανοιχτή Πόλη , Open City ) Syriza ticket that gained 10.51% of the Athenian vote , finishing third overall . Tsipras won a seat on the Municipality of Athens council by virtue of him being first on the Syriza list . He did not run for the Greek Parliament in the 2007 election , choosing to continue the completion his term as a member of the municipal council of Athens . Tsipras was elected Leader of Synaspismos during its 5th Congress on 10 February 2008 , after its previous Leader Alekos Alavanos decided not to stand for election again due to personal reasons . Tsipras became leader of Synaspismos at the age of 33 , thus becoming the youngest leader of a Greek political party since 1931 . In the 2009 election , he was elected to the Hellenic Parliament for Athens A and was subsequently voted unanimously to be the head of the Syriza parliamentary group . Tsipras led SYRIZA through the 2012 elections , overseeing a swing of over 22% to the party and becoming the Leader of the Opposition and head of the Shadow Cabinet of Alexis Tsipras . In December 2013 , Tsipras was the first candidate proposed for the position of president of the Commission of the European Union by the European United Left–Nordic Green Left ( GUE/NGL ) . The vote was an EU member states election to the European Parliament in May 2014 . Tsipras campaigned as the only candidate of the south periphery countries . At the beginning of May 2014 , in a speech in Berlin , he clarified many of his positions , in opposition to the allegedly Merkel-dominated neoliberal political course in Europe . Tsipras declared a substantial change for a better future for all Europeans is visible within 10 years . He addressed those who lost out in the fallout of the financial crises from 2008 to 2014 , which produced unexpectedly high jobless rates in most of the EU . The speech was given in English to a German audience and intended to be listened to throughout Europe . Although the GUE/NGL won in Greece , winning six of the 21 Greek seats in the European Parliament , it finished fifth in Europe overall . Prime Minister . First term ( January–August 2015 ) . Tsipras led Syriza to victory in the general election held on 25 January 2015 , falling short of an outright majority in Parliament by just two seats . The following morning , Tsipras reached an agreement with the right-wing populist Independent Greeks party to form a coalition . On the same day he was sworn in by President Karolos Papoulias as the youngest Prime Minister in Greek history since 1865 , using the words I declare in my name , honour and conscience to uphold the Constitution and its laws . Tsipras was also the first prime minister to take a civil oath rather than a religious oath of office , marking a rupture with Greek orthodox ceremonial culture . While reaffirming the good relations between his party and the Church , he generated further religious controversy during a meeting with Archbishop Ieronymos . Tsipras explained that as an atheist who neither married in a religious ceremony nor baptised his children , he would not take a religious oath of office . In his first act after being sworn in , Tsipras visited the Resistance Memorial in Kaisariani , laying down red roses to commemorate the 200 members of the Greek Resistance executed by the German Wehrmacht on 1 May 1944 . During the first meeting of the new cabinet , Tsipras declared the priorities of his government to be the fight against the humanitarian crisis in Greece , negotiations with the EU and the International Monetary Fund on restructuring the Greek debt , and the implementation of promises made by SYRIZA such as the abolition of the previous governments privatization policies . On 3 February , Tsipras made his first official state visit , meeting with his Italian counterpart Matteo Renzi in Rome . They held a joint press conference expressing concerns about austerity measures imposed by the Juncker Commission and stated that economic growth is the only way to exit from the crisis . After the press conference , Renzi presented Tsipras with an Italian tie as a gift . Tsipras , who is notable for never wearing ties , thanked Renzi and said that he would wear the gift in celebration when Greece had successfully renegotiated the austerity measures . On 20 February , the Eurogroup came to an agreement with Greece to extend the Greek bailout for four months . Tsipras had also announced a trip to Moscow on 8 April , in a bid to secure Russian support . On 31 May , Tsipras laid out his complaints and outlined his plan in a recap of events since his election . He concluded that there were at least two competing visions for the integration of Europe , both of which he seemed to reject , and that certain unnamed institutional actors had an obsession with their own technocratic programme . On 22 June , Tsipras presented a new Greek proposal , which included raising the retirement age gradually to 67 and curbing early retirement . It also offered to reform the value-added-tax system to set the main rate at 23 percent . On 29 June Greek banks stayed shut and Tsipras said they would remain so to impose capital control . Trading in Greek stocks and bonds halted as well . Bailout referendum . On 27 June 2015 , Tsipras announced a referendum to decide whether or not Greece should accept the bailout conditions proposed jointly by the Juncker Commission , the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank . Tsipras recommended a No vote . On 3 July , during an address to at least 250,000 people gathered in the capitals Syntagma Square in front of parliament , he rejected some leaders warnings that a No result in Sundays plebiscite could see Greece forced to leave the eurozone . He declared On Sunday , we are not simply deciding to remain in Europe—we are deciding to live with dignity in Europe . The result of the referendum was 61.3 percent voting No . Fidel Castro sent a letter to Tsipras congratulating him for the victory of NO . In that letter he said that the courage of Greece was admired by the people of Latin America and Caribbean . Bailout agreement . After several days of negotiation , on 13 July 2015 , Tsipras came to an agreement with lenders . Greece was to get a loan of 82 to 86 billion euros , which would be handed to Greece gradually from 2015 until June 2018 . In return , Greece would have to increase the VAT , reform the pension system , assure the independence of ELSTAT , automatically cut public spending to get primary surpluses , reform justice so decisions can be made faster , follow the reforms proposed by OECD , revoke the laws passed by Tsipras except for the one concerning the humanitarian crisis , recapitalize the banks , privatize 50 billion of state assets , and decrease the cost of the public sector . In return , Greece would be given the Juncker package , 35 billion euros , which is meant to help the Greek economy grow . The Syriza-led government of Greece accepted a bailout package that contains larger pension cuts and tax increases than the one rejected by Greek voters in the referendum . On 14 August , the Greek parliament backed the countrys new bailout deal , although more than 40 MPs from Syriza voted against the deal and Tsipras had to rely on the support of the pro-EU opposition : New Democracy , To Potami and PASOK . Tsipras told MPs they were facing a choice between staying alive or suicide . He also said : I have my conscience clear that it is the best we could achieve under the current balance of power in Europe , under conditions of economic and financial asphyxiation imposed upon us . Resignation . On 20 August 2015 , Tsipras resigned from position of the Prime Minister of Greece due to the rebellion of MPs from his own party Syriza and called for a snap election . He made the announcement in a televised state address . After opposition parties failed to form a government , Vassiliki Thanou-Christophilou was appointed as an interim prime minister until elections could be held . Second term ( September 2015–July 2019 ) . Re-election . Despite a low turnout of only 57% versus 64% in previous elections , at the 20 September election , Tsipras received a solid vote of confidence , with Syriza achieving 35.50% of the vote , enough to form a coalition with ANEL . Among others , Tsipras appointed in his new government Dimitris Kammenos , a politician from ANEL , as deputy minister for infrastructure , transport and networks , causing reactions because of Kammenos anti-Semitic , racist and homophobic comments on Twitter , such as accusations of 9/11 being a Jewish plot . The outcry against him eventually forced Kammenos to resign , being a minister for less than 12 hours . Second government . At a September 2015 Clinton Global Initiative event , Tsipras spoke to Bill Clinton about the need to restructure the Greek debt , to make reforms in public administration and bring investments . The same month , Defense Minister Panos Kammenos celebrated the Greek victory in the battle of Salamina , causing criticism due to the juntas celebrations of similar events with the same style . In 2015 , Tsipras and Kammenos oversaw the military exercise Parmenion . In October 2015 , Tsipras sacked Greeces top tax collection official , Katerina Savvaidou , because she had allegedly granted an extension to television stations to pay a 20% tax on advertising . The governments fiscal measures prompted some backlash , with farmers threatening to bring their tractors into Athens and pharmacists going on strike . In November 2015 , Tsipras received an angry reception at a refugee camp in Lesbos by around a hundred protesters , wearing life jackets and brandishing placards calling on the European Union to stop deaths by allowing asylum seekers safe and legal passage to Europe . In November 2015 , after being jeered by anarchists , Tsipras compared them in his speech in Parliament to Golden Dawn and said that there was no need for uncalled saviors who think that they can determinate life and death . In November 2015 , Tsipras became the first Greek prime minister to visit Turkeys Aegean province of Izmir since the days of the Occupation of Smyrna , meeting Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu ; they agreed to cooperate on the refugee crisis and to establish technical cooperation between Greek and Turkish coast guards . In December 2015 , he introduced the Cohabitation agreement for the same sex-couples.The bill was approveed by the Greek Parliament on 23 December 2015 . On March 19 , 2016 , Tsipras spoke at a conference of the Alliance Against Austerity for Democracy in Europe held in Athens . In his speech , he expressed concern over the possibility of Donald Trump becoming US President . He said as follows : “Tell me who of you would believe a few months ago that in the US today , the front-runner on behalf of the Republicans for the nomination of the candidate President would be Mr . Trump ? And of course what this nomination marks , the ideas it represents , the appeal it reaches , and the threat to become even President – I hope we will not face this evil.” In May 2016 , new austerity measures proposed by Tsipras passed Parliament . The legislation increased taxes to middle- and high-level income earners ; make across-the-board budget cuts amounting to about 3% of Greeces GDP ; removed value-added-tax discounts ; cut pensions ; and increase deregulation . Tsipras called for calm on the streets and defended the austerity package , saying it fell in line with the agreement reached with the EU the previous year . Further austerity legislation included a provision for contingency measures , including wage and pension cuts , that would take effect automatically if budget targets were derailed next year . Taxes on cigarettes , coffee and craft beer were also raised , while an unpopular property tax was restructured to increase revenues from larger buildings . A new privatisation agency was set up which would have a 99-year remit to develop and sell state-owned property . Tsipras defended his adoption of new fiscal measures , telling Parliament : Spring may be almost over but we are looking forward to an economic spring and a return to growth this year . In a July 2017 , Tsipras opined that the Greek economy was on the up and that the worst is clearly behind us . He also expressed confidence that Greece will no longer have to rely on bailouts and international oversight in 2018 . According to media reports from mid-July , Greece was considering rejoining the bond market for the first time since 2014 to borrow from the capital market . It was speculated that the government could issue a five-year bond at a time when yields on Greek bonds are their lowest since the country left the market in 2014 . The announcement came a few days after the IMF in principle approved Greece for a conditional loan of up to $1.8 billion . The IMF made the payment of the loans contingent on Greeces debt sustainability , demanding that euro-zone countries provide debt relief to the country . In October 2017 Prime Minister Tsipras met with President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington , D.C. , at which Trump told Tsipras that he supported a responsible debt relief plan for Greece as they recovered from the economic crisis in the country . Trump added that his administration had informed Congress of a potential sale to upgrade the F-16 aircraft in Greeces air force , a deal that could be worth $2.4 billion . Greece officially concluded its three-year European Stability Mechanism ( ESM ) financial assistance programme on 20 August 2018 , following the disbursement of €61.9 billion by the ESM over three years to support the countrys macroeconomic adjustment and bank recapitalization . ESM Members agreed on the financial assistance package in August 2015 . The conclusion of the ESM programme marks a very important moment and historic for all of us . We had eight very difficult years , often painful years , but now Greece can finally turn a page in a crisis that has lasted too long , according to EU Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs Pierre Moscovici . A day after Moscovicis statement , Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said during a state address from the island of Ithaca : A new day is dawning in our country , today is the beginning of a new era . Tsipras furthermore asserted that the country had regained its sovereignty to determine its own future , reaching a destination that would allow the Greeks to make our place as it deserves to be . In January 2019 , Greece Defence Minister Panos Kammenos and his Independent Greeks party quit Greeces ruling coalition over a deal struck on the Macedonia naming dispute , potentially leaving the governing coalition without a workable majority in parliament . Despite this , some days later , Tsipras managed to win a confidence vote and gain again the support of the absolute majority of the Greek parliament ( 151 votes ) for his government ( this time backed by one political party , i.e . SYRIZA ) . The confidence vote was followed by the successful ratification of the Greek parliament with 153 votes of the Prespa Agreement , an agreement which resolved a long-standing dispute and named Greeces northern neighbour as North Macedonia . Syriza suffered a harsh defeat in the European election on 26 May 2019 , losing to the opposition party New Democracy . Following the defeat , snap elections were called . Syriza was defeated in the 2019 legislative election , scoring 31.53% of votes and securing only 86 seats in the Hellenic Parliament . Tsipras conceded defeat and resigned the following day . His first non-official biography has been written by a French journalist named Fabien Perrier . It is published by François Bourin in France and by Topos in Greece . Personal life . Tsipras is married . His registered partner is Peristera Betty Baziana , an electrical and computer engineer . They met in 1987 , at the age of 13 , at Ampelokipoi Branch High School . Both eventually became members of the Communist Youth of Greece . They live together in Athens with their two sons . Their younger sons middle name is Ernesto , a tribute to the Marxist revolutionary Ernesto Che Guevara . Tsipras is an avid football fan and , having grown up near the stadium , supports Panathinaikos , attending every home game that he can . Tsipras is a self-described atheist . His cousin , Giorgos Tsipras , is also a Syriza MP . |
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"Prime Minister of Greece"
] | easy | Alexis Tsipras took which position from Sep 2015 to Jul 2019? | /wiki/Alexis_Tsipras#P39#4 | Alexis Tsipras Alexis Tsipras ( , ; born 28 July 1974 ) is a Greek politician serving as Leader of the Official Opposition since 2019 . The leader of left-wing party Syriza since 2009 , he served as Prime Minister of Greece from 2015 to 2019 . Tsipras has been Leader of the Coalition of the Radical Left ( Syriza ) , a left wing political party , since 2009 . He was the fourth Greek Prime Minister who has governed in the course of the 2010s government-debt crisis . Originally an outspoken critic of the austerity policies implemented during the crisis , his tenure in office was marked by an intense austerity policy , mostly in the context of the third EU bailout to Greece ( 2015–2018 ) . Tsipras was born in Athens in 1974 . He joined the Communist Youth of Greece in the late 1980s and in the 1990s was politically active in student protests against education reform plans , becoming the movements spokesperson . He studied civil engineering at the National Technical University of Athens , graduating in 2000 , later undertaking post-graduate studies in urban and regional planning . He worked as a civil engineer in the construction industry , based primarily in Athens . From 1999 to 2003 , Tsipras served as the secretary of Synaspismos Youth . He was elected as a member of the Central Committee of Synaspismos in 2004 and later the Political Secretariat . In the 2006 local election , he ran as Syrizas candidate for Mayor of Athens , winning 10.5% . In 2008 , he was elected as Leader of Syriza , succeeding Alekos Alavanos . He was first elected to the Hellenic Parliament representing Athens A in the 2009 election and was re-elected in May and June 2012 , subsequently becoming Leader of the Opposition and appointing his own shadow cabinet . In January 2015 , Tsipras led Syriza to victory in a snap legislative election , winning 149 out of 300 seats in the Hellenic Parliament and forming a coalition with the Independent Greeks . On 20 August 2015 , seven months into his term as prime minister , he lost his majority after intraparty defections ; he then announced his resignation and called for a snap election to take place the following month . In the September 2015 election that followed , Tsipras led Syriza to another victory , winning 145 out of 300 seats and re-forming the coalition with the Independent Greeks . During his premiership , he oversaw negotiations regarding the Greek government-debt crisis , initiated the Greek bailout referendum and responded to the European migrant crisis . In 2015 , he was named by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people globally . As Prime Minister of Greece , the opposition parties accused Tsipras of , among other things , having capitulated to enacting increasingly harsh austerity measures to keep his country on the surface ( in contrast with his pre-election promises ) and of having exacerbated problems that already existed in the Greek economy , with the country having lost about 25% of its GDP since the start of the crisis . Early life and career . Alexios ( Alexis ) Tsipras was born 28 July 1974 in Athens . His father , Pavlos , was from Athamania in Epirus and was a public works contractor , while his mother , Aristi , was born in Eleftheroupoli , a town in Greek Macedonia . His maternal grandparents were from the village of Babaeski , Eastern Thrace , Turkey and moved to Eleftheroupoli as a result of the 1923 population exchange between Greece and Turkey . Tsipras joined the Communist Youth of Greece in the late 1980s . In the early 1990s , as a student at Ampelokipoi Multi-disciplinary High School , he was politically active in the student uprising and the school occupations against the controversial law of Education Minister Vasilis Kontogiannopoulos . He rose to prominence as a representative of the student movement when he was featured as a guest on a television show hosted by journalist Anna Panagiotarea . During the interview , Panagiotarea implied that Tsipras was being disingenuous in defending middle and high school students right to absenteeism without parental notification in the context of protests . Newspapers and opposition politicians contrasted his early activism for the free state education to his choice to enroll his children in private schools when he became prime-minister . Tsipras studied civil engineering at the National Technical University of Athens , graduating in 2000 , before undertaking postgraduate studies in Urban and Regional Planning following an inter-departmental MPhil at the School of Architecture of NTUA . Alongside his postgraduate studies , he began working as a civil engineer in the construction industry . He wrote three studies and projects on the theme of the city of Athens . As a university student , Tsipras joined the ranks of the renascent left-wing movement , particularly the Enceladus ( ) group , and as member of it , he was elected to the executive board of the students union of the Civil Engineering School of NTUA and also served as student representative on the University Senate . From 1995 to 1997 he was an elected member of the Central Council of the National Students Union of Greece ( EFEE ) . Political career , 1999–2015 . After the departure of the Communist Party of Greece from Synaspismos in 1991 , Tsipras remained in the coalition . In May 1999 he became the first political secretary of Synaspismos youth-wing , the Synaspismos Youth . During this period he was described as a centrist , different from the very clear radical , left-wing profile he would later maintain as leader of Synaspismos . He won many awards during this time . In November 2003 , he was succeeded by Tasos Koronakis and moved on to the mother party . He managed quite efficiently to maintain a strong adherence to the policy of the party , effectively out talking both the left and right political wings . As secretary of Synaspismos Youth , he took an active part in the process of creating the Greek Social Forum and attended many of the international protests and marches against neoliberal globalization . In December 2004 , at the 4th Congress of Synaspismos , he was elected a member of the partys Central Political Committee and consequently to the Political Secretariat , where he was responsible for educational and youth issues . Tsipras first entered the limelight of mainstream Greek politics during the 2006 local election when he ran for Mayor of Athens under the Anoikhti Poli ( Greek : Ανοιχτή Πόλη , Open City ) Syriza ticket that gained 10.51% of the Athenian vote , finishing third overall . Tsipras won a seat on the Municipality of Athens council by virtue of him being first on the Syriza list . He did not run for the Greek Parliament in the 2007 election , choosing to continue the completion his term as a member of the municipal council of Athens . Tsipras was elected Leader of Synaspismos during its 5th Congress on 10 February 2008 , after its previous Leader Alekos Alavanos decided not to stand for election again due to personal reasons . Tsipras became leader of Synaspismos at the age of 33 , thus becoming the youngest leader of a Greek political party since 1931 . In the 2009 election , he was elected to the Hellenic Parliament for Athens A and was subsequently voted unanimously to be the head of the Syriza parliamentary group . Tsipras led SYRIZA through the 2012 elections , overseeing a swing of over 22% to the party and becoming the Leader of the Opposition and head of the Shadow Cabinet of Alexis Tsipras . In December 2013 , Tsipras was the first candidate proposed for the position of president of the Commission of the European Union by the European United Left–Nordic Green Left ( GUE/NGL ) . The vote was an EU member states election to the European Parliament in May 2014 . Tsipras campaigned as the only candidate of the south periphery countries . At the beginning of May 2014 , in a speech in Berlin , he clarified many of his positions , in opposition to the allegedly Merkel-dominated neoliberal political course in Europe . Tsipras declared a substantial change for a better future for all Europeans is visible within 10 years . He addressed those who lost out in the fallout of the financial crises from 2008 to 2014 , which produced unexpectedly high jobless rates in most of the EU . The speech was given in English to a German audience and intended to be listened to throughout Europe . Although the GUE/NGL won in Greece , winning six of the 21 Greek seats in the European Parliament , it finished fifth in Europe overall . Prime Minister . First term ( January–August 2015 ) . Tsipras led Syriza to victory in the general election held on 25 January 2015 , falling short of an outright majority in Parliament by just two seats . The following morning , Tsipras reached an agreement with the right-wing populist Independent Greeks party to form a coalition . On the same day he was sworn in by President Karolos Papoulias as the youngest Prime Minister in Greek history since 1865 , using the words I declare in my name , honour and conscience to uphold the Constitution and its laws . Tsipras was also the first prime minister to take a civil oath rather than a religious oath of office , marking a rupture with Greek orthodox ceremonial culture . While reaffirming the good relations between his party and the Church , he generated further religious controversy during a meeting with Archbishop Ieronymos . Tsipras explained that as an atheist who neither married in a religious ceremony nor baptised his children , he would not take a religious oath of office . In his first act after being sworn in , Tsipras visited the Resistance Memorial in Kaisariani , laying down red roses to commemorate the 200 members of the Greek Resistance executed by the German Wehrmacht on 1 May 1944 . During the first meeting of the new cabinet , Tsipras declared the priorities of his government to be the fight against the humanitarian crisis in Greece , negotiations with the EU and the International Monetary Fund on restructuring the Greek debt , and the implementation of promises made by SYRIZA such as the abolition of the previous governments privatization policies . On 3 February , Tsipras made his first official state visit , meeting with his Italian counterpart Matteo Renzi in Rome . They held a joint press conference expressing concerns about austerity measures imposed by the Juncker Commission and stated that economic growth is the only way to exit from the crisis . After the press conference , Renzi presented Tsipras with an Italian tie as a gift . Tsipras , who is notable for never wearing ties , thanked Renzi and said that he would wear the gift in celebration when Greece had successfully renegotiated the austerity measures . On 20 February , the Eurogroup came to an agreement with Greece to extend the Greek bailout for four months . Tsipras had also announced a trip to Moscow on 8 April , in a bid to secure Russian support . On 31 May , Tsipras laid out his complaints and outlined his plan in a recap of events since his election . He concluded that there were at least two competing visions for the integration of Europe , both of which he seemed to reject , and that certain unnamed institutional actors had an obsession with their own technocratic programme . On 22 June , Tsipras presented a new Greek proposal , which included raising the retirement age gradually to 67 and curbing early retirement . It also offered to reform the value-added-tax system to set the main rate at 23 percent . On 29 June Greek banks stayed shut and Tsipras said they would remain so to impose capital control . Trading in Greek stocks and bonds halted as well . Bailout referendum . On 27 June 2015 , Tsipras announced a referendum to decide whether or not Greece should accept the bailout conditions proposed jointly by the Juncker Commission , the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank . Tsipras recommended a No vote . On 3 July , during an address to at least 250,000 people gathered in the capitals Syntagma Square in front of parliament , he rejected some leaders warnings that a No result in Sundays plebiscite could see Greece forced to leave the eurozone . He declared On Sunday , we are not simply deciding to remain in Europe—we are deciding to live with dignity in Europe . The result of the referendum was 61.3 percent voting No . Fidel Castro sent a letter to Tsipras congratulating him for the victory of NO . In that letter he said that the courage of Greece was admired by the people of Latin America and Caribbean . Bailout agreement . After several days of negotiation , on 13 July 2015 , Tsipras came to an agreement with lenders . Greece was to get a loan of 82 to 86 billion euros , which would be handed to Greece gradually from 2015 until June 2018 . In return , Greece would have to increase the VAT , reform the pension system , assure the independence of ELSTAT , automatically cut public spending to get primary surpluses , reform justice so decisions can be made faster , follow the reforms proposed by OECD , revoke the laws passed by Tsipras except for the one concerning the humanitarian crisis , recapitalize the banks , privatize 50 billion of state assets , and decrease the cost of the public sector . In return , Greece would be given the Juncker package , 35 billion euros , which is meant to help the Greek economy grow . The Syriza-led government of Greece accepted a bailout package that contains larger pension cuts and tax increases than the one rejected by Greek voters in the referendum . On 14 August , the Greek parliament backed the countrys new bailout deal , although more than 40 MPs from Syriza voted against the deal and Tsipras had to rely on the support of the pro-EU opposition : New Democracy , To Potami and PASOK . Tsipras told MPs they were facing a choice between staying alive or suicide . He also said : I have my conscience clear that it is the best we could achieve under the current balance of power in Europe , under conditions of economic and financial asphyxiation imposed upon us . Resignation . On 20 August 2015 , Tsipras resigned from position of the Prime Minister of Greece due to the rebellion of MPs from his own party Syriza and called for a snap election . He made the announcement in a televised state address . After opposition parties failed to form a government , Vassiliki Thanou-Christophilou was appointed as an interim prime minister until elections could be held . Second term ( September 2015–July 2019 ) . Re-election . Despite a low turnout of only 57% versus 64% in previous elections , at the 20 September election , Tsipras received a solid vote of confidence , with Syriza achieving 35.50% of the vote , enough to form a coalition with ANEL . Among others , Tsipras appointed in his new government Dimitris Kammenos , a politician from ANEL , as deputy minister for infrastructure , transport and networks , causing reactions because of Kammenos anti-Semitic , racist and homophobic comments on Twitter , such as accusations of 9/11 being a Jewish plot . The outcry against him eventually forced Kammenos to resign , being a minister for less than 12 hours . Second government . At a September 2015 Clinton Global Initiative event , Tsipras spoke to Bill Clinton about the need to restructure the Greek debt , to make reforms in public administration and bring investments . The same month , Defense Minister Panos Kammenos celebrated the Greek victory in the battle of Salamina , causing criticism due to the juntas celebrations of similar events with the same style . In 2015 , Tsipras and Kammenos oversaw the military exercise Parmenion . In October 2015 , Tsipras sacked Greeces top tax collection official , Katerina Savvaidou , because she had allegedly granted an extension to television stations to pay a 20% tax on advertising . The governments fiscal measures prompted some backlash , with farmers threatening to bring their tractors into Athens and pharmacists going on strike . In November 2015 , Tsipras received an angry reception at a refugee camp in Lesbos by around a hundred protesters , wearing life jackets and brandishing placards calling on the European Union to stop deaths by allowing asylum seekers safe and legal passage to Europe . In November 2015 , after being jeered by anarchists , Tsipras compared them in his speech in Parliament to Golden Dawn and said that there was no need for uncalled saviors who think that they can determinate life and death . In November 2015 , Tsipras became the first Greek prime minister to visit Turkeys Aegean province of Izmir since the days of the Occupation of Smyrna , meeting Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu ; they agreed to cooperate on the refugee crisis and to establish technical cooperation between Greek and Turkish coast guards . In December 2015 , he introduced the Cohabitation agreement for the same sex-couples.The bill was approveed by the Greek Parliament on 23 December 2015 . On March 19 , 2016 , Tsipras spoke at a conference of the Alliance Against Austerity for Democracy in Europe held in Athens . In his speech , he expressed concern over the possibility of Donald Trump becoming US President . He said as follows : “Tell me who of you would believe a few months ago that in the US today , the front-runner on behalf of the Republicans for the nomination of the candidate President would be Mr . Trump ? And of course what this nomination marks , the ideas it represents , the appeal it reaches , and the threat to become even President – I hope we will not face this evil.” In May 2016 , new austerity measures proposed by Tsipras passed Parliament . The legislation increased taxes to middle- and high-level income earners ; make across-the-board budget cuts amounting to about 3% of Greeces GDP ; removed value-added-tax discounts ; cut pensions ; and increase deregulation . Tsipras called for calm on the streets and defended the austerity package , saying it fell in line with the agreement reached with the EU the previous year . Further austerity legislation included a provision for contingency measures , including wage and pension cuts , that would take effect automatically if budget targets were derailed next year . Taxes on cigarettes , coffee and craft beer were also raised , while an unpopular property tax was restructured to increase revenues from larger buildings . A new privatisation agency was set up which would have a 99-year remit to develop and sell state-owned property . Tsipras defended his adoption of new fiscal measures , telling Parliament : Spring may be almost over but we are looking forward to an economic spring and a return to growth this year . In a July 2017 , Tsipras opined that the Greek economy was on the up and that the worst is clearly behind us . He also expressed confidence that Greece will no longer have to rely on bailouts and international oversight in 2018 . According to media reports from mid-July , Greece was considering rejoining the bond market for the first time since 2014 to borrow from the capital market . It was speculated that the government could issue a five-year bond at a time when yields on Greek bonds are their lowest since the country left the market in 2014 . The announcement came a few days after the IMF in principle approved Greece for a conditional loan of up to $1.8 billion . The IMF made the payment of the loans contingent on Greeces debt sustainability , demanding that euro-zone countries provide debt relief to the country . In October 2017 Prime Minister Tsipras met with President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington , D.C. , at which Trump told Tsipras that he supported a responsible debt relief plan for Greece as they recovered from the economic crisis in the country . Trump added that his administration had informed Congress of a potential sale to upgrade the F-16 aircraft in Greeces air force , a deal that could be worth $2.4 billion . Greece officially concluded its three-year European Stability Mechanism ( ESM ) financial assistance programme on 20 August 2018 , following the disbursement of €61.9 billion by the ESM over three years to support the countrys macroeconomic adjustment and bank recapitalization . ESM Members agreed on the financial assistance package in August 2015 . The conclusion of the ESM programme marks a very important moment and historic for all of us . We had eight very difficult years , often painful years , but now Greece can finally turn a page in a crisis that has lasted too long , according to EU Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs Pierre Moscovici . A day after Moscovicis statement , Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said during a state address from the island of Ithaca : A new day is dawning in our country , today is the beginning of a new era . Tsipras furthermore asserted that the country had regained its sovereignty to determine its own future , reaching a destination that would allow the Greeks to make our place as it deserves to be . In January 2019 , Greece Defence Minister Panos Kammenos and his Independent Greeks party quit Greeces ruling coalition over a deal struck on the Macedonia naming dispute , potentially leaving the governing coalition without a workable majority in parliament . Despite this , some days later , Tsipras managed to win a confidence vote and gain again the support of the absolute majority of the Greek parliament ( 151 votes ) for his government ( this time backed by one political party , i.e . SYRIZA ) . The confidence vote was followed by the successful ratification of the Greek parliament with 153 votes of the Prespa Agreement , an agreement which resolved a long-standing dispute and named Greeces northern neighbour as North Macedonia . Syriza suffered a harsh defeat in the European election on 26 May 2019 , losing to the opposition party New Democracy . Following the defeat , snap elections were called . Syriza was defeated in the 2019 legislative election , scoring 31.53% of votes and securing only 86 seats in the Hellenic Parliament . Tsipras conceded defeat and resigned the following day . His first non-official biography has been written by a French journalist named Fabien Perrier . It is published by François Bourin in France and by Topos in Greece . Personal life . Tsipras is married . His registered partner is Peristera Betty Baziana , an electrical and computer engineer . They met in 1987 , at the age of 13 , at Ampelokipoi Branch High School . Both eventually became members of the Communist Youth of Greece . They live together in Athens with their two sons . Their younger sons middle name is Ernesto , a tribute to the Marxist revolutionary Ernesto Che Guevara . Tsipras is an avid football fan and , having grown up near the stadium , supports Panathinaikos , attending every home game that he can . Tsipras is a self-described atheist . His cousin , Giorgos Tsipras , is also a Syriza MP . |
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] | easy | Which position did Alexis Tsipras hold from Jul 2019 to Jul 2020? | /wiki/Alexis_Tsipras#P39#5 | Alexis Tsipras Alexis Tsipras ( , ; born 28 July 1974 ) is a Greek politician serving as Leader of the Official Opposition since 2019 . The leader of left-wing party Syriza since 2009 , he served as Prime Minister of Greece from 2015 to 2019 . Tsipras has been Leader of the Coalition of the Radical Left ( Syriza ) , a left wing political party , since 2009 . He was the fourth Greek Prime Minister who has governed in the course of the 2010s government-debt crisis . Originally an outspoken critic of the austerity policies implemented during the crisis , his tenure in office was marked by an intense austerity policy , mostly in the context of the third EU bailout to Greece ( 2015–2018 ) . Tsipras was born in Athens in 1974 . He joined the Communist Youth of Greece in the late 1980s and in the 1990s was politically active in student protests against education reform plans , becoming the movements spokesperson . He studied civil engineering at the National Technical University of Athens , graduating in 2000 , later undertaking post-graduate studies in urban and regional planning . He worked as a civil engineer in the construction industry , based primarily in Athens . From 1999 to 2003 , Tsipras served as the secretary of Synaspismos Youth . He was elected as a member of the Central Committee of Synaspismos in 2004 and later the Political Secretariat . In the 2006 local election , he ran as Syrizas candidate for Mayor of Athens , winning 10.5% . In 2008 , he was elected as Leader of Syriza , succeeding Alekos Alavanos . He was first elected to the Hellenic Parliament representing Athens A in the 2009 election and was re-elected in May and June 2012 , subsequently becoming Leader of the Opposition and appointing his own shadow cabinet . In January 2015 , Tsipras led Syriza to victory in a snap legislative election , winning 149 out of 300 seats in the Hellenic Parliament and forming a coalition with the Independent Greeks . On 20 August 2015 , seven months into his term as prime minister , he lost his majority after intraparty defections ; he then announced his resignation and called for a snap election to take place the following month . In the September 2015 election that followed , Tsipras led Syriza to another victory , winning 145 out of 300 seats and re-forming the coalition with the Independent Greeks . During his premiership , he oversaw negotiations regarding the Greek government-debt crisis , initiated the Greek bailout referendum and responded to the European migrant crisis . In 2015 , he was named by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people globally . As Prime Minister of Greece , the opposition parties accused Tsipras of , among other things , having capitulated to enacting increasingly harsh austerity measures to keep his country on the surface ( in contrast with his pre-election promises ) and of having exacerbated problems that already existed in the Greek economy , with the country having lost about 25% of its GDP since the start of the crisis . Early life and career . Alexios ( Alexis ) Tsipras was born 28 July 1974 in Athens . His father , Pavlos , was from Athamania in Epirus and was a public works contractor , while his mother , Aristi , was born in Eleftheroupoli , a town in Greek Macedonia . His maternal grandparents were from the village of Babaeski , Eastern Thrace , Turkey and moved to Eleftheroupoli as a result of the 1923 population exchange between Greece and Turkey . Tsipras joined the Communist Youth of Greece in the late 1980s . In the early 1990s , as a student at Ampelokipoi Multi-disciplinary High School , he was politically active in the student uprising and the school occupations against the controversial law of Education Minister Vasilis Kontogiannopoulos . He rose to prominence as a representative of the student movement when he was featured as a guest on a television show hosted by journalist Anna Panagiotarea . During the interview , Panagiotarea implied that Tsipras was being disingenuous in defending middle and high school students right to absenteeism without parental notification in the context of protests . Newspapers and opposition politicians contrasted his early activism for the free state education to his choice to enroll his children in private schools when he became prime-minister . Tsipras studied civil engineering at the National Technical University of Athens , graduating in 2000 , before undertaking postgraduate studies in Urban and Regional Planning following an inter-departmental MPhil at the School of Architecture of NTUA . Alongside his postgraduate studies , he began working as a civil engineer in the construction industry . He wrote three studies and projects on the theme of the city of Athens . As a university student , Tsipras joined the ranks of the renascent left-wing movement , particularly the Enceladus ( ) group , and as member of it , he was elected to the executive board of the students union of the Civil Engineering School of NTUA and also served as student representative on the University Senate . From 1995 to 1997 he was an elected member of the Central Council of the National Students Union of Greece ( EFEE ) . Political career , 1999–2015 . After the departure of the Communist Party of Greece from Synaspismos in 1991 , Tsipras remained in the coalition . In May 1999 he became the first political secretary of Synaspismos youth-wing , the Synaspismos Youth . During this period he was described as a centrist , different from the very clear radical , left-wing profile he would later maintain as leader of Synaspismos . He won many awards during this time . In November 2003 , he was succeeded by Tasos Koronakis and moved on to the mother party . He managed quite efficiently to maintain a strong adherence to the policy of the party , effectively out talking both the left and right political wings . As secretary of Synaspismos Youth , he took an active part in the process of creating the Greek Social Forum and attended many of the international protests and marches against neoliberal globalization . In December 2004 , at the 4th Congress of Synaspismos , he was elected a member of the partys Central Political Committee and consequently to the Political Secretariat , where he was responsible for educational and youth issues . Tsipras first entered the limelight of mainstream Greek politics during the 2006 local election when he ran for Mayor of Athens under the Anoikhti Poli ( Greek : Ανοιχτή Πόλη , Open City ) Syriza ticket that gained 10.51% of the Athenian vote , finishing third overall . Tsipras won a seat on the Municipality of Athens council by virtue of him being first on the Syriza list . He did not run for the Greek Parliament in the 2007 election , choosing to continue the completion his term as a member of the municipal council of Athens . Tsipras was elected Leader of Synaspismos during its 5th Congress on 10 February 2008 , after its previous Leader Alekos Alavanos decided not to stand for election again due to personal reasons . Tsipras became leader of Synaspismos at the age of 33 , thus becoming the youngest leader of a Greek political party since 1931 . In the 2009 election , he was elected to the Hellenic Parliament for Athens A and was subsequently voted unanimously to be the head of the Syriza parliamentary group . Tsipras led SYRIZA through the 2012 elections , overseeing a swing of over 22% to the party and becoming the Leader of the Opposition and head of the Shadow Cabinet of Alexis Tsipras . In December 2013 , Tsipras was the first candidate proposed for the position of president of the Commission of the European Union by the European United Left–Nordic Green Left ( GUE/NGL ) . The vote was an EU member states election to the European Parliament in May 2014 . Tsipras campaigned as the only candidate of the south periphery countries . At the beginning of May 2014 , in a speech in Berlin , he clarified many of his positions , in opposition to the allegedly Merkel-dominated neoliberal political course in Europe . Tsipras declared a substantial change for a better future for all Europeans is visible within 10 years . He addressed those who lost out in the fallout of the financial crises from 2008 to 2014 , which produced unexpectedly high jobless rates in most of the EU . The speech was given in English to a German audience and intended to be listened to throughout Europe . Although the GUE/NGL won in Greece , winning six of the 21 Greek seats in the European Parliament , it finished fifth in Europe overall . Prime Minister . First term ( January–August 2015 ) . Tsipras led Syriza to victory in the general election held on 25 January 2015 , falling short of an outright majority in Parliament by just two seats . The following morning , Tsipras reached an agreement with the right-wing populist Independent Greeks party to form a coalition . On the same day he was sworn in by President Karolos Papoulias as the youngest Prime Minister in Greek history since 1865 , using the words I declare in my name , honour and conscience to uphold the Constitution and its laws . Tsipras was also the first prime minister to take a civil oath rather than a religious oath of office , marking a rupture with Greek orthodox ceremonial culture . While reaffirming the good relations between his party and the Church , he generated further religious controversy during a meeting with Archbishop Ieronymos . Tsipras explained that as an atheist who neither married in a religious ceremony nor baptised his children , he would not take a religious oath of office . In his first act after being sworn in , Tsipras visited the Resistance Memorial in Kaisariani , laying down red roses to commemorate the 200 members of the Greek Resistance executed by the German Wehrmacht on 1 May 1944 . During the first meeting of the new cabinet , Tsipras declared the priorities of his government to be the fight against the humanitarian crisis in Greece , negotiations with the EU and the International Monetary Fund on restructuring the Greek debt , and the implementation of promises made by SYRIZA such as the abolition of the previous governments privatization policies . On 3 February , Tsipras made his first official state visit , meeting with his Italian counterpart Matteo Renzi in Rome . They held a joint press conference expressing concerns about austerity measures imposed by the Juncker Commission and stated that economic growth is the only way to exit from the crisis . After the press conference , Renzi presented Tsipras with an Italian tie as a gift . Tsipras , who is notable for never wearing ties , thanked Renzi and said that he would wear the gift in celebration when Greece had successfully renegotiated the austerity measures . On 20 February , the Eurogroup came to an agreement with Greece to extend the Greek bailout for four months . Tsipras had also announced a trip to Moscow on 8 April , in a bid to secure Russian support . On 31 May , Tsipras laid out his complaints and outlined his plan in a recap of events since his election . He concluded that there were at least two competing visions for the integration of Europe , both of which he seemed to reject , and that certain unnamed institutional actors had an obsession with their own technocratic programme . On 22 June , Tsipras presented a new Greek proposal , which included raising the retirement age gradually to 67 and curbing early retirement . It also offered to reform the value-added-tax system to set the main rate at 23 percent . On 29 June Greek banks stayed shut and Tsipras said they would remain so to impose capital control . Trading in Greek stocks and bonds halted as well . Bailout referendum . On 27 June 2015 , Tsipras announced a referendum to decide whether or not Greece should accept the bailout conditions proposed jointly by the Juncker Commission , the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank . Tsipras recommended a No vote . On 3 July , during an address to at least 250,000 people gathered in the capitals Syntagma Square in front of parliament , he rejected some leaders warnings that a No result in Sundays plebiscite could see Greece forced to leave the eurozone . He declared On Sunday , we are not simply deciding to remain in Europe—we are deciding to live with dignity in Europe . The result of the referendum was 61.3 percent voting No . Fidel Castro sent a letter to Tsipras congratulating him for the victory of NO . In that letter he said that the courage of Greece was admired by the people of Latin America and Caribbean . Bailout agreement . After several days of negotiation , on 13 July 2015 , Tsipras came to an agreement with lenders . Greece was to get a loan of 82 to 86 billion euros , which would be handed to Greece gradually from 2015 until June 2018 . In return , Greece would have to increase the VAT , reform the pension system , assure the independence of ELSTAT , automatically cut public spending to get primary surpluses , reform justice so decisions can be made faster , follow the reforms proposed by OECD , revoke the laws passed by Tsipras except for the one concerning the humanitarian crisis , recapitalize the banks , privatize 50 billion of state assets , and decrease the cost of the public sector . In return , Greece would be given the Juncker package , 35 billion euros , which is meant to help the Greek economy grow . The Syriza-led government of Greece accepted a bailout package that contains larger pension cuts and tax increases than the one rejected by Greek voters in the referendum . On 14 August , the Greek parliament backed the countrys new bailout deal , although more than 40 MPs from Syriza voted against the deal and Tsipras had to rely on the support of the pro-EU opposition : New Democracy , To Potami and PASOK . Tsipras told MPs they were facing a choice between staying alive or suicide . He also said : I have my conscience clear that it is the best we could achieve under the current balance of power in Europe , under conditions of economic and financial asphyxiation imposed upon us . Resignation . On 20 August 2015 , Tsipras resigned from position of the Prime Minister of Greece due to the rebellion of MPs from his own party Syriza and called for a snap election . He made the announcement in a televised state address . After opposition parties failed to form a government , Vassiliki Thanou-Christophilou was appointed as an interim prime minister until elections could be held . Second term ( September 2015–July 2019 ) . Re-election . Despite a low turnout of only 57% versus 64% in previous elections , at the 20 September election , Tsipras received a solid vote of confidence , with Syriza achieving 35.50% of the vote , enough to form a coalition with ANEL . Among others , Tsipras appointed in his new government Dimitris Kammenos , a politician from ANEL , as deputy minister for infrastructure , transport and networks , causing reactions because of Kammenos anti-Semitic , racist and homophobic comments on Twitter , such as accusations of 9/11 being a Jewish plot . The outcry against him eventually forced Kammenos to resign , being a minister for less than 12 hours . Second government . At a September 2015 Clinton Global Initiative event , Tsipras spoke to Bill Clinton about the need to restructure the Greek debt , to make reforms in public administration and bring investments . The same month , Defense Minister Panos Kammenos celebrated the Greek victory in the battle of Salamina , causing criticism due to the juntas celebrations of similar events with the same style . In 2015 , Tsipras and Kammenos oversaw the military exercise Parmenion . In October 2015 , Tsipras sacked Greeces top tax collection official , Katerina Savvaidou , because she had allegedly granted an extension to television stations to pay a 20% tax on advertising . The governments fiscal measures prompted some backlash , with farmers threatening to bring their tractors into Athens and pharmacists going on strike . In November 2015 , Tsipras received an angry reception at a refugee camp in Lesbos by around a hundred protesters , wearing life jackets and brandishing placards calling on the European Union to stop deaths by allowing asylum seekers safe and legal passage to Europe . In November 2015 , after being jeered by anarchists , Tsipras compared them in his speech in Parliament to Golden Dawn and said that there was no need for uncalled saviors who think that they can determinate life and death . In November 2015 , Tsipras became the first Greek prime minister to visit Turkeys Aegean province of Izmir since the days of the Occupation of Smyrna , meeting Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu ; they agreed to cooperate on the refugee crisis and to establish technical cooperation between Greek and Turkish coast guards . In December 2015 , he introduced the Cohabitation agreement for the same sex-couples.The bill was approveed by the Greek Parliament on 23 December 2015 . On March 19 , 2016 , Tsipras spoke at a conference of the Alliance Against Austerity for Democracy in Europe held in Athens . In his speech , he expressed concern over the possibility of Donald Trump becoming US President . He said as follows : “Tell me who of you would believe a few months ago that in the US today , the front-runner on behalf of the Republicans for the nomination of the candidate President would be Mr . Trump ? And of course what this nomination marks , the ideas it represents , the appeal it reaches , and the threat to become even President – I hope we will not face this evil.” In May 2016 , new austerity measures proposed by Tsipras passed Parliament . The legislation increased taxes to middle- and high-level income earners ; make across-the-board budget cuts amounting to about 3% of Greeces GDP ; removed value-added-tax discounts ; cut pensions ; and increase deregulation . Tsipras called for calm on the streets and defended the austerity package , saying it fell in line with the agreement reached with the EU the previous year . Further austerity legislation included a provision for contingency measures , including wage and pension cuts , that would take effect automatically if budget targets were derailed next year . Taxes on cigarettes , coffee and craft beer were also raised , while an unpopular property tax was restructured to increase revenues from larger buildings . A new privatisation agency was set up which would have a 99-year remit to develop and sell state-owned property . Tsipras defended his adoption of new fiscal measures , telling Parliament : Spring may be almost over but we are looking forward to an economic spring and a return to growth this year . In a July 2017 , Tsipras opined that the Greek economy was on the up and that the worst is clearly behind us . He also expressed confidence that Greece will no longer have to rely on bailouts and international oversight in 2018 . According to media reports from mid-July , Greece was considering rejoining the bond market for the first time since 2014 to borrow from the capital market . It was speculated that the government could issue a five-year bond at a time when yields on Greek bonds are their lowest since the country left the market in 2014 . The announcement came a few days after the IMF in principle approved Greece for a conditional loan of up to $1.8 billion . The IMF made the payment of the loans contingent on Greeces debt sustainability , demanding that euro-zone countries provide debt relief to the country . In October 2017 Prime Minister Tsipras met with President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington , D.C. , at which Trump told Tsipras that he supported a responsible debt relief plan for Greece as they recovered from the economic crisis in the country . Trump added that his administration had informed Congress of a potential sale to upgrade the F-16 aircraft in Greeces air force , a deal that could be worth $2.4 billion . Greece officially concluded its three-year European Stability Mechanism ( ESM ) financial assistance programme on 20 August 2018 , following the disbursement of €61.9 billion by the ESM over three years to support the countrys macroeconomic adjustment and bank recapitalization . ESM Members agreed on the financial assistance package in August 2015 . The conclusion of the ESM programme marks a very important moment and historic for all of us . We had eight very difficult years , often painful years , but now Greece can finally turn a page in a crisis that has lasted too long , according to EU Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs Pierre Moscovici . A day after Moscovicis statement , Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said during a state address from the island of Ithaca : A new day is dawning in our country , today is the beginning of a new era . Tsipras furthermore asserted that the country had regained its sovereignty to determine its own future , reaching a destination that would allow the Greeks to make our place as it deserves to be . In January 2019 , Greece Defence Minister Panos Kammenos and his Independent Greeks party quit Greeces ruling coalition over a deal struck on the Macedonia naming dispute , potentially leaving the governing coalition without a workable majority in parliament . Despite this , some days later , Tsipras managed to win a confidence vote and gain again the support of the absolute majority of the Greek parliament ( 151 votes ) for his government ( this time backed by one political party , i.e . SYRIZA ) . The confidence vote was followed by the successful ratification of the Greek parliament with 153 votes of the Prespa Agreement , an agreement which resolved a long-standing dispute and named Greeces northern neighbour as North Macedonia . Syriza suffered a harsh defeat in the European election on 26 May 2019 , losing to the opposition party New Democracy . Following the defeat , snap elections were called . Syriza was defeated in the 2019 legislative election , scoring 31.53% of votes and securing only 86 seats in the Hellenic Parliament . Tsipras conceded defeat and resigned the following day . His first non-official biography has been written by a French journalist named Fabien Perrier . It is published by François Bourin in France and by Topos in Greece . Personal life . Tsipras is married . His registered partner is Peristera Betty Baziana , an electrical and computer engineer . They met in 1987 , at the age of 13 , at Ampelokipoi Branch High School . Both eventually became members of the Communist Youth of Greece . They live together in Athens with their two sons . Their younger sons middle name is Ernesto , a tribute to the Marxist revolutionary Ernesto Che Guevara . Tsipras is an avid football fan and , having grown up near the stadium , supports Panathinaikos , attending every home game that he can . Tsipras is a self-described atheist . His cousin , Giorgos Tsipras , is also a Syriza MP . |
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"U.S . Senate"
] | easy | What was the position of Harold Hitz Burton from 1941 to Feb 1944? | /wiki/Harold_Hitz_Burton#P39#0 | Harold Hitz Burton Harold Hitz Burton ( June 22 , 1888 – October 28 , 1964 ) was an American politician and lawyer . He served as the 45th mayor of Cleveland , Ohio , as a U.S . Senator from Ohio , and as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States . Born in Boston , Burton practiced law in Cleveland after graduating from Harvard Law School . After serving in the United States Army during World War I , Burton became active in Republican Party politics and won election to the Ohio House of Representatives . After serving as the mayor of Cleveland , Burton won election to the United States Senate in 1940 . After the retirement of Associate Justice Owen J . Roberts , President Harry S . Truman successfully nominated Burton to the Supreme Court . Burton served on the Court until 1958 , when he was succeeded by Potter Stewart . Burton was known as a dispassionate , pragmatic , somewhat plodding jurist who preferred to rule on technical and procedural rather than constitutional grounds . He was also seen as an affable justice who helped ease tension on the court during an extremely acrimonious time . He wrote the majority opinion in Joint Anti-Fascist Refugee Committee v . McGrath ( 1951 ) and Lorain Journal Co . v . United States ( 1951 ) . He also helped shape the Courts unanimous decision in Brown v . Board of Education ( 1954 ) . Early life . Harold was born in Jamaica Plain , Massachusetts , the second son of Anna Gertrude ( Hitz ) and Alfred E . Burton . His younger brother was named Felix Arnold Burton . Harolds father was an engineer and the first Dean of Student Affairs at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology ( 1902-1921 ) , reporting to the president . He taught at MIT before being selected as dean . As a former explorer , Burton had accompanied Robert Peary on several expeditions to the North Pole . Harolds mother died young . In 1906 , his father married Lena Yates , a poet and artist from England . ( She later took the name of Jeanne DOrge. ) They met that year on a walking trip in France . Yates published childrens books as Lena Dalkeith . The couple had three children : Christine , Virginia ( 1909-1968 ) , and Alexander Ross Burton . The half siblings developed warm relationships over time . Virginia became an author and illustrator . Burton attended Bowdoin College , where he was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa honor society , was quarterback of the football team , and graduated summa cum laude . His roommate and Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity ( Theta chapter ) brother was Owen Brewster , later a U.S . Senator from Maine . Burton went on to Harvard Law School , graduating in 1912 . Felix Arnold Buton became an architect after also attending Bowdoin . The Burton brothers and J . Edgar Hoover were second cousins on their mothers side . Their common great-grandparents were Johannes ( Hans ) Hitz , first Swiss Consul General to the United States , and his wife Anna Kohler . Marriage and family . Burton married Selma Florence Smith in 1912 . They had four children : Barbara ( Mrs . Charles Weidner ) , William ( who served on the USS Samuel B . Roberts ( DE-413 ) during WWII , in the Ohio House of Representatives and was a noted trial lawyer ) , Deborah ( Mrs . Wallace Adler ) , and Robert ( a distinguished attorney and counsel to athletes ) . Early career . After graduation and marriage , Burton moved with his wife to Cleveland and began the practice of law there . However , in 1914 , he joined his wifes uncle as a company attorney for Utah Power and Light Company in Salt Lake City . He later worked for Utah Light and Traction , and then for Idaho Power Company and Boise Valley Traction Company , both in Boise , Idaho . When the U.S . entered World War I , Burton joined the United States Army , rising to the rank of Captain . He served as an infantry officer , saw heavy action in France and Belgium , and received the Belgian Croix de guerre . After the war , Burton joined several veterans organizations , including the Army and Navy Union , the Veterans of Foreign Wars , and the American Legion . After the war , Burton returned with his family to Cleveland , where he resumed his law practice . He also taught at Western Reserve University Law School . Politics . In the late 1920s , Burton entered politics as a Republican . He was elected to the East Cleveland Board of Education in 1927 and to the Ohio House of Representatives in 1928 . After serving briefly in the Ohio House , he became law director for the City of Cleveland in 1929 before returning to private practice in 1932 . In 1935 , Burton was elected mayor of Cleveland . He worked on issues of continuing assimilation of immigrant populations , supporting industry in the city , and dealing with transportation needs . Re-elected twice , he served until entering the U.S . Senate in 1941 . For his decorous personal life and opposition to organized crime , he was dubbed the Boy Scout Mayor . In 1940 , Burton was popularly elected to the U.S . Senate , with 52.3% of the vote , defeating John McSweeney . It was in the Senate that he first met fellow Senator Harry S . Truman . Burton served on the Senate Special Committee to Investigate the National Defense Program ( Truman Committee ) , which monitored the U.S . war effort during World War II , and the two got along well . Truman was elected Vice President in 1944 and succeeded as President upon the death of Franklin Roosevelt in 1945 . Supreme Court . Nomination . Justice Owen J . Roberts announced his resignation from the Supreme Court on June 30 , 1945 , effective July 31 , 1945 . Truman decided , as a bipartisan gesture , to appoint a Republican to replace him . He selected Burton as someone whom he knew and respected . Truman announced Burtons nomination on September 19 . The nomination was forwarded to the Senate on September 20 . The Senate referred it to the Senate Judiciary Committee , which referred it unanimously back to the Senate for confirmation without holding any hearings . Hours later , the Senate unanimously approved the nomination . It took less than a day . Burton resigned from the Senate on September 30 , 1945 , and was sworn in as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court on October 1 . Burton was the last sitting member of Congress to be appointed to the Court . ( Sherman Minton , a former senator , was appointed in 1949. ) Judicial philosophy and working style . According to biographer Eric W . Rise , Burton appeared to lack an overarching judicial philosophy . He favored judicial restraint and most of his decisions were based on narrow procedural grounds rather than the Constitution . His judicial restraint , however , was informed by his political views , not by a legal philosophy , and he tended to defer to legislative and executive branch judgments because he agreed with them personally . This pragmatism won him the respect of his fellow justices , and served as a unifying influence on the court when the other justices were split on constitutional issues but could come together on technical or procedural grounds . From 1945 to 1953 , Burton was usually in the centrist majority on the court , sometimes finding himself in a slightly more conservative majority on some issues . He was part of the Vinson bloc , which included Chief Justice Fred M . Vinson and Associate Justices Tom C . Clark , Sherman Minton , and Stanley Forman Reed . These five voted together 75 percent of the time in non-unanimous decisions . But beginning with the appointment of Earl Warren as Chief Justice in 1953 , and more so after the appointment of William J . Brennan Jr . in 1956 , Burton found himself increasingly in the minority . Burton biographer Mary Frances Berry has written that Burton knew he was not brilliant and that writing came hard , and therefore not only worked very hard on his decisions but attempted to show this work by outlining all the precedents he had considered before reaching a conclusion . Burton insisted on having all precedents researched before writing his opinions , wrote the first draft of his opinions himself , and was well known for working long hours in his office . His hard work earned him respect and praise from his colleagues , but his working style also limited his judicial output . Outside the court , the press and some prominent legal scholars depicted Burton as mediocre , plodding , a weak legal mind , and more concerned with social activities . Burton was also very well-liked by all his colleagues , and his easy-going nature helped to ease tensions on the court . Cold War , loyalty oath , and subversion rulings . The Cold War led state and federal governments to enact a wide variety of laws and regulations aimed at curbing espionage and subversion . Burton consistently showed deference to government restrictions on free speech , voting to uphold government action 27 out of 28 times . He also wrote several important decisions . His basic approach toward these questions was judicial deference , as exemplified in his strong dissent in Duncan v . Kahanamoku , 327 U.S . 304 ( 1946 ) . His first important majority opinion came in Joint Anti-Fascist Refugee Committee v . McGrath , 341 U.S . 123 ( 1951 ) , where a group had challenged the authority of the U.S . Attorney General to unilaterally declare groups to be Communist . Despite a significant split among the justices , Burton wrote a plurality decision in which he disposed of the case on technical grounds . He argued that the listing was technically legal . But in a court of law , the Attorney General had to offer evidence of subversion , which he had not . Burton also joined the majority in three important Fifth Amendment cases . In Emspak v . United States , 349 U.S . 190 ( 1955 ) , he voted with the majority to extend the Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination to testimony before congressional committees . He also joined the majority in Ullmann v . United States , 350 U.S . 422 ( 1956 ) , an important decision which upheld the Immunity Act of 1954 ( which stripped the right against self-incrimination from persons given immunity from federal prosecution ) . Burtons narrow procedural approach proved important in Beilan v . Board of Education , 357 U.S . 399 ( 1958 ) . Two years earlier , six justices had formed a majority in Slochower v . Board of Higher Education of New York City , 350 U.S . 551 ( 1956 ) , holding it unconstitutional for a school board to fire an employee for exercising their Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination . In Beilan , a teacher was dismissed not for exercising Fifth Amendment rights but for refusing to answer a question at all . Despite the retirement of Sherman Minton ( who had joined his dissent in Slochower ) , Burtons narrow procedural approach in Beilan won over Justices Felix Frankfurter and John Marshall Harlan II and ( with the support of new Justice Charles Evans Whittaker ) , Burton was able form a majority upholding the school districts action . At times , Burtons pragmatism could lead to important legislative outcomes . He joined the 7-to-1 majority in Jencks v . United States , 353 U.S . 657 ( 1957 ) , in which the court reversed the conviction of a labor leader under federal loyalty laws because the defendant was not given permission to view the evidence against him . Burton agreed with the majority , although he added the caveat that such evidence should first be reviewed by a district court judge to ensure that no national security secrets were revealed . Burtons view was subsequently adopted by Congress with passage of the Jencks Act in 1958 . In one of his last opinions in the area , Burton voted to limit the application Smith Act in Yates v . United States , 354 U.S . 298 ( 1957 ) . The majority had overturned the conviction of seven individuals using the clear and present danger First Amendment doctrine by concluding they had advocated violent overthrow of the government as an abstract doctrine , not as advocacy to action . Burton wrote an opinion concurring in the outcome , but cast his vote on narrow procedural grounds . Church and state . Generally , Burton favored a strict separation of church and state . But his pragmatic approach to law sometimes caused him to dissent from majorities favoring a strict separation . For example , in Everson v . Board of Education , 330 U.S . 1 ( 1947 ) , Justice Hugo Black ruled , 5-to-4 , that while the Constitution required a strict separation between church and state , it was constitutionally permissible for a school district to reimburse parents when their children rode public school buses to religious schools so long as all such parents and religions were treated equally . Burton initially was predisposed to declare the law constitutional . Heavy lobbying from justices Felix Frankfurter , Robert H . Jackson , and Wiley Blount Rutledge changed his mind . Burton dissented in the case not because he disagreed with Blacks emphasis on the strict separation between church and state but because he believed that the state law violated the strict separation doctrine laid out by Black . The following year , Burton joined Black in the majority in McCollum v . Board of Education , 333 U.S . 203 ( 1948 ) . At issue was a state law which gave students release time to attend religious instruction on school grounds during the school day . The majority struck down the law as a violation of the First Amendment . Burton joined the majority only after Black agreed not to extend his ruling to release time programs that involved off-site religious instruction . Zorach v . Clauson , 343 U.S . 306 ( 1952 ) , was factually similar to McCollum , although there was no instruction on school grounds . Although Burtons law clerks argued that the school was tacitly instructing children to attend religious classes , Burton disagreed , characterizing the dismissal as akin to excusing a child from school for a doctors appointment . Burton joined the 6-to-3 majority . Criminal procedure . Burton was deferential to the state on criminal procedure and law-and-order issues . Beginning with Betts v . Brady , 316 U.S . 455 ( 1942 ) , the Supreme Court had ruled in a wide range of cases that except in cases of illiteracy , mental incapacity , or especially complicated cases , defendants did not have an absolute right to be informed of their right to counsel or to have counsel appointed for them by the state . The Court had opportunity to revisit Betts in Bute v . Illinois , 333 U.S . 640 ( 1948 ) , where a felon appealed his conviction because the trial court had not advised him of his right to counsel and because the plaintiff felt he had been rushed to trial , claims he felt violated constitutional guarantees to a fair trial and due process of law . Burton wrote for a 5-to-4 majority that the Constitution did not require a state to advise a defendant about his rights to counsel , or to provide such counsel , if the crime is not a capital offense . Applying the 14th Amendment to the states in this area would disregard the basic and historic power of the states to prescribe their own local court procedures , Burton wrote . Yet , Bute was notable for carving out a capital-case exemption to Betts . Much criticized at the time for being inconsistent with Betts , the Bute decision unintentionally established grounds for the Supreme Court to whittle away at Betts , so that by 1962 some legal scholars were already arguing the Court had effectively overruled Betts . Betts and Bute were unanimously overruled Court in Gideon v . Wainwright , 372 U.S . 335 ( 1963 ) . Another case decided the same year as Bute illustrates Burtons reliance on personal views as a guide to court action . Gilbert Thiel suffered a mental breakdown and leapt from a moving Southern Pacific Railroad passenger car , severely injuring himself . Thiel argued that railway personnel should have stopped him . The trial court blocked hourly-wage workers from being selected for the jury , which Thiel alleged biased the jury against him . Burton was powerfully motivated by a need to protect the Supreme Courts reputation , which he felt would be sullied if it approved such a distasteful practice . The majority in Thiel v . Southern Pacific Co. , 328 U.S . 217 ( 1946 ) , narrowed its opinion to address only the facts regarding jury selection , and therefore did not decide whether the jury actually was biased against Thiel . This helped to win Burtons approval as well . Burtons belief that criminal procedure should be left to the states influenced his views in other cases as well . In Griffin v . Illinois , 351 U.S . 12 ( 1956 ) , a majority held that an indigent criminal defendant could not be denied transcripts of the trial . Burton wrote a dissent , joined by justices Minton , Harlan , and Reed , in which he strongly defended the federal nature of criminal procedure . Burton also wrote a stinging dissent in Louisiana ex rel . Francis v . Resweber , 329 U.S . 459 ( 1947 ) . The state of Louisiana attempted to execute convicted murderer Willie Francis on May 3 , 1946 . But the employee and assistant were both drunk while setting up the electric chair , and Francis did not die . The state sought to execute him again , but Francis claimed this violated the Double Jeopardy Clause of the Fifth Amendment . The states failure to execute Francis the first time should mark the end of the attempt , Burton wrote . Additional attempts constituted cruel and unusual punishment : It is unthinkable that any state legislature in modern times would enact a statute expressly authorizing capital punishment by repeated applications of an electric current separated by intervals of days or hours until finally death shall result . It was an opinion that showed considerable foresight regarding the Supreme Courts future capital punishment jurisprudence . Antitrust . Burtons greatest contribution to Supreme Court jurisprudence came in the area of antitrust law . In American Tobacco Co . v . United States , 328 U.S . 781 ( 1946 ) , Burton wrote for a near-unanimous court ( Justice Rutledge , concurring ) that the Sherman Antitrust Act barred the mere existence of combinations or conspiracies which created monopolistic or oligopolistic market power , regardless of whether that power was actually used . Legal scholar Eugene V . Rostow declared Burtons decision would usher in a new era of swift , effective antitrust enforcement . But Burtons analysis cut both ways . In United States v . Columbia Steel Company , 334 U.S . 495 ( 1948 ) , the same reasoning was used to allow U.S . Steel to buy out the much smaller Columbia Steel . Even though Columbia Steel was the largest steel manufacturer on the West Coast , Burton joined the majority in holding that the acquisition was not a violate of the Clayton Antitrust Act because Columbia Steel represented such a small percentage of overall American steel production . The Columbia Steel decision shocked antitrust advocates . Yet , in Lorain Journal Co . v . United States , 342 U.S . 143 ( 1951 ) , Burton wrote for a unanimous court that a monopoly could not use its power to retain its monopoly position . In that case , the Lorain Journal newspaper attempted to use its market power to prevent advertisers from placing ads with a new , competing radio station . The case became noted for extending the federal governments antitrust power to local markets . In Times-Picayune Publishing Co . v . United States , 345 U.S . 594 ( 1953 ) , the majority held that the Times-Picayune newspaper did not violate the Sherman Antitrust Act by forcing advertisers to buy space in both its evening and morning editions . Burton ( joined by Black , Douglas , and Minton ) strongly dissented . The Sherman Act barred all monopolistic market power , he argued , whether it was used to create or maintain a monopoly , or whether it was used to harm the public ( through monopolistic pricing ) or users ( as in the Times-Picayune must buy case ) . Burton wrote the lone dissent in Toolson v . New York Yankees , Inc. , 346 U.S . 356 ( 1953 ) . A majority of the justices had disposed of the case in a per curiam decision , citing the ruling in Federal Baseball Club v . National League , 259 U.S . 200 ( 1922 ) . Citing extensive statistics about the farm system , broadcasting revenues , and national advertising campaigns , Burton concluded it was unreasonable to claim that major league baseball was not engaged in interstate commerce . He strongly criticized the majority for incorrectly construing Federal Baseball Club , and said the majority was wrong to assumed that because the Sherman Antitrust Act did not explicitly cover baseball that baseball was intended to be exempt . A notable exception to the broad application of antitrust law came in Burtons dissent in United States v . E . I . du Pont de Nemours and Company , 353 U.S . 586 ( 1957 ) . The DuPont chemical company had purchased a substantial bloc of stock in the General Motors automobile manufacturer . Subsequently , General Motors purchased most of its paints and fabrics from DuPont . A majority of the court held that this vertical integration constituted a violation of the Clayton Antitrust Act . But Burton , dissenting , was highly skeptical that the Clayton Act applied to vertical integration , and strongly criticized the majoritys logic concerning market power . Burton found that du Pont simply didnt have the market power the majority claimed it did . The dissent drew widespread praised from legal scholars . Racial segregation . Burtons other major contribution to Supreme Court jurisprudence came in the area of racial segregation . Burton had been a member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People from 1941 to 1945 , and was a dependable vote for civil rights on the high court . One of the exceptions was his first civil rights case on the court , Morgan v . Virginia , 328 U.S . 373 ( 1946 ) . Burton was the lone dissenter in the case , which involved the racial segregation of interstate buses with curtains . Burton argued that , in the absence of a federal statute , each state should be free to establish its own laws on racial segregation . After his vote in Morgan , Court observers believed that Burton could not be counted on to vote to expand or protect civil rights . It surprised legal analysts , then , when Burton joined the unanimous majority in Shelley v . Kraemer , 334 US 1 ( 1948 ) , a landmark case that held courts could not enforce covenants in real estate which were racially discriminating . In a string of votes over the next three years , Burton voted to undermine the separate but equal doctrine in Plessy v . Ferguson , 163 US 537 ( 1896 ) . He joined the unanimous majority in Sweatt v . Painter , 339 U.S . 629 , in 1950 , which held that separate but equal professional legal education was unconstitutional . Heman Marion Sweatt , an African American man , was refused admission to the all-white University of Texas School of Law . One of the first cases to find that separate but equal was not equal , the case deeply influenced the Courts opinion in Brown v . Board of Education four years later . During the Sweatt deliberations , Burton came to the conclusion that Plessy v . Ferguson should be reversed . He informed the other justices about his conclusion the during post-oral argument conference on Sweatt . The same year , Burton joined the unanimous majority in McLaurin v . Oklahoma State Regents , 339 U.S . 637 , which racially desegregated all graduate schools in the United States on essentially the same grounds as Sweatt . Burton subsequently wrote the unanimous majority opinion in Henderson v . United States , 339 U.S . 816 ( 1950 ) . The case involved interstate travel on a passenger train . Henderson , an African American federal worker , held a ticket that cost the same and allegedly provided the same level of service as a ticket sold to a white passenger . But Henderson was denied seating in the dining car after attendants seated white passengers at the tables reserved for blacks . Although the Sweatt and McLaurin courts had ruled on constitutional grounds , Burton hesitated to do so if there were procedural or technical grounds to do so . In Henderson , Burton was able to form a unanimous majority by basing his decision on the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887 , rather than the 14th Amendment . By 1953 , Burtons thinking on racial segregation had evolved to embrace a constitutional attack on Plessy . In 1953 , the Supreme Court took up Terry v . Adams , 345 U.S . 461 , a case in which a whites-only private political club dominated the local Democratic primary election in an electoral district where Republicans were not competitive . This system served to disenfranchise black voters . The federal district and appellate courts had upheld the constitutionality of the system , persuaded that the club was purely private and thus no state action was involved . But at the first post-oral argument conference held by the justices , Burton was adamant that the Supreme Court reverse and declare the practice unconstitutional . The justices took a widely varying approach to the case . The majority opinion was authored by Hugo Black , and joined only by Burton and Douglas . Frankfurter , personally at odds with Black , joined the majority but authored his own opinion ( which he refused to have listed as concurring ) . Clark authored a concurrence , which was joined by Vinson , Reed , and Jackson . Surprisingly , Burton joined Black in declaring the whites-only club in violation of the 15th Amendment . Black won over all but one justice ( Minton ) by agreeing to remand the case back to the district court for a solution , but not specifying what that solution should be . Role in Brown v . Board of Education . Burton played a crucial role in the Supreme Courts decision in Brown v . Board of Education of Topeka , 347 U.S . 483 ( 1954 ) . Several cases alleging unconstitutional racial discrimination in elementary and secondary public schools were coming before the court in 1952 . In the first sign that Burton was ready to reverse Plessy , on June 7 Burton voted with Clark and Minton to grant certiorari to both Brown and another case , Briggs v . Elliott , 342 U.S . 350 ( 1952 ) . The Supreme Court subsequently agreed to also hear Bolling v . Sharpe , 347 U.S . 497 ( 1954 ) , Davis v . County School Board of Prince Edward County , 103 F . Supp . 337 ( 1952 ) , and Gebhart v . Belton , 91 A.2d 137 ( Del . 1952 ) . Oral argument in all five cases was heard at early December 1952 . The justices held their first post-oral argument judicial conference on the cases on December 13 . Burton , Black , Douglas , and Minton had all come out against racial segregation in the public schools during the conference . Clark seemed unsure , but it appeared that he could be persuaded to join the majority . Burton himself noted in his diary that he felt the court was likely to vote 6-to-3 to bar on racial discrimination in schools , but not on constitutional grounds . Other justices were not so sure . William O . Douglas believed that five justices would vote to uphold Plessy : Vinson , Clark , Frankfurter , Jackson and Reed . Among these , Frankfurter and Jackson exhibited the most doubt about Plessy . Douglas even worried that a 5-to-4 decision would be reached in which schools would be given a decade or more to bring unequal African American schools up to par . Vinson was a fence-sitter of a different kind : He was deeply troubled by the effect a desegregation order would have on the nation . It was likely that , even if Vinson joined a majority in barring separate but equal in public schools , he would do so only on narrow , technical grounds—leading to a plurality decision , a fragmented court , and a ruling lacking in legal and moral weight . Frankfurter , who personally believed racial segregation to be odious , argued for the cases to be held over to the next term and reargued . A majority of the court agreed . Some hoped for changes in the political landscape that would make a decision easier , while others worried about the effect a divided opinion would have . On June 8 , the Supreme Court issued its order , scheduling reargument for October 12 , 1953 . Chief Justice Fred Vinson died unexpectedly of a heart attack on September 8 , 1953 . On September 30 , President Eisenhower nominated Earl Warren , the outgoing Republican governor of California , to replace Vinson as Chief Justice . The news was not unexpected ; Warren had declined a fourth term as governor on September 2 , and he had long been seen as a favorite for a Supreme Court nomination . Warrens was a recess appointment , which meant he would have to give up his seat unless the Senate confirmed him before the end of its next session . Warren was sworn in as Chief Justice on October 5 . Warrens nomination was sent to the Senate on January 11 , 1954 . Senator William Langer , chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee , kept the nomination bottled up for seven weeks in order to hold hearings on unsubstantiated charges that Warren was a Marxist and controlled by the California liquor lobby . Warrens nomination was forwarded to the Senate on February 24 on a favorable 12-to-3 vote , and the Senate confirmed him on March 1 on a voice vote after just eight minutes of discussion . Even before oral reargument , Warren was convinced that Plessy had to be reversed and racial discrimination in public education ended . Warren perceived Burton as a key ally in overturning Plessy . Immediately after his swearing-in ceremony , Warren worked hard to become as friendly as possible with Burton , quietly seeking him out before any of the more senior justices . ( Had Warrens actions become widely known , he would have offended court tradition and the other justices. ) Reargument in Brown and the other cases was set for early December 1953 . The first post-oral reargument conference was held December 12 , at which time Warren made it very clear he would join Black , Burton , Douglas , and Minton in voting to overturn Plessy . Warren believed a unanimous decision in Brown was necessary to win public acceptance for the decision . Stanley Forman Reed appeared to Warren to be the justice most comfortable with segregation and Plessy . But even Reed admitted on December 12 that what was constitutional in 1896 might not be in 1953 , due to changing circumstances . Warren went to work on Reed immediately . During the lunch break on December 12 , Warren invited Reed ( the justice most unlikely to oppose segregation ) to lunch , accompanied by Burton , Black , Minton , and Douglas ( the justices most likely to bar segregation ) . The social pressure on Reed continued for the next five days , as Warren lunched daily with Reed , Burton , Black , and Minton . Burton wholeheartedly supported Warrens attempt to forged a unanimous majority . Warren accurately judged Burton to be his most valuable ally in forging a unanimous majority on Brown . Burton not only pushed for pragmatic solutions ( which helped win over Reed ) , but proved to be articulate , passionate , and persuasive—which few on the court expected . As the justices continued to debate its approach to Brown and the other cases in conferences , in memoranda , and privately among themselves , Burton worked to alleviate fears about implementation by talking freely about his experiences as mayor of Cleveland . Burton had ended racial discrimination in healthcare by hiring African American nurses to work in whites-only hospitals . This had gone relatively smoothly , and black nurses earned widespread respect among white citizens for their professionalism . The efforts of Warren and Burton paid off . The Supreme Court handed down a unanimous decision in Brown on May 17 , 1954 . Pragmatically , Warren declined to overturn Plessy , but argued that it did not apply to the field of public education . Implementation of the decision was left up to district courts , at a later date . During part of his time on the Supreme Court , Burton kept notes on all judicial conferences as well as a diary in which he documented the discussions he had with other justices . Burtons diary has proven to be an invaluable resource in understanding how Earl Warren achieved unanimity on Brown . Resignation . By June 1957 , Burton began suffering from significant shaking in his hands . As the 1957-1958 term began , his handwriting became difficult to read , and he began taking longer afternoon naps . He was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease . The shaking in his left arm had become so severe by the start of 1958 that he decided to retire from the Supreme Court . He informed President Dwight D . Eisenhower of his decision in March . Worried about other domestic and international events , Eisenhower asked Burton to consider staying one more year , and make no public announcement . Burton agreed . In the meantime , arrangements were made to give Burtons law clerks positions at the United States Department of Justice should Burton retire before the end of the 1958-1959 Supreme Court term . Burtons condition worsened , and in June 1958 he was advised by his doctors to retire . Burton informed Chief Justice Earl Warren of his decision , and Warren urged him to stay on the court at least until September 30 . A week later , Attorney General William P . Rogers met with Burton to discuss rumors that Burton was retiring . Once more , Burton reiterated his desire to leave the Court , and Rogers , too , asked him to remain until September 30 . Various crises and events conspired to keep Burton from meeting with the president until July 17 , at which time Burton privately informed Eisenhower of his intention to resign . ( Burton had turned 70 years old on June 22 , enabling him to retire at full pay. ) Eisenhower asked Burton to keep the resignation private for a time . In part , this was because Eisenhower wanted time to consider a replacement without public pressure . Additionally , Eisenhower was worried that a resignation now might create unnecessary complications for the Supreme Court , which had agreed to hear the case Cooper v . Aaron . This case arose out of the Little Rock Nine situation , in which nine African American students were barred from enrolling at Little Rock Central High School by Orval Faubus , the Governor of Arkansas . William G . Cooper and other members of the Little Rock school district board of education had alleged they could not implement the Supreme Courts decision in Brown v . Board of Education of Topeka , 347 U.S . 483 ( 1954 ) , because of public hostility and the opposition of Governor Faubus and the state legislature . The case was clearly headed for the Supreme Court : A local court had ruled in favor of the school district , and the NAACP had appealed both to an Arkansas circuit court and the U.S . Supreme Court ( which , on June 30 , declined to hear the appeal until the circuit court had ruled but which also had advised the circuit court to rule swiftly—before the school year began ) . The Supreme Court held a special summer session on September 11 and issued its decision on September 29 , after which Burton informed his law clerks and the rest of the Supreme Court of his decision to retire . Burton publicly announced his retirement from the Supreme Court on October 6 , 1958 . Burton publicly announced that he was suffering from Parkinsons disease . He retired on the advice of physicians , who said the condition might improve without the stress from his Court position . His last day at the Supreme Court was October 13 . Retirement . Following his retirement from the Supreme Court , Burton sat by designation for several years on panels of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia . He died on October 28 , 1964 , in Washington , D.C. , from complications arising from Parkinsons disease , kidney failure , and pulmonary trouble . His remains were interred at Highland Park Cemetery in Cleveland . Legacy . Clevelands Main Avenue Bridge was renamed in his honor in 1986 . His papers and other memorabilia are primarily in four collections . Bowdoin College has 750 items including documents concerning 47 judicial opinions ; The Hiram College Archives collection holds 69 items . The Manuscript Division of the Library of Congress has 187 ft . ( 120,000 items ) consisting mainly of correspondence and legal files . The Western Reserve Historical Society has 10 linear ft . relating mainly to his tenure as mayor of Cleveland ; the collection contains correspondence , reports , speeches , proclamations , and newspaper clippings relating to routine administrative matters and topics of special interest during Burtons mayoralty . Other papers repose at various institutions around the country , as part of other collections . |
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] | easy | Which position did Harold Hitz Burton hold from Feb 1944 to Sep 1945? | /wiki/Harold_Hitz_Burton#P39#1 | Harold Hitz Burton Harold Hitz Burton ( June 22 , 1888 – October 28 , 1964 ) was an American politician and lawyer . He served as the 45th mayor of Cleveland , Ohio , as a U.S . Senator from Ohio , and as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States . Born in Boston , Burton practiced law in Cleveland after graduating from Harvard Law School . After serving in the United States Army during World War I , Burton became active in Republican Party politics and won election to the Ohio House of Representatives . After serving as the mayor of Cleveland , Burton won election to the United States Senate in 1940 . After the retirement of Associate Justice Owen J . Roberts , President Harry S . Truman successfully nominated Burton to the Supreme Court . Burton served on the Court until 1958 , when he was succeeded by Potter Stewart . Burton was known as a dispassionate , pragmatic , somewhat plodding jurist who preferred to rule on technical and procedural rather than constitutional grounds . He was also seen as an affable justice who helped ease tension on the court during an extremely acrimonious time . He wrote the majority opinion in Joint Anti-Fascist Refugee Committee v . McGrath ( 1951 ) and Lorain Journal Co . v . United States ( 1951 ) . He also helped shape the Courts unanimous decision in Brown v . Board of Education ( 1954 ) . Early life . Harold was born in Jamaica Plain , Massachusetts , the second son of Anna Gertrude ( Hitz ) and Alfred E . Burton . His younger brother was named Felix Arnold Burton . Harolds father was an engineer and the first Dean of Student Affairs at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology ( 1902-1921 ) , reporting to the president . He taught at MIT before being selected as dean . As a former explorer , Burton had accompanied Robert Peary on several expeditions to the North Pole . Harolds mother died young . In 1906 , his father married Lena Yates , a poet and artist from England . ( She later took the name of Jeanne DOrge. ) They met that year on a walking trip in France . Yates published childrens books as Lena Dalkeith . The couple had three children : Christine , Virginia ( 1909-1968 ) , and Alexander Ross Burton . The half siblings developed warm relationships over time . Virginia became an author and illustrator . Burton attended Bowdoin College , where he was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa honor society , was quarterback of the football team , and graduated summa cum laude . His roommate and Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity ( Theta chapter ) brother was Owen Brewster , later a U.S . Senator from Maine . Burton went on to Harvard Law School , graduating in 1912 . Felix Arnold Buton became an architect after also attending Bowdoin . The Burton brothers and J . Edgar Hoover were second cousins on their mothers side . Their common great-grandparents were Johannes ( Hans ) Hitz , first Swiss Consul General to the United States , and his wife Anna Kohler . Marriage and family . Burton married Selma Florence Smith in 1912 . They had four children : Barbara ( Mrs . Charles Weidner ) , William ( who served on the USS Samuel B . Roberts ( DE-413 ) during WWII , in the Ohio House of Representatives and was a noted trial lawyer ) , Deborah ( Mrs . Wallace Adler ) , and Robert ( a distinguished attorney and counsel to athletes ) . Early career . After graduation and marriage , Burton moved with his wife to Cleveland and began the practice of law there . However , in 1914 , he joined his wifes uncle as a company attorney for Utah Power and Light Company in Salt Lake City . He later worked for Utah Light and Traction , and then for Idaho Power Company and Boise Valley Traction Company , both in Boise , Idaho . When the U.S . entered World War I , Burton joined the United States Army , rising to the rank of Captain . He served as an infantry officer , saw heavy action in France and Belgium , and received the Belgian Croix de guerre . After the war , Burton joined several veterans organizations , including the Army and Navy Union , the Veterans of Foreign Wars , and the American Legion . After the war , Burton returned with his family to Cleveland , where he resumed his law practice . He also taught at Western Reserve University Law School . Politics . In the late 1920s , Burton entered politics as a Republican . He was elected to the East Cleveland Board of Education in 1927 and to the Ohio House of Representatives in 1928 . After serving briefly in the Ohio House , he became law director for the City of Cleveland in 1929 before returning to private practice in 1932 . In 1935 , Burton was elected mayor of Cleveland . He worked on issues of continuing assimilation of immigrant populations , supporting industry in the city , and dealing with transportation needs . Re-elected twice , he served until entering the U.S . Senate in 1941 . For his decorous personal life and opposition to organized crime , he was dubbed the Boy Scout Mayor . In 1940 , Burton was popularly elected to the U.S . Senate , with 52.3% of the vote , defeating John McSweeney . It was in the Senate that he first met fellow Senator Harry S . Truman . Burton served on the Senate Special Committee to Investigate the National Defense Program ( Truman Committee ) , which monitored the U.S . war effort during World War II , and the two got along well . Truman was elected Vice President in 1944 and succeeded as President upon the death of Franklin Roosevelt in 1945 . Supreme Court . Nomination . Justice Owen J . Roberts announced his resignation from the Supreme Court on June 30 , 1945 , effective July 31 , 1945 . Truman decided , as a bipartisan gesture , to appoint a Republican to replace him . He selected Burton as someone whom he knew and respected . Truman announced Burtons nomination on September 19 . The nomination was forwarded to the Senate on September 20 . The Senate referred it to the Senate Judiciary Committee , which referred it unanimously back to the Senate for confirmation without holding any hearings . Hours later , the Senate unanimously approved the nomination . It took less than a day . Burton resigned from the Senate on September 30 , 1945 , and was sworn in as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court on October 1 . Burton was the last sitting member of Congress to be appointed to the Court . ( Sherman Minton , a former senator , was appointed in 1949. ) Judicial philosophy and working style . According to biographer Eric W . Rise , Burton appeared to lack an overarching judicial philosophy . He favored judicial restraint and most of his decisions were based on narrow procedural grounds rather than the Constitution . His judicial restraint , however , was informed by his political views , not by a legal philosophy , and he tended to defer to legislative and executive branch judgments because he agreed with them personally . This pragmatism won him the respect of his fellow justices , and served as a unifying influence on the court when the other justices were split on constitutional issues but could come together on technical or procedural grounds . From 1945 to 1953 , Burton was usually in the centrist majority on the court , sometimes finding himself in a slightly more conservative majority on some issues . He was part of the Vinson bloc , which included Chief Justice Fred M . Vinson and Associate Justices Tom C . Clark , Sherman Minton , and Stanley Forman Reed . These five voted together 75 percent of the time in non-unanimous decisions . But beginning with the appointment of Earl Warren as Chief Justice in 1953 , and more so after the appointment of William J . Brennan Jr . in 1956 , Burton found himself increasingly in the minority . Burton biographer Mary Frances Berry has written that Burton knew he was not brilliant and that writing came hard , and therefore not only worked very hard on his decisions but attempted to show this work by outlining all the precedents he had considered before reaching a conclusion . Burton insisted on having all precedents researched before writing his opinions , wrote the first draft of his opinions himself , and was well known for working long hours in his office . His hard work earned him respect and praise from his colleagues , but his working style also limited his judicial output . Outside the court , the press and some prominent legal scholars depicted Burton as mediocre , plodding , a weak legal mind , and more concerned with social activities . Burton was also very well-liked by all his colleagues , and his easy-going nature helped to ease tensions on the court . Cold War , loyalty oath , and subversion rulings . The Cold War led state and federal governments to enact a wide variety of laws and regulations aimed at curbing espionage and subversion . Burton consistently showed deference to government restrictions on free speech , voting to uphold government action 27 out of 28 times . He also wrote several important decisions . His basic approach toward these questions was judicial deference , as exemplified in his strong dissent in Duncan v . Kahanamoku , 327 U.S . 304 ( 1946 ) . His first important majority opinion came in Joint Anti-Fascist Refugee Committee v . McGrath , 341 U.S . 123 ( 1951 ) , where a group had challenged the authority of the U.S . Attorney General to unilaterally declare groups to be Communist . Despite a significant split among the justices , Burton wrote a plurality decision in which he disposed of the case on technical grounds . He argued that the listing was technically legal . But in a court of law , the Attorney General had to offer evidence of subversion , which he had not . Burton also joined the majority in three important Fifth Amendment cases . In Emspak v . United States , 349 U.S . 190 ( 1955 ) , he voted with the majority to extend the Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination to testimony before congressional committees . He also joined the majority in Ullmann v . United States , 350 U.S . 422 ( 1956 ) , an important decision which upheld the Immunity Act of 1954 ( which stripped the right against self-incrimination from persons given immunity from federal prosecution ) . Burtons narrow procedural approach proved important in Beilan v . Board of Education , 357 U.S . 399 ( 1958 ) . Two years earlier , six justices had formed a majority in Slochower v . Board of Higher Education of New York City , 350 U.S . 551 ( 1956 ) , holding it unconstitutional for a school board to fire an employee for exercising their Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination . In Beilan , a teacher was dismissed not for exercising Fifth Amendment rights but for refusing to answer a question at all . Despite the retirement of Sherman Minton ( who had joined his dissent in Slochower ) , Burtons narrow procedural approach in Beilan won over Justices Felix Frankfurter and John Marshall Harlan II and ( with the support of new Justice Charles Evans Whittaker ) , Burton was able form a majority upholding the school districts action . At times , Burtons pragmatism could lead to important legislative outcomes . He joined the 7-to-1 majority in Jencks v . United States , 353 U.S . 657 ( 1957 ) , in which the court reversed the conviction of a labor leader under federal loyalty laws because the defendant was not given permission to view the evidence against him . Burton agreed with the majority , although he added the caveat that such evidence should first be reviewed by a district court judge to ensure that no national security secrets were revealed . Burtons view was subsequently adopted by Congress with passage of the Jencks Act in 1958 . In one of his last opinions in the area , Burton voted to limit the application Smith Act in Yates v . United States , 354 U.S . 298 ( 1957 ) . The majority had overturned the conviction of seven individuals using the clear and present danger First Amendment doctrine by concluding they had advocated violent overthrow of the government as an abstract doctrine , not as advocacy to action . Burton wrote an opinion concurring in the outcome , but cast his vote on narrow procedural grounds . Church and state . Generally , Burton favored a strict separation of church and state . But his pragmatic approach to law sometimes caused him to dissent from majorities favoring a strict separation . For example , in Everson v . Board of Education , 330 U.S . 1 ( 1947 ) , Justice Hugo Black ruled , 5-to-4 , that while the Constitution required a strict separation between church and state , it was constitutionally permissible for a school district to reimburse parents when their children rode public school buses to religious schools so long as all such parents and religions were treated equally . Burton initially was predisposed to declare the law constitutional . Heavy lobbying from justices Felix Frankfurter , Robert H . Jackson , and Wiley Blount Rutledge changed his mind . Burton dissented in the case not because he disagreed with Blacks emphasis on the strict separation between church and state but because he believed that the state law violated the strict separation doctrine laid out by Black . The following year , Burton joined Black in the majority in McCollum v . Board of Education , 333 U.S . 203 ( 1948 ) . At issue was a state law which gave students release time to attend religious instruction on school grounds during the school day . The majority struck down the law as a violation of the First Amendment . Burton joined the majority only after Black agreed not to extend his ruling to release time programs that involved off-site religious instruction . Zorach v . Clauson , 343 U.S . 306 ( 1952 ) , was factually similar to McCollum , although there was no instruction on school grounds . Although Burtons law clerks argued that the school was tacitly instructing children to attend religious classes , Burton disagreed , characterizing the dismissal as akin to excusing a child from school for a doctors appointment . Burton joined the 6-to-3 majority . Criminal procedure . Burton was deferential to the state on criminal procedure and law-and-order issues . Beginning with Betts v . Brady , 316 U.S . 455 ( 1942 ) , the Supreme Court had ruled in a wide range of cases that except in cases of illiteracy , mental incapacity , or especially complicated cases , defendants did not have an absolute right to be informed of their right to counsel or to have counsel appointed for them by the state . The Court had opportunity to revisit Betts in Bute v . Illinois , 333 U.S . 640 ( 1948 ) , where a felon appealed his conviction because the trial court had not advised him of his right to counsel and because the plaintiff felt he had been rushed to trial , claims he felt violated constitutional guarantees to a fair trial and due process of law . Burton wrote for a 5-to-4 majority that the Constitution did not require a state to advise a defendant about his rights to counsel , or to provide such counsel , if the crime is not a capital offense . Applying the 14th Amendment to the states in this area would disregard the basic and historic power of the states to prescribe their own local court procedures , Burton wrote . Yet , Bute was notable for carving out a capital-case exemption to Betts . Much criticized at the time for being inconsistent with Betts , the Bute decision unintentionally established grounds for the Supreme Court to whittle away at Betts , so that by 1962 some legal scholars were already arguing the Court had effectively overruled Betts . Betts and Bute were unanimously overruled Court in Gideon v . Wainwright , 372 U.S . 335 ( 1963 ) . Another case decided the same year as Bute illustrates Burtons reliance on personal views as a guide to court action . Gilbert Thiel suffered a mental breakdown and leapt from a moving Southern Pacific Railroad passenger car , severely injuring himself . Thiel argued that railway personnel should have stopped him . The trial court blocked hourly-wage workers from being selected for the jury , which Thiel alleged biased the jury against him . Burton was powerfully motivated by a need to protect the Supreme Courts reputation , which he felt would be sullied if it approved such a distasteful practice . The majority in Thiel v . Southern Pacific Co. , 328 U.S . 217 ( 1946 ) , narrowed its opinion to address only the facts regarding jury selection , and therefore did not decide whether the jury actually was biased against Thiel . This helped to win Burtons approval as well . Burtons belief that criminal procedure should be left to the states influenced his views in other cases as well . In Griffin v . Illinois , 351 U.S . 12 ( 1956 ) , a majority held that an indigent criminal defendant could not be denied transcripts of the trial . Burton wrote a dissent , joined by justices Minton , Harlan , and Reed , in which he strongly defended the federal nature of criminal procedure . Burton also wrote a stinging dissent in Louisiana ex rel . Francis v . Resweber , 329 U.S . 459 ( 1947 ) . The state of Louisiana attempted to execute convicted murderer Willie Francis on May 3 , 1946 . But the employee and assistant were both drunk while setting up the electric chair , and Francis did not die . The state sought to execute him again , but Francis claimed this violated the Double Jeopardy Clause of the Fifth Amendment . The states failure to execute Francis the first time should mark the end of the attempt , Burton wrote . Additional attempts constituted cruel and unusual punishment : It is unthinkable that any state legislature in modern times would enact a statute expressly authorizing capital punishment by repeated applications of an electric current separated by intervals of days or hours until finally death shall result . It was an opinion that showed considerable foresight regarding the Supreme Courts future capital punishment jurisprudence . Antitrust . Burtons greatest contribution to Supreme Court jurisprudence came in the area of antitrust law . In American Tobacco Co . v . United States , 328 U.S . 781 ( 1946 ) , Burton wrote for a near-unanimous court ( Justice Rutledge , concurring ) that the Sherman Antitrust Act barred the mere existence of combinations or conspiracies which created monopolistic or oligopolistic market power , regardless of whether that power was actually used . Legal scholar Eugene V . Rostow declared Burtons decision would usher in a new era of swift , effective antitrust enforcement . But Burtons analysis cut both ways . In United States v . Columbia Steel Company , 334 U.S . 495 ( 1948 ) , the same reasoning was used to allow U.S . Steel to buy out the much smaller Columbia Steel . Even though Columbia Steel was the largest steel manufacturer on the West Coast , Burton joined the majority in holding that the acquisition was not a violate of the Clayton Antitrust Act because Columbia Steel represented such a small percentage of overall American steel production . The Columbia Steel decision shocked antitrust advocates . Yet , in Lorain Journal Co . v . United States , 342 U.S . 143 ( 1951 ) , Burton wrote for a unanimous court that a monopoly could not use its power to retain its monopoly position . In that case , the Lorain Journal newspaper attempted to use its market power to prevent advertisers from placing ads with a new , competing radio station . The case became noted for extending the federal governments antitrust power to local markets . In Times-Picayune Publishing Co . v . United States , 345 U.S . 594 ( 1953 ) , the majority held that the Times-Picayune newspaper did not violate the Sherman Antitrust Act by forcing advertisers to buy space in both its evening and morning editions . Burton ( joined by Black , Douglas , and Minton ) strongly dissented . The Sherman Act barred all monopolistic market power , he argued , whether it was used to create or maintain a monopoly , or whether it was used to harm the public ( through monopolistic pricing ) or users ( as in the Times-Picayune must buy case ) . Burton wrote the lone dissent in Toolson v . New York Yankees , Inc. , 346 U.S . 356 ( 1953 ) . A majority of the justices had disposed of the case in a per curiam decision , citing the ruling in Federal Baseball Club v . National League , 259 U.S . 200 ( 1922 ) . Citing extensive statistics about the farm system , broadcasting revenues , and national advertising campaigns , Burton concluded it was unreasonable to claim that major league baseball was not engaged in interstate commerce . He strongly criticized the majority for incorrectly construing Federal Baseball Club , and said the majority was wrong to assumed that because the Sherman Antitrust Act did not explicitly cover baseball that baseball was intended to be exempt . A notable exception to the broad application of antitrust law came in Burtons dissent in United States v . E . I . du Pont de Nemours and Company , 353 U.S . 586 ( 1957 ) . The DuPont chemical company had purchased a substantial bloc of stock in the General Motors automobile manufacturer . Subsequently , General Motors purchased most of its paints and fabrics from DuPont . A majority of the court held that this vertical integration constituted a violation of the Clayton Antitrust Act . But Burton , dissenting , was highly skeptical that the Clayton Act applied to vertical integration , and strongly criticized the majoritys logic concerning market power . Burton found that du Pont simply didnt have the market power the majority claimed it did . The dissent drew widespread praised from legal scholars . Racial segregation . Burtons other major contribution to Supreme Court jurisprudence came in the area of racial segregation . Burton had been a member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People from 1941 to 1945 , and was a dependable vote for civil rights on the high court . One of the exceptions was his first civil rights case on the court , Morgan v . Virginia , 328 U.S . 373 ( 1946 ) . Burton was the lone dissenter in the case , which involved the racial segregation of interstate buses with curtains . Burton argued that , in the absence of a federal statute , each state should be free to establish its own laws on racial segregation . After his vote in Morgan , Court observers believed that Burton could not be counted on to vote to expand or protect civil rights . It surprised legal analysts , then , when Burton joined the unanimous majority in Shelley v . Kraemer , 334 US 1 ( 1948 ) , a landmark case that held courts could not enforce covenants in real estate which were racially discriminating . In a string of votes over the next three years , Burton voted to undermine the separate but equal doctrine in Plessy v . Ferguson , 163 US 537 ( 1896 ) . He joined the unanimous majority in Sweatt v . Painter , 339 U.S . 629 , in 1950 , which held that separate but equal professional legal education was unconstitutional . Heman Marion Sweatt , an African American man , was refused admission to the all-white University of Texas School of Law . One of the first cases to find that separate but equal was not equal , the case deeply influenced the Courts opinion in Brown v . Board of Education four years later . During the Sweatt deliberations , Burton came to the conclusion that Plessy v . Ferguson should be reversed . He informed the other justices about his conclusion the during post-oral argument conference on Sweatt . The same year , Burton joined the unanimous majority in McLaurin v . Oklahoma State Regents , 339 U.S . 637 , which racially desegregated all graduate schools in the United States on essentially the same grounds as Sweatt . Burton subsequently wrote the unanimous majority opinion in Henderson v . United States , 339 U.S . 816 ( 1950 ) . The case involved interstate travel on a passenger train . Henderson , an African American federal worker , held a ticket that cost the same and allegedly provided the same level of service as a ticket sold to a white passenger . But Henderson was denied seating in the dining car after attendants seated white passengers at the tables reserved for blacks . Although the Sweatt and McLaurin courts had ruled on constitutional grounds , Burton hesitated to do so if there were procedural or technical grounds to do so . In Henderson , Burton was able to form a unanimous majority by basing his decision on the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887 , rather than the 14th Amendment . By 1953 , Burtons thinking on racial segregation had evolved to embrace a constitutional attack on Plessy . In 1953 , the Supreme Court took up Terry v . Adams , 345 U.S . 461 , a case in which a whites-only private political club dominated the local Democratic primary election in an electoral district where Republicans were not competitive . This system served to disenfranchise black voters . The federal district and appellate courts had upheld the constitutionality of the system , persuaded that the club was purely private and thus no state action was involved . But at the first post-oral argument conference held by the justices , Burton was adamant that the Supreme Court reverse and declare the practice unconstitutional . The justices took a widely varying approach to the case . The majority opinion was authored by Hugo Black , and joined only by Burton and Douglas . Frankfurter , personally at odds with Black , joined the majority but authored his own opinion ( which he refused to have listed as concurring ) . Clark authored a concurrence , which was joined by Vinson , Reed , and Jackson . Surprisingly , Burton joined Black in declaring the whites-only club in violation of the 15th Amendment . Black won over all but one justice ( Minton ) by agreeing to remand the case back to the district court for a solution , but not specifying what that solution should be . Role in Brown v . Board of Education . Burton played a crucial role in the Supreme Courts decision in Brown v . Board of Education of Topeka , 347 U.S . 483 ( 1954 ) . Several cases alleging unconstitutional racial discrimination in elementary and secondary public schools were coming before the court in 1952 . In the first sign that Burton was ready to reverse Plessy , on June 7 Burton voted with Clark and Minton to grant certiorari to both Brown and another case , Briggs v . Elliott , 342 U.S . 350 ( 1952 ) . The Supreme Court subsequently agreed to also hear Bolling v . Sharpe , 347 U.S . 497 ( 1954 ) , Davis v . County School Board of Prince Edward County , 103 F . Supp . 337 ( 1952 ) , and Gebhart v . Belton , 91 A.2d 137 ( Del . 1952 ) . Oral argument in all five cases was heard at early December 1952 . The justices held their first post-oral argument judicial conference on the cases on December 13 . Burton , Black , Douglas , and Minton had all come out against racial segregation in the public schools during the conference . Clark seemed unsure , but it appeared that he could be persuaded to join the majority . Burton himself noted in his diary that he felt the court was likely to vote 6-to-3 to bar on racial discrimination in schools , but not on constitutional grounds . Other justices were not so sure . William O . Douglas believed that five justices would vote to uphold Plessy : Vinson , Clark , Frankfurter , Jackson and Reed . Among these , Frankfurter and Jackson exhibited the most doubt about Plessy . Douglas even worried that a 5-to-4 decision would be reached in which schools would be given a decade or more to bring unequal African American schools up to par . Vinson was a fence-sitter of a different kind : He was deeply troubled by the effect a desegregation order would have on the nation . It was likely that , even if Vinson joined a majority in barring separate but equal in public schools , he would do so only on narrow , technical grounds—leading to a plurality decision , a fragmented court , and a ruling lacking in legal and moral weight . Frankfurter , who personally believed racial segregation to be odious , argued for the cases to be held over to the next term and reargued . A majority of the court agreed . Some hoped for changes in the political landscape that would make a decision easier , while others worried about the effect a divided opinion would have . On June 8 , the Supreme Court issued its order , scheduling reargument for October 12 , 1953 . Chief Justice Fred Vinson died unexpectedly of a heart attack on September 8 , 1953 . On September 30 , President Eisenhower nominated Earl Warren , the outgoing Republican governor of California , to replace Vinson as Chief Justice . The news was not unexpected ; Warren had declined a fourth term as governor on September 2 , and he had long been seen as a favorite for a Supreme Court nomination . Warrens was a recess appointment , which meant he would have to give up his seat unless the Senate confirmed him before the end of its next session . Warren was sworn in as Chief Justice on October 5 . Warrens nomination was sent to the Senate on January 11 , 1954 . Senator William Langer , chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee , kept the nomination bottled up for seven weeks in order to hold hearings on unsubstantiated charges that Warren was a Marxist and controlled by the California liquor lobby . Warrens nomination was forwarded to the Senate on February 24 on a favorable 12-to-3 vote , and the Senate confirmed him on March 1 on a voice vote after just eight minutes of discussion . Even before oral reargument , Warren was convinced that Plessy had to be reversed and racial discrimination in public education ended . Warren perceived Burton as a key ally in overturning Plessy . Immediately after his swearing-in ceremony , Warren worked hard to become as friendly as possible with Burton , quietly seeking him out before any of the more senior justices . ( Had Warrens actions become widely known , he would have offended court tradition and the other justices. ) Reargument in Brown and the other cases was set for early December 1953 . The first post-oral reargument conference was held December 12 , at which time Warren made it very clear he would join Black , Burton , Douglas , and Minton in voting to overturn Plessy . Warren believed a unanimous decision in Brown was necessary to win public acceptance for the decision . Stanley Forman Reed appeared to Warren to be the justice most comfortable with segregation and Plessy . But even Reed admitted on December 12 that what was constitutional in 1896 might not be in 1953 , due to changing circumstances . Warren went to work on Reed immediately . During the lunch break on December 12 , Warren invited Reed ( the justice most unlikely to oppose segregation ) to lunch , accompanied by Burton , Black , Minton , and Douglas ( the justices most likely to bar segregation ) . The social pressure on Reed continued for the next five days , as Warren lunched daily with Reed , Burton , Black , and Minton . Burton wholeheartedly supported Warrens attempt to forged a unanimous majority . Warren accurately judged Burton to be his most valuable ally in forging a unanimous majority on Brown . Burton not only pushed for pragmatic solutions ( which helped win over Reed ) , but proved to be articulate , passionate , and persuasive—which few on the court expected . As the justices continued to debate its approach to Brown and the other cases in conferences , in memoranda , and privately among themselves , Burton worked to alleviate fears about implementation by talking freely about his experiences as mayor of Cleveland . Burton had ended racial discrimination in healthcare by hiring African American nurses to work in whites-only hospitals . This had gone relatively smoothly , and black nurses earned widespread respect among white citizens for their professionalism . The efforts of Warren and Burton paid off . The Supreme Court handed down a unanimous decision in Brown on May 17 , 1954 . Pragmatically , Warren declined to overturn Plessy , but argued that it did not apply to the field of public education . Implementation of the decision was left up to district courts , at a later date . During part of his time on the Supreme Court , Burton kept notes on all judicial conferences as well as a diary in which he documented the discussions he had with other justices . Burtons diary has proven to be an invaluable resource in understanding how Earl Warren achieved unanimity on Brown . Resignation . By June 1957 , Burton began suffering from significant shaking in his hands . As the 1957-1958 term began , his handwriting became difficult to read , and he began taking longer afternoon naps . He was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease . The shaking in his left arm had become so severe by the start of 1958 that he decided to retire from the Supreme Court . He informed President Dwight D . Eisenhower of his decision in March . Worried about other domestic and international events , Eisenhower asked Burton to consider staying one more year , and make no public announcement . Burton agreed . In the meantime , arrangements were made to give Burtons law clerks positions at the United States Department of Justice should Burton retire before the end of the 1958-1959 Supreme Court term . Burtons condition worsened , and in June 1958 he was advised by his doctors to retire . Burton informed Chief Justice Earl Warren of his decision , and Warren urged him to stay on the court at least until September 30 . A week later , Attorney General William P . Rogers met with Burton to discuss rumors that Burton was retiring . Once more , Burton reiterated his desire to leave the Court , and Rogers , too , asked him to remain until September 30 . Various crises and events conspired to keep Burton from meeting with the president until July 17 , at which time Burton privately informed Eisenhower of his intention to resign . ( Burton had turned 70 years old on June 22 , enabling him to retire at full pay. ) Eisenhower asked Burton to keep the resignation private for a time . In part , this was because Eisenhower wanted time to consider a replacement without public pressure . Additionally , Eisenhower was worried that a resignation now might create unnecessary complications for the Supreme Court , which had agreed to hear the case Cooper v . Aaron . This case arose out of the Little Rock Nine situation , in which nine African American students were barred from enrolling at Little Rock Central High School by Orval Faubus , the Governor of Arkansas . William G . Cooper and other members of the Little Rock school district board of education had alleged they could not implement the Supreme Courts decision in Brown v . Board of Education of Topeka , 347 U.S . 483 ( 1954 ) , because of public hostility and the opposition of Governor Faubus and the state legislature . The case was clearly headed for the Supreme Court : A local court had ruled in favor of the school district , and the NAACP had appealed both to an Arkansas circuit court and the U.S . Supreme Court ( which , on June 30 , declined to hear the appeal until the circuit court had ruled but which also had advised the circuit court to rule swiftly—before the school year began ) . The Supreme Court held a special summer session on September 11 and issued its decision on September 29 , after which Burton informed his law clerks and the rest of the Supreme Court of his decision to retire . Burton publicly announced his retirement from the Supreme Court on October 6 , 1958 . Burton publicly announced that he was suffering from Parkinsons disease . He retired on the advice of physicians , who said the condition might improve without the stress from his Court position . His last day at the Supreme Court was October 13 . Retirement . Following his retirement from the Supreme Court , Burton sat by designation for several years on panels of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia . He died on October 28 , 1964 , in Washington , D.C. , from complications arising from Parkinsons disease , kidney failure , and pulmonary trouble . His remains were interred at Highland Park Cemetery in Cleveland . Legacy . Clevelands Main Avenue Bridge was renamed in his honor in 1986 . His papers and other memorabilia are primarily in four collections . Bowdoin College has 750 items including documents concerning 47 judicial opinions ; The Hiram College Archives collection holds 69 items . The Manuscript Division of the Library of Congress has 187 ft . ( 120,000 items ) consisting mainly of correspondence and legal files . The Western Reserve Historical Society has 10 linear ft . relating mainly to his tenure as mayor of Cleveland ; the collection contains correspondence , reports , speeches , proclamations , and newspaper clippings relating to routine administrative matters and topics of special interest during Burtons mayoralty . Other papers repose at various institutions around the country , as part of other collections . |
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"Associate Justice of the Supreme Court"
] | easy | Harold Hitz Burton took which position in Sep 1945? | /wiki/Harold_Hitz_Burton#P39#2 | Harold Hitz Burton Harold Hitz Burton ( June 22 , 1888 – October 28 , 1964 ) was an American politician and lawyer . He served as the 45th mayor of Cleveland , Ohio , as a U.S . Senator from Ohio , and as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States . Born in Boston , Burton practiced law in Cleveland after graduating from Harvard Law School . After serving in the United States Army during World War I , Burton became active in Republican Party politics and won election to the Ohio House of Representatives . After serving as the mayor of Cleveland , Burton won election to the United States Senate in 1940 . After the retirement of Associate Justice Owen J . Roberts , President Harry S . Truman successfully nominated Burton to the Supreme Court . Burton served on the Court until 1958 , when he was succeeded by Potter Stewart . Burton was known as a dispassionate , pragmatic , somewhat plodding jurist who preferred to rule on technical and procedural rather than constitutional grounds . He was also seen as an affable justice who helped ease tension on the court during an extremely acrimonious time . He wrote the majority opinion in Joint Anti-Fascist Refugee Committee v . McGrath ( 1951 ) and Lorain Journal Co . v . United States ( 1951 ) . He also helped shape the Courts unanimous decision in Brown v . Board of Education ( 1954 ) . Early life . Harold was born in Jamaica Plain , Massachusetts , the second son of Anna Gertrude ( Hitz ) and Alfred E . Burton . His younger brother was named Felix Arnold Burton . Harolds father was an engineer and the first Dean of Student Affairs at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology ( 1902-1921 ) , reporting to the president . He taught at MIT before being selected as dean . As a former explorer , Burton had accompanied Robert Peary on several expeditions to the North Pole . Harolds mother died young . In 1906 , his father married Lena Yates , a poet and artist from England . ( She later took the name of Jeanne DOrge. ) They met that year on a walking trip in France . Yates published childrens books as Lena Dalkeith . The couple had three children : Christine , Virginia ( 1909-1968 ) , and Alexander Ross Burton . The half siblings developed warm relationships over time . Virginia became an author and illustrator . Burton attended Bowdoin College , where he was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa honor society , was quarterback of the football team , and graduated summa cum laude . His roommate and Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity ( Theta chapter ) brother was Owen Brewster , later a U.S . Senator from Maine . Burton went on to Harvard Law School , graduating in 1912 . Felix Arnold Buton became an architect after also attending Bowdoin . The Burton brothers and J . Edgar Hoover were second cousins on their mothers side . Their common great-grandparents were Johannes ( Hans ) Hitz , first Swiss Consul General to the United States , and his wife Anna Kohler . Marriage and family . Burton married Selma Florence Smith in 1912 . They had four children : Barbara ( Mrs . Charles Weidner ) , William ( who served on the USS Samuel B . Roberts ( DE-413 ) during WWII , in the Ohio House of Representatives and was a noted trial lawyer ) , Deborah ( Mrs . Wallace Adler ) , and Robert ( a distinguished attorney and counsel to athletes ) . Early career . After graduation and marriage , Burton moved with his wife to Cleveland and began the practice of law there . However , in 1914 , he joined his wifes uncle as a company attorney for Utah Power and Light Company in Salt Lake City . He later worked for Utah Light and Traction , and then for Idaho Power Company and Boise Valley Traction Company , both in Boise , Idaho . When the U.S . entered World War I , Burton joined the United States Army , rising to the rank of Captain . He served as an infantry officer , saw heavy action in France and Belgium , and received the Belgian Croix de guerre . After the war , Burton joined several veterans organizations , including the Army and Navy Union , the Veterans of Foreign Wars , and the American Legion . After the war , Burton returned with his family to Cleveland , where he resumed his law practice . He also taught at Western Reserve University Law School . Politics . In the late 1920s , Burton entered politics as a Republican . He was elected to the East Cleveland Board of Education in 1927 and to the Ohio House of Representatives in 1928 . After serving briefly in the Ohio House , he became law director for the City of Cleveland in 1929 before returning to private practice in 1932 . In 1935 , Burton was elected mayor of Cleveland . He worked on issues of continuing assimilation of immigrant populations , supporting industry in the city , and dealing with transportation needs . Re-elected twice , he served until entering the U.S . Senate in 1941 . For his decorous personal life and opposition to organized crime , he was dubbed the Boy Scout Mayor . In 1940 , Burton was popularly elected to the U.S . Senate , with 52.3% of the vote , defeating John McSweeney . It was in the Senate that he first met fellow Senator Harry S . Truman . Burton served on the Senate Special Committee to Investigate the National Defense Program ( Truman Committee ) , which monitored the U.S . war effort during World War II , and the two got along well . Truman was elected Vice President in 1944 and succeeded as President upon the death of Franklin Roosevelt in 1945 . Supreme Court . Nomination . Justice Owen J . Roberts announced his resignation from the Supreme Court on June 30 , 1945 , effective July 31 , 1945 . Truman decided , as a bipartisan gesture , to appoint a Republican to replace him . He selected Burton as someone whom he knew and respected . Truman announced Burtons nomination on September 19 . The nomination was forwarded to the Senate on September 20 . The Senate referred it to the Senate Judiciary Committee , which referred it unanimously back to the Senate for confirmation without holding any hearings . Hours later , the Senate unanimously approved the nomination . It took less than a day . Burton resigned from the Senate on September 30 , 1945 , and was sworn in as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court on October 1 . Burton was the last sitting member of Congress to be appointed to the Court . ( Sherman Minton , a former senator , was appointed in 1949. ) Judicial philosophy and working style . According to biographer Eric W . Rise , Burton appeared to lack an overarching judicial philosophy . He favored judicial restraint and most of his decisions were based on narrow procedural grounds rather than the Constitution . His judicial restraint , however , was informed by his political views , not by a legal philosophy , and he tended to defer to legislative and executive branch judgments because he agreed with them personally . This pragmatism won him the respect of his fellow justices , and served as a unifying influence on the court when the other justices were split on constitutional issues but could come together on technical or procedural grounds . From 1945 to 1953 , Burton was usually in the centrist majority on the court , sometimes finding himself in a slightly more conservative majority on some issues . He was part of the Vinson bloc , which included Chief Justice Fred M . Vinson and Associate Justices Tom C . Clark , Sherman Minton , and Stanley Forman Reed . These five voted together 75 percent of the time in non-unanimous decisions . But beginning with the appointment of Earl Warren as Chief Justice in 1953 , and more so after the appointment of William J . Brennan Jr . in 1956 , Burton found himself increasingly in the minority . Burton biographer Mary Frances Berry has written that Burton knew he was not brilliant and that writing came hard , and therefore not only worked very hard on his decisions but attempted to show this work by outlining all the precedents he had considered before reaching a conclusion . Burton insisted on having all precedents researched before writing his opinions , wrote the first draft of his opinions himself , and was well known for working long hours in his office . His hard work earned him respect and praise from his colleagues , but his working style also limited his judicial output . Outside the court , the press and some prominent legal scholars depicted Burton as mediocre , plodding , a weak legal mind , and more concerned with social activities . Burton was also very well-liked by all his colleagues , and his easy-going nature helped to ease tensions on the court . Cold War , loyalty oath , and subversion rulings . The Cold War led state and federal governments to enact a wide variety of laws and regulations aimed at curbing espionage and subversion . Burton consistently showed deference to government restrictions on free speech , voting to uphold government action 27 out of 28 times . He also wrote several important decisions . His basic approach toward these questions was judicial deference , as exemplified in his strong dissent in Duncan v . Kahanamoku , 327 U.S . 304 ( 1946 ) . His first important majority opinion came in Joint Anti-Fascist Refugee Committee v . McGrath , 341 U.S . 123 ( 1951 ) , where a group had challenged the authority of the U.S . Attorney General to unilaterally declare groups to be Communist . Despite a significant split among the justices , Burton wrote a plurality decision in which he disposed of the case on technical grounds . He argued that the listing was technically legal . But in a court of law , the Attorney General had to offer evidence of subversion , which he had not . Burton also joined the majority in three important Fifth Amendment cases . In Emspak v . United States , 349 U.S . 190 ( 1955 ) , he voted with the majority to extend the Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination to testimony before congressional committees . He also joined the majority in Ullmann v . United States , 350 U.S . 422 ( 1956 ) , an important decision which upheld the Immunity Act of 1954 ( which stripped the right against self-incrimination from persons given immunity from federal prosecution ) . Burtons narrow procedural approach proved important in Beilan v . Board of Education , 357 U.S . 399 ( 1958 ) . Two years earlier , six justices had formed a majority in Slochower v . Board of Higher Education of New York City , 350 U.S . 551 ( 1956 ) , holding it unconstitutional for a school board to fire an employee for exercising their Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination . In Beilan , a teacher was dismissed not for exercising Fifth Amendment rights but for refusing to answer a question at all . Despite the retirement of Sherman Minton ( who had joined his dissent in Slochower ) , Burtons narrow procedural approach in Beilan won over Justices Felix Frankfurter and John Marshall Harlan II and ( with the support of new Justice Charles Evans Whittaker ) , Burton was able form a majority upholding the school districts action . At times , Burtons pragmatism could lead to important legislative outcomes . He joined the 7-to-1 majority in Jencks v . United States , 353 U.S . 657 ( 1957 ) , in which the court reversed the conviction of a labor leader under federal loyalty laws because the defendant was not given permission to view the evidence against him . Burton agreed with the majority , although he added the caveat that such evidence should first be reviewed by a district court judge to ensure that no national security secrets were revealed . Burtons view was subsequently adopted by Congress with passage of the Jencks Act in 1958 . In one of his last opinions in the area , Burton voted to limit the application Smith Act in Yates v . United States , 354 U.S . 298 ( 1957 ) . The majority had overturned the conviction of seven individuals using the clear and present danger First Amendment doctrine by concluding they had advocated violent overthrow of the government as an abstract doctrine , not as advocacy to action . Burton wrote an opinion concurring in the outcome , but cast his vote on narrow procedural grounds . Church and state . Generally , Burton favored a strict separation of church and state . But his pragmatic approach to law sometimes caused him to dissent from majorities favoring a strict separation . For example , in Everson v . Board of Education , 330 U.S . 1 ( 1947 ) , Justice Hugo Black ruled , 5-to-4 , that while the Constitution required a strict separation between church and state , it was constitutionally permissible for a school district to reimburse parents when their children rode public school buses to religious schools so long as all such parents and religions were treated equally . Burton initially was predisposed to declare the law constitutional . Heavy lobbying from justices Felix Frankfurter , Robert H . Jackson , and Wiley Blount Rutledge changed his mind . Burton dissented in the case not because he disagreed with Blacks emphasis on the strict separation between church and state but because he believed that the state law violated the strict separation doctrine laid out by Black . The following year , Burton joined Black in the majority in McCollum v . Board of Education , 333 U.S . 203 ( 1948 ) . At issue was a state law which gave students release time to attend religious instruction on school grounds during the school day . The majority struck down the law as a violation of the First Amendment . Burton joined the majority only after Black agreed not to extend his ruling to release time programs that involved off-site religious instruction . Zorach v . Clauson , 343 U.S . 306 ( 1952 ) , was factually similar to McCollum , although there was no instruction on school grounds . Although Burtons law clerks argued that the school was tacitly instructing children to attend religious classes , Burton disagreed , characterizing the dismissal as akin to excusing a child from school for a doctors appointment . Burton joined the 6-to-3 majority . Criminal procedure . Burton was deferential to the state on criminal procedure and law-and-order issues . Beginning with Betts v . Brady , 316 U.S . 455 ( 1942 ) , the Supreme Court had ruled in a wide range of cases that except in cases of illiteracy , mental incapacity , or especially complicated cases , defendants did not have an absolute right to be informed of their right to counsel or to have counsel appointed for them by the state . The Court had opportunity to revisit Betts in Bute v . Illinois , 333 U.S . 640 ( 1948 ) , where a felon appealed his conviction because the trial court had not advised him of his right to counsel and because the plaintiff felt he had been rushed to trial , claims he felt violated constitutional guarantees to a fair trial and due process of law . Burton wrote for a 5-to-4 majority that the Constitution did not require a state to advise a defendant about his rights to counsel , or to provide such counsel , if the crime is not a capital offense . Applying the 14th Amendment to the states in this area would disregard the basic and historic power of the states to prescribe their own local court procedures , Burton wrote . Yet , Bute was notable for carving out a capital-case exemption to Betts . Much criticized at the time for being inconsistent with Betts , the Bute decision unintentionally established grounds for the Supreme Court to whittle away at Betts , so that by 1962 some legal scholars were already arguing the Court had effectively overruled Betts . Betts and Bute were unanimously overruled Court in Gideon v . Wainwright , 372 U.S . 335 ( 1963 ) . Another case decided the same year as Bute illustrates Burtons reliance on personal views as a guide to court action . Gilbert Thiel suffered a mental breakdown and leapt from a moving Southern Pacific Railroad passenger car , severely injuring himself . Thiel argued that railway personnel should have stopped him . The trial court blocked hourly-wage workers from being selected for the jury , which Thiel alleged biased the jury against him . Burton was powerfully motivated by a need to protect the Supreme Courts reputation , which he felt would be sullied if it approved such a distasteful practice . The majority in Thiel v . Southern Pacific Co. , 328 U.S . 217 ( 1946 ) , narrowed its opinion to address only the facts regarding jury selection , and therefore did not decide whether the jury actually was biased against Thiel . This helped to win Burtons approval as well . Burtons belief that criminal procedure should be left to the states influenced his views in other cases as well . In Griffin v . Illinois , 351 U.S . 12 ( 1956 ) , a majority held that an indigent criminal defendant could not be denied transcripts of the trial . Burton wrote a dissent , joined by justices Minton , Harlan , and Reed , in which he strongly defended the federal nature of criminal procedure . Burton also wrote a stinging dissent in Louisiana ex rel . Francis v . Resweber , 329 U.S . 459 ( 1947 ) . The state of Louisiana attempted to execute convicted murderer Willie Francis on May 3 , 1946 . But the employee and assistant were both drunk while setting up the electric chair , and Francis did not die . The state sought to execute him again , but Francis claimed this violated the Double Jeopardy Clause of the Fifth Amendment . The states failure to execute Francis the first time should mark the end of the attempt , Burton wrote . Additional attempts constituted cruel and unusual punishment : It is unthinkable that any state legislature in modern times would enact a statute expressly authorizing capital punishment by repeated applications of an electric current separated by intervals of days or hours until finally death shall result . It was an opinion that showed considerable foresight regarding the Supreme Courts future capital punishment jurisprudence . Antitrust . Burtons greatest contribution to Supreme Court jurisprudence came in the area of antitrust law . In American Tobacco Co . v . United States , 328 U.S . 781 ( 1946 ) , Burton wrote for a near-unanimous court ( Justice Rutledge , concurring ) that the Sherman Antitrust Act barred the mere existence of combinations or conspiracies which created monopolistic or oligopolistic market power , regardless of whether that power was actually used . Legal scholar Eugene V . Rostow declared Burtons decision would usher in a new era of swift , effective antitrust enforcement . But Burtons analysis cut both ways . In United States v . Columbia Steel Company , 334 U.S . 495 ( 1948 ) , the same reasoning was used to allow U.S . Steel to buy out the much smaller Columbia Steel . Even though Columbia Steel was the largest steel manufacturer on the West Coast , Burton joined the majority in holding that the acquisition was not a violate of the Clayton Antitrust Act because Columbia Steel represented such a small percentage of overall American steel production . The Columbia Steel decision shocked antitrust advocates . Yet , in Lorain Journal Co . v . United States , 342 U.S . 143 ( 1951 ) , Burton wrote for a unanimous court that a monopoly could not use its power to retain its monopoly position . In that case , the Lorain Journal newspaper attempted to use its market power to prevent advertisers from placing ads with a new , competing radio station . The case became noted for extending the federal governments antitrust power to local markets . In Times-Picayune Publishing Co . v . United States , 345 U.S . 594 ( 1953 ) , the majority held that the Times-Picayune newspaper did not violate the Sherman Antitrust Act by forcing advertisers to buy space in both its evening and morning editions . Burton ( joined by Black , Douglas , and Minton ) strongly dissented . The Sherman Act barred all monopolistic market power , he argued , whether it was used to create or maintain a monopoly , or whether it was used to harm the public ( through monopolistic pricing ) or users ( as in the Times-Picayune must buy case ) . Burton wrote the lone dissent in Toolson v . New York Yankees , Inc. , 346 U.S . 356 ( 1953 ) . A majority of the justices had disposed of the case in a per curiam decision , citing the ruling in Federal Baseball Club v . National League , 259 U.S . 200 ( 1922 ) . Citing extensive statistics about the farm system , broadcasting revenues , and national advertising campaigns , Burton concluded it was unreasonable to claim that major league baseball was not engaged in interstate commerce . He strongly criticized the majority for incorrectly construing Federal Baseball Club , and said the majority was wrong to assumed that because the Sherman Antitrust Act did not explicitly cover baseball that baseball was intended to be exempt . A notable exception to the broad application of antitrust law came in Burtons dissent in United States v . E . I . du Pont de Nemours and Company , 353 U.S . 586 ( 1957 ) . The DuPont chemical company had purchased a substantial bloc of stock in the General Motors automobile manufacturer . Subsequently , General Motors purchased most of its paints and fabrics from DuPont . A majority of the court held that this vertical integration constituted a violation of the Clayton Antitrust Act . But Burton , dissenting , was highly skeptical that the Clayton Act applied to vertical integration , and strongly criticized the majoritys logic concerning market power . Burton found that du Pont simply didnt have the market power the majority claimed it did . The dissent drew widespread praised from legal scholars . Racial segregation . Burtons other major contribution to Supreme Court jurisprudence came in the area of racial segregation . Burton had been a member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People from 1941 to 1945 , and was a dependable vote for civil rights on the high court . One of the exceptions was his first civil rights case on the court , Morgan v . Virginia , 328 U.S . 373 ( 1946 ) . Burton was the lone dissenter in the case , which involved the racial segregation of interstate buses with curtains . Burton argued that , in the absence of a federal statute , each state should be free to establish its own laws on racial segregation . After his vote in Morgan , Court observers believed that Burton could not be counted on to vote to expand or protect civil rights . It surprised legal analysts , then , when Burton joined the unanimous majority in Shelley v . Kraemer , 334 US 1 ( 1948 ) , a landmark case that held courts could not enforce covenants in real estate which were racially discriminating . In a string of votes over the next three years , Burton voted to undermine the separate but equal doctrine in Plessy v . Ferguson , 163 US 537 ( 1896 ) . He joined the unanimous majority in Sweatt v . Painter , 339 U.S . 629 , in 1950 , which held that separate but equal professional legal education was unconstitutional . Heman Marion Sweatt , an African American man , was refused admission to the all-white University of Texas School of Law . One of the first cases to find that separate but equal was not equal , the case deeply influenced the Courts opinion in Brown v . Board of Education four years later . During the Sweatt deliberations , Burton came to the conclusion that Plessy v . Ferguson should be reversed . He informed the other justices about his conclusion the during post-oral argument conference on Sweatt . The same year , Burton joined the unanimous majority in McLaurin v . Oklahoma State Regents , 339 U.S . 637 , which racially desegregated all graduate schools in the United States on essentially the same grounds as Sweatt . Burton subsequently wrote the unanimous majority opinion in Henderson v . United States , 339 U.S . 816 ( 1950 ) . The case involved interstate travel on a passenger train . Henderson , an African American federal worker , held a ticket that cost the same and allegedly provided the same level of service as a ticket sold to a white passenger . But Henderson was denied seating in the dining car after attendants seated white passengers at the tables reserved for blacks . Although the Sweatt and McLaurin courts had ruled on constitutional grounds , Burton hesitated to do so if there were procedural or technical grounds to do so . In Henderson , Burton was able to form a unanimous majority by basing his decision on the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887 , rather than the 14th Amendment . By 1953 , Burtons thinking on racial segregation had evolved to embrace a constitutional attack on Plessy . In 1953 , the Supreme Court took up Terry v . Adams , 345 U.S . 461 , a case in which a whites-only private political club dominated the local Democratic primary election in an electoral district where Republicans were not competitive . This system served to disenfranchise black voters . The federal district and appellate courts had upheld the constitutionality of the system , persuaded that the club was purely private and thus no state action was involved . But at the first post-oral argument conference held by the justices , Burton was adamant that the Supreme Court reverse and declare the practice unconstitutional . The justices took a widely varying approach to the case . The majority opinion was authored by Hugo Black , and joined only by Burton and Douglas . Frankfurter , personally at odds with Black , joined the majority but authored his own opinion ( which he refused to have listed as concurring ) . Clark authored a concurrence , which was joined by Vinson , Reed , and Jackson . Surprisingly , Burton joined Black in declaring the whites-only club in violation of the 15th Amendment . Black won over all but one justice ( Minton ) by agreeing to remand the case back to the district court for a solution , but not specifying what that solution should be . Role in Brown v . Board of Education . Burton played a crucial role in the Supreme Courts decision in Brown v . Board of Education of Topeka , 347 U.S . 483 ( 1954 ) . Several cases alleging unconstitutional racial discrimination in elementary and secondary public schools were coming before the court in 1952 . In the first sign that Burton was ready to reverse Plessy , on June 7 Burton voted with Clark and Minton to grant certiorari to both Brown and another case , Briggs v . Elliott , 342 U.S . 350 ( 1952 ) . The Supreme Court subsequently agreed to also hear Bolling v . Sharpe , 347 U.S . 497 ( 1954 ) , Davis v . County School Board of Prince Edward County , 103 F . Supp . 337 ( 1952 ) , and Gebhart v . Belton , 91 A.2d 137 ( Del . 1952 ) . Oral argument in all five cases was heard at early December 1952 . The justices held their first post-oral argument judicial conference on the cases on December 13 . Burton , Black , Douglas , and Minton had all come out against racial segregation in the public schools during the conference . Clark seemed unsure , but it appeared that he could be persuaded to join the majority . Burton himself noted in his diary that he felt the court was likely to vote 6-to-3 to bar on racial discrimination in schools , but not on constitutional grounds . Other justices were not so sure . William O . Douglas believed that five justices would vote to uphold Plessy : Vinson , Clark , Frankfurter , Jackson and Reed . Among these , Frankfurter and Jackson exhibited the most doubt about Plessy . Douglas even worried that a 5-to-4 decision would be reached in which schools would be given a decade or more to bring unequal African American schools up to par . Vinson was a fence-sitter of a different kind : He was deeply troubled by the effect a desegregation order would have on the nation . It was likely that , even if Vinson joined a majority in barring separate but equal in public schools , he would do so only on narrow , technical grounds—leading to a plurality decision , a fragmented court , and a ruling lacking in legal and moral weight . Frankfurter , who personally believed racial segregation to be odious , argued for the cases to be held over to the next term and reargued . A majority of the court agreed . Some hoped for changes in the political landscape that would make a decision easier , while others worried about the effect a divided opinion would have . On June 8 , the Supreme Court issued its order , scheduling reargument for October 12 , 1953 . Chief Justice Fred Vinson died unexpectedly of a heart attack on September 8 , 1953 . On September 30 , President Eisenhower nominated Earl Warren , the outgoing Republican governor of California , to replace Vinson as Chief Justice . The news was not unexpected ; Warren had declined a fourth term as governor on September 2 , and he had long been seen as a favorite for a Supreme Court nomination . Warrens was a recess appointment , which meant he would have to give up his seat unless the Senate confirmed him before the end of its next session . Warren was sworn in as Chief Justice on October 5 . Warrens nomination was sent to the Senate on January 11 , 1954 . Senator William Langer , chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee , kept the nomination bottled up for seven weeks in order to hold hearings on unsubstantiated charges that Warren was a Marxist and controlled by the California liquor lobby . Warrens nomination was forwarded to the Senate on February 24 on a favorable 12-to-3 vote , and the Senate confirmed him on March 1 on a voice vote after just eight minutes of discussion . Even before oral reargument , Warren was convinced that Plessy had to be reversed and racial discrimination in public education ended . Warren perceived Burton as a key ally in overturning Plessy . Immediately after his swearing-in ceremony , Warren worked hard to become as friendly as possible with Burton , quietly seeking him out before any of the more senior justices . ( Had Warrens actions become widely known , he would have offended court tradition and the other justices. ) Reargument in Brown and the other cases was set for early December 1953 . The first post-oral reargument conference was held December 12 , at which time Warren made it very clear he would join Black , Burton , Douglas , and Minton in voting to overturn Plessy . Warren believed a unanimous decision in Brown was necessary to win public acceptance for the decision . Stanley Forman Reed appeared to Warren to be the justice most comfortable with segregation and Plessy . But even Reed admitted on December 12 that what was constitutional in 1896 might not be in 1953 , due to changing circumstances . Warren went to work on Reed immediately . During the lunch break on December 12 , Warren invited Reed ( the justice most unlikely to oppose segregation ) to lunch , accompanied by Burton , Black , Minton , and Douglas ( the justices most likely to bar segregation ) . The social pressure on Reed continued for the next five days , as Warren lunched daily with Reed , Burton , Black , and Minton . Burton wholeheartedly supported Warrens attempt to forged a unanimous majority . Warren accurately judged Burton to be his most valuable ally in forging a unanimous majority on Brown . Burton not only pushed for pragmatic solutions ( which helped win over Reed ) , but proved to be articulate , passionate , and persuasive—which few on the court expected . As the justices continued to debate its approach to Brown and the other cases in conferences , in memoranda , and privately among themselves , Burton worked to alleviate fears about implementation by talking freely about his experiences as mayor of Cleveland . Burton had ended racial discrimination in healthcare by hiring African American nurses to work in whites-only hospitals . This had gone relatively smoothly , and black nurses earned widespread respect among white citizens for their professionalism . The efforts of Warren and Burton paid off . The Supreme Court handed down a unanimous decision in Brown on May 17 , 1954 . Pragmatically , Warren declined to overturn Plessy , but argued that it did not apply to the field of public education . Implementation of the decision was left up to district courts , at a later date . During part of his time on the Supreme Court , Burton kept notes on all judicial conferences as well as a diary in which he documented the discussions he had with other justices . Burtons diary has proven to be an invaluable resource in understanding how Earl Warren achieved unanimity on Brown . Resignation . By June 1957 , Burton began suffering from significant shaking in his hands . As the 1957-1958 term began , his handwriting became difficult to read , and he began taking longer afternoon naps . He was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease . The shaking in his left arm had become so severe by the start of 1958 that he decided to retire from the Supreme Court . He informed President Dwight D . Eisenhower of his decision in March . Worried about other domestic and international events , Eisenhower asked Burton to consider staying one more year , and make no public announcement . Burton agreed . In the meantime , arrangements were made to give Burtons law clerks positions at the United States Department of Justice should Burton retire before the end of the 1958-1959 Supreme Court term . Burtons condition worsened , and in June 1958 he was advised by his doctors to retire . Burton informed Chief Justice Earl Warren of his decision , and Warren urged him to stay on the court at least until September 30 . A week later , Attorney General William P . Rogers met with Burton to discuss rumors that Burton was retiring . Once more , Burton reiterated his desire to leave the Court , and Rogers , too , asked him to remain until September 30 . Various crises and events conspired to keep Burton from meeting with the president until July 17 , at which time Burton privately informed Eisenhower of his intention to resign . ( Burton had turned 70 years old on June 22 , enabling him to retire at full pay. ) Eisenhower asked Burton to keep the resignation private for a time . In part , this was because Eisenhower wanted time to consider a replacement without public pressure . Additionally , Eisenhower was worried that a resignation now might create unnecessary complications for the Supreme Court , which had agreed to hear the case Cooper v . Aaron . This case arose out of the Little Rock Nine situation , in which nine African American students were barred from enrolling at Little Rock Central High School by Orval Faubus , the Governor of Arkansas . William G . Cooper and other members of the Little Rock school district board of education had alleged they could not implement the Supreme Courts decision in Brown v . Board of Education of Topeka , 347 U.S . 483 ( 1954 ) , because of public hostility and the opposition of Governor Faubus and the state legislature . The case was clearly headed for the Supreme Court : A local court had ruled in favor of the school district , and the NAACP had appealed both to an Arkansas circuit court and the U.S . Supreme Court ( which , on June 30 , declined to hear the appeal until the circuit court had ruled but which also had advised the circuit court to rule swiftly—before the school year began ) . The Supreme Court held a special summer session on September 11 and issued its decision on September 29 , after which Burton informed his law clerks and the rest of the Supreme Court of his decision to retire . Burton publicly announced his retirement from the Supreme Court on October 6 , 1958 . Burton publicly announced that he was suffering from Parkinsons disease . He retired on the advice of physicians , who said the condition might improve without the stress from his Court position . His last day at the Supreme Court was October 13 . Retirement . Following his retirement from the Supreme Court , Burton sat by designation for several years on panels of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia . He died on October 28 , 1964 , in Washington , D.C. , from complications arising from Parkinsons disease , kidney failure , and pulmonary trouble . His remains were interred at Highland Park Cemetery in Cleveland . Legacy . Clevelands Main Avenue Bridge was renamed in his honor in 1986 . His papers and other memorabilia are primarily in four collections . Bowdoin College has 750 items including documents concerning 47 judicial opinions ; The Hiram College Archives collection holds 69 items . The Manuscript Division of the Library of Congress has 187 ft . ( 120,000 items ) consisting mainly of correspondence and legal files . The Western Reserve Historical Society has 10 linear ft . relating mainly to his tenure as mayor of Cleveland ; the collection contains correspondence , reports , speeches , proclamations , and newspaper clippings relating to routine administrative matters and topics of special interest during Burtons mayoralty . Other papers repose at various institutions around the country , as part of other collections . |
[
"banking clerk at the Alfa Savings bank in Karlstad"
] | easy | What was the position of Margot Wallström from 1979 to 1985? | /wiki/Margot_Wallström#P39#0 | Margot Wallström Margot Elisabeth Wallström ( ; born 28 September 1954 ) is a Swedish politician of the Swedish Social Democratic Party who served as Deputy Prime Minister of Sweden and Minister for Nordic Cooperation from October 2014 to 2019 . She also served as the Minister for Foreign Affairs for Sweden from October 2014 until she resigned on 5 September 2019 . Wallström previously served as the first United Nations Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict from 2010 to 2012 , as Vice-President of the European Commission and European Commissioner for Institutional Relations and Communication Strategy from 2004 to 2010 , European Commissioner for the Environment from 1999 to 2004 , Minister for Consumer Affairs from 1988 to 1991 and Member of the Riksdag ( MP ) for Värmland from 1982 to 1999 . Early life and career . Born in Skellefteå , Wallström is a high school graduate without academic degrees . In 1973 , she started her career as a banking clerk at the Alfa Savings bank in Karlstad . She worked there from 1977 to 1979 , and briefly as an accountant from 1986 to 1987 . Wallström was the CEO of a regional TV network in Värmland , Sweden from 1993 to 1994 . Before taking up her appointment as EU Commissioner she was executive vice-president of Worldview Global Media in Colombo , Sri Lanka . Political career . Wallström has had a long career in politics in the Swedish parliament , the Swedish government , and the European Commission . At 25 , she was elected to parliament . She was Environment Commissioner from 1999 to 2004 , and in the Swedish government she was Minister for Consumer Affairs , Women and Youth from 1988 to 1991 , Minister for Culture from 1994 to 1996 , and Minister for Social Affairs from 1996 to 1998 . European Commissioner for the Environment , 1999–2004 . During her time in office , Wallström pushed the European Commissions initial proposal for REACH , a regulation requiring manufacturers of industrial chemicals to test and register their products with the European Chemicals Agency before they can be used . In 2004 , she approved the importation of a genetically modified corn from the United States for animal feed after a six-year moratorium , arguing in a statement that the corn produced by biotechnology company Monsanto , known as NK603 maize , had been rigorously tested and was considered as safe as any conventional maize . First Vice-President of the European Commission , 2004–2010 . In 2004 , Wallström became the first member of the European Commission to operate a blog . The comments section of her site quickly became a hotspot for arguments concerning the policies of the European Union . After the rejection of the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe by French and Dutch voters , Wallström pushed forward her plan D ( for democracy , dialogue and debate ) to reconnect Citizens with the Union . Her work on such platforms , including the backing of the oneseat.eu petition , has given her a good reputation in some quarters , even being dubbed the Citizens Commissioner – but has earned her names like the Propaganda Commissioner as well from political opponents . The Economist listed her among the least effective commissioners in 2009 . In 2006 , Wallström presented her a plan to transform the EUs Europe by Satellite ( EbS ) video-broadcast service into an EU news agency ; the plan was scrapped after press organizations complained that it would undermine the work of reporters covering the EU . Following Swedens 2006 election , in which the Social Democratic Party lost power , former Prime Minister Göran Persson announced his withdrawal from politics in March 2007 . Wallström was regarded as the favourite candidate to succeed Persson as Social Democratic party leader , but made clear that she did not wish to be considered for the position . The post instead went to Mona Sahlin . Between 2006 and 2007 , Wallström served as member of the Amato Group , a group of high-level European politicians unofficially working on rewriting the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe into what became known as the Treaty of Lisbon following its rejection by French and Dutch voters . Immediately after the election of Mona Sahlin as party leader , Wallström accepted a membership in a group working to develop political strategies for the upcoming election to the European Parliament in 2009 . The membership in this group was considered by Swedish liberal Carl B Hamilton ( and later also Fredrik Reinfeldt ) to constitute a breach of the oath every member of the European Commission gives , which states that any member of the commission should work for the communitys best interest with no influence from politicians . European Commission spokespeople Mikolaj Dowgielewicz and Pia Ahrenkilde-Hansen stated that her new assignment was not in conflict with her commissioner position . In December 2006 , Wallström was voted the most popular woman in Sweden , beating royals and athletes in a survey carried out by ICA-kuriren and Sifo . In the previous year she had attained second place . Wallström was modest in response stating that it might be because Im so far away . On 16 November 2007 , Margot Wallström , became Chair of the Council of Women World Leaders Ministerial Initiative . This position was previously held by former U.S . Secretary of State Madeleine K . Albright . United Nations Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict , 2010–2012 . On 31 January 2010 , the Secretary-General of the United Nations , Ban Ki-moon , announced at the African Union summit in Ethiopia his intention to nominate Wallström as his first ever United Nations Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict . As a reaction , Wallström said that she felt honoured and humble to have been chosen for the job , which she started in April 2010 . In August 2010 , Ban sent Wallström to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to help investigate claims that rebel fighters raped more than 150 women and baby boys over four days within miles of a UN base in the country . Wallström later addressed the United Nations Security Council in a September 2010 session on the use of sexual violence as a weapon by both rebel militias and government troops in the eastern provinces of the DRC . In her speech , she demonstrated that the rapes in the North Kivu and South Kivu provinces were not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of widespread systematic rape and pillage . On 18 September 2010 , Wallström confirmed that when her assignment with the UN came to an end in February 2012 , she would become the chair of the University Board at Lund University in Sweden . Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden , 2014–2019 . On 3 October 2014 , when the Social Democratic leader Stefan Löfven became Prime Minister , Wallström was appointed to the Swedish government as Minister of Foreign Affairs . On 30 October 2014 , Wallström became the first EU foreign minister to recognise the State of Palestine , with a view to facilitate a peace agreement by making the parties less unequal ; as a result , Israel the same day recalled its ambassador for consultations . Although a visit by Wallström to Israel had been planned for January 2015 , Israels foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman and prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu declined to receive her . Wallströms diplomatic immunity status in Israel was also revoked which meant that if she visited Israel she would do as an individual rather than an official of a foreign state , which would normally mean enjoying protection by security services . In a March 2018 interview , she stated that the intent behind the recognition was to speed up the process towards a Two-state solution but also admitted that no progress on that issue had been made . In December 2014 , Wallström called in the Russian ambassador to Sweden , Victor Ivanovitj Tatarintsev , over the behaviour of a Russian military jet which Swedish authorities said had caused an SAS flight from Copenhagen to Poznan , Poland , to change course off southern Sweden ; the incident inflamed sensitivities over Russian flights in the Nordic region , driven in part by tensions over separatism in eastern Ukraine . On 11 September 2015 , she again summoned Russias ambassador to explain comments from the Russian foreign ministry warning of consequences if Sweden joins NATO . In January 2015 , Wallström tweeted criticism of Saudi Arabias flogging of human rights activist blogger Raif Badawi , calling it a cruel attempt to silence modern forms of expression . In May 2015 , United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed Wallström as member of the High-Level Panel on Humanitarian Financing , an initiative aimed at preparing recommendations for the 2016 World Humanitarian Summit . One of Wallströms main foreign policy goals was to secure one of the non-permanent seats for Sweden on the UN Security Council in the 2016 elections . This was achieved on 28 June 2016 . In February 2018 , Wallström cancelled her visit to Turkey that was due in two weeks to protest the Turkish invasion of northern Syria aimed at ousting U.S.-backed Syrian Kurds from the enclave of Afrin . In December 2018 Wallström met with Iranian deputy foreign minister Abbas Araghchi in her office , a meeting which was unannounced by the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs . Political positions . Wallström promised a feminist foreign policy when her Social Democrats formed the coalition government in October 2014 . She has criticized the lack of womens rights in Saudi Arabia . The Spectator , the oldest continuously published magazine in the English language , wrote : On 10 March 2015 Sweden announced it would revoke a weapons export agreement with Saudi Arabia that had been in place since 2005 . Saudi Arabia retaliated by stopping visa issues for Swedish businesspeople , boycotting Wallströms speech from the Arab League , temporarily withdrawing their ambassador from Sweden , and refusing to accept four Amazonian monkeys from a Swedish zoo . King Carl XVI Gustaf then offered to mediate with the Saudi king , and a fellow Social Democrat member of the government , Björn von Sydow , travelled to meet King Salman bin Abdul Aziz and Prince Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud , taking him private letters from the Swedish King and from Prime Minister Stefan Löfven . These have remained classified , but in a press conference on 28 March , Wallström said : I am very pleased to announce that we can normalize our relations immediately , and that we are able to welcome the Saudi ambassador back to Sweden . It is deeply satisfying that we have been able to clear the misunderstanding that we insulted the world religion Islam . Wallström has called for more articles on Wikipedia about women related topics . Controversies . European integration . In 2005 , Wallström , in her capacity as EU Commissioner responsible for communications , came under pressure to justify her handling of a controversial speech that linked opposition to European integration with Nazi genocide , after it emerged she had changed the version published on the internet to remove the controversial passage . The original version of the speech , given to journalists ahead of Wallströms visit to Terezin in the Czech Republic to mark the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp , suggested that scrapping the idea of a supranational Europe could put the continent back on the road to a holocaust . Israel . In the aftermath of the November 2015 Paris attacks in which 137 were murdered , Wallström told Swedish television network SVT2 : To counteract the radicalization we must go back to the situation such as the one in the Middle East of which not the least the Palestinians see that , for us , there is no future : we must either accept a desperate situation or resort to violence . The Israeli government reacted angrily to Wallströms linking the murders to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict , summoning the Swedish ambassador and saying Wallströms statement bordered on anti-semitism and blood libel . In December 2015 Wallström denounced the ongoing wave of Palestinian knife and car-ramming attacks in Israel . However , on 12 January 2016 , Wallström called for an investigation into whether Israel was guilty of the extrajudicial killings of Palestinians during the violence , causing further anger in the Israeli political establishment . The Foreign Ministry of Israel issued an official statement saying that Wallströms irresponsible and delirious statements are giving support to terrorism and encouraging violence . This also caused further deterioration in Israel-Sweden relations , and Deputy Foreign Minister of Israel Tzipi Hotovely declared that Swedish politicians of the rank of deputy minister and above are not welcome in Israel . Though she later clarified that it was only the Foreign Minister and her aids what are not welcome . International law expert Noah Feldman stated Wallström misunderstands international law , which does not apply in these cases . For the above comment , the Simon Wiesenthal Center placed Wallström at place eight on its annual list of the worst anti-semitic/anti-israel incidents . Although she has criticized Israel , Wallström opposes the Boycott , Divestment , and Sanctions ( BDS ) movement , supports Israels right to defend itself , and is in favor of the two-state solution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict . She expressed her condemnation of BDS during an Israel day conference held by the Jewish community in Sweden . During Wallströms December 2016 visit to Israel and the Palestinian Authority , many Israeli officials , including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , refused to meet her , citing scheduling conflicts . Some sources suggest that the refusal stemmed from Wallströms policy on Israeli–Palestinian conflict . Wallström welcomed the UN Security Council Resolution 2334 and said it confirms the position of both the EU and Sweden on the continued Israeli settlement of the occupied West Bank . Rented apartment . On 15 January 2016 , Aftonbladet published information that Wallström was one of several labour officials who rented apartment in Stockholm , owned by the Swedish Municipal Workers Union , bypassing an average eight-year waiting list . Wallström replied that she acted in good faith and received a confirmation from highest-ranking officials , that all norms and rules were followed . Wallström accused the unions general secretary Annelie Nordström of not being truthful . The affair caused a controversy and prompted an investigation by a special prosecutor . The prosecutor closed the investigation in May 2016 and cleared Wallström , stating that there was no evidence any crime had been committed . Turkish child sex tweet . On 24 August 2016 Wallström tweeted that Turkish decision to allow sex with children under 15 must be reversed . Children need more protection , not less , against violence , sex abuse . This was after the Constitutional Court of Turkey cancelled a constitutional provision that made all sexual activities with children under the age of 15 criminal as sexual abuse . Turkish foreign minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu summoned Swedish ambassador for reprimand meeting and deputy prime minister Mehmet Simsek accused Wallström of being misinformed and acting without checking all facts . The original case was brought to the Constitutional Court by a lower court that was afraid there is no legal discrimination between teenagers that may understand the meaning of sex and toddlers that do not understand it . Other activities . Corporate boards . - Edberg Dialog , Member of the Board - Ica Gruppen , Member of the Board of Directors ( 2013–2014 ) Non-profit organizations . - Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue ( HD ) , Member of the Board ( since 2020 ) - European Council on Foreign Relations ( ECFR ) , Member - International Crisis Group , Member of the Board of Trustees - International Gender Champions ( IGC ) , Member - Institute for Human Rights & Business ( IHRB ) , Chair of the International Advisory Council - Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice ( MRFCJ ) , Member of the International Advisory Council - Svenska PostkodStiftelsen , Member of the Board of Directors - Enough Project , Fellow - Global Challenge Foundation , Member of the Board ( 2013–2014 ) - Institute for Human Rights and Business , Adviser ( 2012–2014 ) - International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance ( IDEA ) , Member of the Advisory Board ( 2011–2014 ) - Lund University , Chairwoman of the University Board ( 2012–2014 ) Recognition . - 2001 – Honorary doctor at Chalmers University , Sweden - 2002 – European Commissioner of the Year ( by European Voice ) - 2004 – Honorary doctor at Mälardalen University , Sweden - 2004 – IAIA Global Environmental Award - 2005 – Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree , University of Massachusetts Lowell , Lowell - 2008 – Göteborg Award for Sustainable Development ( jointly with Theo Colborn , Jan Ahlbom and Ulf Duus - 2009 – Monismanien Prize for Freedom of Speech - 2016 – Grand Star of the Order of Jerusalem , State of Palestine Personal life . Wallström has been married to her husband , Håkan , since 1984 . She has two sons . She lives in Stockholm and Värmland . Publications . - 2007 Foreword to Al Gores Swedish translation of the book An Inconvenient Truth . - 2004 Book ( together with MEP Göran Färm ) : The Peoples Europe or Why is it so hard to love the EU ? |
[
"Minister for Consumer Affairs"
] | easy | What position did Margot Wallström take from Oct 1988 to Oct 1991? | /wiki/Margot_Wallström#P39#1 | Margot Wallström Margot Elisabeth Wallström ( ; born 28 September 1954 ) is a Swedish politician of the Swedish Social Democratic Party who served as Deputy Prime Minister of Sweden and Minister for Nordic Cooperation from October 2014 to 2019 . She also served as the Minister for Foreign Affairs for Sweden from October 2014 until she resigned on 5 September 2019 . Wallström previously served as the first United Nations Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict from 2010 to 2012 , as Vice-President of the European Commission and European Commissioner for Institutional Relations and Communication Strategy from 2004 to 2010 , European Commissioner for the Environment from 1999 to 2004 , Minister for Consumer Affairs from 1988 to 1991 and Member of the Riksdag ( MP ) for Värmland from 1982 to 1999 . Early life and career . Born in Skellefteå , Wallström is a high school graduate without academic degrees . In 1973 , she started her career as a banking clerk at the Alfa Savings bank in Karlstad . She worked there from 1977 to 1979 , and briefly as an accountant from 1986 to 1987 . Wallström was the CEO of a regional TV network in Värmland , Sweden from 1993 to 1994 . Before taking up her appointment as EU Commissioner she was executive vice-president of Worldview Global Media in Colombo , Sri Lanka . Political career . Wallström has had a long career in politics in the Swedish parliament , the Swedish government , and the European Commission . At 25 , she was elected to parliament . She was Environment Commissioner from 1999 to 2004 , and in the Swedish government she was Minister for Consumer Affairs , Women and Youth from 1988 to 1991 , Minister for Culture from 1994 to 1996 , and Minister for Social Affairs from 1996 to 1998 . European Commissioner for the Environment , 1999–2004 . During her time in office , Wallström pushed the European Commissions initial proposal for REACH , a regulation requiring manufacturers of industrial chemicals to test and register their products with the European Chemicals Agency before they can be used . In 2004 , she approved the importation of a genetically modified corn from the United States for animal feed after a six-year moratorium , arguing in a statement that the corn produced by biotechnology company Monsanto , known as NK603 maize , had been rigorously tested and was considered as safe as any conventional maize . First Vice-President of the European Commission , 2004–2010 . In 2004 , Wallström became the first member of the European Commission to operate a blog . The comments section of her site quickly became a hotspot for arguments concerning the policies of the European Union . After the rejection of the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe by French and Dutch voters , Wallström pushed forward her plan D ( for democracy , dialogue and debate ) to reconnect Citizens with the Union . Her work on such platforms , including the backing of the oneseat.eu petition , has given her a good reputation in some quarters , even being dubbed the Citizens Commissioner – but has earned her names like the Propaganda Commissioner as well from political opponents . The Economist listed her among the least effective commissioners in 2009 . In 2006 , Wallström presented her a plan to transform the EUs Europe by Satellite ( EbS ) video-broadcast service into an EU news agency ; the plan was scrapped after press organizations complained that it would undermine the work of reporters covering the EU . Following Swedens 2006 election , in which the Social Democratic Party lost power , former Prime Minister Göran Persson announced his withdrawal from politics in March 2007 . Wallström was regarded as the favourite candidate to succeed Persson as Social Democratic party leader , but made clear that she did not wish to be considered for the position . The post instead went to Mona Sahlin . Between 2006 and 2007 , Wallström served as member of the Amato Group , a group of high-level European politicians unofficially working on rewriting the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe into what became known as the Treaty of Lisbon following its rejection by French and Dutch voters . Immediately after the election of Mona Sahlin as party leader , Wallström accepted a membership in a group working to develop political strategies for the upcoming election to the European Parliament in 2009 . The membership in this group was considered by Swedish liberal Carl B Hamilton ( and later also Fredrik Reinfeldt ) to constitute a breach of the oath every member of the European Commission gives , which states that any member of the commission should work for the communitys best interest with no influence from politicians . European Commission spokespeople Mikolaj Dowgielewicz and Pia Ahrenkilde-Hansen stated that her new assignment was not in conflict with her commissioner position . In December 2006 , Wallström was voted the most popular woman in Sweden , beating royals and athletes in a survey carried out by ICA-kuriren and Sifo . In the previous year she had attained second place . Wallström was modest in response stating that it might be because Im so far away . On 16 November 2007 , Margot Wallström , became Chair of the Council of Women World Leaders Ministerial Initiative . This position was previously held by former U.S . Secretary of State Madeleine K . Albright . United Nations Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict , 2010–2012 . On 31 January 2010 , the Secretary-General of the United Nations , Ban Ki-moon , announced at the African Union summit in Ethiopia his intention to nominate Wallström as his first ever United Nations Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict . As a reaction , Wallström said that she felt honoured and humble to have been chosen for the job , which she started in April 2010 . In August 2010 , Ban sent Wallström to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to help investigate claims that rebel fighters raped more than 150 women and baby boys over four days within miles of a UN base in the country . Wallström later addressed the United Nations Security Council in a September 2010 session on the use of sexual violence as a weapon by both rebel militias and government troops in the eastern provinces of the DRC . In her speech , she demonstrated that the rapes in the North Kivu and South Kivu provinces were not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of widespread systematic rape and pillage . On 18 September 2010 , Wallström confirmed that when her assignment with the UN came to an end in February 2012 , she would become the chair of the University Board at Lund University in Sweden . Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden , 2014–2019 . On 3 October 2014 , when the Social Democratic leader Stefan Löfven became Prime Minister , Wallström was appointed to the Swedish government as Minister of Foreign Affairs . On 30 October 2014 , Wallström became the first EU foreign minister to recognise the State of Palestine , with a view to facilitate a peace agreement by making the parties less unequal ; as a result , Israel the same day recalled its ambassador for consultations . Although a visit by Wallström to Israel had been planned for January 2015 , Israels foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman and prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu declined to receive her . Wallströms diplomatic immunity status in Israel was also revoked which meant that if she visited Israel she would do as an individual rather than an official of a foreign state , which would normally mean enjoying protection by security services . In a March 2018 interview , she stated that the intent behind the recognition was to speed up the process towards a Two-state solution but also admitted that no progress on that issue had been made . In December 2014 , Wallström called in the Russian ambassador to Sweden , Victor Ivanovitj Tatarintsev , over the behaviour of a Russian military jet which Swedish authorities said had caused an SAS flight from Copenhagen to Poznan , Poland , to change course off southern Sweden ; the incident inflamed sensitivities over Russian flights in the Nordic region , driven in part by tensions over separatism in eastern Ukraine . On 11 September 2015 , she again summoned Russias ambassador to explain comments from the Russian foreign ministry warning of consequences if Sweden joins NATO . In January 2015 , Wallström tweeted criticism of Saudi Arabias flogging of human rights activist blogger Raif Badawi , calling it a cruel attempt to silence modern forms of expression . In May 2015 , United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed Wallström as member of the High-Level Panel on Humanitarian Financing , an initiative aimed at preparing recommendations for the 2016 World Humanitarian Summit . One of Wallströms main foreign policy goals was to secure one of the non-permanent seats for Sweden on the UN Security Council in the 2016 elections . This was achieved on 28 June 2016 . In February 2018 , Wallström cancelled her visit to Turkey that was due in two weeks to protest the Turkish invasion of northern Syria aimed at ousting U.S.-backed Syrian Kurds from the enclave of Afrin . In December 2018 Wallström met with Iranian deputy foreign minister Abbas Araghchi in her office , a meeting which was unannounced by the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs . Political positions . Wallström promised a feminist foreign policy when her Social Democrats formed the coalition government in October 2014 . She has criticized the lack of womens rights in Saudi Arabia . The Spectator , the oldest continuously published magazine in the English language , wrote : On 10 March 2015 Sweden announced it would revoke a weapons export agreement with Saudi Arabia that had been in place since 2005 . Saudi Arabia retaliated by stopping visa issues for Swedish businesspeople , boycotting Wallströms speech from the Arab League , temporarily withdrawing their ambassador from Sweden , and refusing to accept four Amazonian monkeys from a Swedish zoo . King Carl XVI Gustaf then offered to mediate with the Saudi king , and a fellow Social Democrat member of the government , Björn von Sydow , travelled to meet King Salman bin Abdul Aziz and Prince Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud , taking him private letters from the Swedish King and from Prime Minister Stefan Löfven . These have remained classified , but in a press conference on 28 March , Wallström said : I am very pleased to announce that we can normalize our relations immediately , and that we are able to welcome the Saudi ambassador back to Sweden . It is deeply satisfying that we have been able to clear the misunderstanding that we insulted the world religion Islam . Wallström has called for more articles on Wikipedia about women related topics . Controversies . European integration . In 2005 , Wallström , in her capacity as EU Commissioner responsible for communications , came under pressure to justify her handling of a controversial speech that linked opposition to European integration with Nazi genocide , after it emerged she had changed the version published on the internet to remove the controversial passage . The original version of the speech , given to journalists ahead of Wallströms visit to Terezin in the Czech Republic to mark the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp , suggested that scrapping the idea of a supranational Europe could put the continent back on the road to a holocaust . Israel . In the aftermath of the November 2015 Paris attacks in which 137 were murdered , Wallström told Swedish television network SVT2 : To counteract the radicalization we must go back to the situation such as the one in the Middle East of which not the least the Palestinians see that , for us , there is no future : we must either accept a desperate situation or resort to violence . The Israeli government reacted angrily to Wallströms linking the murders to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict , summoning the Swedish ambassador and saying Wallströms statement bordered on anti-semitism and blood libel . In December 2015 Wallström denounced the ongoing wave of Palestinian knife and car-ramming attacks in Israel . However , on 12 January 2016 , Wallström called for an investigation into whether Israel was guilty of the extrajudicial killings of Palestinians during the violence , causing further anger in the Israeli political establishment . The Foreign Ministry of Israel issued an official statement saying that Wallströms irresponsible and delirious statements are giving support to terrorism and encouraging violence . This also caused further deterioration in Israel-Sweden relations , and Deputy Foreign Minister of Israel Tzipi Hotovely declared that Swedish politicians of the rank of deputy minister and above are not welcome in Israel . Though she later clarified that it was only the Foreign Minister and her aids what are not welcome . International law expert Noah Feldman stated Wallström misunderstands international law , which does not apply in these cases . For the above comment , the Simon Wiesenthal Center placed Wallström at place eight on its annual list of the worst anti-semitic/anti-israel incidents . Although she has criticized Israel , Wallström opposes the Boycott , Divestment , and Sanctions ( BDS ) movement , supports Israels right to defend itself , and is in favor of the two-state solution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict . She expressed her condemnation of BDS during an Israel day conference held by the Jewish community in Sweden . During Wallströms December 2016 visit to Israel and the Palestinian Authority , many Israeli officials , including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , refused to meet her , citing scheduling conflicts . Some sources suggest that the refusal stemmed from Wallströms policy on Israeli–Palestinian conflict . Wallström welcomed the UN Security Council Resolution 2334 and said it confirms the position of both the EU and Sweden on the continued Israeli settlement of the occupied West Bank . Rented apartment . On 15 January 2016 , Aftonbladet published information that Wallström was one of several labour officials who rented apartment in Stockholm , owned by the Swedish Municipal Workers Union , bypassing an average eight-year waiting list . Wallström replied that she acted in good faith and received a confirmation from highest-ranking officials , that all norms and rules were followed . Wallström accused the unions general secretary Annelie Nordström of not being truthful . The affair caused a controversy and prompted an investigation by a special prosecutor . The prosecutor closed the investigation in May 2016 and cleared Wallström , stating that there was no evidence any crime had been committed . Turkish child sex tweet . On 24 August 2016 Wallström tweeted that Turkish decision to allow sex with children under 15 must be reversed . Children need more protection , not less , against violence , sex abuse . This was after the Constitutional Court of Turkey cancelled a constitutional provision that made all sexual activities with children under the age of 15 criminal as sexual abuse . Turkish foreign minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu summoned Swedish ambassador for reprimand meeting and deputy prime minister Mehmet Simsek accused Wallström of being misinformed and acting without checking all facts . The original case was brought to the Constitutional Court by a lower court that was afraid there is no legal discrimination between teenagers that may understand the meaning of sex and toddlers that do not understand it . Other activities . Corporate boards . - Edberg Dialog , Member of the Board - Ica Gruppen , Member of the Board of Directors ( 2013–2014 ) Non-profit organizations . - Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue ( HD ) , Member of the Board ( since 2020 ) - European Council on Foreign Relations ( ECFR ) , Member - International Crisis Group , Member of the Board of Trustees - International Gender Champions ( IGC ) , Member - Institute for Human Rights & Business ( IHRB ) , Chair of the International Advisory Council - Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice ( MRFCJ ) , Member of the International Advisory Council - Svenska PostkodStiftelsen , Member of the Board of Directors - Enough Project , Fellow - Global Challenge Foundation , Member of the Board ( 2013–2014 ) - Institute for Human Rights and Business , Adviser ( 2012–2014 ) - International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance ( IDEA ) , Member of the Advisory Board ( 2011–2014 ) - Lund University , Chairwoman of the University Board ( 2012–2014 ) Recognition . - 2001 – Honorary doctor at Chalmers University , Sweden - 2002 – European Commissioner of the Year ( by European Voice ) - 2004 – Honorary doctor at Mälardalen University , Sweden - 2004 – IAIA Global Environmental Award - 2005 – Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree , University of Massachusetts Lowell , Lowell - 2008 – Göteborg Award for Sustainable Development ( jointly with Theo Colborn , Jan Ahlbom and Ulf Duus - 2009 – Monismanien Prize for Freedom of Speech - 2016 – Grand Star of the Order of Jerusalem , State of Palestine Personal life . Wallström has been married to her husband , Håkan , since 1984 . She has two sons . She lives in Stockholm and Värmland . Publications . - 2007 Foreword to Al Gores Swedish translation of the book An Inconvenient Truth . - 2004 Book ( together with MEP Göran Färm ) : The Peoples Europe or Why is it so hard to love the EU ? |
[
"Minister for Culture"
] | easy | Margot Wallström took which position from Oct 1994 to Mar 1996? | /wiki/Margot_Wallström#P39#2 | Margot Wallström Margot Elisabeth Wallström ( ; born 28 September 1954 ) is a Swedish politician of the Swedish Social Democratic Party who served as Deputy Prime Minister of Sweden and Minister for Nordic Cooperation from October 2014 to 2019 . She also served as the Minister for Foreign Affairs for Sweden from October 2014 until she resigned on 5 September 2019 . Wallström previously served as the first United Nations Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict from 2010 to 2012 , as Vice-President of the European Commission and European Commissioner for Institutional Relations and Communication Strategy from 2004 to 2010 , European Commissioner for the Environment from 1999 to 2004 , Minister for Consumer Affairs from 1988 to 1991 and Member of the Riksdag ( MP ) for Värmland from 1982 to 1999 . Early life and career . Born in Skellefteå , Wallström is a high school graduate without academic degrees . In 1973 , she started her career as a banking clerk at the Alfa Savings bank in Karlstad . She worked there from 1977 to 1979 , and briefly as an accountant from 1986 to 1987 . Wallström was the CEO of a regional TV network in Värmland , Sweden from 1993 to 1994 . Before taking up her appointment as EU Commissioner she was executive vice-president of Worldview Global Media in Colombo , Sri Lanka . Political career . Wallström has had a long career in politics in the Swedish parliament , the Swedish government , and the European Commission . At 25 , she was elected to parliament . She was Environment Commissioner from 1999 to 2004 , and in the Swedish government she was Minister for Consumer Affairs , Women and Youth from 1988 to 1991 , Minister for Culture from 1994 to 1996 , and Minister for Social Affairs from 1996 to 1998 . European Commissioner for the Environment , 1999–2004 . During her time in office , Wallström pushed the European Commissions initial proposal for REACH , a regulation requiring manufacturers of industrial chemicals to test and register their products with the European Chemicals Agency before they can be used . In 2004 , she approved the importation of a genetically modified corn from the United States for animal feed after a six-year moratorium , arguing in a statement that the corn produced by biotechnology company Monsanto , known as NK603 maize , had been rigorously tested and was considered as safe as any conventional maize . First Vice-President of the European Commission , 2004–2010 . In 2004 , Wallström became the first member of the European Commission to operate a blog . The comments section of her site quickly became a hotspot for arguments concerning the policies of the European Union . After the rejection of the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe by French and Dutch voters , Wallström pushed forward her plan D ( for democracy , dialogue and debate ) to reconnect Citizens with the Union . Her work on such platforms , including the backing of the oneseat.eu petition , has given her a good reputation in some quarters , even being dubbed the Citizens Commissioner – but has earned her names like the Propaganda Commissioner as well from political opponents . The Economist listed her among the least effective commissioners in 2009 . In 2006 , Wallström presented her a plan to transform the EUs Europe by Satellite ( EbS ) video-broadcast service into an EU news agency ; the plan was scrapped after press organizations complained that it would undermine the work of reporters covering the EU . Following Swedens 2006 election , in which the Social Democratic Party lost power , former Prime Minister Göran Persson announced his withdrawal from politics in March 2007 . Wallström was regarded as the favourite candidate to succeed Persson as Social Democratic party leader , but made clear that she did not wish to be considered for the position . The post instead went to Mona Sahlin . Between 2006 and 2007 , Wallström served as member of the Amato Group , a group of high-level European politicians unofficially working on rewriting the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe into what became known as the Treaty of Lisbon following its rejection by French and Dutch voters . Immediately after the election of Mona Sahlin as party leader , Wallström accepted a membership in a group working to develop political strategies for the upcoming election to the European Parliament in 2009 . The membership in this group was considered by Swedish liberal Carl B Hamilton ( and later also Fredrik Reinfeldt ) to constitute a breach of the oath every member of the European Commission gives , which states that any member of the commission should work for the communitys best interest with no influence from politicians . European Commission spokespeople Mikolaj Dowgielewicz and Pia Ahrenkilde-Hansen stated that her new assignment was not in conflict with her commissioner position . In December 2006 , Wallström was voted the most popular woman in Sweden , beating royals and athletes in a survey carried out by ICA-kuriren and Sifo . In the previous year she had attained second place . Wallström was modest in response stating that it might be because Im so far away . On 16 November 2007 , Margot Wallström , became Chair of the Council of Women World Leaders Ministerial Initiative . This position was previously held by former U.S . Secretary of State Madeleine K . Albright . United Nations Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict , 2010–2012 . On 31 January 2010 , the Secretary-General of the United Nations , Ban Ki-moon , announced at the African Union summit in Ethiopia his intention to nominate Wallström as his first ever United Nations Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict . As a reaction , Wallström said that she felt honoured and humble to have been chosen for the job , which she started in April 2010 . In August 2010 , Ban sent Wallström to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to help investigate claims that rebel fighters raped more than 150 women and baby boys over four days within miles of a UN base in the country . Wallström later addressed the United Nations Security Council in a September 2010 session on the use of sexual violence as a weapon by both rebel militias and government troops in the eastern provinces of the DRC . In her speech , she demonstrated that the rapes in the North Kivu and South Kivu provinces were not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of widespread systematic rape and pillage . On 18 September 2010 , Wallström confirmed that when her assignment with the UN came to an end in February 2012 , she would become the chair of the University Board at Lund University in Sweden . Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden , 2014–2019 . On 3 October 2014 , when the Social Democratic leader Stefan Löfven became Prime Minister , Wallström was appointed to the Swedish government as Minister of Foreign Affairs . On 30 October 2014 , Wallström became the first EU foreign minister to recognise the State of Palestine , with a view to facilitate a peace agreement by making the parties less unequal ; as a result , Israel the same day recalled its ambassador for consultations . Although a visit by Wallström to Israel had been planned for January 2015 , Israels foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman and prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu declined to receive her . Wallströms diplomatic immunity status in Israel was also revoked which meant that if she visited Israel she would do as an individual rather than an official of a foreign state , which would normally mean enjoying protection by security services . In a March 2018 interview , she stated that the intent behind the recognition was to speed up the process towards a Two-state solution but also admitted that no progress on that issue had been made . In December 2014 , Wallström called in the Russian ambassador to Sweden , Victor Ivanovitj Tatarintsev , over the behaviour of a Russian military jet which Swedish authorities said had caused an SAS flight from Copenhagen to Poznan , Poland , to change course off southern Sweden ; the incident inflamed sensitivities over Russian flights in the Nordic region , driven in part by tensions over separatism in eastern Ukraine . On 11 September 2015 , she again summoned Russias ambassador to explain comments from the Russian foreign ministry warning of consequences if Sweden joins NATO . In January 2015 , Wallström tweeted criticism of Saudi Arabias flogging of human rights activist blogger Raif Badawi , calling it a cruel attempt to silence modern forms of expression . In May 2015 , United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed Wallström as member of the High-Level Panel on Humanitarian Financing , an initiative aimed at preparing recommendations for the 2016 World Humanitarian Summit . One of Wallströms main foreign policy goals was to secure one of the non-permanent seats for Sweden on the UN Security Council in the 2016 elections . This was achieved on 28 June 2016 . In February 2018 , Wallström cancelled her visit to Turkey that was due in two weeks to protest the Turkish invasion of northern Syria aimed at ousting U.S.-backed Syrian Kurds from the enclave of Afrin . In December 2018 Wallström met with Iranian deputy foreign minister Abbas Araghchi in her office , a meeting which was unannounced by the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs . Political positions . Wallström promised a feminist foreign policy when her Social Democrats formed the coalition government in October 2014 . She has criticized the lack of womens rights in Saudi Arabia . The Spectator , the oldest continuously published magazine in the English language , wrote : On 10 March 2015 Sweden announced it would revoke a weapons export agreement with Saudi Arabia that had been in place since 2005 . Saudi Arabia retaliated by stopping visa issues for Swedish businesspeople , boycotting Wallströms speech from the Arab League , temporarily withdrawing their ambassador from Sweden , and refusing to accept four Amazonian monkeys from a Swedish zoo . King Carl XVI Gustaf then offered to mediate with the Saudi king , and a fellow Social Democrat member of the government , Björn von Sydow , travelled to meet King Salman bin Abdul Aziz and Prince Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud , taking him private letters from the Swedish King and from Prime Minister Stefan Löfven . These have remained classified , but in a press conference on 28 March , Wallström said : I am very pleased to announce that we can normalize our relations immediately , and that we are able to welcome the Saudi ambassador back to Sweden . It is deeply satisfying that we have been able to clear the misunderstanding that we insulted the world religion Islam . Wallström has called for more articles on Wikipedia about women related topics . Controversies . European integration . In 2005 , Wallström , in her capacity as EU Commissioner responsible for communications , came under pressure to justify her handling of a controversial speech that linked opposition to European integration with Nazi genocide , after it emerged she had changed the version published on the internet to remove the controversial passage . The original version of the speech , given to journalists ahead of Wallströms visit to Terezin in the Czech Republic to mark the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp , suggested that scrapping the idea of a supranational Europe could put the continent back on the road to a holocaust . Israel . In the aftermath of the November 2015 Paris attacks in which 137 were murdered , Wallström told Swedish television network SVT2 : To counteract the radicalization we must go back to the situation such as the one in the Middle East of which not the least the Palestinians see that , for us , there is no future : we must either accept a desperate situation or resort to violence . The Israeli government reacted angrily to Wallströms linking the murders to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict , summoning the Swedish ambassador and saying Wallströms statement bordered on anti-semitism and blood libel . In December 2015 Wallström denounced the ongoing wave of Palestinian knife and car-ramming attacks in Israel . However , on 12 January 2016 , Wallström called for an investigation into whether Israel was guilty of the extrajudicial killings of Palestinians during the violence , causing further anger in the Israeli political establishment . The Foreign Ministry of Israel issued an official statement saying that Wallströms irresponsible and delirious statements are giving support to terrorism and encouraging violence . This also caused further deterioration in Israel-Sweden relations , and Deputy Foreign Minister of Israel Tzipi Hotovely declared that Swedish politicians of the rank of deputy minister and above are not welcome in Israel . Though she later clarified that it was only the Foreign Minister and her aids what are not welcome . International law expert Noah Feldman stated Wallström misunderstands international law , which does not apply in these cases . For the above comment , the Simon Wiesenthal Center placed Wallström at place eight on its annual list of the worst anti-semitic/anti-israel incidents . Although she has criticized Israel , Wallström opposes the Boycott , Divestment , and Sanctions ( BDS ) movement , supports Israels right to defend itself , and is in favor of the two-state solution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict . She expressed her condemnation of BDS during an Israel day conference held by the Jewish community in Sweden . During Wallströms December 2016 visit to Israel and the Palestinian Authority , many Israeli officials , including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , refused to meet her , citing scheduling conflicts . Some sources suggest that the refusal stemmed from Wallströms policy on Israeli–Palestinian conflict . Wallström welcomed the UN Security Council Resolution 2334 and said it confirms the position of both the EU and Sweden on the continued Israeli settlement of the occupied West Bank . Rented apartment . On 15 January 2016 , Aftonbladet published information that Wallström was one of several labour officials who rented apartment in Stockholm , owned by the Swedish Municipal Workers Union , bypassing an average eight-year waiting list . Wallström replied that she acted in good faith and received a confirmation from highest-ranking officials , that all norms and rules were followed . Wallström accused the unions general secretary Annelie Nordström of not being truthful . The affair caused a controversy and prompted an investigation by a special prosecutor . The prosecutor closed the investigation in May 2016 and cleared Wallström , stating that there was no evidence any crime had been committed . Turkish child sex tweet . On 24 August 2016 Wallström tweeted that Turkish decision to allow sex with children under 15 must be reversed . Children need more protection , not less , against violence , sex abuse . This was after the Constitutional Court of Turkey cancelled a constitutional provision that made all sexual activities with children under the age of 15 criminal as sexual abuse . Turkish foreign minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu summoned Swedish ambassador for reprimand meeting and deputy prime minister Mehmet Simsek accused Wallström of being misinformed and acting without checking all facts . The original case was brought to the Constitutional Court by a lower court that was afraid there is no legal discrimination between teenagers that may understand the meaning of sex and toddlers that do not understand it . Other activities . Corporate boards . - Edberg Dialog , Member of the Board - Ica Gruppen , Member of the Board of Directors ( 2013–2014 ) Non-profit organizations . - Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue ( HD ) , Member of the Board ( since 2020 ) - European Council on Foreign Relations ( ECFR ) , Member - International Crisis Group , Member of the Board of Trustees - International Gender Champions ( IGC ) , Member - Institute for Human Rights & Business ( IHRB ) , Chair of the International Advisory Council - Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice ( MRFCJ ) , Member of the International Advisory Council - Svenska PostkodStiftelsen , Member of the Board of Directors - Enough Project , Fellow - Global Challenge Foundation , Member of the Board ( 2013–2014 ) - Institute for Human Rights and Business , Adviser ( 2012–2014 ) - International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance ( IDEA ) , Member of the Advisory Board ( 2011–2014 ) - Lund University , Chairwoman of the University Board ( 2012–2014 ) Recognition . - 2001 – Honorary doctor at Chalmers University , Sweden - 2002 – European Commissioner of the Year ( by European Voice ) - 2004 – Honorary doctor at Mälardalen University , Sweden - 2004 – IAIA Global Environmental Award - 2005 – Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree , University of Massachusetts Lowell , Lowell - 2008 – Göteborg Award for Sustainable Development ( jointly with Theo Colborn , Jan Ahlbom and Ulf Duus - 2009 – Monismanien Prize for Freedom of Speech - 2016 – Grand Star of the Order of Jerusalem , State of Palestine Personal life . Wallström has been married to her husband , Håkan , since 1984 . She has two sons . She lives in Stockholm and Värmland . Publications . - 2007 Foreword to Al Gores Swedish translation of the book An Inconvenient Truth . - 2004 Book ( together with MEP Göran Färm ) : The Peoples Europe or Why is it so hard to love the EU ? |
[
"Minister for Social Affairs"
] | easy | Margot Wallström took which position from Mar 1996 to 1998? | /wiki/Margot_Wallström#P39#3 | Margot Wallström Margot Elisabeth Wallström ( ; born 28 September 1954 ) is a Swedish politician of the Swedish Social Democratic Party who served as Deputy Prime Minister of Sweden and Minister for Nordic Cooperation from October 2014 to 2019 . She also served as the Minister for Foreign Affairs for Sweden from October 2014 until she resigned on 5 September 2019 . Wallström previously served as the first United Nations Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict from 2010 to 2012 , as Vice-President of the European Commission and European Commissioner for Institutional Relations and Communication Strategy from 2004 to 2010 , European Commissioner for the Environment from 1999 to 2004 , Minister for Consumer Affairs from 1988 to 1991 and Member of the Riksdag ( MP ) for Värmland from 1982 to 1999 . Early life and career . Born in Skellefteå , Wallström is a high school graduate without academic degrees . In 1973 , she started her career as a banking clerk at the Alfa Savings bank in Karlstad . She worked there from 1977 to 1979 , and briefly as an accountant from 1986 to 1987 . Wallström was the CEO of a regional TV network in Värmland , Sweden from 1993 to 1994 . Before taking up her appointment as EU Commissioner she was executive vice-president of Worldview Global Media in Colombo , Sri Lanka . Political career . Wallström has had a long career in politics in the Swedish parliament , the Swedish government , and the European Commission . At 25 , she was elected to parliament . She was Environment Commissioner from 1999 to 2004 , and in the Swedish government she was Minister for Consumer Affairs , Women and Youth from 1988 to 1991 , Minister for Culture from 1994 to 1996 , and Minister for Social Affairs from 1996 to 1998 . European Commissioner for the Environment , 1999–2004 . During her time in office , Wallström pushed the European Commissions initial proposal for REACH , a regulation requiring manufacturers of industrial chemicals to test and register their products with the European Chemicals Agency before they can be used . In 2004 , she approved the importation of a genetically modified corn from the United States for animal feed after a six-year moratorium , arguing in a statement that the corn produced by biotechnology company Monsanto , known as NK603 maize , had been rigorously tested and was considered as safe as any conventional maize . First Vice-President of the European Commission , 2004–2010 . In 2004 , Wallström became the first member of the European Commission to operate a blog . The comments section of her site quickly became a hotspot for arguments concerning the policies of the European Union . After the rejection of the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe by French and Dutch voters , Wallström pushed forward her plan D ( for democracy , dialogue and debate ) to reconnect Citizens with the Union . Her work on such platforms , including the backing of the oneseat.eu petition , has given her a good reputation in some quarters , even being dubbed the Citizens Commissioner – but has earned her names like the Propaganda Commissioner as well from political opponents . The Economist listed her among the least effective commissioners in 2009 . In 2006 , Wallström presented her a plan to transform the EUs Europe by Satellite ( EbS ) video-broadcast service into an EU news agency ; the plan was scrapped after press organizations complained that it would undermine the work of reporters covering the EU . Following Swedens 2006 election , in which the Social Democratic Party lost power , former Prime Minister Göran Persson announced his withdrawal from politics in March 2007 . Wallström was regarded as the favourite candidate to succeed Persson as Social Democratic party leader , but made clear that she did not wish to be considered for the position . The post instead went to Mona Sahlin . Between 2006 and 2007 , Wallström served as member of the Amato Group , a group of high-level European politicians unofficially working on rewriting the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe into what became known as the Treaty of Lisbon following its rejection by French and Dutch voters . Immediately after the election of Mona Sahlin as party leader , Wallström accepted a membership in a group working to develop political strategies for the upcoming election to the European Parliament in 2009 . The membership in this group was considered by Swedish liberal Carl B Hamilton ( and later also Fredrik Reinfeldt ) to constitute a breach of the oath every member of the European Commission gives , which states that any member of the commission should work for the communitys best interest with no influence from politicians . European Commission spokespeople Mikolaj Dowgielewicz and Pia Ahrenkilde-Hansen stated that her new assignment was not in conflict with her commissioner position . In December 2006 , Wallström was voted the most popular woman in Sweden , beating royals and athletes in a survey carried out by ICA-kuriren and Sifo . In the previous year she had attained second place . Wallström was modest in response stating that it might be because Im so far away . On 16 November 2007 , Margot Wallström , became Chair of the Council of Women World Leaders Ministerial Initiative . This position was previously held by former U.S . Secretary of State Madeleine K . Albright . United Nations Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict , 2010–2012 . On 31 January 2010 , the Secretary-General of the United Nations , Ban Ki-moon , announced at the African Union summit in Ethiopia his intention to nominate Wallström as his first ever United Nations Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict . As a reaction , Wallström said that she felt honoured and humble to have been chosen for the job , which she started in April 2010 . In August 2010 , Ban sent Wallström to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to help investigate claims that rebel fighters raped more than 150 women and baby boys over four days within miles of a UN base in the country . Wallström later addressed the United Nations Security Council in a September 2010 session on the use of sexual violence as a weapon by both rebel militias and government troops in the eastern provinces of the DRC . In her speech , she demonstrated that the rapes in the North Kivu and South Kivu provinces were not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of widespread systematic rape and pillage . On 18 September 2010 , Wallström confirmed that when her assignment with the UN came to an end in February 2012 , she would become the chair of the University Board at Lund University in Sweden . Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden , 2014–2019 . On 3 October 2014 , when the Social Democratic leader Stefan Löfven became Prime Minister , Wallström was appointed to the Swedish government as Minister of Foreign Affairs . On 30 October 2014 , Wallström became the first EU foreign minister to recognise the State of Palestine , with a view to facilitate a peace agreement by making the parties less unequal ; as a result , Israel the same day recalled its ambassador for consultations . Although a visit by Wallström to Israel had been planned for January 2015 , Israels foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman and prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu declined to receive her . Wallströms diplomatic immunity status in Israel was also revoked which meant that if she visited Israel she would do as an individual rather than an official of a foreign state , which would normally mean enjoying protection by security services . In a March 2018 interview , she stated that the intent behind the recognition was to speed up the process towards a Two-state solution but also admitted that no progress on that issue had been made . In December 2014 , Wallström called in the Russian ambassador to Sweden , Victor Ivanovitj Tatarintsev , over the behaviour of a Russian military jet which Swedish authorities said had caused an SAS flight from Copenhagen to Poznan , Poland , to change course off southern Sweden ; the incident inflamed sensitivities over Russian flights in the Nordic region , driven in part by tensions over separatism in eastern Ukraine . On 11 September 2015 , she again summoned Russias ambassador to explain comments from the Russian foreign ministry warning of consequences if Sweden joins NATO . In January 2015 , Wallström tweeted criticism of Saudi Arabias flogging of human rights activist blogger Raif Badawi , calling it a cruel attempt to silence modern forms of expression . In May 2015 , United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed Wallström as member of the High-Level Panel on Humanitarian Financing , an initiative aimed at preparing recommendations for the 2016 World Humanitarian Summit . One of Wallströms main foreign policy goals was to secure one of the non-permanent seats for Sweden on the UN Security Council in the 2016 elections . This was achieved on 28 June 2016 . In February 2018 , Wallström cancelled her visit to Turkey that was due in two weeks to protest the Turkish invasion of northern Syria aimed at ousting U.S.-backed Syrian Kurds from the enclave of Afrin . In December 2018 Wallström met with Iranian deputy foreign minister Abbas Araghchi in her office , a meeting which was unannounced by the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs . Political positions . Wallström promised a feminist foreign policy when her Social Democrats formed the coalition government in October 2014 . She has criticized the lack of womens rights in Saudi Arabia . The Spectator , the oldest continuously published magazine in the English language , wrote : On 10 March 2015 Sweden announced it would revoke a weapons export agreement with Saudi Arabia that had been in place since 2005 . Saudi Arabia retaliated by stopping visa issues for Swedish businesspeople , boycotting Wallströms speech from the Arab League , temporarily withdrawing their ambassador from Sweden , and refusing to accept four Amazonian monkeys from a Swedish zoo . King Carl XVI Gustaf then offered to mediate with the Saudi king , and a fellow Social Democrat member of the government , Björn von Sydow , travelled to meet King Salman bin Abdul Aziz and Prince Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud , taking him private letters from the Swedish King and from Prime Minister Stefan Löfven . These have remained classified , but in a press conference on 28 March , Wallström said : I am very pleased to announce that we can normalize our relations immediately , and that we are able to welcome the Saudi ambassador back to Sweden . It is deeply satisfying that we have been able to clear the misunderstanding that we insulted the world religion Islam . Wallström has called for more articles on Wikipedia about women related topics . Controversies . European integration . In 2005 , Wallström , in her capacity as EU Commissioner responsible for communications , came under pressure to justify her handling of a controversial speech that linked opposition to European integration with Nazi genocide , after it emerged she had changed the version published on the internet to remove the controversial passage . The original version of the speech , given to journalists ahead of Wallströms visit to Terezin in the Czech Republic to mark the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp , suggested that scrapping the idea of a supranational Europe could put the continent back on the road to a holocaust . Israel . In the aftermath of the November 2015 Paris attacks in which 137 were murdered , Wallström told Swedish television network SVT2 : To counteract the radicalization we must go back to the situation such as the one in the Middle East of which not the least the Palestinians see that , for us , there is no future : we must either accept a desperate situation or resort to violence . The Israeli government reacted angrily to Wallströms linking the murders to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict , summoning the Swedish ambassador and saying Wallströms statement bordered on anti-semitism and blood libel . In December 2015 Wallström denounced the ongoing wave of Palestinian knife and car-ramming attacks in Israel . However , on 12 January 2016 , Wallström called for an investigation into whether Israel was guilty of the extrajudicial killings of Palestinians during the violence , causing further anger in the Israeli political establishment . The Foreign Ministry of Israel issued an official statement saying that Wallströms irresponsible and delirious statements are giving support to terrorism and encouraging violence . This also caused further deterioration in Israel-Sweden relations , and Deputy Foreign Minister of Israel Tzipi Hotovely declared that Swedish politicians of the rank of deputy minister and above are not welcome in Israel . Though she later clarified that it was only the Foreign Minister and her aids what are not welcome . International law expert Noah Feldman stated Wallström misunderstands international law , which does not apply in these cases . For the above comment , the Simon Wiesenthal Center placed Wallström at place eight on its annual list of the worst anti-semitic/anti-israel incidents . Although she has criticized Israel , Wallström opposes the Boycott , Divestment , and Sanctions ( BDS ) movement , supports Israels right to defend itself , and is in favor of the two-state solution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict . She expressed her condemnation of BDS during an Israel day conference held by the Jewish community in Sweden . During Wallströms December 2016 visit to Israel and the Palestinian Authority , many Israeli officials , including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , refused to meet her , citing scheduling conflicts . Some sources suggest that the refusal stemmed from Wallströms policy on Israeli–Palestinian conflict . Wallström welcomed the UN Security Council Resolution 2334 and said it confirms the position of both the EU and Sweden on the continued Israeli settlement of the occupied West Bank . Rented apartment . On 15 January 2016 , Aftonbladet published information that Wallström was one of several labour officials who rented apartment in Stockholm , owned by the Swedish Municipal Workers Union , bypassing an average eight-year waiting list . Wallström replied that she acted in good faith and received a confirmation from highest-ranking officials , that all norms and rules were followed . Wallström accused the unions general secretary Annelie Nordström of not being truthful . The affair caused a controversy and prompted an investigation by a special prosecutor . The prosecutor closed the investigation in May 2016 and cleared Wallström , stating that there was no evidence any crime had been committed . Turkish child sex tweet . On 24 August 2016 Wallström tweeted that Turkish decision to allow sex with children under 15 must be reversed . Children need more protection , not less , against violence , sex abuse . This was after the Constitutional Court of Turkey cancelled a constitutional provision that made all sexual activities with children under the age of 15 criminal as sexual abuse . Turkish foreign minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu summoned Swedish ambassador for reprimand meeting and deputy prime minister Mehmet Simsek accused Wallström of being misinformed and acting without checking all facts . The original case was brought to the Constitutional Court by a lower court that was afraid there is no legal discrimination between teenagers that may understand the meaning of sex and toddlers that do not understand it . Other activities . Corporate boards . - Edberg Dialog , Member of the Board - Ica Gruppen , Member of the Board of Directors ( 2013–2014 ) Non-profit organizations . - Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue ( HD ) , Member of the Board ( since 2020 ) - European Council on Foreign Relations ( ECFR ) , Member - International Crisis Group , Member of the Board of Trustees - International Gender Champions ( IGC ) , Member - Institute for Human Rights & Business ( IHRB ) , Chair of the International Advisory Council - Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice ( MRFCJ ) , Member of the International Advisory Council - Svenska PostkodStiftelsen , Member of the Board of Directors - Enough Project , Fellow - Global Challenge Foundation , Member of the Board ( 2013–2014 ) - Institute for Human Rights and Business , Adviser ( 2012–2014 ) - International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance ( IDEA ) , Member of the Advisory Board ( 2011–2014 ) - Lund University , Chairwoman of the University Board ( 2012–2014 ) Recognition . - 2001 – Honorary doctor at Chalmers University , Sweden - 2002 – European Commissioner of the Year ( by European Voice ) - 2004 – Honorary doctor at Mälardalen University , Sweden - 2004 – IAIA Global Environmental Award - 2005 – Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree , University of Massachusetts Lowell , Lowell - 2008 – Göteborg Award for Sustainable Development ( jointly with Theo Colborn , Jan Ahlbom and Ulf Duus - 2009 – Monismanien Prize for Freedom of Speech - 2016 – Grand Star of the Order of Jerusalem , State of Palestine Personal life . Wallström has been married to her husband , Håkan , since 1984 . She has two sons . She lives in Stockholm and Värmland . Publications . - 2007 Foreword to Al Gores Swedish translation of the book An Inconvenient Truth . - 2004 Book ( together with MEP Göran Färm ) : The Peoples Europe or Why is it so hard to love the EU ? |
[
"European Commissioner for the Environment"
] | easy | What position did Margot Wallström take from Sep 1999 to Nov 2004? | /wiki/Margot_Wallström#P39#4 | Margot Wallström Margot Elisabeth Wallström ( ; born 28 September 1954 ) is a Swedish politician of the Swedish Social Democratic Party who served as Deputy Prime Minister of Sweden and Minister for Nordic Cooperation from October 2014 to 2019 . She also served as the Minister for Foreign Affairs for Sweden from October 2014 until she resigned on 5 September 2019 . Wallström previously served as the first United Nations Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict from 2010 to 2012 , as Vice-President of the European Commission and European Commissioner for Institutional Relations and Communication Strategy from 2004 to 2010 , European Commissioner for the Environment from 1999 to 2004 , Minister for Consumer Affairs from 1988 to 1991 and Member of the Riksdag ( MP ) for Värmland from 1982 to 1999 . Early life and career . Born in Skellefteå , Wallström is a high school graduate without academic degrees . In 1973 , she started her career as a banking clerk at the Alfa Savings bank in Karlstad . She worked there from 1977 to 1979 , and briefly as an accountant from 1986 to 1987 . Wallström was the CEO of a regional TV network in Värmland , Sweden from 1993 to 1994 . Before taking up her appointment as EU Commissioner she was executive vice-president of Worldview Global Media in Colombo , Sri Lanka . Political career . Wallström has had a long career in politics in the Swedish parliament , the Swedish government , and the European Commission . At 25 , she was elected to parliament . She was Environment Commissioner from 1999 to 2004 , and in the Swedish government she was Minister for Consumer Affairs , Women and Youth from 1988 to 1991 , Minister for Culture from 1994 to 1996 , and Minister for Social Affairs from 1996 to 1998 . European Commissioner for the Environment , 1999–2004 . During her time in office , Wallström pushed the European Commissions initial proposal for REACH , a regulation requiring manufacturers of industrial chemicals to test and register their products with the European Chemicals Agency before they can be used . In 2004 , she approved the importation of a genetically modified corn from the United States for animal feed after a six-year moratorium , arguing in a statement that the corn produced by biotechnology company Monsanto , known as NK603 maize , had been rigorously tested and was considered as safe as any conventional maize . First Vice-President of the European Commission , 2004–2010 . In 2004 , Wallström became the first member of the European Commission to operate a blog . The comments section of her site quickly became a hotspot for arguments concerning the policies of the European Union . After the rejection of the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe by French and Dutch voters , Wallström pushed forward her plan D ( for democracy , dialogue and debate ) to reconnect Citizens with the Union . Her work on such platforms , including the backing of the oneseat.eu petition , has given her a good reputation in some quarters , even being dubbed the Citizens Commissioner – but has earned her names like the Propaganda Commissioner as well from political opponents . The Economist listed her among the least effective commissioners in 2009 . In 2006 , Wallström presented her a plan to transform the EUs Europe by Satellite ( EbS ) video-broadcast service into an EU news agency ; the plan was scrapped after press organizations complained that it would undermine the work of reporters covering the EU . Following Swedens 2006 election , in which the Social Democratic Party lost power , former Prime Minister Göran Persson announced his withdrawal from politics in March 2007 . Wallström was regarded as the favourite candidate to succeed Persson as Social Democratic party leader , but made clear that she did not wish to be considered for the position . The post instead went to Mona Sahlin . Between 2006 and 2007 , Wallström served as member of the Amato Group , a group of high-level European politicians unofficially working on rewriting the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe into what became known as the Treaty of Lisbon following its rejection by French and Dutch voters . Immediately after the election of Mona Sahlin as party leader , Wallström accepted a membership in a group working to develop political strategies for the upcoming election to the European Parliament in 2009 . The membership in this group was considered by Swedish liberal Carl B Hamilton ( and later also Fredrik Reinfeldt ) to constitute a breach of the oath every member of the European Commission gives , which states that any member of the commission should work for the communitys best interest with no influence from politicians . European Commission spokespeople Mikolaj Dowgielewicz and Pia Ahrenkilde-Hansen stated that her new assignment was not in conflict with her commissioner position . In December 2006 , Wallström was voted the most popular woman in Sweden , beating royals and athletes in a survey carried out by ICA-kuriren and Sifo . In the previous year she had attained second place . Wallström was modest in response stating that it might be because Im so far away . On 16 November 2007 , Margot Wallström , became Chair of the Council of Women World Leaders Ministerial Initiative . This position was previously held by former U.S . Secretary of State Madeleine K . Albright . United Nations Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict , 2010–2012 . On 31 January 2010 , the Secretary-General of the United Nations , Ban Ki-moon , announced at the African Union summit in Ethiopia his intention to nominate Wallström as his first ever United Nations Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict . As a reaction , Wallström said that she felt honoured and humble to have been chosen for the job , which she started in April 2010 . In August 2010 , Ban sent Wallström to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to help investigate claims that rebel fighters raped more than 150 women and baby boys over four days within miles of a UN base in the country . Wallström later addressed the United Nations Security Council in a September 2010 session on the use of sexual violence as a weapon by both rebel militias and government troops in the eastern provinces of the DRC . In her speech , she demonstrated that the rapes in the North Kivu and South Kivu provinces were not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of widespread systematic rape and pillage . On 18 September 2010 , Wallström confirmed that when her assignment with the UN came to an end in February 2012 , she would become the chair of the University Board at Lund University in Sweden . Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden , 2014–2019 . On 3 October 2014 , when the Social Democratic leader Stefan Löfven became Prime Minister , Wallström was appointed to the Swedish government as Minister of Foreign Affairs . On 30 October 2014 , Wallström became the first EU foreign minister to recognise the State of Palestine , with a view to facilitate a peace agreement by making the parties less unequal ; as a result , Israel the same day recalled its ambassador for consultations . Although a visit by Wallström to Israel had been planned for January 2015 , Israels foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman and prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu declined to receive her . Wallströms diplomatic immunity status in Israel was also revoked which meant that if she visited Israel she would do as an individual rather than an official of a foreign state , which would normally mean enjoying protection by security services . In a March 2018 interview , she stated that the intent behind the recognition was to speed up the process towards a Two-state solution but also admitted that no progress on that issue had been made . In December 2014 , Wallström called in the Russian ambassador to Sweden , Victor Ivanovitj Tatarintsev , over the behaviour of a Russian military jet which Swedish authorities said had caused an SAS flight from Copenhagen to Poznan , Poland , to change course off southern Sweden ; the incident inflamed sensitivities over Russian flights in the Nordic region , driven in part by tensions over separatism in eastern Ukraine . On 11 September 2015 , she again summoned Russias ambassador to explain comments from the Russian foreign ministry warning of consequences if Sweden joins NATO . In January 2015 , Wallström tweeted criticism of Saudi Arabias flogging of human rights activist blogger Raif Badawi , calling it a cruel attempt to silence modern forms of expression . In May 2015 , United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed Wallström as member of the High-Level Panel on Humanitarian Financing , an initiative aimed at preparing recommendations for the 2016 World Humanitarian Summit . One of Wallströms main foreign policy goals was to secure one of the non-permanent seats for Sweden on the UN Security Council in the 2016 elections . This was achieved on 28 June 2016 . In February 2018 , Wallström cancelled her visit to Turkey that was due in two weeks to protest the Turkish invasion of northern Syria aimed at ousting U.S.-backed Syrian Kurds from the enclave of Afrin . In December 2018 Wallström met with Iranian deputy foreign minister Abbas Araghchi in her office , a meeting which was unannounced by the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs . Political positions . Wallström promised a feminist foreign policy when her Social Democrats formed the coalition government in October 2014 . She has criticized the lack of womens rights in Saudi Arabia . The Spectator , the oldest continuously published magazine in the English language , wrote : On 10 March 2015 Sweden announced it would revoke a weapons export agreement with Saudi Arabia that had been in place since 2005 . Saudi Arabia retaliated by stopping visa issues for Swedish businesspeople , boycotting Wallströms speech from the Arab League , temporarily withdrawing their ambassador from Sweden , and refusing to accept four Amazonian monkeys from a Swedish zoo . King Carl XVI Gustaf then offered to mediate with the Saudi king , and a fellow Social Democrat member of the government , Björn von Sydow , travelled to meet King Salman bin Abdul Aziz and Prince Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud , taking him private letters from the Swedish King and from Prime Minister Stefan Löfven . These have remained classified , but in a press conference on 28 March , Wallström said : I am very pleased to announce that we can normalize our relations immediately , and that we are able to welcome the Saudi ambassador back to Sweden . It is deeply satisfying that we have been able to clear the misunderstanding that we insulted the world religion Islam . Wallström has called for more articles on Wikipedia about women related topics . Controversies . European integration . In 2005 , Wallström , in her capacity as EU Commissioner responsible for communications , came under pressure to justify her handling of a controversial speech that linked opposition to European integration with Nazi genocide , after it emerged she had changed the version published on the internet to remove the controversial passage . The original version of the speech , given to journalists ahead of Wallströms visit to Terezin in the Czech Republic to mark the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp , suggested that scrapping the idea of a supranational Europe could put the continent back on the road to a holocaust . Israel . In the aftermath of the November 2015 Paris attacks in which 137 were murdered , Wallström told Swedish television network SVT2 : To counteract the radicalization we must go back to the situation such as the one in the Middle East of which not the least the Palestinians see that , for us , there is no future : we must either accept a desperate situation or resort to violence . The Israeli government reacted angrily to Wallströms linking the murders to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict , summoning the Swedish ambassador and saying Wallströms statement bordered on anti-semitism and blood libel . In December 2015 Wallström denounced the ongoing wave of Palestinian knife and car-ramming attacks in Israel . However , on 12 January 2016 , Wallström called for an investigation into whether Israel was guilty of the extrajudicial killings of Palestinians during the violence , causing further anger in the Israeli political establishment . The Foreign Ministry of Israel issued an official statement saying that Wallströms irresponsible and delirious statements are giving support to terrorism and encouraging violence . This also caused further deterioration in Israel-Sweden relations , and Deputy Foreign Minister of Israel Tzipi Hotovely declared that Swedish politicians of the rank of deputy minister and above are not welcome in Israel . Though she later clarified that it was only the Foreign Minister and her aids what are not welcome . International law expert Noah Feldman stated Wallström misunderstands international law , which does not apply in these cases . For the above comment , the Simon Wiesenthal Center placed Wallström at place eight on its annual list of the worst anti-semitic/anti-israel incidents . Although she has criticized Israel , Wallström opposes the Boycott , Divestment , and Sanctions ( BDS ) movement , supports Israels right to defend itself , and is in favor of the two-state solution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict . She expressed her condemnation of BDS during an Israel day conference held by the Jewish community in Sweden . During Wallströms December 2016 visit to Israel and the Palestinian Authority , many Israeli officials , including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , refused to meet her , citing scheduling conflicts . Some sources suggest that the refusal stemmed from Wallströms policy on Israeli–Palestinian conflict . Wallström welcomed the UN Security Council Resolution 2334 and said it confirms the position of both the EU and Sweden on the continued Israeli settlement of the occupied West Bank . Rented apartment . On 15 January 2016 , Aftonbladet published information that Wallström was one of several labour officials who rented apartment in Stockholm , owned by the Swedish Municipal Workers Union , bypassing an average eight-year waiting list . Wallström replied that she acted in good faith and received a confirmation from highest-ranking officials , that all norms and rules were followed . Wallström accused the unions general secretary Annelie Nordström of not being truthful . The affair caused a controversy and prompted an investigation by a special prosecutor . The prosecutor closed the investigation in May 2016 and cleared Wallström , stating that there was no evidence any crime had been committed . Turkish child sex tweet . On 24 August 2016 Wallström tweeted that Turkish decision to allow sex with children under 15 must be reversed . Children need more protection , not less , against violence , sex abuse . This was after the Constitutional Court of Turkey cancelled a constitutional provision that made all sexual activities with children under the age of 15 criminal as sexual abuse . Turkish foreign minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu summoned Swedish ambassador for reprimand meeting and deputy prime minister Mehmet Simsek accused Wallström of being misinformed and acting without checking all facts . The original case was brought to the Constitutional Court by a lower court that was afraid there is no legal discrimination between teenagers that may understand the meaning of sex and toddlers that do not understand it . Other activities . Corporate boards . - Edberg Dialog , Member of the Board - Ica Gruppen , Member of the Board of Directors ( 2013–2014 ) Non-profit organizations . - Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue ( HD ) , Member of the Board ( since 2020 ) - European Council on Foreign Relations ( ECFR ) , Member - International Crisis Group , Member of the Board of Trustees - International Gender Champions ( IGC ) , Member - Institute for Human Rights & Business ( IHRB ) , Chair of the International Advisory Council - Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice ( MRFCJ ) , Member of the International Advisory Council - Svenska PostkodStiftelsen , Member of the Board of Directors - Enough Project , Fellow - Global Challenge Foundation , Member of the Board ( 2013–2014 ) - Institute for Human Rights and Business , Adviser ( 2012–2014 ) - International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance ( IDEA ) , Member of the Advisory Board ( 2011–2014 ) - Lund University , Chairwoman of the University Board ( 2012–2014 ) Recognition . - 2001 – Honorary doctor at Chalmers University , Sweden - 2002 – European Commissioner of the Year ( by European Voice ) - 2004 – Honorary doctor at Mälardalen University , Sweden - 2004 – IAIA Global Environmental Award - 2005 – Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree , University of Massachusetts Lowell , Lowell - 2008 – Göteborg Award for Sustainable Development ( jointly with Theo Colborn , Jan Ahlbom and Ulf Duus - 2009 – Monismanien Prize for Freedom of Speech - 2016 – Grand Star of the Order of Jerusalem , State of Palestine Personal life . Wallström has been married to her husband , Håkan , since 1984 . She has two sons . She lives in Stockholm and Värmland . Publications . - 2007 Foreword to Al Gores Swedish translation of the book An Inconvenient Truth . - 2004 Book ( together with MEP Göran Färm ) : The Peoples Europe or Why is it so hard to love the EU ? |
[
"Vice-President of the European Commission"
] | easy | What was the position of Margot Wallström from Nov 2004 to Feb 2010? | /wiki/Margot_Wallström#P39#5 | Margot Wallström Margot Elisabeth Wallström ( ; born 28 September 1954 ) is a Swedish politician of the Swedish Social Democratic Party who served as Deputy Prime Minister of Sweden and Minister for Nordic Cooperation from October 2014 to 2019 . She also served as the Minister for Foreign Affairs for Sweden from October 2014 until she resigned on 5 September 2019 . Wallström previously served as the first United Nations Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict from 2010 to 2012 , as Vice-President of the European Commission and European Commissioner for Institutional Relations and Communication Strategy from 2004 to 2010 , European Commissioner for the Environment from 1999 to 2004 , Minister for Consumer Affairs from 1988 to 1991 and Member of the Riksdag ( MP ) for Värmland from 1982 to 1999 . Early life and career . Born in Skellefteå , Wallström is a high school graduate without academic degrees . In 1973 , she started her career as a banking clerk at the Alfa Savings bank in Karlstad . She worked there from 1977 to 1979 , and briefly as an accountant from 1986 to 1987 . Wallström was the CEO of a regional TV network in Värmland , Sweden from 1993 to 1994 . Before taking up her appointment as EU Commissioner she was executive vice-president of Worldview Global Media in Colombo , Sri Lanka . Political career . Wallström has had a long career in politics in the Swedish parliament , the Swedish government , and the European Commission . At 25 , she was elected to parliament . She was Environment Commissioner from 1999 to 2004 , and in the Swedish government she was Minister for Consumer Affairs , Women and Youth from 1988 to 1991 , Minister for Culture from 1994 to 1996 , and Minister for Social Affairs from 1996 to 1998 . European Commissioner for the Environment , 1999–2004 . During her time in office , Wallström pushed the European Commissions initial proposal for REACH , a regulation requiring manufacturers of industrial chemicals to test and register their products with the European Chemicals Agency before they can be used . In 2004 , she approved the importation of a genetically modified corn from the United States for animal feed after a six-year moratorium , arguing in a statement that the corn produced by biotechnology company Monsanto , known as NK603 maize , had been rigorously tested and was considered as safe as any conventional maize . First Vice-President of the European Commission , 2004–2010 . In 2004 , Wallström became the first member of the European Commission to operate a blog . The comments section of her site quickly became a hotspot for arguments concerning the policies of the European Union . After the rejection of the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe by French and Dutch voters , Wallström pushed forward her plan D ( for democracy , dialogue and debate ) to reconnect Citizens with the Union . Her work on such platforms , including the backing of the oneseat.eu petition , has given her a good reputation in some quarters , even being dubbed the Citizens Commissioner – but has earned her names like the Propaganda Commissioner as well from political opponents . The Economist listed her among the least effective commissioners in 2009 . In 2006 , Wallström presented her a plan to transform the EUs Europe by Satellite ( EbS ) video-broadcast service into an EU news agency ; the plan was scrapped after press organizations complained that it would undermine the work of reporters covering the EU . Following Swedens 2006 election , in which the Social Democratic Party lost power , former Prime Minister Göran Persson announced his withdrawal from politics in March 2007 . Wallström was regarded as the favourite candidate to succeed Persson as Social Democratic party leader , but made clear that she did not wish to be considered for the position . The post instead went to Mona Sahlin . Between 2006 and 2007 , Wallström served as member of the Amato Group , a group of high-level European politicians unofficially working on rewriting the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe into what became known as the Treaty of Lisbon following its rejection by French and Dutch voters . Immediately after the election of Mona Sahlin as party leader , Wallström accepted a membership in a group working to develop political strategies for the upcoming election to the European Parliament in 2009 . The membership in this group was considered by Swedish liberal Carl B Hamilton ( and later also Fredrik Reinfeldt ) to constitute a breach of the oath every member of the European Commission gives , which states that any member of the commission should work for the communitys best interest with no influence from politicians . European Commission spokespeople Mikolaj Dowgielewicz and Pia Ahrenkilde-Hansen stated that her new assignment was not in conflict with her commissioner position . In December 2006 , Wallström was voted the most popular woman in Sweden , beating royals and athletes in a survey carried out by ICA-kuriren and Sifo . In the previous year she had attained second place . Wallström was modest in response stating that it might be because Im so far away . On 16 November 2007 , Margot Wallström , became Chair of the Council of Women World Leaders Ministerial Initiative . This position was previously held by former U.S . Secretary of State Madeleine K . Albright . United Nations Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict , 2010–2012 . On 31 January 2010 , the Secretary-General of the United Nations , Ban Ki-moon , announced at the African Union summit in Ethiopia his intention to nominate Wallström as his first ever United Nations Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict . As a reaction , Wallström said that she felt honoured and humble to have been chosen for the job , which she started in April 2010 . In August 2010 , Ban sent Wallström to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to help investigate claims that rebel fighters raped more than 150 women and baby boys over four days within miles of a UN base in the country . Wallström later addressed the United Nations Security Council in a September 2010 session on the use of sexual violence as a weapon by both rebel militias and government troops in the eastern provinces of the DRC . In her speech , she demonstrated that the rapes in the North Kivu and South Kivu provinces were not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of widespread systematic rape and pillage . On 18 September 2010 , Wallström confirmed that when her assignment with the UN came to an end in February 2012 , she would become the chair of the University Board at Lund University in Sweden . Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden , 2014–2019 . On 3 October 2014 , when the Social Democratic leader Stefan Löfven became Prime Minister , Wallström was appointed to the Swedish government as Minister of Foreign Affairs . On 30 October 2014 , Wallström became the first EU foreign minister to recognise the State of Palestine , with a view to facilitate a peace agreement by making the parties less unequal ; as a result , Israel the same day recalled its ambassador for consultations . Although a visit by Wallström to Israel had been planned for January 2015 , Israels foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman and prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu declined to receive her . Wallströms diplomatic immunity status in Israel was also revoked which meant that if she visited Israel she would do as an individual rather than an official of a foreign state , which would normally mean enjoying protection by security services . In a March 2018 interview , she stated that the intent behind the recognition was to speed up the process towards a Two-state solution but also admitted that no progress on that issue had been made . In December 2014 , Wallström called in the Russian ambassador to Sweden , Victor Ivanovitj Tatarintsev , over the behaviour of a Russian military jet which Swedish authorities said had caused an SAS flight from Copenhagen to Poznan , Poland , to change course off southern Sweden ; the incident inflamed sensitivities over Russian flights in the Nordic region , driven in part by tensions over separatism in eastern Ukraine . On 11 September 2015 , she again summoned Russias ambassador to explain comments from the Russian foreign ministry warning of consequences if Sweden joins NATO . In January 2015 , Wallström tweeted criticism of Saudi Arabias flogging of human rights activist blogger Raif Badawi , calling it a cruel attempt to silence modern forms of expression . In May 2015 , United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed Wallström as member of the High-Level Panel on Humanitarian Financing , an initiative aimed at preparing recommendations for the 2016 World Humanitarian Summit . One of Wallströms main foreign policy goals was to secure one of the non-permanent seats for Sweden on the UN Security Council in the 2016 elections . This was achieved on 28 June 2016 . In February 2018 , Wallström cancelled her visit to Turkey that was due in two weeks to protest the Turkish invasion of northern Syria aimed at ousting U.S.-backed Syrian Kurds from the enclave of Afrin . In December 2018 Wallström met with Iranian deputy foreign minister Abbas Araghchi in her office , a meeting which was unannounced by the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs . Political positions . Wallström promised a feminist foreign policy when her Social Democrats formed the coalition government in October 2014 . She has criticized the lack of womens rights in Saudi Arabia . The Spectator , the oldest continuously published magazine in the English language , wrote : On 10 March 2015 Sweden announced it would revoke a weapons export agreement with Saudi Arabia that had been in place since 2005 . Saudi Arabia retaliated by stopping visa issues for Swedish businesspeople , boycotting Wallströms speech from the Arab League , temporarily withdrawing their ambassador from Sweden , and refusing to accept four Amazonian monkeys from a Swedish zoo . King Carl XVI Gustaf then offered to mediate with the Saudi king , and a fellow Social Democrat member of the government , Björn von Sydow , travelled to meet King Salman bin Abdul Aziz and Prince Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud , taking him private letters from the Swedish King and from Prime Minister Stefan Löfven . These have remained classified , but in a press conference on 28 March , Wallström said : I am very pleased to announce that we can normalize our relations immediately , and that we are able to welcome the Saudi ambassador back to Sweden . It is deeply satisfying that we have been able to clear the misunderstanding that we insulted the world religion Islam . Wallström has called for more articles on Wikipedia about women related topics . Controversies . European integration . In 2005 , Wallström , in her capacity as EU Commissioner responsible for communications , came under pressure to justify her handling of a controversial speech that linked opposition to European integration with Nazi genocide , after it emerged she had changed the version published on the internet to remove the controversial passage . The original version of the speech , given to journalists ahead of Wallströms visit to Terezin in the Czech Republic to mark the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp , suggested that scrapping the idea of a supranational Europe could put the continent back on the road to a holocaust . Israel . In the aftermath of the November 2015 Paris attacks in which 137 were murdered , Wallström told Swedish television network SVT2 : To counteract the radicalization we must go back to the situation such as the one in the Middle East of which not the least the Palestinians see that , for us , there is no future : we must either accept a desperate situation or resort to violence . The Israeli government reacted angrily to Wallströms linking the murders to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict , summoning the Swedish ambassador and saying Wallströms statement bordered on anti-semitism and blood libel . In December 2015 Wallström denounced the ongoing wave of Palestinian knife and car-ramming attacks in Israel . However , on 12 January 2016 , Wallström called for an investigation into whether Israel was guilty of the extrajudicial killings of Palestinians during the violence , causing further anger in the Israeli political establishment . The Foreign Ministry of Israel issued an official statement saying that Wallströms irresponsible and delirious statements are giving support to terrorism and encouraging violence . This also caused further deterioration in Israel-Sweden relations , and Deputy Foreign Minister of Israel Tzipi Hotovely declared that Swedish politicians of the rank of deputy minister and above are not welcome in Israel . Though she later clarified that it was only the Foreign Minister and her aids what are not welcome . International law expert Noah Feldman stated Wallström misunderstands international law , which does not apply in these cases . For the above comment , the Simon Wiesenthal Center placed Wallström at place eight on its annual list of the worst anti-semitic/anti-israel incidents . Although she has criticized Israel , Wallström opposes the Boycott , Divestment , and Sanctions ( BDS ) movement , supports Israels right to defend itself , and is in favor of the two-state solution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict . She expressed her condemnation of BDS during an Israel day conference held by the Jewish community in Sweden . During Wallströms December 2016 visit to Israel and the Palestinian Authority , many Israeli officials , including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , refused to meet her , citing scheduling conflicts . Some sources suggest that the refusal stemmed from Wallströms policy on Israeli–Palestinian conflict . Wallström welcomed the UN Security Council Resolution 2334 and said it confirms the position of both the EU and Sweden on the continued Israeli settlement of the occupied West Bank . Rented apartment . On 15 January 2016 , Aftonbladet published information that Wallström was one of several labour officials who rented apartment in Stockholm , owned by the Swedish Municipal Workers Union , bypassing an average eight-year waiting list . Wallström replied that she acted in good faith and received a confirmation from highest-ranking officials , that all norms and rules were followed . Wallström accused the unions general secretary Annelie Nordström of not being truthful . The affair caused a controversy and prompted an investigation by a special prosecutor . The prosecutor closed the investigation in May 2016 and cleared Wallström , stating that there was no evidence any crime had been committed . Turkish child sex tweet . On 24 August 2016 Wallström tweeted that Turkish decision to allow sex with children under 15 must be reversed . Children need more protection , not less , against violence , sex abuse . This was after the Constitutional Court of Turkey cancelled a constitutional provision that made all sexual activities with children under the age of 15 criminal as sexual abuse . Turkish foreign minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu summoned Swedish ambassador for reprimand meeting and deputy prime minister Mehmet Simsek accused Wallström of being misinformed and acting without checking all facts . The original case was brought to the Constitutional Court by a lower court that was afraid there is no legal discrimination between teenagers that may understand the meaning of sex and toddlers that do not understand it . Other activities . Corporate boards . - Edberg Dialog , Member of the Board - Ica Gruppen , Member of the Board of Directors ( 2013–2014 ) Non-profit organizations . - Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue ( HD ) , Member of the Board ( since 2020 ) - European Council on Foreign Relations ( ECFR ) , Member - International Crisis Group , Member of the Board of Trustees - International Gender Champions ( IGC ) , Member - Institute for Human Rights & Business ( IHRB ) , Chair of the International Advisory Council - Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice ( MRFCJ ) , Member of the International Advisory Council - Svenska PostkodStiftelsen , Member of the Board of Directors - Enough Project , Fellow - Global Challenge Foundation , Member of the Board ( 2013–2014 ) - Institute for Human Rights and Business , Adviser ( 2012–2014 ) - International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance ( IDEA ) , Member of the Advisory Board ( 2011–2014 ) - Lund University , Chairwoman of the University Board ( 2012–2014 ) Recognition . - 2001 – Honorary doctor at Chalmers University , Sweden - 2002 – European Commissioner of the Year ( by European Voice ) - 2004 – Honorary doctor at Mälardalen University , Sweden - 2004 – IAIA Global Environmental Award - 2005 – Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree , University of Massachusetts Lowell , Lowell - 2008 – Göteborg Award for Sustainable Development ( jointly with Theo Colborn , Jan Ahlbom and Ulf Duus - 2009 – Monismanien Prize for Freedom of Speech - 2016 – Grand Star of the Order of Jerusalem , State of Palestine Personal life . Wallström has been married to her husband , Håkan , since 1984 . She has two sons . She lives in Stockholm and Värmland . Publications . - 2007 Foreword to Al Gores Swedish translation of the book An Inconvenient Truth . - 2004 Book ( together with MEP Göran Färm ) : The Peoples Europe or Why is it so hard to love the EU ? |
[
"United Nations Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict"
] | easy | What was the position of Margot Wallström from Feb 2010 to May 2012? | /wiki/Margot_Wallström#P39#6 | Margot Wallström Margot Elisabeth Wallström ( ; born 28 September 1954 ) is a Swedish politician of the Swedish Social Democratic Party who served as Deputy Prime Minister of Sweden and Minister for Nordic Cooperation from October 2014 to 2019 . She also served as the Minister for Foreign Affairs for Sweden from October 2014 until she resigned on 5 September 2019 . Wallström previously served as the first United Nations Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict from 2010 to 2012 , as Vice-President of the European Commission and European Commissioner for Institutional Relations and Communication Strategy from 2004 to 2010 , European Commissioner for the Environment from 1999 to 2004 , Minister for Consumer Affairs from 1988 to 1991 and Member of the Riksdag ( MP ) for Värmland from 1982 to 1999 . Early life and career . Born in Skellefteå , Wallström is a high school graduate without academic degrees . In 1973 , she started her career as a banking clerk at the Alfa Savings bank in Karlstad . She worked there from 1977 to 1979 , and briefly as an accountant from 1986 to 1987 . Wallström was the CEO of a regional TV network in Värmland , Sweden from 1993 to 1994 . Before taking up her appointment as EU Commissioner she was executive vice-president of Worldview Global Media in Colombo , Sri Lanka . Political career . Wallström has had a long career in politics in the Swedish parliament , the Swedish government , and the European Commission . At 25 , she was elected to parliament . She was Environment Commissioner from 1999 to 2004 , and in the Swedish government she was Minister for Consumer Affairs , Women and Youth from 1988 to 1991 , Minister for Culture from 1994 to 1996 , and Minister for Social Affairs from 1996 to 1998 . European Commissioner for the Environment , 1999–2004 . During her time in office , Wallström pushed the European Commissions initial proposal for REACH , a regulation requiring manufacturers of industrial chemicals to test and register their products with the European Chemicals Agency before they can be used . In 2004 , she approved the importation of a genetically modified corn from the United States for animal feed after a six-year moratorium , arguing in a statement that the corn produced by biotechnology company Monsanto , known as NK603 maize , had been rigorously tested and was considered as safe as any conventional maize . First Vice-President of the European Commission , 2004–2010 . In 2004 , Wallström became the first member of the European Commission to operate a blog . The comments section of her site quickly became a hotspot for arguments concerning the policies of the European Union . After the rejection of the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe by French and Dutch voters , Wallström pushed forward her plan D ( for democracy , dialogue and debate ) to reconnect Citizens with the Union . Her work on such platforms , including the backing of the oneseat.eu petition , has given her a good reputation in some quarters , even being dubbed the Citizens Commissioner – but has earned her names like the Propaganda Commissioner as well from political opponents . The Economist listed her among the least effective commissioners in 2009 . In 2006 , Wallström presented her a plan to transform the EUs Europe by Satellite ( EbS ) video-broadcast service into an EU news agency ; the plan was scrapped after press organizations complained that it would undermine the work of reporters covering the EU . Following Swedens 2006 election , in which the Social Democratic Party lost power , former Prime Minister Göran Persson announced his withdrawal from politics in March 2007 . Wallström was regarded as the favourite candidate to succeed Persson as Social Democratic party leader , but made clear that she did not wish to be considered for the position . The post instead went to Mona Sahlin . Between 2006 and 2007 , Wallström served as member of the Amato Group , a group of high-level European politicians unofficially working on rewriting the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe into what became known as the Treaty of Lisbon following its rejection by French and Dutch voters . Immediately after the election of Mona Sahlin as party leader , Wallström accepted a membership in a group working to develop political strategies for the upcoming election to the European Parliament in 2009 . The membership in this group was considered by Swedish liberal Carl B Hamilton ( and later also Fredrik Reinfeldt ) to constitute a breach of the oath every member of the European Commission gives , which states that any member of the commission should work for the communitys best interest with no influence from politicians . European Commission spokespeople Mikolaj Dowgielewicz and Pia Ahrenkilde-Hansen stated that her new assignment was not in conflict with her commissioner position . In December 2006 , Wallström was voted the most popular woman in Sweden , beating royals and athletes in a survey carried out by ICA-kuriren and Sifo . In the previous year she had attained second place . Wallström was modest in response stating that it might be because Im so far away . On 16 November 2007 , Margot Wallström , became Chair of the Council of Women World Leaders Ministerial Initiative . This position was previously held by former U.S . Secretary of State Madeleine K . Albright . United Nations Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict , 2010–2012 . On 31 January 2010 , the Secretary-General of the United Nations , Ban Ki-moon , announced at the African Union summit in Ethiopia his intention to nominate Wallström as his first ever United Nations Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict . As a reaction , Wallström said that she felt honoured and humble to have been chosen for the job , which she started in April 2010 . In August 2010 , Ban sent Wallström to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to help investigate claims that rebel fighters raped more than 150 women and baby boys over four days within miles of a UN base in the country . Wallström later addressed the United Nations Security Council in a September 2010 session on the use of sexual violence as a weapon by both rebel militias and government troops in the eastern provinces of the DRC . In her speech , she demonstrated that the rapes in the North Kivu and South Kivu provinces were not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of widespread systematic rape and pillage . On 18 September 2010 , Wallström confirmed that when her assignment with the UN came to an end in February 2012 , she would become the chair of the University Board at Lund University in Sweden . Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden , 2014–2019 . On 3 October 2014 , when the Social Democratic leader Stefan Löfven became Prime Minister , Wallström was appointed to the Swedish government as Minister of Foreign Affairs . On 30 October 2014 , Wallström became the first EU foreign minister to recognise the State of Palestine , with a view to facilitate a peace agreement by making the parties less unequal ; as a result , Israel the same day recalled its ambassador for consultations . Although a visit by Wallström to Israel had been planned for January 2015 , Israels foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman and prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu declined to receive her . Wallströms diplomatic immunity status in Israel was also revoked which meant that if she visited Israel she would do as an individual rather than an official of a foreign state , which would normally mean enjoying protection by security services . In a March 2018 interview , she stated that the intent behind the recognition was to speed up the process towards a Two-state solution but also admitted that no progress on that issue had been made . In December 2014 , Wallström called in the Russian ambassador to Sweden , Victor Ivanovitj Tatarintsev , over the behaviour of a Russian military jet which Swedish authorities said had caused an SAS flight from Copenhagen to Poznan , Poland , to change course off southern Sweden ; the incident inflamed sensitivities over Russian flights in the Nordic region , driven in part by tensions over separatism in eastern Ukraine . On 11 September 2015 , she again summoned Russias ambassador to explain comments from the Russian foreign ministry warning of consequences if Sweden joins NATO . In January 2015 , Wallström tweeted criticism of Saudi Arabias flogging of human rights activist blogger Raif Badawi , calling it a cruel attempt to silence modern forms of expression . In May 2015 , United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed Wallström as member of the High-Level Panel on Humanitarian Financing , an initiative aimed at preparing recommendations for the 2016 World Humanitarian Summit . One of Wallströms main foreign policy goals was to secure one of the non-permanent seats for Sweden on the UN Security Council in the 2016 elections . This was achieved on 28 June 2016 . In February 2018 , Wallström cancelled her visit to Turkey that was due in two weeks to protest the Turkish invasion of northern Syria aimed at ousting U.S.-backed Syrian Kurds from the enclave of Afrin . In December 2018 Wallström met with Iranian deputy foreign minister Abbas Araghchi in her office , a meeting which was unannounced by the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs . Political positions . Wallström promised a feminist foreign policy when her Social Democrats formed the coalition government in October 2014 . She has criticized the lack of womens rights in Saudi Arabia . The Spectator , the oldest continuously published magazine in the English language , wrote : On 10 March 2015 Sweden announced it would revoke a weapons export agreement with Saudi Arabia that had been in place since 2005 . Saudi Arabia retaliated by stopping visa issues for Swedish businesspeople , boycotting Wallströms speech from the Arab League , temporarily withdrawing their ambassador from Sweden , and refusing to accept four Amazonian monkeys from a Swedish zoo . King Carl XVI Gustaf then offered to mediate with the Saudi king , and a fellow Social Democrat member of the government , Björn von Sydow , travelled to meet King Salman bin Abdul Aziz and Prince Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud , taking him private letters from the Swedish King and from Prime Minister Stefan Löfven . These have remained classified , but in a press conference on 28 March , Wallström said : I am very pleased to announce that we can normalize our relations immediately , and that we are able to welcome the Saudi ambassador back to Sweden . It is deeply satisfying that we have been able to clear the misunderstanding that we insulted the world religion Islam . Wallström has called for more articles on Wikipedia about women related topics . Controversies . European integration . In 2005 , Wallström , in her capacity as EU Commissioner responsible for communications , came under pressure to justify her handling of a controversial speech that linked opposition to European integration with Nazi genocide , after it emerged she had changed the version published on the internet to remove the controversial passage . The original version of the speech , given to journalists ahead of Wallströms visit to Terezin in the Czech Republic to mark the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp , suggested that scrapping the idea of a supranational Europe could put the continent back on the road to a holocaust . Israel . In the aftermath of the November 2015 Paris attacks in which 137 were murdered , Wallström told Swedish television network SVT2 : To counteract the radicalization we must go back to the situation such as the one in the Middle East of which not the least the Palestinians see that , for us , there is no future : we must either accept a desperate situation or resort to violence . The Israeli government reacted angrily to Wallströms linking the murders to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict , summoning the Swedish ambassador and saying Wallströms statement bordered on anti-semitism and blood libel . In December 2015 Wallström denounced the ongoing wave of Palestinian knife and car-ramming attacks in Israel . However , on 12 January 2016 , Wallström called for an investigation into whether Israel was guilty of the extrajudicial killings of Palestinians during the violence , causing further anger in the Israeli political establishment . The Foreign Ministry of Israel issued an official statement saying that Wallströms irresponsible and delirious statements are giving support to terrorism and encouraging violence . This also caused further deterioration in Israel-Sweden relations , and Deputy Foreign Minister of Israel Tzipi Hotovely declared that Swedish politicians of the rank of deputy minister and above are not welcome in Israel . Though she later clarified that it was only the Foreign Minister and her aids what are not welcome . International law expert Noah Feldman stated Wallström misunderstands international law , which does not apply in these cases . For the above comment , the Simon Wiesenthal Center placed Wallström at place eight on its annual list of the worst anti-semitic/anti-israel incidents . Although she has criticized Israel , Wallström opposes the Boycott , Divestment , and Sanctions ( BDS ) movement , supports Israels right to defend itself , and is in favor of the two-state solution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict . She expressed her condemnation of BDS during an Israel day conference held by the Jewish community in Sweden . During Wallströms December 2016 visit to Israel and the Palestinian Authority , many Israeli officials , including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , refused to meet her , citing scheduling conflicts . Some sources suggest that the refusal stemmed from Wallströms policy on Israeli–Palestinian conflict . Wallström welcomed the UN Security Council Resolution 2334 and said it confirms the position of both the EU and Sweden on the continued Israeli settlement of the occupied West Bank . Rented apartment . On 15 January 2016 , Aftonbladet published information that Wallström was one of several labour officials who rented apartment in Stockholm , owned by the Swedish Municipal Workers Union , bypassing an average eight-year waiting list . Wallström replied that she acted in good faith and received a confirmation from highest-ranking officials , that all norms and rules were followed . Wallström accused the unions general secretary Annelie Nordström of not being truthful . The affair caused a controversy and prompted an investigation by a special prosecutor . The prosecutor closed the investigation in May 2016 and cleared Wallström , stating that there was no evidence any crime had been committed . Turkish child sex tweet . On 24 August 2016 Wallström tweeted that Turkish decision to allow sex with children under 15 must be reversed . Children need more protection , not less , against violence , sex abuse . This was after the Constitutional Court of Turkey cancelled a constitutional provision that made all sexual activities with children under the age of 15 criminal as sexual abuse . Turkish foreign minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu summoned Swedish ambassador for reprimand meeting and deputy prime minister Mehmet Simsek accused Wallström of being misinformed and acting without checking all facts . The original case was brought to the Constitutional Court by a lower court that was afraid there is no legal discrimination between teenagers that may understand the meaning of sex and toddlers that do not understand it . Other activities . Corporate boards . - Edberg Dialog , Member of the Board - Ica Gruppen , Member of the Board of Directors ( 2013–2014 ) Non-profit organizations . - Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue ( HD ) , Member of the Board ( since 2020 ) - European Council on Foreign Relations ( ECFR ) , Member - International Crisis Group , Member of the Board of Trustees - International Gender Champions ( IGC ) , Member - Institute for Human Rights & Business ( IHRB ) , Chair of the International Advisory Council - Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice ( MRFCJ ) , Member of the International Advisory Council - Svenska PostkodStiftelsen , Member of the Board of Directors - Enough Project , Fellow - Global Challenge Foundation , Member of the Board ( 2013–2014 ) - Institute for Human Rights and Business , Adviser ( 2012–2014 ) - International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance ( IDEA ) , Member of the Advisory Board ( 2011–2014 ) - Lund University , Chairwoman of the University Board ( 2012–2014 ) Recognition . - 2001 – Honorary doctor at Chalmers University , Sweden - 2002 – European Commissioner of the Year ( by European Voice ) - 2004 – Honorary doctor at Mälardalen University , Sweden - 2004 – IAIA Global Environmental Award - 2005 – Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree , University of Massachusetts Lowell , Lowell - 2008 – Göteborg Award for Sustainable Development ( jointly with Theo Colborn , Jan Ahlbom and Ulf Duus - 2009 – Monismanien Prize for Freedom of Speech - 2016 – Grand Star of the Order of Jerusalem , State of Palestine Personal life . Wallström has been married to her husband , Håkan , since 1984 . She has two sons . She lives in Stockholm and Värmland . Publications . - 2007 Foreword to Al Gores Swedish translation of the book An Inconvenient Truth . - 2004 Book ( together with MEP Göran Färm ) : The Peoples Europe or Why is it so hard to love the EU ? |
[
"Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden"
] | easy | What was the position of Margot Wallström from Oct 2014 to May 2016? | /wiki/Margot_Wallström#P39#7 | Margot Wallström Margot Elisabeth Wallström ( ; born 28 September 1954 ) is a Swedish politician of the Swedish Social Democratic Party who served as Deputy Prime Minister of Sweden and Minister for Nordic Cooperation from October 2014 to 2019 . She also served as the Minister for Foreign Affairs for Sweden from October 2014 until she resigned on 5 September 2019 . Wallström previously served as the first United Nations Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict from 2010 to 2012 , as Vice-President of the European Commission and European Commissioner for Institutional Relations and Communication Strategy from 2004 to 2010 , European Commissioner for the Environment from 1999 to 2004 , Minister for Consumer Affairs from 1988 to 1991 and Member of the Riksdag ( MP ) for Värmland from 1982 to 1999 . Early life and career . Born in Skellefteå , Wallström is a high school graduate without academic degrees . In 1973 , she started her career as a banking clerk at the Alfa Savings bank in Karlstad . She worked there from 1977 to 1979 , and briefly as an accountant from 1986 to 1987 . Wallström was the CEO of a regional TV network in Värmland , Sweden from 1993 to 1994 . Before taking up her appointment as EU Commissioner she was executive vice-president of Worldview Global Media in Colombo , Sri Lanka . Political career . Wallström has had a long career in politics in the Swedish parliament , the Swedish government , and the European Commission . At 25 , she was elected to parliament . She was Environment Commissioner from 1999 to 2004 , and in the Swedish government she was Minister for Consumer Affairs , Women and Youth from 1988 to 1991 , Minister for Culture from 1994 to 1996 , and Minister for Social Affairs from 1996 to 1998 . European Commissioner for the Environment , 1999–2004 . During her time in office , Wallström pushed the European Commissions initial proposal for REACH , a regulation requiring manufacturers of industrial chemicals to test and register their products with the European Chemicals Agency before they can be used . In 2004 , she approved the importation of a genetically modified corn from the United States for animal feed after a six-year moratorium , arguing in a statement that the corn produced by biotechnology company Monsanto , known as NK603 maize , had been rigorously tested and was considered as safe as any conventional maize . First Vice-President of the European Commission , 2004–2010 . In 2004 , Wallström became the first member of the European Commission to operate a blog . The comments section of her site quickly became a hotspot for arguments concerning the policies of the European Union . After the rejection of the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe by French and Dutch voters , Wallström pushed forward her plan D ( for democracy , dialogue and debate ) to reconnect Citizens with the Union . Her work on such platforms , including the backing of the oneseat.eu petition , has given her a good reputation in some quarters , even being dubbed the Citizens Commissioner – but has earned her names like the Propaganda Commissioner as well from political opponents . The Economist listed her among the least effective commissioners in 2009 . In 2006 , Wallström presented her a plan to transform the EUs Europe by Satellite ( EbS ) video-broadcast service into an EU news agency ; the plan was scrapped after press organizations complained that it would undermine the work of reporters covering the EU . Following Swedens 2006 election , in which the Social Democratic Party lost power , former Prime Minister Göran Persson announced his withdrawal from politics in March 2007 . Wallström was regarded as the favourite candidate to succeed Persson as Social Democratic party leader , but made clear that she did not wish to be considered for the position . The post instead went to Mona Sahlin . Between 2006 and 2007 , Wallström served as member of the Amato Group , a group of high-level European politicians unofficially working on rewriting the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe into what became known as the Treaty of Lisbon following its rejection by French and Dutch voters . Immediately after the election of Mona Sahlin as party leader , Wallström accepted a membership in a group working to develop political strategies for the upcoming election to the European Parliament in 2009 . The membership in this group was considered by Swedish liberal Carl B Hamilton ( and later also Fredrik Reinfeldt ) to constitute a breach of the oath every member of the European Commission gives , which states that any member of the commission should work for the communitys best interest with no influence from politicians . European Commission spokespeople Mikolaj Dowgielewicz and Pia Ahrenkilde-Hansen stated that her new assignment was not in conflict with her commissioner position . In December 2006 , Wallström was voted the most popular woman in Sweden , beating royals and athletes in a survey carried out by ICA-kuriren and Sifo . In the previous year she had attained second place . Wallström was modest in response stating that it might be because Im so far away . On 16 November 2007 , Margot Wallström , became Chair of the Council of Women World Leaders Ministerial Initiative . This position was previously held by former U.S . Secretary of State Madeleine K . Albright . United Nations Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict , 2010–2012 . On 31 January 2010 , the Secretary-General of the United Nations , Ban Ki-moon , announced at the African Union summit in Ethiopia his intention to nominate Wallström as his first ever United Nations Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict . As a reaction , Wallström said that she felt honoured and humble to have been chosen for the job , which she started in April 2010 . In August 2010 , Ban sent Wallström to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to help investigate claims that rebel fighters raped more than 150 women and baby boys over four days within miles of a UN base in the country . Wallström later addressed the United Nations Security Council in a September 2010 session on the use of sexual violence as a weapon by both rebel militias and government troops in the eastern provinces of the DRC . In her speech , she demonstrated that the rapes in the North Kivu and South Kivu provinces were not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of widespread systematic rape and pillage . On 18 September 2010 , Wallström confirmed that when her assignment with the UN came to an end in February 2012 , she would become the chair of the University Board at Lund University in Sweden . Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden , 2014–2019 . On 3 October 2014 , when the Social Democratic leader Stefan Löfven became Prime Minister , Wallström was appointed to the Swedish government as Minister of Foreign Affairs . On 30 October 2014 , Wallström became the first EU foreign minister to recognise the State of Palestine , with a view to facilitate a peace agreement by making the parties less unequal ; as a result , Israel the same day recalled its ambassador for consultations . Although a visit by Wallström to Israel had been planned for January 2015 , Israels foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman and prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu declined to receive her . Wallströms diplomatic immunity status in Israel was also revoked which meant that if she visited Israel she would do as an individual rather than an official of a foreign state , which would normally mean enjoying protection by security services . In a March 2018 interview , she stated that the intent behind the recognition was to speed up the process towards a Two-state solution but also admitted that no progress on that issue had been made . In December 2014 , Wallström called in the Russian ambassador to Sweden , Victor Ivanovitj Tatarintsev , over the behaviour of a Russian military jet which Swedish authorities said had caused an SAS flight from Copenhagen to Poznan , Poland , to change course off southern Sweden ; the incident inflamed sensitivities over Russian flights in the Nordic region , driven in part by tensions over separatism in eastern Ukraine . On 11 September 2015 , she again summoned Russias ambassador to explain comments from the Russian foreign ministry warning of consequences if Sweden joins NATO . In January 2015 , Wallström tweeted criticism of Saudi Arabias flogging of human rights activist blogger Raif Badawi , calling it a cruel attempt to silence modern forms of expression . In May 2015 , United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed Wallström as member of the High-Level Panel on Humanitarian Financing , an initiative aimed at preparing recommendations for the 2016 World Humanitarian Summit . One of Wallströms main foreign policy goals was to secure one of the non-permanent seats for Sweden on the UN Security Council in the 2016 elections . This was achieved on 28 June 2016 . In February 2018 , Wallström cancelled her visit to Turkey that was due in two weeks to protest the Turkish invasion of northern Syria aimed at ousting U.S.-backed Syrian Kurds from the enclave of Afrin . In December 2018 Wallström met with Iranian deputy foreign minister Abbas Araghchi in her office , a meeting which was unannounced by the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs . Political positions . Wallström promised a feminist foreign policy when her Social Democrats formed the coalition government in October 2014 . She has criticized the lack of womens rights in Saudi Arabia . The Spectator , the oldest continuously published magazine in the English language , wrote : On 10 March 2015 Sweden announced it would revoke a weapons export agreement with Saudi Arabia that had been in place since 2005 . Saudi Arabia retaliated by stopping visa issues for Swedish businesspeople , boycotting Wallströms speech from the Arab League , temporarily withdrawing their ambassador from Sweden , and refusing to accept four Amazonian monkeys from a Swedish zoo . King Carl XVI Gustaf then offered to mediate with the Saudi king , and a fellow Social Democrat member of the government , Björn von Sydow , travelled to meet King Salman bin Abdul Aziz and Prince Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud , taking him private letters from the Swedish King and from Prime Minister Stefan Löfven . These have remained classified , but in a press conference on 28 March , Wallström said : I am very pleased to announce that we can normalize our relations immediately , and that we are able to welcome the Saudi ambassador back to Sweden . It is deeply satisfying that we have been able to clear the misunderstanding that we insulted the world religion Islam . Wallström has called for more articles on Wikipedia about women related topics . Controversies . European integration . In 2005 , Wallström , in her capacity as EU Commissioner responsible for communications , came under pressure to justify her handling of a controversial speech that linked opposition to European integration with Nazi genocide , after it emerged she had changed the version published on the internet to remove the controversial passage . The original version of the speech , given to journalists ahead of Wallströms visit to Terezin in the Czech Republic to mark the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp , suggested that scrapping the idea of a supranational Europe could put the continent back on the road to a holocaust . Israel . In the aftermath of the November 2015 Paris attacks in which 137 were murdered , Wallström told Swedish television network SVT2 : To counteract the radicalization we must go back to the situation such as the one in the Middle East of which not the least the Palestinians see that , for us , there is no future : we must either accept a desperate situation or resort to violence . The Israeli government reacted angrily to Wallströms linking the murders to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict , summoning the Swedish ambassador and saying Wallströms statement bordered on anti-semitism and blood libel . In December 2015 Wallström denounced the ongoing wave of Palestinian knife and car-ramming attacks in Israel . However , on 12 January 2016 , Wallström called for an investigation into whether Israel was guilty of the extrajudicial killings of Palestinians during the violence , causing further anger in the Israeli political establishment . The Foreign Ministry of Israel issued an official statement saying that Wallströms irresponsible and delirious statements are giving support to terrorism and encouraging violence . This also caused further deterioration in Israel-Sweden relations , and Deputy Foreign Minister of Israel Tzipi Hotovely declared that Swedish politicians of the rank of deputy minister and above are not welcome in Israel . Though she later clarified that it was only the Foreign Minister and her aids what are not welcome . International law expert Noah Feldman stated Wallström misunderstands international law , which does not apply in these cases . For the above comment , the Simon Wiesenthal Center placed Wallström at place eight on its annual list of the worst anti-semitic/anti-israel incidents . Although she has criticized Israel , Wallström opposes the Boycott , Divestment , and Sanctions ( BDS ) movement , supports Israels right to defend itself , and is in favor of the two-state solution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict . She expressed her condemnation of BDS during an Israel day conference held by the Jewish community in Sweden . During Wallströms December 2016 visit to Israel and the Palestinian Authority , many Israeli officials , including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , refused to meet her , citing scheduling conflicts . Some sources suggest that the refusal stemmed from Wallströms policy on Israeli–Palestinian conflict . Wallström welcomed the UN Security Council Resolution 2334 and said it confirms the position of both the EU and Sweden on the continued Israeli settlement of the occupied West Bank . Rented apartment . On 15 January 2016 , Aftonbladet published information that Wallström was one of several labour officials who rented apartment in Stockholm , owned by the Swedish Municipal Workers Union , bypassing an average eight-year waiting list . Wallström replied that she acted in good faith and received a confirmation from highest-ranking officials , that all norms and rules were followed . Wallström accused the unions general secretary Annelie Nordström of not being truthful . The affair caused a controversy and prompted an investigation by a special prosecutor . The prosecutor closed the investigation in May 2016 and cleared Wallström , stating that there was no evidence any crime had been committed . Turkish child sex tweet . On 24 August 2016 Wallström tweeted that Turkish decision to allow sex with children under 15 must be reversed . Children need more protection , not less , against violence , sex abuse . This was after the Constitutional Court of Turkey cancelled a constitutional provision that made all sexual activities with children under the age of 15 criminal as sexual abuse . Turkish foreign minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu summoned Swedish ambassador for reprimand meeting and deputy prime minister Mehmet Simsek accused Wallström of being misinformed and acting without checking all facts . The original case was brought to the Constitutional Court by a lower court that was afraid there is no legal discrimination between teenagers that may understand the meaning of sex and toddlers that do not understand it . Other activities . Corporate boards . - Edberg Dialog , Member of the Board - Ica Gruppen , Member of the Board of Directors ( 2013–2014 ) Non-profit organizations . - Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue ( HD ) , Member of the Board ( since 2020 ) - European Council on Foreign Relations ( ECFR ) , Member - International Crisis Group , Member of the Board of Trustees - International Gender Champions ( IGC ) , Member - Institute for Human Rights & Business ( IHRB ) , Chair of the International Advisory Council - Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice ( MRFCJ ) , Member of the International Advisory Council - Svenska PostkodStiftelsen , Member of the Board of Directors - Enough Project , Fellow - Global Challenge Foundation , Member of the Board ( 2013–2014 ) - Institute for Human Rights and Business , Adviser ( 2012–2014 ) - International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance ( IDEA ) , Member of the Advisory Board ( 2011–2014 ) - Lund University , Chairwoman of the University Board ( 2012–2014 ) Recognition . - 2001 – Honorary doctor at Chalmers University , Sweden - 2002 – European Commissioner of the Year ( by European Voice ) - 2004 – Honorary doctor at Mälardalen University , Sweden - 2004 – IAIA Global Environmental Award - 2005 – Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree , University of Massachusetts Lowell , Lowell - 2008 – Göteborg Award for Sustainable Development ( jointly with Theo Colborn , Jan Ahlbom and Ulf Duus - 2009 – Monismanien Prize for Freedom of Speech - 2016 – Grand Star of the Order of Jerusalem , State of Palestine Personal life . Wallström has been married to her husband , Håkan , since 1984 . She has two sons . She lives in Stockholm and Värmland . Publications . - 2007 Foreword to Al Gores Swedish translation of the book An Inconvenient Truth . - 2004 Book ( together with MEP Göran Färm ) : The Peoples Europe or Why is it so hard to love the EU ? |
[
"D.C . United"
] | easy | Marc Burch played for which team from 2007 to 2011? | /wiki/Marc_Burch#P54#0 | Marc Burch Marc Burch ( born May 7 , 1984 in Cincinnati , Ohio ) is an American soccer player who currently plays for Memphis 901 in the USL Championship . Career . College and amateur . Burch played college soccer at the University of Evansville for three seasons from 2002–2004 , scoring seven goals and assisting on 22 along the way , and spent the summer months playing for the Cleveland Internationals in the USL Premier Development League . After the 2004 season he transferred to the University of Maryland , where he would become a crucial member of the Terrapin squad that won the College Cup , even scoring the game-winning goal in the championship against New Mexico . Professional . Burch was drafted in the second round , 24th overall , by Los Angeles Galaxy in the 2006 MLS SuperDraft . On July 11 , 2006 , Burch was traded from Galaxy after appearing in only 3 games . He was sent to Columbus Crew for a second-round pick in the 2007 MLS Supplemental Draft . Burch was traded again on April 4 , 2007 to D.C . United for a third-round 2008 MLS Supplemental Draft pick . There he was converted from a striker to a left back . He scored his first professional goal against Toronto FC on September 29 , 2007 in a 4–1 win for D.C . In 2008 , he scored both goals from 2 free kicks in a 2–0 win for D.C . over Rochester Raging Rhinos in the 2008 U.S . Open Cup third round . It has been pointed out by D.C . United broadcaster Thomas Rongen that Marc Burch serves great balls from his position as a left back/left midfielder in D.C . Uniteds formation . Burch remained with D.C . through the 2011 season . At seasons end , the club declined his 2012 contract option and he entered the 2011 MLS Re-Entry Draft . On December 12 , 2011 , Seattle Sounders FC selected Burch with the first pick of stage two of the Re-Entry Draft . On January 3 , 2012 , he signed with the Sounders . On November 10 , 2012 MLS Commissioner Don Garber suspended Burch for three games and fined him an undisclosed amount for using unacceptable and offensive language toward Will Johnson in a playoff game against Real Salt Lake . Burch had been caught on camera appearing to use homophobic language towards Johnson . Garber also ordered Burch to attend diversity and sensitivity training . Burch sat out the two-game Western Conference finals games against the Los Angeles Galaxy . Burch quickly issued an apology through Facebook as well as the official Seattle Sounders site . Following the 2013 season Seattle cut ties with Burch . In December 2013 , he was selected by Colorado Rapids in stage one of the 2013 MLS Re-Entry Draft . On March 31 , 2017 Burch and Sam Cronin were traded by Colorado to Minnesota United FC for Josh Gatt , Mohammed Saeid and an international roster spot . Burch was released by Minnesota at the end of their 2018 season . On January 30 , 2019 , Burch joined USL Championship side Memphis 901 ahead of their inaugural season . He was also named as the club captain . Honors . D.C . United . - Major League Soccer Supporters Shield ( 1 ) : 2007 - Lamar Hunt U.S . Open Cup ( 1 ) : 2008 |
[
""
] | easy | Marc Burch played for which team from 2012 to 2013? | /wiki/Marc_Burch#P54#1 | Marc Burch Marc Burch ( born May 7 , 1984 in Cincinnati , Ohio ) is an American soccer player who currently plays for Memphis 901 in the USL Championship . Career . College and amateur . Burch played college soccer at the University of Evansville for three seasons from 2002–2004 , scoring seven goals and assisting on 22 along the way , and spent the summer months playing for the Cleveland Internationals in the USL Premier Development League . After the 2004 season he transferred to the University of Maryland , where he would become a crucial member of the Terrapin squad that won the College Cup , even scoring the game-winning goal in the championship against New Mexico . Professional . Burch was drafted in the second round , 24th overall , by Los Angeles Galaxy in the 2006 MLS SuperDraft . On July 11 , 2006 , Burch was traded from Galaxy after appearing in only 3 games . He was sent to Columbus Crew for a second-round pick in the 2007 MLS Supplemental Draft . Burch was traded again on April 4 , 2007 to D.C . United for a third-round 2008 MLS Supplemental Draft pick . There he was converted from a striker to a left back . He scored his first professional goal against Toronto FC on September 29 , 2007 in a 4–1 win for D.C . In 2008 , he scored both goals from 2 free kicks in a 2–0 win for D.C . over Rochester Raging Rhinos in the 2008 U.S . Open Cup third round . It has been pointed out by D.C . United broadcaster Thomas Rongen that Marc Burch serves great balls from his position as a left back/left midfielder in D.C . Uniteds formation . Burch remained with D.C . through the 2011 season . At seasons end , the club declined his 2012 contract option and he entered the 2011 MLS Re-Entry Draft . On December 12 , 2011 , Seattle Sounders FC selected Burch with the first pick of stage two of the Re-Entry Draft . On January 3 , 2012 , he signed with the Sounders . On November 10 , 2012 MLS Commissioner Don Garber suspended Burch for three games and fined him an undisclosed amount for using unacceptable and offensive language toward Will Johnson in a playoff game against Real Salt Lake . Burch had been caught on camera appearing to use homophobic language towards Johnson . Garber also ordered Burch to attend diversity and sensitivity training . Burch sat out the two-game Western Conference finals games against the Los Angeles Galaxy . Burch quickly issued an apology through Facebook as well as the official Seattle Sounders site . Following the 2013 season Seattle cut ties with Burch . In December 2013 , he was selected by Colorado Rapids in stage one of the 2013 MLS Re-Entry Draft . On March 31 , 2017 Burch and Sam Cronin were traded by Colorado to Minnesota United FC for Josh Gatt , Mohammed Saeid and an international roster spot . Burch was released by Minnesota at the end of their 2018 season . On January 30 , 2019 , Burch joined USL Championship side Memphis 901 ahead of their inaugural season . He was also named as the club captain . Honors . D.C . United . - Major League Soccer Supporters Shield ( 1 ) : 2007 - Lamar Hunt U.S . Open Cup ( 1 ) : 2008 |
[
"Colorado Rapids"
] | easy | Marc Burch played for which team from 2014 to 2017? | /wiki/Marc_Burch#P54#2 | Marc Burch Marc Burch ( born May 7 , 1984 in Cincinnati , Ohio ) is an American soccer player who currently plays for Memphis 901 in the USL Championship . Career . College and amateur . Burch played college soccer at the University of Evansville for three seasons from 2002–2004 , scoring seven goals and assisting on 22 along the way , and spent the summer months playing for the Cleveland Internationals in the USL Premier Development League . After the 2004 season he transferred to the University of Maryland , where he would become a crucial member of the Terrapin squad that won the College Cup , even scoring the game-winning goal in the championship against New Mexico . Professional . Burch was drafted in the second round , 24th overall , by Los Angeles Galaxy in the 2006 MLS SuperDraft . On July 11 , 2006 , Burch was traded from Galaxy after appearing in only 3 games . He was sent to Columbus Crew for a second-round pick in the 2007 MLS Supplemental Draft . Burch was traded again on April 4 , 2007 to D.C . United for a third-round 2008 MLS Supplemental Draft pick . There he was converted from a striker to a left back . He scored his first professional goal against Toronto FC on September 29 , 2007 in a 4–1 win for D.C . In 2008 , he scored both goals from 2 free kicks in a 2–0 win for D.C . over Rochester Raging Rhinos in the 2008 U.S . Open Cup third round . It has been pointed out by D.C . United broadcaster Thomas Rongen that Marc Burch serves great balls from his position as a left back/left midfielder in D.C . Uniteds formation . Burch remained with D.C . through the 2011 season . At seasons end , the club declined his 2012 contract option and he entered the 2011 MLS Re-Entry Draft . On December 12 , 2011 , Seattle Sounders FC selected Burch with the first pick of stage two of the Re-Entry Draft . On January 3 , 2012 , he signed with the Sounders . On November 10 , 2012 MLS Commissioner Don Garber suspended Burch for three games and fined him an undisclosed amount for using unacceptable and offensive language toward Will Johnson in a playoff game against Real Salt Lake . Burch had been caught on camera appearing to use homophobic language towards Johnson . Garber also ordered Burch to attend diversity and sensitivity training . Burch sat out the two-game Western Conference finals games against the Los Angeles Galaxy . Burch quickly issued an apology through Facebook as well as the official Seattle Sounders site . Following the 2013 season Seattle cut ties with Burch . In December 2013 , he was selected by Colorado Rapids in stage one of the 2013 MLS Re-Entry Draft . On March 31 , 2017 Burch and Sam Cronin were traded by Colorado to Minnesota United FC for Josh Gatt , Mohammed Saeid and an international roster spot . Burch was released by Minnesota at the end of their 2018 season . On January 30 , 2019 , Burch joined USL Championship side Memphis 901 ahead of their inaugural season . He was also named as the club captain . Honors . D.C . United . - Major League Soccer Supporters Shield ( 1 ) : 2007 - Lamar Hunt U.S . Open Cup ( 1 ) : 2008 |
[
"Minnesota United FC"
] | easy | Which team did the player Marc Burch belong to from 2017 to 2018? | /wiki/Marc_Burch#P54#3 | Marc Burch Marc Burch ( born May 7 , 1984 in Cincinnati , Ohio ) is an American soccer player who currently plays for Memphis 901 in the USL Championship . Career . College and amateur . Burch played college soccer at the University of Evansville for three seasons from 2002–2004 , scoring seven goals and assisting on 22 along the way , and spent the summer months playing for the Cleveland Internationals in the USL Premier Development League . After the 2004 season he transferred to the University of Maryland , where he would become a crucial member of the Terrapin squad that won the College Cup , even scoring the game-winning goal in the championship against New Mexico . Professional . Burch was drafted in the second round , 24th overall , by Los Angeles Galaxy in the 2006 MLS SuperDraft . On July 11 , 2006 , Burch was traded from Galaxy after appearing in only 3 games . He was sent to Columbus Crew for a second-round pick in the 2007 MLS Supplemental Draft . Burch was traded again on April 4 , 2007 to D.C . United for a third-round 2008 MLS Supplemental Draft pick . There he was converted from a striker to a left back . He scored his first professional goal against Toronto FC on September 29 , 2007 in a 4–1 win for D.C . In 2008 , he scored both goals from 2 free kicks in a 2–0 win for D.C . over Rochester Raging Rhinos in the 2008 U.S . Open Cup third round . It has been pointed out by D.C . United broadcaster Thomas Rongen that Marc Burch serves great balls from his position as a left back/left midfielder in D.C . Uniteds formation . Burch remained with D.C . through the 2011 season . At seasons end , the club declined his 2012 contract option and he entered the 2011 MLS Re-Entry Draft . On December 12 , 2011 , Seattle Sounders FC selected Burch with the first pick of stage two of the Re-Entry Draft . On January 3 , 2012 , he signed with the Sounders . On November 10 , 2012 MLS Commissioner Don Garber suspended Burch for three games and fined him an undisclosed amount for using unacceptable and offensive language toward Will Johnson in a playoff game against Real Salt Lake . Burch had been caught on camera appearing to use homophobic language towards Johnson . Garber also ordered Burch to attend diversity and sensitivity training . Burch sat out the two-game Western Conference finals games against the Los Angeles Galaxy . Burch quickly issued an apology through Facebook as well as the official Seattle Sounders site . Following the 2013 season Seattle cut ties with Burch . In December 2013 , he was selected by Colorado Rapids in stage one of the 2013 MLS Re-Entry Draft . On March 31 , 2017 Burch and Sam Cronin were traded by Colorado to Minnesota United FC for Josh Gatt , Mohammed Saeid and an international roster spot . Burch was released by Minnesota at the end of their 2018 season . On January 30 , 2019 , Burch joined USL Championship side Memphis 901 ahead of their inaugural season . He was also named as the club captain . Honors . D.C . United . - Major League Soccer Supporters Shield ( 1 ) : 2007 - Lamar Hunt U.S . Open Cup ( 1 ) : 2008 |
[
"Memphis 901"
] | easy | Which team did the player Marc Burch belong to from 2019 to 2020? | /wiki/Marc_Burch#P54#4 | Marc Burch Marc Burch ( born May 7 , 1984 in Cincinnati , Ohio ) is an American soccer player who currently plays for Memphis 901 in the USL Championship . Career . College and amateur . Burch played college soccer at the University of Evansville for three seasons from 2002–2004 , scoring seven goals and assisting on 22 along the way , and spent the summer months playing for the Cleveland Internationals in the USL Premier Development League . After the 2004 season he transferred to the University of Maryland , where he would become a crucial member of the Terrapin squad that won the College Cup , even scoring the game-winning goal in the championship against New Mexico . Professional . Burch was drafted in the second round , 24th overall , by Los Angeles Galaxy in the 2006 MLS SuperDraft . On July 11 , 2006 , Burch was traded from Galaxy after appearing in only 3 games . He was sent to Columbus Crew for a second-round pick in the 2007 MLS Supplemental Draft . Burch was traded again on April 4 , 2007 to D.C . United for a third-round 2008 MLS Supplemental Draft pick . There he was converted from a striker to a left back . He scored his first professional goal against Toronto FC on September 29 , 2007 in a 4–1 win for D.C . In 2008 , he scored both goals from 2 free kicks in a 2–0 win for D.C . over Rochester Raging Rhinos in the 2008 U.S . Open Cup third round . It has been pointed out by D.C . United broadcaster Thomas Rongen that Marc Burch serves great balls from his position as a left back/left midfielder in D.C . Uniteds formation . Burch remained with D.C . through the 2011 season . At seasons end , the club declined his 2012 contract option and he entered the 2011 MLS Re-Entry Draft . On December 12 , 2011 , Seattle Sounders FC selected Burch with the first pick of stage two of the Re-Entry Draft . On January 3 , 2012 , he signed with the Sounders . On November 10 , 2012 MLS Commissioner Don Garber suspended Burch for three games and fined him an undisclosed amount for using unacceptable and offensive language toward Will Johnson in a playoff game against Real Salt Lake . Burch had been caught on camera appearing to use homophobic language towards Johnson . Garber also ordered Burch to attend diversity and sensitivity training . Burch sat out the two-game Western Conference finals games against the Los Angeles Galaxy . Burch quickly issued an apology through Facebook as well as the official Seattle Sounders site . Following the 2013 season Seattle cut ties with Burch . In December 2013 , he was selected by Colorado Rapids in stage one of the 2013 MLS Re-Entry Draft . On March 31 , 2017 Burch and Sam Cronin were traded by Colorado to Minnesota United FC for Josh Gatt , Mohammed Saeid and an international roster spot . Burch was released by Minnesota at the end of their 2018 season . On January 30 , 2019 , Burch joined USL Championship side Memphis 901 ahead of their inaugural season . He was also named as the club captain . Honors . D.C . United . - Major League Soccer Supporters Shield ( 1 ) : 2007 - Lamar Hunt U.S . Open Cup ( 1 ) : 2008 |
[
"Chinese"
] | easy | What citizenship did Ye Jianying hold from Apr 1897 to 1912? | /wiki/Ye_Jianying#P27#0 | Ye Jianying Ye Jianying ( ; 28 April 1897 – 22 October 1986 ) was a Chinese communist revolutionary leader and politician , one of the founding Ten Marshals of the Peoples Liberation Army . He was the top military leader in the 1976 coup that overthrew the Gang of Four and ended the Cultural Revolution , and was the key supporter of Deng Xiaoping in his power struggle with Hua Guofeng . After Deng ascended power , Ye served as Chinas head of state as Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress from 1978 to 1983 . Life . Born Ye Yiwei ( ) into a wealthy Christian Hakka merchant family in Jiaying county ( modern-day renamed as Meixian District ) , Guangdong , his courtesy name was Cangbai ( ) . After graduation from the Yunnan Military Academy in 1919 , he joined Sun Yat-sen and the Kuomintang ( KMT ) . He taught at the Whampoa Military Academy , and in 1927 joined the Communist Party . That year , he participated in the failed Nanchang Uprising and was forced to flee to Hong Kong with two other uprising leaders , Zhou Enlai and Ye Ting ( no relation ) , with only a pair of handguns to share between them . Shortly after , he faithfully carried out his assigned duties during the Guangzhou Uprising , although he had been opposed to it ; upon this uprisings failure he was once again obliged to flee to Hong Kong with Ye Ting and Nie Rongzhen . However , Ye was far more fortunate than Ye Ting , who was made a scapegoat for the Cominterns failures and forced into exile . Ye was not blamed , and subsequently studied military science in Moscow . After returning to China in 1932 he joined the Jiangxi Soviet , serving as Chief of Staff of Zhang Guotaos Fourth Front Army . However , after Zhangs fighters met up with Mao Zedongs force during the Long March , the two leaders disagreed on the subsequent move of the Chinese Red Army . Zhang insisted on turning southward to establish a new base in the regions inhabited by Tibetan and Qiang minorities . ( This later proved to be a disaster , as Mao had anticipated , with Zhang losing over 75% of his men and retreating to the Communist base at Shaanxi. ) During the two leaders disagreement , Ye – though he was Zhangs Chief of Staff – sided with Mao ; and instead of supporting Zhang unconditionally as he had during the Guangzhou Uprising , Ye absconded to Maos headquarters with Zhangs code books and maps . As a result , Zhangs communications with Comintern were cut , while Mao was able to establish a radio link , leading to Cominterns acceptance of Maos leadership in the Communist Party of China . Mao would never forget Yes contribution , observing later that Ye Jianying saved the ( Chinese Communist ) Party , the ( Chinese ) Red Army , and the ( Chinese ) Revolution . During the Long March , Ye assisted Liu Bocheng in directing the crossing of the Yangtze River at Anshunchang and Luding Bridge . After 1936 , Ye became director of the offices that liaised with the KMT , first in Xian , then in Nanjing and finally in Chongqing . He worked together with Zhou Enlai in this capacity . After the establishment of the Peoples Republic of China , Ye was placed in charge of Guangdong , which was to cost him his political career under Maos reign . Ye understood that the economic conditions in the province were very different from those in the rest of China , since most Cantonese landlords were peasants themselves who participated in production without exploiting their tenants . He therefore declined to dispossess the landlords , and instead protected their businesses and land . However , Yes policies contradicted the general directives of the Party-mandated land reform , which emphasized class struggle . His policies deemed too soft , Ye and his local cadres were soon replaced by Lin Biaos , and a much harsher policy was implemented , with Yes political career effectively over . However , Mao did not forget what Ye had done for him during the Long March , and thus removed him only from political posts while preserving his military positions . As a result , until 1968 , Ye remained active in various military functions , having been made a marshal in 1955 . Ye was clever in using his military influence to provide limited support and protection for reformers like Zhao Ziyang , and he was responsible for interfering with assassination attempts on Deng Xiaoping during the Cultural Revolution . After Lin Biao was overthrown and died in 1971 , Yes influence grew , and in 1975 he was appointed Defense Minister , taking Lin Biaos post . From 1973 , he was also a Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China . He led the conspiracy of generals and Party elders that overthrew Jiang Qing and the Gang of Four ; during initial planning at his residence , he and Li Xiannian communicated by writing , although they sat next to each other , because of the possibility of bugging . Thanks to Yes support of Chairman Hua Guofeng , he was confirmed as party vice-chairman at the Eleventh National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 1977 . Because the physical demands of Defense Minister were too great for the octogenarian Ye , he resigned from that position in 1978 and was appointed Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress , filling a post left unoccupied since Zhu Des death in 1976 . As such , Ye was Chinas ceremonial Head of State . Ye retired from this position in 1983 and in 1985 he withdrew completely from the Politburo . He died a little over a year later at the age of 89 . Personal life . Ye married six times and had six children . His sons include Ye Xuanping ( 1924–2019 ) , Ye Xuanning ( 1938–2016 ) , and Ye Xuanlian ( , born 1952 ) . Yes granddaughter Robynn Yip ( born 1986 ) , daughter of Xuanlian , is a professional musician based in Hong Kong . |
[
"Chinese communist"
] | easy | What citizenship did Ye Jianying hold from 1912 to 1949? | /wiki/Ye_Jianying#P27#1 | Ye Jianying Ye Jianying ( ; 28 April 1897 – 22 October 1986 ) was a Chinese communist revolutionary leader and politician , one of the founding Ten Marshals of the Peoples Liberation Army . He was the top military leader in the 1976 coup that overthrew the Gang of Four and ended the Cultural Revolution , and was the key supporter of Deng Xiaoping in his power struggle with Hua Guofeng . After Deng ascended power , Ye served as Chinas head of state as Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress from 1978 to 1983 . Life . Born Ye Yiwei ( ) into a wealthy Christian Hakka merchant family in Jiaying county ( modern-day renamed as Meixian District ) , Guangdong , his courtesy name was Cangbai ( ) . After graduation from the Yunnan Military Academy in 1919 , he joined Sun Yat-sen and the Kuomintang ( KMT ) . He taught at the Whampoa Military Academy , and in 1927 joined the Communist Party . That year , he participated in the failed Nanchang Uprising and was forced to flee to Hong Kong with two other uprising leaders , Zhou Enlai and Ye Ting ( no relation ) , with only a pair of handguns to share between them . Shortly after , he faithfully carried out his assigned duties during the Guangzhou Uprising , although he had been opposed to it ; upon this uprisings failure he was once again obliged to flee to Hong Kong with Ye Ting and Nie Rongzhen . However , Ye was far more fortunate than Ye Ting , who was made a scapegoat for the Cominterns failures and forced into exile . Ye was not blamed , and subsequently studied military science in Moscow . After returning to China in 1932 he joined the Jiangxi Soviet , serving as Chief of Staff of Zhang Guotaos Fourth Front Army . However , after Zhangs fighters met up with Mao Zedongs force during the Long March , the two leaders disagreed on the subsequent move of the Chinese Red Army . Zhang insisted on turning southward to establish a new base in the regions inhabited by Tibetan and Qiang minorities . ( This later proved to be a disaster , as Mao had anticipated , with Zhang losing over 75% of his men and retreating to the Communist base at Shaanxi. ) During the two leaders disagreement , Ye – though he was Zhangs Chief of Staff – sided with Mao ; and instead of supporting Zhang unconditionally as he had during the Guangzhou Uprising , Ye absconded to Maos headquarters with Zhangs code books and maps . As a result , Zhangs communications with Comintern were cut , while Mao was able to establish a radio link , leading to Cominterns acceptance of Maos leadership in the Communist Party of China . Mao would never forget Yes contribution , observing later that Ye Jianying saved the ( Chinese Communist ) Party , the ( Chinese ) Red Army , and the ( Chinese ) Revolution . During the Long March , Ye assisted Liu Bocheng in directing the crossing of the Yangtze River at Anshunchang and Luding Bridge . After 1936 , Ye became director of the offices that liaised with the KMT , first in Xian , then in Nanjing and finally in Chongqing . He worked together with Zhou Enlai in this capacity . After the establishment of the Peoples Republic of China , Ye was placed in charge of Guangdong , which was to cost him his political career under Maos reign . Ye understood that the economic conditions in the province were very different from those in the rest of China , since most Cantonese landlords were peasants themselves who participated in production without exploiting their tenants . He therefore declined to dispossess the landlords , and instead protected their businesses and land . However , Yes policies contradicted the general directives of the Party-mandated land reform , which emphasized class struggle . His policies deemed too soft , Ye and his local cadres were soon replaced by Lin Biaos , and a much harsher policy was implemented , with Yes political career effectively over . However , Mao did not forget what Ye had done for him during the Long March , and thus removed him only from political posts while preserving his military positions . As a result , until 1968 , Ye remained active in various military functions , having been made a marshal in 1955 . Ye was clever in using his military influence to provide limited support and protection for reformers like Zhao Ziyang , and he was responsible for interfering with assassination attempts on Deng Xiaoping during the Cultural Revolution . After Lin Biao was overthrown and died in 1971 , Yes influence grew , and in 1975 he was appointed Defense Minister , taking Lin Biaos post . From 1973 , he was also a Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China . He led the conspiracy of generals and Party elders that overthrew Jiang Qing and the Gang of Four ; during initial planning at his residence , he and Li Xiannian communicated by writing , although they sat next to each other , because of the possibility of bugging . Thanks to Yes support of Chairman Hua Guofeng , he was confirmed as party vice-chairman at the Eleventh National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 1977 . Because the physical demands of Defense Minister were too great for the octogenarian Ye , he resigned from that position in 1978 and was appointed Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress , filling a post left unoccupied since Zhu Des death in 1976 . As such , Ye was Chinas ceremonial Head of State . Ye retired from this position in 1983 and in 1985 he withdrew completely from the Politburo . He died a little over a year later at the age of 89 . Personal life . Ye married six times and had six children . His sons include Ye Xuanping ( 1924–2019 ) , Ye Xuanning ( 1938–2016 ) , and Ye Xuanlian ( , born 1952 ) . Yes granddaughter Robynn Yip ( born 1986 ) , daughter of Xuanlian , is a professional musician based in Hong Kong . |
[
"Chinese"
] | easy | What was the nationality of Ye Jianying from 1949 to Oct 1986? | /wiki/Ye_Jianying#P27#2 | Ye Jianying Ye Jianying ( ; 28 April 1897 – 22 October 1986 ) was a Chinese communist revolutionary leader and politician , one of the founding Ten Marshals of the Peoples Liberation Army . He was the top military leader in the 1976 coup that overthrew the Gang of Four and ended the Cultural Revolution , and was the key supporter of Deng Xiaoping in his power struggle with Hua Guofeng . After Deng ascended power , Ye served as Chinas head of state as Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress from 1978 to 1983 . Life . Born Ye Yiwei ( ) into a wealthy Christian Hakka merchant family in Jiaying county ( modern-day renamed as Meixian District ) , Guangdong , his courtesy name was Cangbai ( ) . After graduation from the Yunnan Military Academy in 1919 , he joined Sun Yat-sen and the Kuomintang ( KMT ) . He taught at the Whampoa Military Academy , and in 1927 joined the Communist Party . That year , he participated in the failed Nanchang Uprising and was forced to flee to Hong Kong with two other uprising leaders , Zhou Enlai and Ye Ting ( no relation ) , with only a pair of handguns to share between them . Shortly after , he faithfully carried out his assigned duties during the Guangzhou Uprising , although he had been opposed to it ; upon this uprisings failure he was once again obliged to flee to Hong Kong with Ye Ting and Nie Rongzhen . However , Ye was far more fortunate than Ye Ting , who was made a scapegoat for the Cominterns failures and forced into exile . Ye was not blamed , and subsequently studied military science in Moscow . After returning to China in 1932 he joined the Jiangxi Soviet , serving as Chief of Staff of Zhang Guotaos Fourth Front Army . However , after Zhangs fighters met up with Mao Zedongs force during the Long March , the two leaders disagreed on the subsequent move of the Chinese Red Army . Zhang insisted on turning southward to establish a new base in the regions inhabited by Tibetan and Qiang minorities . ( This later proved to be a disaster , as Mao had anticipated , with Zhang losing over 75% of his men and retreating to the Communist base at Shaanxi. ) During the two leaders disagreement , Ye – though he was Zhangs Chief of Staff – sided with Mao ; and instead of supporting Zhang unconditionally as he had during the Guangzhou Uprising , Ye absconded to Maos headquarters with Zhangs code books and maps . As a result , Zhangs communications with Comintern were cut , while Mao was able to establish a radio link , leading to Cominterns acceptance of Maos leadership in the Communist Party of China . Mao would never forget Yes contribution , observing later that Ye Jianying saved the ( Chinese Communist ) Party , the ( Chinese ) Red Army , and the ( Chinese ) Revolution . During the Long March , Ye assisted Liu Bocheng in directing the crossing of the Yangtze River at Anshunchang and Luding Bridge . After 1936 , Ye became director of the offices that liaised with the KMT , first in Xian , then in Nanjing and finally in Chongqing . He worked together with Zhou Enlai in this capacity . After the establishment of the Peoples Republic of China , Ye was placed in charge of Guangdong , which was to cost him his political career under Maos reign . Ye understood that the economic conditions in the province were very different from those in the rest of China , since most Cantonese landlords were peasants themselves who participated in production without exploiting their tenants . He therefore declined to dispossess the landlords , and instead protected their businesses and land . However , Yes policies contradicted the general directives of the Party-mandated land reform , which emphasized class struggle . His policies deemed too soft , Ye and his local cadres were soon replaced by Lin Biaos , and a much harsher policy was implemented , with Yes political career effectively over . However , Mao did not forget what Ye had done for him during the Long March , and thus removed him only from political posts while preserving his military positions . As a result , until 1968 , Ye remained active in various military functions , having been made a marshal in 1955 . Ye was clever in using his military influence to provide limited support and protection for reformers like Zhao Ziyang , and he was responsible for interfering with assassination attempts on Deng Xiaoping during the Cultural Revolution . After Lin Biao was overthrown and died in 1971 , Yes influence grew , and in 1975 he was appointed Defense Minister , taking Lin Biaos post . From 1973 , he was also a Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China . He led the conspiracy of generals and Party elders that overthrew Jiang Qing and the Gang of Four ; during initial planning at his residence , he and Li Xiannian communicated by writing , although they sat next to each other , because of the possibility of bugging . Thanks to Yes support of Chairman Hua Guofeng , he was confirmed as party vice-chairman at the Eleventh National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 1977 . Because the physical demands of Defense Minister were too great for the octogenarian Ye , he resigned from that position in 1978 and was appointed Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress , filling a post left unoccupied since Zhu Des death in 1976 . As such , Ye was Chinas ceremonial Head of State . Ye retired from this position in 1983 and in 1985 he withdrew completely from the Politburo . He died a little over a year later at the age of 89 . Personal life . Ye married six times and had six children . His sons include Ye Xuanping ( 1924–2019 ) , Ye Xuanning ( 1938–2016 ) , and Ye Xuanlian ( , born 1952 ) . Yes granddaughter Robynn Yip ( born 1986 ) , daughter of Xuanlian , is a professional musician based in Hong Kong . |
[
"U.S . Army"
] | easy | What was the military branch of Audie Murphy from 1942 to 1950? | /wiki/Audie_Murphy#P241#0 | Audie Murphy Audie Leon Murphy ( 20 June 1925 – 28 May 1971 ) was an American soldier , actor , songwriter , and rancher . He was one of the most decorated American combat soldiers of World War II . He received every military combat award for valor available from the U.S . Army , as well as French and Belgian awards for heroism . Murphy received the Medal of Honor for valor that he demonstrated at the age of 19 for single-handedly holding off a company of German soldiers for an hour at the Colmar Pocket in France in January 1945 , then leading a successful counterattack while wounded and out of ammunition . Murphy was born into a large family of sharecroppers in Hunt County , Texas . His father abandoned them , and his mother died when he was a teenager . Murphy left school in fifth grade to pick cotton and find other work to help support his family ; his skill with a hunting rifle helped feed his family . After the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 , Murphys older sister helped him to falsify documentation about his birthdate in order to meet the minimum-age requirement for enlisting in the military . Turned down initially for being underweight by the Army , Navy and the Marine Corps , he eventually was able to enlist in the Army . He first saw action in the 1943 Allied invasion of Sicily ; then in 1944 he participated in the Battle of Anzio , the liberation of Rome , and the invasion of southern France . Murphy fought at Montélimar and led his men on a successful assault at LOmet quarry near Cleurie in north-eastern France in October . After the war , Murphy embarked on a 21-year acting career . He played himself in the 1955 autobiographical film To Hell and Back , based on his 1949 memoirs of the same name , but most of his roles were in westerns . He made guest appearances on celebrity television shows and starred in the series Whispering Smith . Murphy was a fairly accomplished songwriter . He bred quarter horses in California and Arizona , and became a regular participant in horse racing . Suffering from what would today be described as post traumatic stress disorder ( PTSD ) , Murphy slept with a loaded handgun under his pillow . He looked for solace in addictive sleeping pills . In his last few years , he was plagued by money problems but refused offers to appear in alcohol and cigarette commercials because he did not want to set a bad example . Murphy died in a plane crash in Virginia in 1971 , which was shortly before his 46th birthday . He was interred with military honors at Arlington National Cemetery , where his grave is one of the most visited . Early life . Audie Murphy was born on 20 June 1925 , in Kingston , a small rural community in Hunt County in northeastern Texas . He was the seventh of twelve children born to Emmett Berry Murphy ( 1887–1976 ) and his wife Josie Bell Murphy ( née Killian ; 1891–1941 ) . The Murphys were sharecroppers of Irish descent . As a child , Murphy was a loner with mood swings and an explosive temper . He grew up in northeastern Texas around the towns of Farmersville , Greenville , and Celeste , where he attended elementary school . His father drifted in and out of the familys life and eventually deserted them . Murphy dropped out of school in fifth grade and got a job picking cotton for a dollar a day ( ) to help support his family ; he also became skilled with a rifle , hunting small game to help feed them . After his mother died of endocarditis and pneumonia in 1941 , he worked at a radio repair shop and at a combination general store , garage and gas station in Greenville . Hunt County authorities placed his three youngest siblings in Boles Childrens Home , a Christian orphanage in Quinlan . After the war , he bought a house in Farmersville for his eldest sister Corinne and her husband , Poland Burns . His other siblings briefly shared the home . The loss of his mother stayed with Murphy throughout his life . He later stated : World War II service . Murphy had always wanted to be a soldier . After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941 , he tried to enlist , but the Army , Navy and Marine Corps all turned him down for being underweight and underage . After his sister provided an affidavit that falsified his birth date by a year , he was accepted by the U.S . Army on 30 June 1942 . After basic training at Camp Wolters , he was sent to Fort Meade for advanced infantry training . During basic training , he earned the Marksman Badge with Rifle Component Bar and Expert Badge with Bayonet Component Bar . Mediterranean Theater . Murphy was shipped to Casablanca in French Morocco on 20 February 1943 . He was assigned to Company B , 1st Battalion , 15th Infantry Regiment , 3rd Infantry Division , which trained under the command of Major General Lucian Truscott . He participated as a platoon messenger with his division at Arzew in Algeria in rigorous training for the Allied assault landings in Sicily . He was promoted to private first class on 7 May and corporal on 15 July . When the 3rd Infantry landed at Licata , Sicily , on 10 July , Murphy was a division runner . On a scouting patrol , he killed two fleeing Italian officers near Canicattì . Sidelined with illness for a week when Company B arrived in Palermo on 20 July , he rejoined them when they were assigned to a hillside location protecting a machine-gun emplacement , while the rest of the 3rd Infantry Division fought at San Fratello en route to the Allied capture of the transit port of Messina . Murphy participated in the September 1943 mainland Salerno landing at Battipaglia . While on a scouting party along the Volturno River , he and two other soldiers were ambushed ; German machine gun fire killed one soldier . Murphy and the other survivor responded by killing five Germans with hand grenades and machine gun fire . While taking part in the October Allied assault on the Volturno Line , near Mignano Monte Lungo Hill 193 , he and his company repelled an attack by seven German soldiers , killing three and taking four prisoner . Murphy was promoted to sergeant on 13 December . In January 1944 , Murphy was promoted to staff sergeant . He was hospitalized in Naples with malaria on 21 January and was unable to participate in the initial landing at the Anzio beachhead . He returned on 29 January and participated in the First Battle of Cisterna , and was made a platoon sergeant in Company B following the battle . He returned with the 3rd Division to Anzio , where they remained four months . Taking shelter from the weather in an abandoned farmhouse on 2 March , Murphy and his platoon killed the crew of a passing German tank . He then crawled out alone close enough to destroy the tank with rifle grenades , for which he received the Bronze Star with V device . Murphy continued to make scouting patrols to take German prisoners before being hospitalized for a week on 13 March with a second bout of malaria . Sixty-one infantry officers and enlisted men of Company B , 15th Infantry , including Murphy , were awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge on 8 May . Murphy was awarded a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster for his Bronze Star . American forces liberated Rome on 4 June , and Murphy remained bivouacked in Rome with his platoon throughout July . European Theater . During the first wave of the Allied invasion of southern France , Murphy received the Distinguished Service Cross for action taken on 15 August 1944 . After landing on Yellow Beach near Ramatuelle , Murphys platoon was making its way through a vineyard when the men were attacked by German soldiers . He retrieved a machine gun that had been detached from the squad and returned fire at the German soldiers , killing two and wounding one . Two Germans exited a house about away and appeared to surrender ; when Murphys best friend responded , they shot and killed him . Murphy advanced alone on the house under direct fire . He killed six , wounded two and took 11 prisoner . Murphy was with the 1st Battalion , 15th Infantry Regiment during the 27–28 August offensive at Montélimar that secured the area from the Germans . Along with the other soldiers who took part in the action , he received the Presidential Unit Citation . Murphys first Purple Heart was for a heel wound received in a mortar shell blast on 15 September 1944 in northeastern France . His first Silver Star came after he killed four and wounded three at a German machine gun position on 2 October at LOmet quarry in the Cleurie river valley . Three days later , Murphy crawled alone towards the Germans at LOmet , carrying an SCR-536 radio and directing his men for an hour while the Germans fired directly at him . When his men finally took the hill , 15 Germans had been killed and 35 wounded . Murphys actions earned him a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster for his Silver Star . He was awarded a battlefield commission to second lieutenant on 14 October , which elevated him to platoon leader . While en route to Brouvelieures on 26 October , the 3rd Platoon of Company B was attacked by a German sniper group . Murphy captured two before being shot in the hip by a sniper ; he returned fire and shot the sniper between the eyes . At the 3rd General Hospital at Aix-en-Provence , the removal of gangrene from the wound caused partial loss of his hip muscle and kept him out of combat until January . Murphy received his first Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster for his Purple Heart for this injury . The Colmar Pocket , in the Vosges Mountains , had been held by German troops since November 1944 . On 14 January 1945 , Murphy rejoined his platoon , which had been moved to the Colmar area in December . He moved with the 3rd Division on 24 January to the town of Holtzwihr , where they faced a strong German counterattack . He was wounded in both legs , for which he received a second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster for his Purple Heart . As the company awaited reinforcements on 26 January , he was made commander of Company B . The Germans scored a direct hit on an M10 tank destroyer , setting it alight , forcing the crew to abandon it . Murphy ordered his men to retreat to positions in the woods , remaining alone at his post , shooting his M1 carbine and directing artillery fire via his field radio while the Germans aimed fire directly at his position . Murphy mounted the abandoned , burning tank destroyer and began firing its .50 caliber machine gun at the advancing Germans , killing a squad crawling through a ditch towards him . For an hour , Murphy stood on the flaming tank destroyer returning German fire from foot soldiers and advancing tanks , killing or wounding 50 Germans . He sustained a leg wound during his stand , and stopped only after he ran out of ammunition . Murphy rejoined his men , disregarding his own injury , and led them back to repel the Germans . He insisted on remaining with his men while his wounds were treated . For his actions that day , he was awarded the Medal of Honor . The 3rd Infantry Division was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for its actions at the Colmar Pocket , giving Murphy a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster for the emblem . On 16 February , Murphy was promoted to first lieutenant and was awarded the Legion of Merit for his service from 22 January 1944 to 18 February 1945 . He was moved from the front lines to Regimental Headquarters and made a liaison officer . Decorations . The United States additionally honored Murphys war contributions with the American Campaign Medal , the European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with arrowhead device and 9 campaign stars , the World War II Victory Medal , and the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp . France recognized his service with the French Legion of Honor – Grade of Chevalier , the French Croix de guerre with Silver Star , the French Croix de guerre with Palm , the French Liberation Medal and the French Fourragère in Colors of the Croix de guerre , which was authorized for all members of the 3rd Infantry Division who fought in France during World War II . Belgium awarded Murphy the Belgian Croix de guerre with 1940 Palm . Brigadier General Ralph B . Lovett and Lieutenant Colonel Hallet D . Edson recommended Murphy for the Medal of Honor . Near Salzburg , Austria on 2 June 1945 , Lieutenant General A.M . Patch presented Murphy with the Medal of Honor and Legion of Merit for his actions at Holtzwihr . When asked after the war why he had seized the machine gun and taken on an entire company of German infantry , he replied , They were killing my friends . Murphy received every U.S . military combat award for valor available from the U.S . Army for his World War II service . Postwar military service . Inquiries were made through official channels about the prospect of Murphy attending West Point upon his return to the United States , but he never enrolled . According to author Don Graham , Murphy suggested the idea and then dropped it , possibly when he realized the extent of academic preparation needed to pass the entrance exam . Murphy was one of several military personnel who received orders on 8 June 1945 to report to Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio , Texas , for temporary duty and reassignment . Upon arrival on 13 June , he was one of four assigned to Fort Sam Houston Army Ground & Services Redistribution Station and sent home for 30 days of recuperation , with permission to travel anywhere within the United States during that period . While on leave , Murphy was feted with parades , banquets , and speeches . He received a belated Good Conduct Medal on 21 August . He was discharged with the rank of first lieutenant at a 50 percent disability classification on 21 September and transferred to the Officers Reserve Corps . Post-traumatic stress . Since his military service , Murphy had been plagued with insomnia and bouts of depression , and he slept with a loaded pistol under his pillow . A post-service medical examination on 17 June 1947 revealed symptoms of headaches , vomiting , and nightmares about the war . His medical records indicated that he took sleeping pills to help prevent nightmares . During the mid-1960s , he recognized his dependence on the sedative Placidyl , and locked himself alone in a hotel room for a week to successfully break the addiction . Post-traumatic stress levels exacerbated his innate moodiness , and surfaced in episodes that friends and professional colleagues found alarming . His first wife , Dixie Wanda Hendrix , claimed he once held her at gunpoint . She witnessed her husband being guilt-ridden and tearful over newsreel footage of German war orphans . Murphy briefly found a creative stress outlet in writing poetry after his Army discharge . His poem The Crosses Grow on Anzio appeared in his book To Hell and Back , but was attributed to the fictitious character Kerrigan . To draw attention to the problems of returning Korean War and Vietnam War veterans , Murphy spoke out candidly about his own problems with posttraumatic stress disorder . It was known during Murphys lifetime as battle fatigue and shell shock , terminology that dated back to World War I . He called on the government to give increased consideration and study to the emotional impact of combat experiences , and to extend health care benefits to war veterans . As a result of legislation introduced by U.S . Congressman Olin Teague five months after Murphys death in 1971 , the Audie L . Murphy Memorial VA Hospital in San Antonio , now a part of the South Texas Veterans Health Care System , was dedicated in 1973 . Texas Army National Guard . At the end of World War II , the 36th Infantry Division reverted to state control as part of the Texas Army National Guard , and Murphys friends , Major General H . Miller Ainsworth and Brigadier General Carl L . Phinney , were the 36ths commander and deputy commander respectively . After 25 June 1950 commencement of the Korean War , Murphy began a second military career and was commissioned as a captain in the 36th Infantry Division of the Texas Army National Guard . He drilled new recruits in the summer training camps , and granted the Guard permission to use his name and image in recruiting materials . Although he wanted to join the fighting and juggled training activities with his film career , the 36th Infantry Division was never sent to Korea . At his request , he transferred to inactive status on 1 October 1951 because of his film commitments with MGM Studios , and returned to active status in 1955 . Murphy was promoted to the rank of major by the Texas Army National Guard in 1956 and returned to inactive status in 1957 . In 1969 , his official separation from the Guard transferred him to the United States Army Reserve . He remained with the USAR until his transfer to the Retired Reserve in 1969 . Film career . Throughout an acting career spanning from 1948 to 1969 , Murphy made more than 40 feature films and one television series . When actor and producer James Cagney saw the 16 July 1945 issue of Life magazine depicting Murphy as the most decorated soldier , he brought him to Hollywood . Cagney and his brother William signed him as a contract player for their production company and gave him training in acting , voice and dance . They never cast Murphy in a movie and a personal disagreement ended the association in 1947 . Murphy later worked with acting coach Estelle Harman , and honed his diction by reciting dialogue from William Shakespeare and William Saroyan . Murphy moved into Terry Hunts Athletic Club in Hollywood where he lived until 1948 . Hollywood writer David Spec McClure befriended Murphy , collaborating with him on Murphys 1949 book To Hell and Back . McClure used his connections to get a $500 ( ) bit part in Texas , Brooklyn & Heaven ( 1948 ) for Murphy . The agent of Wanda Hendrix , whom Murphy had been dating since 1946 , got him a bit part in the Alan Ladd film Beyond Glory directed by John Farrow earlier that same year . His 1949 film Bad Boy gave him his first leading role . The films financial backers refused to bankroll the project unless Murphy was given the lead ; thus , Allied Artists put aside their reservations about using an inexperienced actor and gave him the starring role . Universal Studios signed Murphy to a seven-year studio contract at $2,500 a week ( ) . His first film for them was as Billy the Kid in The Kid from Texas in 1950 . He wrapped up that year making Sierra starring Wanda Hendrix , who by that time had become his wife , and Kansas Raiders as outlaw Jesse James . Universal lent him to MGM in 1951 at a salary of $25,000 to play the lead of The Youth in The Red Badge of Courage , directed by John Huston . Murphy and Huston worked together again in the 1960 film The Unforgiven . The only film Murphy made in 1952 was The Duel at Silver Creek with director Don Siegel . Murphy worked with Siegel one more time in 1958 for The Gun Runners . In 1953 , he starred in Frederick de Cordovas Column South , and played Jim Harvey in Nathan Jurans Tumbleweed , an adaptation of the Kenneth Perkins novel Three Were Renegades . Director Nathan Juran also directed Gunsmoke and Drums Across the River . George Marshall directed Murphy in the 1954 Destry , a remake of Destry Rides Again , based on a character created by author Max Brand . Although Murphy was initially reluctant to appear as himself in To Hell and Back , the 1955 adaptation of his book directed by Jesse Hibbs , he eventually agreed ; it became the biggest hit in the history of Universal Studios at the time . To help publicize the release of the film , he made guest appearances on television shows such as Whats My Line? , Toast of the Town , and Colgate Comedy Hour . The Hibbs-Murphy team proved so successful in To Hell and Back that the two worked together on five subsequent films . The partnership resulted in Murphy appearing as John Phillip Clum in the 1956 western Walk the Proud Land , and the non-westerns Joe Butterfly and World in My Corner . They worked together for the last time in the 1958 western Ride a Crooked Trail . Joseph L . Mankiewicz hired Murphy to play the titular role in the 1958 film The Quiet American . Murphy formed a partnership with Harry Joe Brown to make three films , starting with The Guns of Fort Petticoat ( 1957 ) . The partnership fell into disagreement over the remaining two projects , and Brown filed suit against Murphy . In 1957 Murphy was cast as The Utica Kid along with James Stewart and Dan Duryea in the western Night Passage . Murphy was featured in three westerns in 1959 : he starred opposite Sandra Dee in The Wild and the Innocent , collaborated as an uncredited co-producer with Walter Mirisch on the black and white Cast a Long Shadow , and performed as a hired killer in No Name on the Bullet , a film that was well received by critics . Thelma Ritter was his costar in the 1960 Startime television episode The Man . During the early 1960s , Murphy donated his time and otherwise lent his name and image for three episodes of The Big Picture television series produced by the United States Army . He received the 1960 Outstanding Civilian Service Medal for his cooperation in the episode Broken Bridge , which featured his visits to military installations in Germany , Italy , Turkey and the U.S . state of New Mexico to showcase the militarys latest weaponry . Writer Clair Huffaker wrote the 1961 screenplays for Murphys films Seven Ways from Sundown and Posse from Hell . Willard W . Willingham and his wife Mary Willingham befriended Murphy in his early days in Hollywood and worked with him on a number of projects . Willard was a producer on Murphys 1961 television series Whispering Smith , and co-wrote the screenplay for Battle at Bloody Beach that year . He collaborated on Bullet for a Badman in 1964 and Arizona Raiders in 1965 . The Willinghams as a team wrote the screenplay for Gunpoint as well as the script for Murphys last starring lead in the western 40 Guns to Apache Pass in 1967 . Murphy made Trunk to Cairo in Israel in 1966 . He first met director Budd Boetticher when Murphy requested to be his boxing partner at Terry Hunts Athletic Club . He subsequently appeared in the 1951 title role of Boettichers first western The Cimarron Kid . Boetticher wrote the script in 1969 for Murphys last film , A Time for Dying . Two other projects that Murphy and Boetticher planned to collaborate on – A Horse for Mr Barnum and When Theres Sumpthin to Do – never came to fruition . Personal life . Murphy married actress Wanda Hendrix in 1949 . Their divorce became final two years later in 1951 . Four days later , he married former airline stewardess Pamela Opal Lee Archer ( 7 October 1919/1920/1923 – 8 April 2010 ) , with whom he had two sons : Terry Michael ( born 14 March 1952 ) , and James Shannon ( born 1954 ) . Murphy bred quarter horses at the Audie Murphy Ranch in what is now Menifee , California , and the Murphy Ranch in Pima County , Arizona . His horses raced at the Del Mar Racetrack , and he invested large sums of money in the hobby . Murphys gambling left his finances in a poor state . In 1968 , he stated that he lost $260,000 in an Algerian oil deal and was dealing with the Internal Revenue Service over unpaid taxes . In spite of his financial difficulties , Murphy refused to appear in commercials for alcohol and cigarettes , mindful of the influence he would have on the youth market . In May 1970 , he was arrested in Burbank , California , charged with battery and assault with intent to commit murder in a dispute with a dog trainer . He was accused of firing a shot at the man , which he denied . Murphy was cleared of the charges . Death and commemorations . On 28 May 1971 , Murphy was killed when the private plane in which he was a passenger crashed into Brush Mountain , near Catawba , Virginia , west of Roanoke in conditions of rain , clouds , fog and zero visibility . The pilot and four other passengers were also killed . The aircraft was a twin-engine Aero Commander 680 flown by a pilot who had a private-pilot license and a reported 8,000 hours of flying time , but who held no instrument rating . The aircraft was recovered on 31 May . After her husbands death , Pamela Murphy moved into a small apartment and got a clerk position at the Sepulveda Veterans Administration Hospital in Los Angeles , where she remained employed for 35 years . In 1975 , a court awarded Murphys widow , Pamela , and their two children $2.5 million in damages because of the accident . On 7 June 1971 , Murphy was buried with military honors at Arlington National Cemetery . In attendance were Ambassador to the U.N . George H . W . Bush , Army Chief of Staff William Westmoreland , and many of the 3rd Infantry Division . Murphys gravesite is in Section 46 , headstone number 46-366-11 , located across Memorial Drive from the Amphitheater . A special flagstone walkway was later constructed to accommodate the large number of people who visit to pay their respects . It is the cemeterys second most-visited gravesite , after that of President John F . Kennedy . The headstones of Medal of Honor recipients buried at Arlington National Cemetery are normally decorated in gold leaf . Murphy previously requested that his stone remain plain and inconspicuous , like that of an ordinary soldier . The headstone contains the birth year 1924 , based upon purportedly falsified materials among his military records . In 1974 , a large granite marker was erected just off the Appalachian Trail at at 3,100 elevation , near the crash site . Civilian honors were bestowed on Murphy during his lifetime and posthumously , including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame . In 2013 , Murphy was honored by his home state with the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor . In 2014 , the rock band Sabaton released a song titled To Hell and Back in reference to Audie Murphy and his film , on their album Heroes . Song writing . David McClure , his collaborator on the book To Hell and Back , discovered Murphys talent for poetry during their work on the memoir when he found discarded verses in Murphys Hollywood apartment . One of those poems , The Crosses Grow on Anzio , appears in To Hell and Back attributed to a soldier named Kerrigan . Only two others survived , Alone and Far Removed and Freedom Flies in Your Heart Like an Eagle . The latter was part of a speech Murphy had written at a 1968 dedication of the Alabama War Memorial in Montgomery , and later set to music by Scott Turner under the title Dusty Old Helmet . Murphy was a fan of country music , in particular Bob Wills and Chet Atkins , but was not a singer or musician himself . Through his friend Guy Mitchell , Murphy was introduced to songwriter Scott Turner in 1961 . The two collaborated on numerous songs between 1962 and 1970 , the most successful of which was Shutters and Boards and When the Wind Blows in Chicago . External links . - Image of Audie Murphy with unidentified man during screen test in Los Angeles , California , 1946 . Los Angeles Times Photographic Archive ( Collection 1429 ) . UCLA Library Special Collections , Charles E . Young Research Library , University of California , Los Angeles . |
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"Texas Army National Guard"
] | easy | Which military brach did Audie Murphy belong to from 1950 to 1966? | /wiki/Audie_Murphy#P241#1 | Audie Murphy Audie Leon Murphy ( 20 June 1925 – 28 May 1971 ) was an American soldier , actor , songwriter , and rancher . He was one of the most decorated American combat soldiers of World War II . He received every military combat award for valor available from the U.S . Army , as well as French and Belgian awards for heroism . Murphy received the Medal of Honor for valor that he demonstrated at the age of 19 for single-handedly holding off a company of German soldiers for an hour at the Colmar Pocket in France in January 1945 , then leading a successful counterattack while wounded and out of ammunition . Murphy was born into a large family of sharecroppers in Hunt County , Texas . His father abandoned them , and his mother died when he was a teenager . Murphy left school in fifth grade to pick cotton and find other work to help support his family ; his skill with a hunting rifle helped feed his family . After the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 , Murphys older sister helped him to falsify documentation about his birthdate in order to meet the minimum-age requirement for enlisting in the military . Turned down initially for being underweight by the Army , Navy and the Marine Corps , he eventually was able to enlist in the Army . He first saw action in the 1943 Allied invasion of Sicily ; then in 1944 he participated in the Battle of Anzio , the liberation of Rome , and the invasion of southern France . Murphy fought at Montélimar and led his men on a successful assault at LOmet quarry near Cleurie in north-eastern France in October . After the war , Murphy embarked on a 21-year acting career . He played himself in the 1955 autobiographical film To Hell and Back , based on his 1949 memoirs of the same name , but most of his roles were in westerns . He made guest appearances on celebrity television shows and starred in the series Whispering Smith . Murphy was a fairly accomplished songwriter . He bred quarter horses in California and Arizona , and became a regular participant in horse racing . Suffering from what would today be described as post traumatic stress disorder ( PTSD ) , Murphy slept with a loaded handgun under his pillow . He looked for solace in addictive sleeping pills . In his last few years , he was plagued by money problems but refused offers to appear in alcohol and cigarette commercials because he did not want to set a bad example . Murphy died in a plane crash in Virginia in 1971 , which was shortly before his 46th birthday . He was interred with military honors at Arlington National Cemetery , where his grave is one of the most visited . Early life . Audie Murphy was born on 20 June 1925 , in Kingston , a small rural community in Hunt County in northeastern Texas . He was the seventh of twelve children born to Emmett Berry Murphy ( 1887–1976 ) and his wife Josie Bell Murphy ( née Killian ; 1891–1941 ) . The Murphys were sharecroppers of Irish descent . As a child , Murphy was a loner with mood swings and an explosive temper . He grew up in northeastern Texas around the towns of Farmersville , Greenville , and Celeste , where he attended elementary school . His father drifted in and out of the familys life and eventually deserted them . Murphy dropped out of school in fifth grade and got a job picking cotton for a dollar a day ( ) to help support his family ; he also became skilled with a rifle , hunting small game to help feed them . After his mother died of endocarditis and pneumonia in 1941 , he worked at a radio repair shop and at a combination general store , garage and gas station in Greenville . Hunt County authorities placed his three youngest siblings in Boles Childrens Home , a Christian orphanage in Quinlan . After the war , he bought a house in Farmersville for his eldest sister Corinne and her husband , Poland Burns . His other siblings briefly shared the home . The loss of his mother stayed with Murphy throughout his life . He later stated : World War II service . Murphy had always wanted to be a soldier . After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941 , he tried to enlist , but the Army , Navy and Marine Corps all turned him down for being underweight and underage . After his sister provided an affidavit that falsified his birth date by a year , he was accepted by the U.S . Army on 30 June 1942 . After basic training at Camp Wolters , he was sent to Fort Meade for advanced infantry training . During basic training , he earned the Marksman Badge with Rifle Component Bar and Expert Badge with Bayonet Component Bar . Mediterranean Theater . Murphy was shipped to Casablanca in French Morocco on 20 February 1943 . He was assigned to Company B , 1st Battalion , 15th Infantry Regiment , 3rd Infantry Division , which trained under the command of Major General Lucian Truscott . He participated as a platoon messenger with his division at Arzew in Algeria in rigorous training for the Allied assault landings in Sicily . He was promoted to private first class on 7 May and corporal on 15 July . When the 3rd Infantry landed at Licata , Sicily , on 10 July , Murphy was a division runner . On a scouting patrol , he killed two fleeing Italian officers near Canicattì . Sidelined with illness for a week when Company B arrived in Palermo on 20 July , he rejoined them when they were assigned to a hillside location protecting a machine-gun emplacement , while the rest of the 3rd Infantry Division fought at San Fratello en route to the Allied capture of the transit port of Messina . Murphy participated in the September 1943 mainland Salerno landing at Battipaglia . While on a scouting party along the Volturno River , he and two other soldiers were ambushed ; German machine gun fire killed one soldier . Murphy and the other survivor responded by killing five Germans with hand grenades and machine gun fire . While taking part in the October Allied assault on the Volturno Line , near Mignano Monte Lungo Hill 193 , he and his company repelled an attack by seven German soldiers , killing three and taking four prisoner . Murphy was promoted to sergeant on 13 December . In January 1944 , Murphy was promoted to staff sergeant . He was hospitalized in Naples with malaria on 21 January and was unable to participate in the initial landing at the Anzio beachhead . He returned on 29 January and participated in the First Battle of Cisterna , and was made a platoon sergeant in Company B following the battle . He returned with the 3rd Division to Anzio , where they remained four months . Taking shelter from the weather in an abandoned farmhouse on 2 March , Murphy and his platoon killed the crew of a passing German tank . He then crawled out alone close enough to destroy the tank with rifle grenades , for which he received the Bronze Star with V device . Murphy continued to make scouting patrols to take German prisoners before being hospitalized for a week on 13 March with a second bout of malaria . Sixty-one infantry officers and enlisted men of Company B , 15th Infantry , including Murphy , were awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge on 8 May . Murphy was awarded a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster for his Bronze Star . American forces liberated Rome on 4 June , and Murphy remained bivouacked in Rome with his platoon throughout July . European Theater . During the first wave of the Allied invasion of southern France , Murphy received the Distinguished Service Cross for action taken on 15 August 1944 . After landing on Yellow Beach near Ramatuelle , Murphys platoon was making its way through a vineyard when the men were attacked by German soldiers . He retrieved a machine gun that had been detached from the squad and returned fire at the German soldiers , killing two and wounding one . Two Germans exited a house about away and appeared to surrender ; when Murphys best friend responded , they shot and killed him . Murphy advanced alone on the house under direct fire . He killed six , wounded two and took 11 prisoner . Murphy was with the 1st Battalion , 15th Infantry Regiment during the 27–28 August offensive at Montélimar that secured the area from the Germans . Along with the other soldiers who took part in the action , he received the Presidential Unit Citation . Murphys first Purple Heart was for a heel wound received in a mortar shell blast on 15 September 1944 in northeastern France . His first Silver Star came after he killed four and wounded three at a German machine gun position on 2 October at LOmet quarry in the Cleurie river valley . Three days later , Murphy crawled alone towards the Germans at LOmet , carrying an SCR-536 radio and directing his men for an hour while the Germans fired directly at him . When his men finally took the hill , 15 Germans had been killed and 35 wounded . Murphys actions earned him a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster for his Silver Star . He was awarded a battlefield commission to second lieutenant on 14 October , which elevated him to platoon leader . While en route to Brouvelieures on 26 October , the 3rd Platoon of Company B was attacked by a German sniper group . Murphy captured two before being shot in the hip by a sniper ; he returned fire and shot the sniper between the eyes . At the 3rd General Hospital at Aix-en-Provence , the removal of gangrene from the wound caused partial loss of his hip muscle and kept him out of combat until January . Murphy received his first Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster for his Purple Heart for this injury . The Colmar Pocket , in the Vosges Mountains , had been held by German troops since November 1944 . On 14 January 1945 , Murphy rejoined his platoon , which had been moved to the Colmar area in December . He moved with the 3rd Division on 24 January to the town of Holtzwihr , where they faced a strong German counterattack . He was wounded in both legs , for which he received a second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster for his Purple Heart . As the company awaited reinforcements on 26 January , he was made commander of Company B . The Germans scored a direct hit on an M10 tank destroyer , setting it alight , forcing the crew to abandon it . Murphy ordered his men to retreat to positions in the woods , remaining alone at his post , shooting his M1 carbine and directing artillery fire via his field radio while the Germans aimed fire directly at his position . Murphy mounted the abandoned , burning tank destroyer and began firing its .50 caliber machine gun at the advancing Germans , killing a squad crawling through a ditch towards him . For an hour , Murphy stood on the flaming tank destroyer returning German fire from foot soldiers and advancing tanks , killing or wounding 50 Germans . He sustained a leg wound during his stand , and stopped only after he ran out of ammunition . Murphy rejoined his men , disregarding his own injury , and led them back to repel the Germans . He insisted on remaining with his men while his wounds were treated . For his actions that day , he was awarded the Medal of Honor . The 3rd Infantry Division was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for its actions at the Colmar Pocket , giving Murphy a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster for the emblem . On 16 February , Murphy was promoted to first lieutenant and was awarded the Legion of Merit for his service from 22 January 1944 to 18 February 1945 . He was moved from the front lines to Regimental Headquarters and made a liaison officer . Decorations . The United States additionally honored Murphys war contributions with the American Campaign Medal , the European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with arrowhead device and 9 campaign stars , the World War II Victory Medal , and the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp . France recognized his service with the French Legion of Honor – Grade of Chevalier , the French Croix de guerre with Silver Star , the French Croix de guerre with Palm , the French Liberation Medal and the French Fourragère in Colors of the Croix de guerre , which was authorized for all members of the 3rd Infantry Division who fought in France during World War II . Belgium awarded Murphy the Belgian Croix de guerre with 1940 Palm . Brigadier General Ralph B . Lovett and Lieutenant Colonel Hallet D . Edson recommended Murphy for the Medal of Honor . Near Salzburg , Austria on 2 June 1945 , Lieutenant General A.M . Patch presented Murphy with the Medal of Honor and Legion of Merit for his actions at Holtzwihr . When asked after the war why he had seized the machine gun and taken on an entire company of German infantry , he replied , They were killing my friends . Murphy received every U.S . military combat award for valor available from the U.S . Army for his World War II service . Postwar military service . Inquiries were made through official channels about the prospect of Murphy attending West Point upon his return to the United States , but he never enrolled . According to author Don Graham , Murphy suggested the idea and then dropped it , possibly when he realized the extent of academic preparation needed to pass the entrance exam . Murphy was one of several military personnel who received orders on 8 June 1945 to report to Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio , Texas , for temporary duty and reassignment . Upon arrival on 13 June , he was one of four assigned to Fort Sam Houston Army Ground & Services Redistribution Station and sent home for 30 days of recuperation , with permission to travel anywhere within the United States during that period . While on leave , Murphy was feted with parades , banquets , and speeches . He received a belated Good Conduct Medal on 21 August . He was discharged with the rank of first lieutenant at a 50 percent disability classification on 21 September and transferred to the Officers Reserve Corps . Post-traumatic stress . Since his military service , Murphy had been plagued with insomnia and bouts of depression , and he slept with a loaded pistol under his pillow . A post-service medical examination on 17 June 1947 revealed symptoms of headaches , vomiting , and nightmares about the war . His medical records indicated that he took sleeping pills to help prevent nightmares . During the mid-1960s , he recognized his dependence on the sedative Placidyl , and locked himself alone in a hotel room for a week to successfully break the addiction . Post-traumatic stress levels exacerbated his innate moodiness , and surfaced in episodes that friends and professional colleagues found alarming . His first wife , Dixie Wanda Hendrix , claimed he once held her at gunpoint . She witnessed her husband being guilt-ridden and tearful over newsreel footage of German war orphans . Murphy briefly found a creative stress outlet in writing poetry after his Army discharge . His poem The Crosses Grow on Anzio appeared in his book To Hell and Back , but was attributed to the fictitious character Kerrigan . To draw attention to the problems of returning Korean War and Vietnam War veterans , Murphy spoke out candidly about his own problems with posttraumatic stress disorder . It was known during Murphys lifetime as battle fatigue and shell shock , terminology that dated back to World War I . He called on the government to give increased consideration and study to the emotional impact of combat experiences , and to extend health care benefits to war veterans . As a result of legislation introduced by U.S . Congressman Olin Teague five months after Murphys death in 1971 , the Audie L . Murphy Memorial VA Hospital in San Antonio , now a part of the South Texas Veterans Health Care System , was dedicated in 1973 . Texas Army National Guard . At the end of World War II , the 36th Infantry Division reverted to state control as part of the Texas Army National Guard , and Murphys friends , Major General H . Miller Ainsworth and Brigadier General Carl L . Phinney , were the 36ths commander and deputy commander respectively . After 25 June 1950 commencement of the Korean War , Murphy began a second military career and was commissioned as a captain in the 36th Infantry Division of the Texas Army National Guard . He drilled new recruits in the summer training camps , and granted the Guard permission to use his name and image in recruiting materials . Although he wanted to join the fighting and juggled training activities with his film career , the 36th Infantry Division was never sent to Korea . At his request , he transferred to inactive status on 1 October 1951 because of his film commitments with MGM Studios , and returned to active status in 1955 . Murphy was promoted to the rank of major by the Texas Army National Guard in 1956 and returned to inactive status in 1957 . In 1969 , his official separation from the Guard transferred him to the United States Army Reserve . He remained with the USAR until his transfer to the Retired Reserve in 1969 . Film career . Throughout an acting career spanning from 1948 to 1969 , Murphy made more than 40 feature films and one television series . When actor and producer James Cagney saw the 16 July 1945 issue of Life magazine depicting Murphy as the most decorated soldier , he brought him to Hollywood . Cagney and his brother William signed him as a contract player for their production company and gave him training in acting , voice and dance . They never cast Murphy in a movie and a personal disagreement ended the association in 1947 . Murphy later worked with acting coach Estelle Harman , and honed his diction by reciting dialogue from William Shakespeare and William Saroyan . Murphy moved into Terry Hunts Athletic Club in Hollywood where he lived until 1948 . Hollywood writer David Spec McClure befriended Murphy , collaborating with him on Murphys 1949 book To Hell and Back . McClure used his connections to get a $500 ( ) bit part in Texas , Brooklyn & Heaven ( 1948 ) for Murphy . The agent of Wanda Hendrix , whom Murphy had been dating since 1946 , got him a bit part in the Alan Ladd film Beyond Glory directed by John Farrow earlier that same year . His 1949 film Bad Boy gave him his first leading role . The films financial backers refused to bankroll the project unless Murphy was given the lead ; thus , Allied Artists put aside their reservations about using an inexperienced actor and gave him the starring role . Universal Studios signed Murphy to a seven-year studio contract at $2,500 a week ( ) . His first film for them was as Billy the Kid in The Kid from Texas in 1950 . He wrapped up that year making Sierra starring Wanda Hendrix , who by that time had become his wife , and Kansas Raiders as outlaw Jesse James . Universal lent him to MGM in 1951 at a salary of $25,000 to play the lead of The Youth in The Red Badge of Courage , directed by John Huston . Murphy and Huston worked together again in the 1960 film The Unforgiven . The only film Murphy made in 1952 was The Duel at Silver Creek with director Don Siegel . Murphy worked with Siegel one more time in 1958 for The Gun Runners . In 1953 , he starred in Frederick de Cordovas Column South , and played Jim Harvey in Nathan Jurans Tumbleweed , an adaptation of the Kenneth Perkins novel Three Were Renegades . Director Nathan Juran also directed Gunsmoke and Drums Across the River . George Marshall directed Murphy in the 1954 Destry , a remake of Destry Rides Again , based on a character created by author Max Brand . Although Murphy was initially reluctant to appear as himself in To Hell and Back , the 1955 adaptation of his book directed by Jesse Hibbs , he eventually agreed ; it became the biggest hit in the history of Universal Studios at the time . To help publicize the release of the film , he made guest appearances on television shows such as Whats My Line? , Toast of the Town , and Colgate Comedy Hour . The Hibbs-Murphy team proved so successful in To Hell and Back that the two worked together on five subsequent films . The partnership resulted in Murphy appearing as John Phillip Clum in the 1956 western Walk the Proud Land , and the non-westerns Joe Butterfly and World in My Corner . They worked together for the last time in the 1958 western Ride a Crooked Trail . Joseph L . Mankiewicz hired Murphy to play the titular role in the 1958 film The Quiet American . Murphy formed a partnership with Harry Joe Brown to make three films , starting with The Guns of Fort Petticoat ( 1957 ) . The partnership fell into disagreement over the remaining two projects , and Brown filed suit against Murphy . In 1957 Murphy was cast as The Utica Kid along with James Stewart and Dan Duryea in the western Night Passage . Murphy was featured in three westerns in 1959 : he starred opposite Sandra Dee in The Wild and the Innocent , collaborated as an uncredited co-producer with Walter Mirisch on the black and white Cast a Long Shadow , and performed as a hired killer in No Name on the Bullet , a film that was well received by critics . Thelma Ritter was his costar in the 1960 Startime television episode The Man . During the early 1960s , Murphy donated his time and otherwise lent his name and image for three episodes of The Big Picture television series produced by the United States Army . He received the 1960 Outstanding Civilian Service Medal for his cooperation in the episode Broken Bridge , which featured his visits to military installations in Germany , Italy , Turkey and the U.S . state of New Mexico to showcase the militarys latest weaponry . Writer Clair Huffaker wrote the 1961 screenplays for Murphys films Seven Ways from Sundown and Posse from Hell . Willard W . Willingham and his wife Mary Willingham befriended Murphy in his early days in Hollywood and worked with him on a number of projects . Willard was a producer on Murphys 1961 television series Whispering Smith , and co-wrote the screenplay for Battle at Bloody Beach that year . He collaborated on Bullet for a Badman in 1964 and Arizona Raiders in 1965 . The Willinghams as a team wrote the screenplay for Gunpoint as well as the script for Murphys last starring lead in the western 40 Guns to Apache Pass in 1967 . Murphy made Trunk to Cairo in Israel in 1966 . He first met director Budd Boetticher when Murphy requested to be his boxing partner at Terry Hunts Athletic Club . He subsequently appeared in the 1951 title role of Boettichers first western The Cimarron Kid . Boetticher wrote the script in 1969 for Murphys last film , A Time for Dying . Two other projects that Murphy and Boetticher planned to collaborate on – A Horse for Mr Barnum and When Theres Sumpthin to Do – never came to fruition . Personal life . Murphy married actress Wanda Hendrix in 1949 . Their divorce became final two years later in 1951 . Four days later , he married former airline stewardess Pamela Opal Lee Archer ( 7 October 1919/1920/1923 – 8 April 2010 ) , with whom he had two sons : Terry Michael ( born 14 March 1952 ) , and James Shannon ( born 1954 ) . Murphy bred quarter horses at the Audie Murphy Ranch in what is now Menifee , California , and the Murphy Ranch in Pima County , Arizona . His horses raced at the Del Mar Racetrack , and he invested large sums of money in the hobby . Murphys gambling left his finances in a poor state . In 1968 , he stated that he lost $260,000 in an Algerian oil deal and was dealing with the Internal Revenue Service over unpaid taxes . In spite of his financial difficulties , Murphy refused to appear in commercials for alcohol and cigarettes , mindful of the influence he would have on the youth market . In May 1970 , he was arrested in Burbank , California , charged with battery and assault with intent to commit murder in a dispute with a dog trainer . He was accused of firing a shot at the man , which he denied . Murphy was cleared of the charges . Death and commemorations . On 28 May 1971 , Murphy was killed when the private plane in which he was a passenger crashed into Brush Mountain , near Catawba , Virginia , west of Roanoke in conditions of rain , clouds , fog and zero visibility . The pilot and four other passengers were also killed . The aircraft was a twin-engine Aero Commander 680 flown by a pilot who had a private-pilot license and a reported 8,000 hours of flying time , but who held no instrument rating . The aircraft was recovered on 31 May . After her husbands death , Pamela Murphy moved into a small apartment and got a clerk position at the Sepulveda Veterans Administration Hospital in Los Angeles , where she remained employed for 35 years . In 1975 , a court awarded Murphys widow , Pamela , and their two children $2.5 million in damages because of the accident . On 7 June 1971 , Murphy was buried with military honors at Arlington National Cemetery . In attendance were Ambassador to the U.N . George H . W . Bush , Army Chief of Staff William Westmoreland , and many of the 3rd Infantry Division . Murphys gravesite is in Section 46 , headstone number 46-366-11 , located across Memorial Drive from the Amphitheater . A special flagstone walkway was later constructed to accommodate the large number of people who visit to pay their respects . It is the cemeterys second most-visited gravesite , after that of President John F . Kennedy . The headstones of Medal of Honor recipients buried at Arlington National Cemetery are normally decorated in gold leaf . Murphy previously requested that his stone remain plain and inconspicuous , like that of an ordinary soldier . The headstone contains the birth year 1924 , based upon purportedly falsified materials among his military records . In 1974 , a large granite marker was erected just off the Appalachian Trail at at 3,100 elevation , near the crash site . Civilian honors were bestowed on Murphy during his lifetime and posthumously , including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame . In 2013 , Murphy was honored by his home state with the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor . In 2014 , the rock band Sabaton released a song titled To Hell and Back in reference to Audie Murphy and his film , on their album Heroes . Song writing . David McClure , his collaborator on the book To Hell and Back , discovered Murphys talent for poetry during their work on the memoir when he found discarded verses in Murphys Hollywood apartment . One of those poems , The Crosses Grow on Anzio , appears in To Hell and Back attributed to a soldier named Kerrigan . Only two others survived , Alone and Far Removed and Freedom Flies in Your Heart Like an Eagle . The latter was part of a speech Murphy had written at a 1968 dedication of the Alabama War Memorial in Montgomery , and later set to music by Scott Turner under the title Dusty Old Helmet . Murphy was a fan of country music , in particular Bob Wills and Chet Atkins , but was not a singer or musician himself . Through his friend Guy Mitchell , Murphy was introduced to songwriter Scott Turner in 1961 . The two collaborated on numerous songs between 1962 and 1970 , the most successful of which was Shutters and Boards and When the Wind Blows in Chicago . External links . - Image of Audie Murphy with unidentified man during screen test in Los Angeles , California , 1946 . Los Angeles Times Photographic Archive ( Collection 1429 ) . UCLA Library Special Collections , Charles E . Young Research Library , University of California , Los Angeles . |
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] | easy | Which military brach did Audie Murphy belong to from 1966 to 1971? | /wiki/Audie_Murphy#P241#2 | Audie Murphy Audie Leon Murphy ( 20 June 1925 – 28 May 1971 ) was an American soldier , actor , songwriter , and rancher . He was one of the most decorated American combat soldiers of World War II . He received every military combat award for valor available from the U.S . Army , as well as French and Belgian awards for heroism . Murphy received the Medal of Honor for valor that he demonstrated at the age of 19 for single-handedly holding off a company of German soldiers for an hour at the Colmar Pocket in France in January 1945 , then leading a successful counterattack while wounded and out of ammunition . Murphy was born into a large family of sharecroppers in Hunt County , Texas . His father abandoned them , and his mother died when he was a teenager . Murphy left school in fifth grade to pick cotton and find other work to help support his family ; his skill with a hunting rifle helped feed his family . After the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 , Murphys older sister helped him to falsify documentation about his birthdate in order to meet the minimum-age requirement for enlisting in the military . Turned down initially for being underweight by the Army , Navy and the Marine Corps , he eventually was able to enlist in the Army . He first saw action in the 1943 Allied invasion of Sicily ; then in 1944 he participated in the Battle of Anzio , the liberation of Rome , and the invasion of southern France . Murphy fought at Montélimar and led his men on a successful assault at LOmet quarry near Cleurie in north-eastern France in October . After the war , Murphy embarked on a 21-year acting career . He played himself in the 1955 autobiographical film To Hell and Back , based on his 1949 memoirs of the same name , but most of his roles were in westerns . He made guest appearances on celebrity television shows and starred in the series Whispering Smith . Murphy was a fairly accomplished songwriter . He bred quarter horses in California and Arizona , and became a regular participant in horse racing . Suffering from what would today be described as post traumatic stress disorder ( PTSD ) , Murphy slept with a loaded handgun under his pillow . He looked for solace in addictive sleeping pills . In his last few years , he was plagued by money problems but refused offers to appear in alcohol and cigarette commercials because he did not want to set a bad example . Murphy died in a plane crash in Virginia in 1971 , which was shortly before his 46th birthday . He was interred with military honors at Arlington National Cemetery , where his grave is one of the most visited . Early life . Audie Murphy was born on 20 June 1925 , in Kingston , a small rural community in Hunt County in northeastern Texas . He was the seventh of twelve children born to Emmett Berry Murphy ( 1887–1976 ) and his wife Josie Bell Murphy ( née Killian ; 1891–1941 ) . The Murphys were sharecroppers of Irish descent . As a child , Murphy was a loner with mood swings and an explosive temper . He grew up in northeastern Texas around the towns of Farmersville , Greenville , and Celeste , where he attended elementary school . His father drifted in and out of the familys life and eventually deserted them . Murphy dropped out of school in fifth grade and got a job picking cotton for a dollar a day ( ) to help support his family ; he also became skilled with a rifle , hunting small game to help feed them . After his mother died of endocarditis and pneumonia in 1941 , he worked at a radio repair shop and at a combination general store , garage and gas station in Greenville . Hunt County authorities placed his three youngest siblings in Boles Childrens Home , a Christian orphanage in Quinlan . After the war , he bought a house in Farmersville for his eldest sister Corinne and her husband , Poland Burns . His other siblings briefly shared the home . The loss of his mother stayed with Murphy throughout his life . He later stated : World War II service . Murphy had always wanted to be a soldier . After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941 , he tried to enlist , but the Army , Navy and Marine Corps all turned him down for being underweight and underage . After his sister provided an affidavit that falsified his birth date by a year , he was accepted by the U.S . Army on 30 June 1942 . After basic training at Camp Wolters , he was sent to Fort Meade for advanced infantry training . During basic training , he earned the Marksman Badge with Rifle Component Bar and Expert Badge with Bayonet Component Bar . Mediterranean Theater . Murphy was shipped to Casablanca in French Morocco on 20 February 1943 . He was assigned to Company B , 1st Battalion , 15th Infantry Regiment , 3rd Infantry Division , which trained under the command of Major General Lucian Truscott . He participated as a platoon messenger with his division at Arzew in Algeria in rigorous training for the Allied assault landings in Sicily . He was promoted to private first class on 7 May and corporal on 15 July . When the 3rd Infantry landed at Licata , Sicily , on 10 July , Murphy was a division runner . On a scouting patrol , he killed two fleeing Italian officers near Canicattì . Sidelined with illness for a week when Company B arrived in Palermo on 20 July , he rejoined them when they were assigned to a hillside location protecting a machine-gun emplacement , while the rest of the 3rd Infantry Division fought at San Fratello en route to the Allied capture of the transit port of Messina . Murphy participated in the September 1943 mainland Salerno landing at Battipaglia . While on a scouting party along the Volturno River , he and two other soldiers were ambushed ; German machine gun fire killed one soldier . Murphy and the other survivor responded by killing five Germans with hand grenades and machine gun fire . While taking part in the October Allied assault on the Volturno Line , near Mignano Monte Lungo Hill 193 , he and his company repelled an attack by seven German soldiers , killing three and taking four prisoner . Murphy was promoted to sergeant on 13 December . In January 1944 , Murphy was promoted to staff sergeant . He was hospitalized in Naples with malaria on 21 January and was unable to participate in the initial landing at the Anzio beachhead . He returned on 29 January and participated in the First Battle of Cisterna , and was made a platoon sergeant in Company B following the battle . He returned with the 3rd Division to Anzio , where they remained four months . Taking shelter from the weather in an abandoned farmhouse on 2 March , Murphy and his platoon killed the crew of a passing German tank . He then crawled out alone close enough to destroy the tank with rifle grenades , for which he received the Bronze Star with V device . Murphy continued to make scouting patrols to take German prisoners before being hospitalized for a week on 13 March with a second bout of malaria . Sixty-one infantry officers and enlisted men of Company B , 15th Infantry , including Murphy , were awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge on 8 May . Murphy was awarded a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster for his Bronze Star . American forces liberated Rome on 4 June , and Murphy remained bivouacked in Rome with his platoon throughout July . European Theater . During the first wave of the Allied invasion of southern France , Murphy received the Distinguished Service Cross for action taken on 15 August 1944 . After landing on Yellow Beach near Ramatuelle , Murphys platoon was making its way through a vineyard when the men were attacked by German soldiers . He retrieved a machine gun that had been detached from the squad and returned fire at the German soldiers , killing two and wounding one . Two Germans exited a house about away and appeared to surrender ; when Murphys best friend responded , they shot and killed him . Murphy advanced alone on the house under direct fire . He killed six , wounded two and took 11 prisoner . Murphy was with the 1st Battalion , 15th Infantry Regiment during the 27–28 August offensive at Montélimar that secured the area from the Germans . Along with the other soldiers who took part in the action , he received the Presidential Unit Citation . Murphys first Purple Heart was for a heel wound received in a mortar shell blast on 15 September 1944 in northeastern France . His first Silver Star came after he killed four and wounded three at a German machine gun position on 2 October at LOmet quarry in the Cleurie river valley . Three days later , Murphy crawled alone towards the Germans at LOmet , carrying an SCR-536 radio and directing his men for an hour while the Germans fired directly at him . When his men finally took the hill , 15 Germans had been killed and 35 wounded . Murphys actions earned him a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster for his Silver Star . He was awarded a battlefield commission to second lieutenant on 14 October , which elevated him to platoon leader . While en route to Brouvelieures on 26 October , the 3rd Platoon of Company B was attacked by a German sniper group . Murphy captured two before being shot in the hip by a sniper ; he returned fire and shot the sniper between the eyes . At the 3rd General Hospital at Aix-en-Provence , the removal of gangrene from the wound caused partial loss of his hip muscle and kept him out of combat until January . Murphy received his first Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster for his Purple Heart for this injury . The Colmar Pocket , in the Vosges Mountains , had been held by German troops since November 1944 . On 14 January 1945 , Murphy rejoined his platoon , which had been moved to the Colmar area in December . He moved with the 3rd Division on 24 January to the town of Holtzwihr , where they faced a strong German counterattack . He was wounded in both legs , for which he received a second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster for his Purple Heart . As the company awaited reinforcements on 26 January , he was made commander of Company B . The Germans scored a direct hit on an M10 tank destroyer , setting it alight , forcing the crew to abandon it . Murphy ordered his men to retreat to positions in the woods , remaining alone at his post , shooting his M1 carbine and directing artillery fire via his field radio while the Germans aimed fire directly at his position . Murphy mounted the abandoned , burning tank destroyer and began firing its .50 caliber machine gun at the advancing Germans , killing a squad crawling through a ditch towards him . For an hour , Murphy stood on the flaming tank destroyer returning German fire from foot soldiers and advancing tanks , killing or wounding 50 Germans . He sustained a leg wound during his stand , and stopped only after he ran out of ammunition . Murphy rejoined his men , disregarding his own injury , and led them back to repel the Germans . He insisted on remaining with his men while his wounds were treated . For his actions that day , he was awarded the Medal of Honor . The 3rd Infantry Division was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for its actions at the Colmar Pocket , giving Murphy a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster for the emblem . On 16 February , Murphy was promoted to first lieutenant and was awarded the Legion of Merit for his service from 22 January 1944 to 18 February 1945 . He was moved from the front lines to Regimental Headquarters and made a liaison officer . Decorations . The United States additionally honored Murphys war contributions with the American Campaign Medal , the European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with arrowhead device and 9 campaign stars , the World War II Victory Medal , and the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp . France recognized his service with the French Legion of Honor – Grade of Chevalier , the French Croix de guerre with Silver Star , the French Croix de guerre with Palm , the French Liberation Medal and the French Fourragère in Colors of the Croix de guerre , which was authorized for all members of the 3rd Infantry Division who fought in France during World War II . Belgium awarded Murphy the Belgian Croix de guerre with 1940 Palm . Brigadier General Ralph B . Lovett and Lieutenant Colonel Hallet D . Edson recommended Murphy for the Medal of Honor . Near Salzburg , Austria on 2 June 1945 , Lieutenant General A.M . Patch presented Murphy with the Medal of Honor and Legion of Merit for his actions at Holtzwihr . When asked after the war why he had seized the machine gun and taken on an entire company of German infantry , he replied , They were killing my friends . Murphy received every U.S . military combat award for valor available from the U.S . Army for his World War II service . Postwar military service . Inquiries were made through official channels about the prospect of Murphy attending West Point upon his return to the United States , but he never enrolled . According to author Don Graham , Murphy suggested the idea and then dropped it , possibly when he realized the extent of academic preparation needed to pass the entrance exam . Murphy was one of several military personnel who received orders on 8 June 1945 to report to Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio , Texas , for temporary duty and reassignment . Upon arrival on 13 June , he was one of four assigned to Fort Sam Houston Army Ground & Services Redistribution Station and sent home for 30 days of recuperation , with permission to travel anywhere within the United States during that period . While on leave , Murphy was feted with parades , banquets , and speeches . He received a belated Good Conduct Medal on 21 August . He was discharged with the rank of first lieutenant at a 50 percent disability classification on 21 September and transferred to the Officers Reserve Corps . Post-traumatic stress . Since his military service , Murphy had been plagued with insomnia and bouts of depression , and he slept with a loaded pistol under his pillow . A post-service medical examination on 17 June 1947 revealed symptoms of headaches , vomiting , and nightmares about the war . His medical records indicated that he took sleeping pills to help prevent nightmares . During the mid-1960s , he recognized his dependence on the sedative Placidyl , and locked himself alone in a hotel room for a week to successfully break the addiction . Post-traumatic stress levels exacerbated his innate moodiness , and surfaced in episodes that friends and professional colleagues found alarming . His first wife , Dixie Wanda Hendrix , claimed he once held her at gunpoint . She witnessed her husband being guilt-ridden and tearful over newsreel footage of German war orphans . Murphy briefly found a creative stress outlet in writing poetry after his Army discharge . His poem The Crosses Grow on Anzio appeared in his book To Hell and Back , but was attributed to the fictitious character Kerrigan . To draw attention to the problems of returning Korean War and Vietnam War veterans , Murphy spoke out candidly about his own problems with posttraumatic stress disorder . It was known during Murphys lifetime as battle fatigue and shell shock , terminology that dated back to World War I . He called on the government to give increased consideration and study to the emotional impact of combat experiences , and to extend health care benefits to war veterans . As a result of legislation introduced by U.S . Congressman Olin Teague five months after Murphys death in 1971 , the Audie L . Murphy Memorial VA Hospital in San Antonio , now a part of the South Texas Veterans Health Care System , was dedicated in 1973 . Texas Army National Guard . At the end of World War II , the 36th Infantry Division reverted to state control as part of the Texas Army National Guard , and Murphys friends , Major General H . Miller Ainsworth and Brigadier General Carl L . Phinney , were the 36ths commander and deputy commander respectively . After 25 June 1950 commencement of the Korean War , Murphy began a second military career and was commissioned as a captain in the 36th Infantry Division of the Texas Army National Guard . He drilled new recruits in the summer training camps , and granted the Guard permission to use his name and image in recruiting materials . Although he wanted to join the fighting and juggled training activities with his film career , the 36th Infantry Division was never sent to Korea . At his request , he transferred to inactive status on 1 October 1951 because of his film commitments with MGM Studios , and returned to active status in 1955 . Murphy was promoted to the rank of major by the Texas Army National Guard in 1956 and returned to inactive status in 1957 . In 1969 , his official separation from the Guard transferred him to the United States Army Reserve . He remained with the USAR until his transfer to the Retired Reserve in 1969 . Film career . Throughout an acting career spanning from 1948 to 1969 , Murphy made more than 40 feature films and one television series . When actor and producer James Cagney saw the 16 July 1945 issue of Life magazine depicting Murphy as the most decorated soldier , he brought him to Hollywood . Cagney and his brother William signed him as a contract player for their production company and gave him training in acting , voice and dance . They never cast Murphy in a movie and a personal disagreement ended the association in 1947 . Murphy later worked with acting coach Estelle Harman , and honed his diction by reciting dialogue from William Shakespeare and William Saroyan . Murphy moved into Terry Hunts Athletic Club in Hollywood where he lived until 1948 . Hollywood writer David Spec McClure befriended Murphy , collaborating with him on Murphys 1949 book To Hell and Back . McClure used his connections to get a $500 ( ) bit part in Texas , Brooklyn & Heaven ( 1948 ) for Murphy . The agent of Wanda Hendrix , whom Murphy had been dating since 1946 , got him a bit part in the Alan Ladd film Beyond Glory directed by John Farrow earlier that same year . His 1949 film Bad Boy gave him his first leading role . The films financial backers refused to bankroll the project unless Murphy was given the lead ; thus , Allied Artists put aside their reservations about using an inexperienced actor and gave him the starring role . Universal Studios signed Murphy to a seven-year studio contract at $2,500 a week ( ) . His first film for them was as Billy the Kid in The Kid from Texas in 1950 . He wrapped up that year making Sierra starring Wanda Hendrix , who by that time had become his wife , and Kansas Raiders as outlaw Jesse James . Universal lent him to MGM in 1951 at a salary of $25,000 to play the lead of The Youth in The Red Badge of Courage , directed by John Huston . Murphy and Huston worked together again in the 1960 film The Unforgiven . The only film Murphy made in 1952 was The Duel at Silver Creek with director Don Siegel . Murphy worked with Siegel one more time in 1958 for The Gun Runners . In 1953 , he starred in Frederick de Cordovas Column South , and played Jim Harvey in Nathan Jurans Tumbleweed , an adaptation of the Kenneth Perkins novel Three Were Renegades . Director Nathan Juran also directed Gunsmoke and Drums Across the River . George Marshall directed Murphy in the 1954 Destry , a remake of Destry Rides Again , based on a character created by author Max Brand . Although Murphy was initially reluctant to appear as himself in To Hell and Back , the 1955 adaptation of his book directed by Jesse Hibbs , he eventually agreed ; it became the biggest hit in the history of Universal Studios at the time . To help publicize the release of the film , he made guest appearances on television shows such as Whats My Line? , Toast of the Town , and Colgate Comedy Hour . The Hibbs-Murphy team proved so successful in To Hell and Back that the two worked together on five subsequent films . The partnership resulted in Murphy appearing as John Phillip Clum in the 1956 western Walk the Proud Land , and the non-westerns Joe Butterfly and World in My Corner . They worked together for the last time in the 1958 western Ride a Crooked Trail . Joseph L . Mankiewicz hired Murphy to play the titular role in the 1958 film The Quiet American . Murphy formed a partnership with Harry Joe Brown to make three films , starting with The Guns of Fort Petticoat ( 1957 ) . The partnership fell into disagreement over the remaining two projects , and Brown filed suit against Murphy . In 1957 Murphy was cast as The Utica Kid along with James Stewart and Dan Duryea in the western Night Passage . Murphy was featured in three westerns in 1959 : he starred opposite Sandra Dee in The Wild and the Innocent , collaborated as an uncredited co-producer with Walter Mirisch on the black and white Cast a Long Shadow , and performed as a hired killer in No Name on the Bullet , a film that was well received by critics . Thelma Ritter was his costar in the 1960 Startime television episode The Man . During the early 1960s , Murphy donated his time and otherwise lent his name and image for three episodes of The Big Picture television series produced by the United States Army . He received the 1960 Outstanding Civilian Service Medal for his cooperation in the episode Broken Bridge , which featured his visits to military installations in Germany , Italy , Turkey and the U.S . state of New Mexico to showcase the militarys latest weaponry . Writer Clair Huffaker wrote the 1961 screenplays for Murphys films Seven Ways from Sundown and Posse from Hell . Willard W . Willingham and his wife Mary Willingham befriended Murphy in his early days in Hollywood and worked with him on a number of projects . Willard was a producer on Murphys 1961 television series Whispering Smith , and co-wrote the screenplay for Battle at Bloody Beach that year . He collaborated on Bullet for a Badman in 1964 and Arizona Raiders in 1965 . The Willinghams as a team wrote the screenplay for Gunpoint as well as the script for Murphys last starring lead in the western 40 Guns to Apache Pass in 1967 . Murphy made Trunk to Cairo in Israel in 1966 . He first met director Budd Boetticher when Murphy requested to be his boxing partner at Terry Hunts Athletic Club . He subsequently appeared in the 1951 title role of Boettichers first western The Cimarron Kid . Boetticher wrote the script in 1969 for Murphys last film , A Time for Dying . Two other projects that Murphy and Boetticher planned to collaborate on – A Horse for Mr Barnum and When Theres Sumpthin to Do – never came to fruition . Personal life . Murphy married actress Wanda Hendrix in 1949 . Their divorce became final two years later in 1951 . Four days later , he married former airline stewardess Pamela Opal Lee Archer ( 7 October 1919/1920/1923 – 8 April 2010 ) , with whom he had two sons : Terry Michael ( born 14 March 1952 ) , and James Shannon ( born 1954 ) . Murphy bred quarter horses at the Audie Murphy Ranch in what is now Menifee , California , and the Murphy Ranch in Pima County , Arizona . His horses raced at the Del Mar Racetrack , and he invested large sums of money in the hobby . Murphys gambling left his finances in a poor state . In 1968 , he stated that he lost $260,000 in an Algerian oil deal and was dealing with the Internal Revenue Service over unpaid taxes . In spite of his financial difficulties , Murphy refused to appear in commercials for alcohol and cigarettes , mindful of the influence he would have on the youth market . In May 1970 , he was arrested in Burbank , California , charged with battery and assault with intent to commit murder in a dispute with a dog trainer . He was accused of firing a shot at the man , which he denied . Murphy was cleared of the charges . Death and commemorations . On 28 May 1971 , Murphy was killed when the private plane in which he was a passenger crashed into Brush Mountain , near Catawba , Virginia , west of Roanoke in conditions of rain , clouds , fog and zero visibility . The pilot and four other passengers were also killed . The aircraft was a twin-engine Aero Commander 680 flown by a pilot who had a private-pilot license and a reported 8,000 hours of flying time , but who held no instrument rating . The aircraft was recovered on 31 May . After her husbands death , Pamela Murphy moved into a small apartment and got a clerk position at the Sepulveda Veterans Administration Hospital in Los Angeles , where she remained employed for 35 years . In 1975 , a court awarded Murphys widow , Pamela , and their two children $2.5 million in damages because of the accident . On 7 June 1971 , Murphy was buried with military honors at Arlington National Cemetery . In attendance were Ambassador to the U.N . George H . W . Bush , Army Chief of Staff William Westmoreland , and many of the 3rd Infantry Division . Murphys gravesite is in Section 46 , headstone number 46-366-11 , located across Memorial Drive from the Amphitheater . A special flagstone walkway was later constructed to accommodate the large number of people who visit to pay their respects . It is the cemeterys second most-visited gravesite , after that of President John F . Kennedy . The headstones of Medal of Honor recipients buried at Arlington National Cemetery are normally decorated in gold leaf . Murphy previously requested that his stone remain plain and inconspicuous , like that of an ordinary soldier . The headstone contains the birth year 1924 , based upon purportedly falsified materials among his military records . In 1974 , a large granite marker was erected just off the Appalachian Trail at at 3,100 elevation , near the crash site . Civilian honors were bestowed on Murphy during his lifetime and posthumously , including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame . In 2013 , Murphy was honored by his home state with the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor . In 2014 , the rock band Sabaton released a song titled To Hell and Back in reference to Audie Murphy and his film , on their album Heroes . Song writing . David McClure , his collaborator on the book To Hell and Back , discovered Murphys talent for poetry during their work on the memoir when he found discarded verses in Murphys Hollywood apartment . One of those poems , The Crosses Grow on Anzio , appears in To Hell and Back attributed to a soldier named Kerrigan . Only two others survived , Alone and Far Removed and Freedom Flies in Your Heart Like an Eagle . The latter was part of a speech Murphy had written at a 1968 dedication of the Alabama War Memorial in Montgomery , and later set to music by Scott Turner under the title Dusty Old Helmet . Murphy was a fan of country music , in particular Bob Wills and Chet Atkins , but was not a singer or musician himself . Through his friend Guy Mitchell , Murphy was introduced to songwriter Scott Turner in 1961 . The two collaborated on numerous songs between 1962 and 1970 , the most successful of which was Shutters and Boards and When the Wind Blows in Chicago . External links . - Image of Audie Murphy with unidentified man during screen test in Los Angeles , California , 1946 . Los Angeles Times Photographic Archive ( Collection 1429 ) . UCLA Library Special Collections , Charles E . Young Research Library , University of California , Los Angeles . |
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] | easy | What was the position of Liam Fox from Jul 1996 to May 1997? | /wiki/Liam_Fox#P39#0 | Liam Fox Liam Fox ( born 22 September 1961 ) is a British politician who served as Secretary of State for International Trade from 2016 to 2019 and Secretary of State for Defence from 2010 to 2011 . A member of the Conservative Party , he has been the Member of Parliament ( MP ) for North Somerset since 2010 . Fox was first elected as the MP for Woodspring in 1992 . Fox studied medicine at the University of Glasgow and worked as a GP and civilian army medical GP before being elected as an MP . After holding several ministerial roles under John Major , Fox served as Constitutional Affairs Spokesman from 1998 to 1999 , Shadow Health Secretary from 1999 to 2003 , Chair of the Conservative Party from 2003 to 2005 , Shadow Foreign Secretary in 2005 and Shadow Defence Secretary from 2005 to 2010 . In the 2009 expenses scandal , he was the Shadow Cabinet minister found to have the largest over-claim on expenses and , as a result , was forced to repay the most money . In 2010 , he was appointed Defence Secretary by Prime Minister David Cameron , a position from which he resigned on 14 October 2011 over allegations that he had given a close friend , lobbyist Adam Werritty , inappropriate access to the Ministry of Defence and allowed him to join official trips overseas . In July 2016 , in the wake of the United Kingdoms vote to leave the European Union , Fox was appointed the first Secretary of State for International Trade by new Prime Minister Theresa May . He was also made President of the Board of Trade . Fox has twice stood unsuccessfully for the leadership of the Conservative Party , in 2005 and 2016 . In July 2019 , he lost his cabinet position when new Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a cabinet reshuffle . Early life . Fox was born and raised in a Catholic family of Irish heritage in East Kilbride , Scotland , and brought up in a council house that his parents later bought . His great-uncle , John Fox , was Labour Provost of Motherwell , and most of his family were Labour supporters . Along with his brother and two sisters , he was educated in the state sector ; he attended St . Brides High School ( now part of St Andrews and St Brides High School ) . He studied medicine at the University of Glasgow Medical School , graduating with a MB ChB in 1983 . Fox is a former general practitioner ( he was a GP in Beaconsfield , Buckinghamshire , before his election to Parliament ) , a former Civilian Army General Practitioner and Divisional Surgeon with St John Ambulance . He is a member of the Royal College of General Practitioners . While studying medicine at the University of Glasgow in the early 1980s , he was a member of the Dialectic Society and became president of the Glasgow University Conservative Association . Fox contested the Hairmyres ward of East Kilbride District Council in May 1984 , coming second ( 210 votes ) to the incumbent Labour councillor , Ed McKenna . While at Glasgow , Fox resigned his position on the universitys Students Representative Council ( SRC ) in protest at the council passing a motion condemning the decision of the universitys Glasgow University Union ( GUU ) not to allow a gay students society to join the union . The SRC motion called both the unions decision and the explanations given for it bigoted . The GUU maintained its stance regardless , and the controversy was reported in the national media ; this led to many other university student unions up and down the country , including Edinburgh , cutting ties with their Glasgow counterparts . Explaining his decision to resign from the SRC and support the GUUs position , Fox was quoted as saying : Im actually quite liberal when it comes to sexual matters . I just dont want the gays flaunting it in front of me , which is what they would do . When asked about these comments in 2008 , Fox said that fortunately most of us have progressed from the days when we were students more than a quarter of a century ago . Member of Parliament . His first attempt to get elected as an MP for a Scottish constituency ended in failure when he contested Roxburgh and Berwickshire in the 1987 general election . Thereafter , he sought and won the nomination for the English constituency of Woodspring and was successful in being elected MP for that constituency at the 1992 general election . In government . In June 1993 , Fox was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Home Secretary , Michael Howard . Thereafter , in July 1994 , he was appointed an Assistant Government Whip . Following a limited government reshuffle in November 1995 , he was appointed a Lord Commissioner of Treasury – a Senior Government Whip . He was Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office from 1996 to 1997 . In 1996 , he brokered an accord in Sri Lanka , called the Fox Peace Plan , between Chandrika Kumaratungas PA and the opposition UNP of Ranil Wickremasinghe , on a bipartisan approach for ending the ethnic war . In 2001 , Jonathan Goodhand wrote , However , little has happened since then to suggest that the various parties would have acted in good faith in the interests of peace . In opposition . Shadow Cabinet . In June 1997 , Fox was appointed Opposition Front Bench Spokesman on Constitutional Affairs and joined the Shadow Cabinet in 1998 as the principal spokesman for Constitutional Affairs . Between 1999 and 2003 , he was the Shadow Secretary of State for Health . In November 2003 , Fox was appointed campaign manager for Michael Howard following the no-confidence vote against the Conservatives party leader , Iain Duncan Smith . Fox became co-chairman of the party following Michael Howards elevation to the post of party leader in November 2003 . After the 2005 general election he was promoted within the Shadow Cabinet to become Shadow Foreign Secretary . On 7 December 2005 he was moved to Shadow Defence Secretary by new Leader of the Opposition David Cameron . Leadership bids . 2005 leadership bid . In September 2005 , Fox announced he would join the contest to be the next leader of the Conservative party . His campaign theme for the 2005 leadership race was based on the broken society theme , which he said Conservatives could address by returning the emphasis to marriage and reforming welfare . In the initial ballot of Conservative MPs , on 18 October 2005 , he gained enough support ( 42 votes ) to enter the second ballot two days later . There he was eliminated with 51 votes in third place behind David Cameron ( 90 votes ) and David Davis ( 57 votes ) . Cameron , who eventually won the leadership election , gave Fox the role of Shadow Defence Secretary . 2016 leadership bid . In late June 2016 , Fox announced on LBC that he intended to run for the leadership of the Conservative party once again , after David Cameron resigned following the result of the EU referendum , in which Fox supported leaving the EU . During the announcement of his candidacy , he said that the UK should trigger Article 50 by the end of 2016 so it could leave the EU by 2019 , specifying 1 January 2019 as the date on which the UK should leave . He stated that he would not allow freedom of movement to be considered as part of any alternative trade arrangement with the EU . Fox promised to increase defence spending , stating that he would particularly like to see an increase in the size of the Navy and our cyber capability . He also promised to scrap HS2 , spending the £55 billion set aside for the project on regional train lines , cut taxes , cut welfare spending , create a new governmental department for trade and foreign affairs and review the aid budget . Fox was eliminated in the first ballot , finishing in last place with 16 votes . Theresa May went on to win the leadership and become Prime Minister and gave Fox the job of International Trade Secretary . Secretary of State for Defence . Fox was appointed as Secretary of State for Defence in the cabinet of David Cameron on 12 May 2010 and that weekend flew out to Afghanistan with the Foreign Secretary , William Hague , and the International Development Secretary , Andrew Mitchell , to see first hand the issues facing the troops based there . In July 2010 , he said that the dire state of the public finances meant the Armed Forces could no longer be equipped to cover every conceivable danger . He said that the strongest signal that it will have to give up one or more of these capabilities , which have been maintained at the same time as contributing to collective security pacts such as NATO . We dont have the money as a country to protect ourselves against every potential future threat , he said . We have to look at where we think the real risks will come from , where the real threats will come from and we need to deal with that accordingly . The Russians are not going to come over the European plain any day soon , he added . Foxs admission cast doubt on the future of the 25,000 troops currently stationed in Germany . The Defence Secretary had previously said that he hoped to withdraw them at some point , leaving Britain without a presence in the country for the first time since 1945 . The Ministry of Defence ( MoD ) faced budget cuts of up to 8% over the next five years , according to some analysts , and the department was grappling with a £37 billion shortfall on programmes it has signed up to . The results of the Strategic Defence and Security Review ( SDSR ) were published on 19 October 2010 . Speaking in September 2010 at a meeting in Paris with his French counterpart Hervé Morin on the possibility of sharing aircraft carriers with the French Navy , Fox said , I think it is unrealistic to share an aircraft carrier but , in other areas like tactical lift we can see what we can do . He added : I cant deny that there is an element of urgency added by budget concerns . In September 2010 , in a private letter to David Cameron , Fox refused to back any draconian cuts in the Armed Forces at a time when Britain was at war . The letter was written the night before a National Security Council ( NSC ) meeting on the Strategic Defence and Security Review ( SDSR ) . In the letter , Fox wrote that : Frankly this process is looking less and less defensible as a proper SDSR ( Strategic Defence and Strategy Review ) and more like a super CSR ( Comprehensive Spending Review ) . If it continues on its current trajectory it is likely to have grave political consequences for us . Fox continued saying that Our decisions today will limit severely the options available to this and all future governments . The range of operations that we can do today we will simply not be able to do in the future . In particular , it would place at risk . In February 2011 , Fox criticised ballooning spending in his own department . The top 15 major procurement projects were running at £8.8 billion over budget and , between them , were delayed by a total of 32 years . That included the A400M transporter aircraft order that was £603 million over budget and six years behind schedule . Fox criticised what he called a conspiracy of optimism based on poor cost-estimation , unrealistic timescales at the MoD and in industry . These practices in the MOD would simply not be tolerated in the private sector , and they will no longer be tolerated in the MoD . In March 2011 , Fox defended the decision to make 11,000 redundancies in the armed forces , insisting that personnel who have recently returned from Afghanistan would not be sacked . Cameron had conceded that axing around 5,000 personnel from the army , 3,300 from the Navy and 2,700 from the RAF will be difficult for those affected . Strategic Defence and Security Review ( SDSR ) set out plans for reducing the size of the armed forces by 17,000 in total . Some of that number would be met by not replacing people who were retiring or leaving for other reasons . Defence officials said 11,000 personnel still faced being redundant on a compulsory or voluntary basis . Fox said it was essential that service personnel were made fully aware of the options available and the time-scales involved . That means that a timetable needs to be adhered to for the sake of themselves and their families , he said . It would simply be wrong to alter that timetable for the convenience of the Government . In light of the 2011 Libyan civil war , Fox warned that Libya could end up split in two as Muammar Gaddafi unleashed the full fury of his military arsenal , sending warplanes and ground troops to attack rebel-held positions across the country . We could see the Gaddafi forces centred around Tripoli , Fox said . We could see a de facto partition of the country . In May 2011 , Fox opposed plans to sharply increase Britains aid budget , in a direct challenge to David Camerons authority . In a leaked letter to the Prime Minister , Fox said he could not accept plans to increase the development budget to 0.7 percent of the gross domestic product . The aid pledge , made in the Conservative election manifesto last year , was at the heart of Camerons attempts to change his partys image . It has gained opponents among right-wing Tories , many of whom voted for Fox when he fought Cameron for the party leadership in 2005 . I cannot support the proposal in its current form , Fox told the Prime Minister . Fox suggested that development funding should be diverted to the defence budget , writing that reneging on the aid pledge would release more public money to be spent on other activities or programmes rather than aid . The Telegraph James Kirkup said the leak was increasing suspicion among Camerons allies that the Defence Secretary was trying to undermine the Prime Minister . After negative comments by Sir Simon Bryant and Sir Mark Stanhope , Secretary Fox said admirals and air marshals who have voiced concerns were giving strength to Muammar Gaddafis regime . He also warned that high-ranking members of the Armed Forces were facing the sack because the Government wanted to reduce bureaucracy by cutting the star count . The Daily Telegraph had learned that the redundancies would include up 500 starred officers , equivalent to the rank of an Army brigadier and above . Fox said : We must be very careful , those of us who have authority in defence , when discussing the sustainability of a mission . Peoples lives are at stake and there can only be one message that goes out on Libya . Admiral Sir John Sandy Woodward , a former deputy chief of the defence staff , suggested Fox was trying to blame military chiefs for his own failings . He said : Of course the service chiefs should not be talking outside the MoD , but when politicians have got it so wrong they have no other choice . Levene report . On 27 June 2011 , Fox announced that Baron Levene had completed his report on the reform of the MoD which suggested that they could cut the number of senior officers and could also lead to ministerial posts being axed . The army , navy and air force would each be run by a single chief . Currently , the services have two commanders , one in charge of strategy , the second in charge of day-to-day operations . The reforms would see operational control pushed down the chain of command . In addition , the three service chiefs will be removed from the defence board , a powerful committee the defence secretary chairs . The overall head of the military , the chief of the defence staff , currently , General Sir David Richards , will represent them . A committee chaired by an independent non-executive director , chosen by the defence secretary , will be in charge of appointments to the services top ranks . The MoD is expected to axe up to 8,000 civil servants in 2012 . Senior commanders would be given more overall control of their budgets and internal appointments . The report also suggested that a new Joint Forces Command structure should be created with senior appointments in the MoD lasting longer than every two years by making sure people stay in post for longer . Levene said that finance and the need for affordability are not regarded as sufficiently important throughout the organisation . He said that the lack of trust which pervades the MoD has led to a tendency for those at the top to try to micromanage , while the individual services look out for themselves rather than thinking of defence as a whole . This has led to a predisposition to overcomplicate .. . and a culture of reinventing the wheel . The role of the chief of the defence staff should also be enhanced so that he alone will be responsible for representing the military voice . Levene says that the new defence board should be the primary decision-making body for non-operational matters , and should meet 10 times a year . It will have nine members , but only one will be from the military , the chief of the defence staff , currently General Sir David Richards . Defence and Security Review . In a speech on the future of the Armed Forces to the House of Commons on 19 October 2010 Prime Minister David Cameron set out plans that would mean cuts : 7,000 jobs go in the British Army ; 5,000 in the Royal Navy ; 5,000 in the Royal Air Force ; and 25,000 civilian jobs at the Ministry of Defence . In terms of equipment , the RAF would lose the Nimrod reconnaissance aircraft programme , the entire Harrier jump-jet fleet would be scrapped , and bases will be turned over to the Army . The Army will have its tanks and heavy artillery cut by 40% , and half of the soldiers in Germany will return to the UK by 2015 , with the rest brought home by 2030 and housed in former RAF bases . The Navy would have its destroyer and frigate fleet cut from 23 to 19 ( by cutting the Type 22 frigates ) and will be provided with less expensive frigates . It will be affected by the loss of the Harriers . Overall , the defence budget was to be cut by 8% but Cameron insisted that Britain would continue to meet the Nato target of spending 2% of GDP on defence . In the same speech Cameron announced a national cyber security programme , costing £500 million , to fix shortfalls in cyber infrastructure , while more focus will be given to tackling terrorists such as Al Qaeda and dissident Irish republicans in what he said would be continuing investment in our world class intelligence agencies . Army numbers will fall to 95,500 by 2015 – 7,000 fewer than today – but ground forces will continue to have vital operational role in the future , he said . Resignation . On 14 October 2011 , Fox resigned from his office as Secretary of State for Defence , for breaking the ministerial code by letting his friend Adam Werritty into defence meetings . Secretary of State for International Trade . After Theresa May became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in July 2016 , Fox was appointed Secretary of State for International Trade , responsible for helping to secure trade deals with other countries following Brexit . The Wall Street Journal reported Fox as saying he would prefer a free trade agreement with the EU rather than be part of the EU customs union , which he said could restrict Britains ability to negotiate lower tariffs with other trading partners . In a September 2016 speech on international trade , Fox said there needed to be a change in British business culture , arguing that exporting was a duty which companies neglected because it might be too difficult or too time-consuming or because they cant play golf on a Friday afternoon . In April 2017 , he was criticised for a trade visit to the Philippines , where he acknowledged shared values when speaking to Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte , heavily criticised for the increase in extrajudicial killings in the Philippines . In 2017 , Fox announced a new board of trade which would meet four times a year to ensure the benefits of free trade are spread throughout the UK . The announcement was criticised by Liberal Democrat MP Tom Brake , who said the board was a job-creation scheme for Fox . A DIT spokesman said it was a technicality that Fox was the sole member of the board , because of a constitutional convention that full membership is only for privy counsellors.In July 2019 , he lost his cabinet position when new Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a cabinet reshuffle . Brexit . Fox supported Brexit at the EU Referendum 2016 , and is a self-proclaimed staunch Eurosceptic . Following this assertion , he stated that he wants a clean break from Brussels , in order to regain national sovereignty . In July 2019 he acknowledged that no deal could lead to the breakup of the United Kingdom . In March 2018 , Fox said that he would no longer support an extension to the EU transition period . He had previously said that a post-Brexit trade deal should be the easiest in human history . By July 2019 he recognised that a deal with the US would take time and that despite reaching above 99% of agreement on a deal based on Canadas existing deal with the EU , the Canadians were now looking at the zero-tariff access being promised in the event of no deal . On 30 November 2018 , he came out in support for Theresa Mays Brexit deal , calling it the best possible deal that safely delivers Brexit . World Trade Organisation candidate . On 8 July 2020 , the UK government nominated Fox as a candidate for Director-General of the World Trade Organisation . Foxs main rival for the nomination , the Labour peer Peter Mandelson , was overlooked due to his opposition to Brexit . Fox progressed to the second round of the selection process . He did not become one of the two candidates to enter the final round , who were South Koreas Yoo Myung-hee and Nigerias Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala , and was knocked out on 7 October . Positions . Bahrain . In March 2013 , Fox was one of the chief guests at a conference in Bahrain designed to rally Western opinion to the side of the Bahrain government in its struggle against the Arab Spring . Fox was the only Briton on the list of key people attending the Bahrain International Symposium . More than 60 people died during two years of protests , and 13 civil rights demonstrators were sentenced to ten years in prison . Iraq . He voted for the 2003 invasion of Iraq . As Shadow Defence Secretary he supported the Governments position of maintaining British troops in Iraq until the security situation allowed for a withdrawal of troops but was critical of the lack of post-invasion planning and poor equipment initially provided to British troops . He supported the idea of the American Surge and believes that it was successful . After becoming Shadow Defence Secretary , he visited Iraq on a number of occasions . In August 2014 , Fox argued that the UK should start bombing Islamist extremists in northern Iraq . The following month this became government policy . Afghanistan . He has been an outspoken supporter of the war in Afghanistan and the British presence there . He has been critical towards some of the European NATO partners who he believes are not contributing enough to the effort in the more dangerous southern and eastern parts of Afghanistan . Since becoming Shadow Defence Secretary he has visited Afghanistan on five occasions . In July 2010 , Fox said that an early withdrawal of coalition troops from Afghanistan would risk a return of civil war and act as a shot in the arm to jihadists across the world . In marked contrast to David Cameron , who pledged to withdraw all British troops by 2015 , Fox said Britain would be betraying the sacrifices of its fallen soldiers if it left before the job is finished . British forces would be among the last to leave Afghanistan , he added , because they are stationed in Helmand , one of the most dangerous provinces in the country . He said that Were we to leave prematurely , without degrading the insurgency and increasing the capability of the Afghan national security forces , we could see the return of the destructive forces of transnational terror .. . Not only would we risk the return of civil war in Afghanistan , creating a security vacuum , but we would also risk the destabilisation of Pakistan with potentially unthinkable regional , and possibly nuclear , consequences . In July 2010 , it was reported that 1,000 Royal Marines were expected to leave and be redeployed to central Helmand by the end of 2010 . Fox told MPs that UK forces had made good progress in Sangin , but the move would enable Britain to provide more manpower and greater focus on Helmands busy central belt , leaving the north and south to the US . The result will be a coherent and equitable division of the main populated areas of Helmand between three brigade-sized forces , with the US in the north and the south , and the UK-led Task Force Helmand , alongside our outstanding Danish and Estonian allies , in the central population belt , he told the House of Commons . On 19 July 2010 , Fox said that within four years the Afghan army and police should take responsibility for security , leaving British troops to work only as military trainers . The date is a full year earlier than the deadline suggested by David Cameron this month , who said he wanted most troops back by 2015 . Fox said : It has always been our aim to be successful in the mission and the mission has always said that the Afghan national security forces would be able to deal with their own security by 2014 . We recognise that there will be further work to do in terms of training and improving the quality of those forces beyond that , which is why we have said training forces may be available after that date . But we have made it very clear that that will not be combat forces . NATO . He has very strong Atlanticist views . He believes that NATO is the cornerstone of the United Kingdom and Europes defence and that NATO must have primacy over the European Union including the right of first refusal for all matters relating to the defence of continental Europe . He has been critical of the common funding mechanism within NATO and has called for a system to be used that allows for more proportionate burden sharing between NATO member states for NATO led military operations . European Union . He is considered to be staunchly Eurosceptic and opposed to European defence integration as well as European political integration . He is opposed to the European Commission having any role in defence policy . He believes that the European Security and Defence Policy duplicates and takes away scarce national resources from NATO . He specifically opposes the defence provisions in the Lisbon Treaty . He serves as a vice-president of the eurosceptic pressure group Conservatives for Britain . Capital punishment . He does not support capital punishment . Abortion . Fox is critical of abortion and has called for huge restriction , if not abolition on the UKs pro-abortion laws . In an interview with Morgan and Platell , Fox elaborated on these views , stating that he would like to see [ abortion limits ] brought down...well below 20 weeks ; Id like to see us look at limits more akin to some of the European countries at 12 or 14 weeks . He went on to state that a society that actually aborts 180,000 unborn children every year is a society that needs to be asking a lot of questions about itself . For me , its a simple personal belief . It says , thou shall not kill , it doesnt say , thou shall not kill unless Parliament says its OK . For the same reason Im against the death penalty . However , I do accept...that if the majority of the population decide that its something they find acceptable , Ive got to live with that . But Im not going to be quiet and Im not going to pretend that my views are other than they are for the sake of political convenience . Military welfare . Fox has stated on a number of occasions that the Military Covenant is broken and that the British Armed Forces are being asked to do too much for what they are resourced to do . Along with the leader of the Conservative Party , David Cameron , he established the Military Covenant Commission headed by Frederick Forsyth with the aim of finding ways to improve the welfare of service members , veterans , and their families under a future Conservative Government . Fox has a particular interest in mental health issues and has criticised Gordon Browns Labour Government for failing to adequately address the problem . Israel . Fox is a supporter of Israel and is a member of Conservative Friends of Israel . In 2006 he said , Israels enemies are our enemies and this is a battle in which we all stand together or we will all fall divided . The Jewish Chronicle has called Fox a champion of Israel while in government . In January 2009 , referring to Israel , he also said , British support for any ally is never unqualified . International law and values must always be obeyed . In May 2011 , Fox was booed at the We Believe in Israel event for saying that Israeli settlements are illegal and an obstacle to peace . Nuclear deterrent . Fox believes that Britain should maintain its continuous at sea , independent , submarine based strategic nuclear deterrent based on the Trident system . Defence procurement . Fox has pledged to restructure the defence procurement process in the Ministry of Defence . He has also stated that it would be a matter of policy to see Britains share of global defence exports increasing under a Conservative Government . Elevated bilateral defence relationships . Fox believes that it is in Britains national interest to build bilateral defence relations with key strategic partners . Fox has mentioned the United States , France , Norway , Turkey , Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf States . Special Relationship . He is a strong believer in the Special Relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States . He was the UK Director and founding member of The Atlantic Bridge , a UK-based charity that aims to preserve and promote the Special Relationship . The Atlantic Bridge closed down in October 2011 after being told to cease activities by the Charity Commission for promoting a political policy [ that ] is closely associated with the Conservative Party . Fox was able to retain a good relationship with the administration of George W . Bush , despite a five-year breakdown in relations between the Conservative and Republican parties over the Iraq War . He led the Conservative delegation to the 2008 Republican National Convention . In 2018 , he commented that the 25% tariffs imposed by the United States on imported EU steel were patently absurd . Same-sex marriage . On 5 February 2013 , Fox voted against a second reading of the Marriage ( Same Sex Couples ) Bill , designed to introduce same-sex marriage in the United Kingdom . He described David Camerons plans to legalise same-sex marriage as divisive , ill thought through and constitutionally wrong , arguing that redefining marriage for the majority to satisfy a small , yet vocal , minority was not a good basis for a stable , tolerant society . Freedom of the press . In October 2013 , Fox called for The Guardian newspaper to face prosecution over the 2013 mass surveillance disclosures . In January 2015 , Fox published a video on YouTube detailing his opinions and criticism of Edward Snowden . He stated : Were constantly having to protect our society from a range of threats , especially organised crime , paedophilia , and terrorism . For our intelligence services to operate effectively , and to protect us from these threats , they need to be able to do things in secret , secrets whose public disclosure would be damaging to our National Interest . When Edward Snowden stole files and took them with him to China and then Russia , some 58,000 files came from GCHQ , information that had played a vital role in preventing terrorist outrages in Britain , over the past decade and longer . It was not freedom fighting . We should call treason by its name . And those who assisted Snowden must be held responsible for their actions . National Health Service . In January 2014 , Fox stated that ring-fenced funding for the NHS should end , stating : The increase [ in spending ] over the last decade has been phenomenal and yet a lot of our health indicators lag behind other countries , particular things like stroke outcome or a lot of cancer outcomes . Scotland . Before the Scottish independence vote he made a speech setting out reasons why Scotland should remain in the union . If Scotland leaves the United Kingdom we all lose he told a Neighbourhood Watch group from his constituency visiting Westminster Houses of parliament on 1 September 2014 . Syria . Fox was disappointed that Parliament voted not to take military action over the use of chemical weapons in Syria . Fox was critical of Camerons strategy and performance for that debate , and stated There was no need to seek parliamentary approval for any military action , as constitutional authority lies with the government . He later took the view that there were no easy answers to the Syrian civil war and the prospect of the Assad government surviving should be considered . Fox argued that bombing attacks against ISIL in Iraq should be extended into Syria , and safe havens should be created in Syria by military intervention . Expenses . In March 2010 , Fox appealed Sir Thomas Leggs decision that he had overclaimed £22,476 in mortgage interest payments . Fox immediately repaid the money , then appealed the decision . Foxs appeal was rejected and the decision was upheld by Sir Paul Kennedy , a former high court judge . Fox stated that his decision to remortgage his second home to pay for redecorations and claim the higher interest repayments on his expenses represented value for money because he could have charged the taxpayer for the decorating bills directly . In his response , Sir Paul Kennedy stated : What you claimed was not recoverable under the rules then in force . I entirely accept that , like many others , you could have made other claims if the fees office had rejected your claims for mortgage interest , and that you may well have spent some of what you raised by increasing your mortgage on your constituency home , but the evidence is imprecise , and my terms of reference only allow me to interfere if I find special reasons in your individual case showing that it would not be fair and equitable to require repayment , either at all or at the level recommended . This reportedly made him the Conservative Shadow Cabinet member with the largest over-claim on expenses , and as a result , he has been forced to repay the most money . It was reported in June 2009 that Fox claimed expenses of more than £19,000 over the previous four years for his mobile phone . Fox stated that the high bill was due to regular trips overseas , in his capacity as Shadow Defence Secretary and said he was looking for a cheaper tariff . In October 2012 , the Commons Speaker blocked the release of data showing which MPs were renting their homes to other MPs for financial gain . However , a study of parliamentary records was published in the Daily Telegraph . The study showed that Liam Fox receives rental income from his London home while simultaneously claiming rental income from the taxpayer to live at another residence . In October 2013 , documents showed that Fox claimed 3p for a 100 metre car trip a year earlier . He also made an additional 15 claims under £1 for car travel approved in 2012–13 , two of which were for 24p and 44p . He told the Sunday People : I dont do my expenses . My office does them . But they are all done according to the rules for travel distances . Breaches of parliamentary rules . In March 2010 , Fox admitted breaking parliamentary rules on two occasions by visiting Sri Lanka on a trip paid for by the Sri Lankan government without declaring the trip in the Register of Members Financial Interests in the required time of 30 days and failing to declare an interest in Sri Lanka when asking ministers how much UK aid had been given to Sri Lanka . Fox has declared all of his trips to Sri Lanka paid for by the Sri Lankan government in the Register of Members Financial Interests . One trip he took in November 2007 was declared two months late . Fox blamed a changeover of staffing responsibilities for this error . Of the five trips to Sri Lanka mentioned in the BBC article , three were paid for fully by the Sri Lankan government . Those not paid in full by the Sri Lankan government were paid for by the Sri Lankan Development Trust . Fox stated that he had been working for all sides of the ethnic divide : I have been involved in attempts to promote peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka , involving all sides of the ethnic divide , since I was a foreign minister in 1997 . During my most recent visit , I spoke at a press conference to outline my reasons for being there . The declaration of the visit you refer to in November 2007 was highlighted in an end-of-year audit following a changeover of staffing responsibilities . The registrar was immediately notified and my register entry was updated accordingly . All visits have been fully declared on the House of Commons Register of Members Interests and are therefore public knowledge and entirely legitimate . I do , however , recognise that when asking one question in 2008 , I should have noted an interest and will be writing to the registrar to make this clear . Adam Werritty . During October 2011 , Foxs close friendship with Adam Werritty attracted extensive media attention and eventually led to Foxs resignation . Werrity had been best man at his wedding , had lived rent-free in Foxs flat , and been involved with him in business and in the conservative Atlanticist think-tank The Atlantic Bridge . While Fox was Secretary of State for Defence , Werrity had visited Fox at the Ministry of Defence on many occasions , had accompanied Fox on numerous official trips , attended some of his meetings with foreign dignitaries , and had used official-looking business cards which said he was an advisor to Fox , without having a government post or security clearance . The media raised questions about Foxs judgement in allowing this to happen and the source of Werritys income . In response , Fox initially requested Ursula Brennan , the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Defence , to investigate his connection with Werrity . Some of the meetings involved himself , Werritty , Matthew Gould ( prior to appointment , while he was Britains Ambassador-designate to Israel , and afterwards ) , and in some cases , Denis MacShane . The Foreign Office responded by stating : The FCO has total confidence that Matthew Gould has acted appropriately at all times and at no stage was he acting independently , or out of line with government policy . On Sunday 9 October 2011 , in advance of Brennans initial report of the result of her inquiry to the Prime Minister , Fox made a statement apologising publicly for his conduct in relation to Werrity , denying wrongdoing but admitting errors of judgement in mixing his professional and personal loyalties . The inquiry was escalated and Fox resigned in advance of publication of the full report by the Cabinet Secretary . The full list of Foxs meetings for his time in office to date , 20 May 2010 to 8 October 2011 , was published by the MoD after 7 pm on 10 October 2011 and revealed that Werrity was present at 40 of Foxs 70 engagements in that period ( 57% ) . In 2005–6 , Fox used public money , from his expense claims as an MP , to pay Adam Werritty . Finances . Fox was a registered shareholder of the medical educational firm Arrest Ltd which was dissolved in 2010 . In 2009 , his estimated wealth was £1 million . Fox accepted a £50,000 donation from Jon Moulton , whose investment firm , Better Capital , later went on to own Gardner Aerospace , an aerospace metallic manufactured details supplier which includes component parts for both military and civilian aircraft . This potentially exposed Fox to conflict of interest but neither Fox nor Moulton violated any rules with this donation . Personal life . On 10 June 2005 , he announced his engagement to longtime girlfriend Jesme Baird , a doctor who works at the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation and is an alumna of the University of Glasgow . They married at St Margarets Church opposite Parliament on 17 December 2005 . He has lived in North Somerset since 1990 , and currently resides in Tickenham . Author . In September 2013 , Fox launched Rising Tides : Facing the Challenges of a New Era , a 384-page book in which he warns that many of the world’s institutions are ill-equipped to tackle the economic and security threats of the 21st century . |
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"Shadow Secretary of State for Health"
] | easy | Which position did Liam Fox hold from Jun 1999 to Nov 2003? | /wiki/Liam_Fox#P39#1 | Liam Fox Liam Fox ( born 22 September 1961 ) is a British politician who served as Secretary of State for International Trade from 2016 to 2019 and Secretary of State for Defence from 2010 to 2011 . A member of the Conservative Party , he has been the Member of Parliament ( MP ) for North Somerset since 2010 . Fox was first elected as the MP for Woodspring in 1992 . Fox studied medicine at the University of Glasgow and worked as a GP and civilian army medical GP before being elected as an MP . After holding several ministerial roles under John Major , Fox served as Constitutional Affairs Spokesman from 1998 to 1999 , Shadow Health Secretary from 1999 to 2003 , Chair of the Conservative Party from 2003 to 2005 , Shadow Foreign Secretary in 2005 and Shadow Defence Secretary from 2005 to 2010 . In the 2009 expenses scandal , he was the Shadow Cabinet minister found to have the largest over-claim on expenses and , as a result , was forced to repay the most money . In 2010 , he was appointed Defence Secretary by Prime Minister David Cameron , a position from which he resigned on 14 October 2011 over allegations that he had given a close friend , lobbyist Adam Werritty , inappropriate access to the Ministry of Defence and allowed him to join official trips overseas . In July 2016 , in the wake of the United Kingdoms vote to leave the European Union , Fox was appointed the first Secretary of State for International Trade by new Prime Minister Theresa May . He was also made President of the Board of Trade . Fox has twice stood unsuccessfully for the leadership of the Conservative Party , in 2005 and 2016 . In July 2019 , he lost his cabinet position when new Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a cabinet reshuffle . Early life . Fox was born and raised in a Catholic family of Irish heritage in East Kilbride , Scotland , and brought up in a council house that his parents later bought . His great-uncle , John Fox , was Labour Provost of Motherwell , and most of his family were Labour supporters . Along with his brother and two sisters , he was educated in the state sector ; he attended St . Brides High School ( now part of St Andrews and St Brides High School ) . He studied medicine at the University of Glasgow Medical School , graduating with a MB ChB in 1983 . Fox is a former general practitioner ( he was a GP in Beaconsfield , Buckinghamshire , before his election to Parliament ) , a former Civilian Army General Practitioner and Divisional Surgeon with St John Ambulance . He is a member of the Royal College of General Practitioners . While studying medicine at the University of Glasgow in the early 1980s , he was a member of the Dialectic Society and became president of the Glasgow University Conservative Association . Fox contested the Hairmyres ward of East Kilbride District Council in May 1984 , coming second ( 210 votes ) to the incumbent Labour councillor , Ed McKenna . While at Glasgow , Fox resigned his position on the universitys Students Representative Council ( SRC ) in protest at the council passing a motion condemning the decision of the universitys Glasgow University Union ( GUU ) not to allow a gay students society to join the union . The SRC motion called both the unions decision and the explanations given for it bigoted . The GUU maintained its stance regardless , and the controversy was reported in the national media ; this led to many other university student unions up and down the country , including Edinburgh , cutting ties with their Glasgow counterparts . Explaining his decision to resign from the SRC and support the GUUs position , Fox was quoted as saying : Im actually quite liberal when it comes to sexual matters . I just dont want the gays flaunting it in front of me , which is what they would do . When asked about these comments in 2008 , Fox said that fortunately most of us have progressed from the days when we were students more than a quarter of a century ago . Member of Parliament . His first attempt to get elected as an MP for a Scottish constituency ended in failure when he contested Roxburgh and Berwickshire in the 1987 general election . Thereafter , he sought and won the nomination for the English constituency of Woodspring and was successful in being elected MP for that constituency at the 1992 general election . In government . In June 1993 , Fox was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Home Secretary , Michael Howard . Thereafter , in July 1994 , he was appointed an Assistant Government Whip . Following a limited government reshuffle in November 1995 , he was appointed a Lord Commissioner of Treasury – a Senior Government Whip . He was Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office from 1996 to 1997 . In 1996 , he brokered an accord in Sri Lanka , called the Fox Peace Plan , between Chandrika Kumaratungas PA and the opposition UNP of Ranil Wickremasinghe , on a bipartisan approach for ending the ethnic war . In 2001 , Jonathan Goodhand wrote , However , little has happened since then to suggest that the various parties would have acted in good faith in the interests of peace . In opposition . Shadow Cabinet . In June 1997 , Fox was appointed Opposition Front Bench Spokesman on Constitutional Affairs and joined the Shadow Cabinet in 1998 as the principal spokesman for Constitutional Affairs . Between 1999 and 2003 , he was the Shadow Secretary of State for Health . In November 2003 , Fox was appointed campaign manager for Michael Howard following the no-confidence vote against the Conservatives party leader , Iain Duncan Smith . Fox became co-chairman of the party following Michael Howards elevation to the post of party leader in November 2003 . After the 2005 general election he was promoted within the Shadow Cabinet to become Shadow Foreign Secretary . On 7 December 2005 he was moved to Shadow Defence Secretary by new Leader of the Opposition David Cameron . Leadership bids . 2005 leadership bid . In September 2005 , Fox announced he would join the contest to be the next leader of the Conservative party . His campaign theme for the 2005 leadership race was based on the broken society theme , which he said Conservatives could address by returning the emphasis to marriage and reforming welfare . In the initial ballot of Conservative MPs , on 18 October 2005 , he gained enough support ( 42 votes ) to enter the second ballot two days later . There he was eliminated with 51 votes in third place behind David Cameron ( 90 votes ) and David Davis ( 57 votes ) . Cameron , who eventually won the leadership election , gave Fox the role of Shadow Defence Secretary . 2016 leadership bid . In late June 2016 , Fox announced on LBC that he intended to run for the leadership of the Conservative party once again , after David Cameron resigned following the result of the EU referendum , in which Fox supported leaving the EU . During the announcement of his candidacy , he said that the UK should trigger Article 50 by the end of 2016 so it could leave the EU by 2019 , specifying 1 January 2019 as the date on which the UK should leave . He stated that he would not allow freedom of movement to be considered as part of any alternative trade arrangement with the EU . Fox promised to increase defence spending , stating that he would particularly like to see an increase in the size of the Navy and our cyber capability . He also promised to scrap HS2 , spending the £55 billion set aside for the project on regional train lines , cut taxes , cut welfare spending , create a new governmental department for trade and foreign affairs and review the aid budget . Fox was eliminated in the first ballot , finishing in last place with 16 votes . Theresa May went on to win the leadership and become Prime Minister and gave Fox the job of International Trade Secretary . Secretary of State for Defence . Fox was appointed as Secretary of State for Defence in the cabinet of David Cameron on 12 May 2010 and that weekend flew out to Afghanistan with the Foreign Secretary , William Hague , and the International Development Secretary , Andrew Mitchell , to see first hand the issues facing the troops based there . In July 2010 , he said that the dire state of the public finances meant the Armed Forces could no longer be equipped to cover every conceivable danger . He said that the strongest signal that it will have to give up one or more of these capabilities , which have been maintained at the same time as contributing to collective security pacts such as NATO . We dont have the money as a country to protect ourselves against every potential future threat , he said . We have to look at where we think the real risks will come from , where the real threats will come from and we need to deal with that accordingly . The Russians are not going to come over the European plain any day soon , he added . Foxs admission cast doubt on the future of the 25,000 troops currently stationed in Germany . The Defence Secretary had previously said that he hoped to withdraw them at some point , leaving Britain without a presence in the country for the first time since 1945 . The Ministry of Defence ( MoD ) faced budget cuts of up to 8% over the next five years , according to some analysts , and the department was grappling with a £37 billion shortfall on programmes it has signed up to . The results of the Strategic Defence and Security Review ( SDSR ) were published on 19 October 2010 . Speaking in September 2010 at a meeting in Paris with his French counterpart Hervé Morin on the possibility of sharing aircraft carriers with the French Navy , Fox said , I think it is unrealistic to share an aircraft carrier but , in other areas like tactical lift we can see what we can do . He added : I cant deny that there is an element of urgency added by budget concerns . In September 2010 , in a private letter to David Cameron , Fox refused to back any draconian cuts in the Armed Forces at a time when Britain was at war . The letter was written the night before a National Security Council ( NSC ) meeting on the Strategic Defence and Security Review ( SDSR ) . In the letter , Fox wrote that : Frankly this process is looking less and less defensible as a proper SDSR ( Strategic Defence and Strategy Review ) and more like a super CSR ( Comprehensive Spending Review ) . If it continues on its current trajectory it is likely to have grave political consequences for us . Fox continued saying that Our decisions today will limit severely the options available to this and all future governments . The range of operations that we can do today we will simply not be able to do in the future . In particular , it would place at risk . In February 2011 , Fox criticised ballooning spending in his own department . The top 15 major procurement projects were running at £8.8 billion over budget and , between them , were delayed by a total of 32 years . That included the A400M transporter aircraft order that was £603 million over budget and six years behind schedule . Fox criticised what he called a conspiracy of optimism based on poor cost-estimation , unrealistic timescales at the MoD and in industry . These practices in the MOD would simply not be tolerated in the private sector , and they will no longer be tolerated in the MoD . In March 2011 , Fox defended the decision to make 11,000 redundancies in the armed forces , insisting that personnel who have recently returned from Afghanistan would not be sacked . Cameron had conceded that axing around 5,000 personnel from the army , 3,300 from the Navy and 2,700 from the RAF will be difficult for those affected . Strategic Defence and Security Review ( SDSR ) set out plans for reducing the size of the armed forces by 17,000 in total . Some of that number would be met by not replacing people who were retiring or leaving for other reasons . Defence officials said 11,000 personnel still faced being redundant on a compulsory or voluntary basis . Fox said it was essential that service personnel were made fully aware of the options available and the time-scales involved . That means that a timetable needs to be adhered to for the sake of themselves and their families , he said . It would simply be wrong to alter that timetable for the convenience of the Government . In light of the 2011 Libyan civil war , Fox warned that Libya could end up split in two as Muammar Gaddafi unleashed the full fury of his military arsenal , sending warplanes and ground troops to attack rebel-held positions across the country . We could see the Gaddafi forces centred around Tripoli , Fox said . We could see a de facto partition of the country . In May 2011 , Fox opposed plans to sharply increase Britains aid budget , in a direct challenge to David Camerons authority . In a leaked letter to the Prime Minister , Fox said he could not accept plans to increase the development budget to 0.7 percent of the gross domestic product . The aid pledge , made in the Conservative election manifesto last year , was at the heart of Camerons attempts to change his partys image . It has gained opponents among right-wing Tories , many of whom voted for Fox when he fought Cameron for the party leadership in 2005 . I cannot support the proposal in its current form , Fox told the Prime Minister . Fox suggested that development funding should be diverted to the defence budget , writing that reneging on the aid pledge would release more public money to be spent on other activities or programmes rather than aid . The Telegraph James Kirkup said the leak was increasing suspicion among Camerons allies that the Defence Secretary was trying to undermine the Prime Minister . After negative comments by Sir Simon Bryant and Sir Mark Stanhope , Secretary Fox said admirals and air marshals who have voiced concerns were giving strength to Muammar Gaddafis regime . He also warned that high-ranking members of the Armed Forces were facing the sack because the Government wanted to reduce bureaucracy by cutting the star count . The Daily Telegraph had learned that the redundancies would include up 500 starred officers , equivalent to the rank of an Army brigadier and above . Fox said : We must be very careful , those of us who have authority in defence , when discussing the sustainability of a mission . Peoples lives are at stake and there can only be one message that goes out on Libya . Admiral Sir John Sandy Woodward , a former deputy chief of the defence staff , suggested Fox was trying to blame military chiefs for his own failings . He said : Of course the service chiefs should not be talking outside the MoD , but when politicians have got it so wrong they have no other choice . Levene report . On 27 June 2011 , Fox announced that Baron Levene had completed his report on the reform of the MoD which suggested that they could cut the number of senior officers and could also lead to ministerial posts being axed . The army , navy and air force would each be run by a single chief . Currently , the services have two commanders , one in charge of strategy , the second in charge of day-to-day operations . The reforms would see operational control pushed down the chain of command . In addition , the three service chiefs will be removed from the defence board , a powerful committee the defence secretary chairs . The overall head of the military , the chief of the defence staff , currently , General Sir David Richards , will represent them . A committee chaired by an independent non-executive director , chosen by the defence secretary , will be in charge of appointments to the services top ranks . The MoD is expected to axe up to 8,000 civil servants in 2012 . Senior commanders would be given more overall control of their budgets and internal appointments . The report also suggested that a new Joint Forces Command structure should be created with senior appointments in the MoD lasting longer than every two years by making sure people stay in post for longer . Levene said that finance and the need for affordability are not regarded as sufficiently important throughout the organisation . He said that the lack of trust which pervades the MoD has led to a tendency for those at the top to try to micromanage , while the individual services look out for themselves rather than thinking of defence as a whole . This has led to a predisposition to overcomplicate .. . and a culture of reinventing the wheel . The role of the chief of the defence staff should also be enhanced so that he alone will be responsible for representing the military voice . Levene says that the new defence board should be the primary decision-making body for non-operational matters , and should meet 10 times a year . It will have nine members , but only one will be from the military , the chief of the defence staff , currently General Sir David Richards . Defence and Security Review . In a speech on the future of the Armed Forces to the House of Commons on 19 October 2010 Prime Minister David Cameron set out plans that would mean cuts : 7,000 jobs go in the British Army ; 5,000 in the Royal Navy ; 5,000 in the Royal Air Force ; and 25,000 civilian jobs at the Ministry of Defence . In terms of equipment , the RAF would lose the Nimrod reconnaissance aircraft programme , the entire Harrier jump-jet fleet would be scrapped , and bases will be turned over to the Army . The Army will have its tanks and heavy artillery cut by 40% , and half of the soldiers in Germany will return to the UK by 2015 , with the rest brought home by 2030 and housed in former RAF bases . The Navy would have its destroyer and frigate fleet cut from 23 to 19 ( by cutting the Type 22 frigates ) and will be provided with less expensive frigates . It will be affected by the loss of the Harriers . Overall , the defence budget was to be cut by 8% but Cameron insisted that Britain would continue to meet the Nato target of spending 2% of GDP on defence . In the same speech Cameron announced a national cyber security programme , costing £500 million , to fix shortfalls in cyber infrastructure , while more focus will be given to tackling terrorists such as Al Qaeda and dissident Irish republicans in what he said would be continuing investment in our world class intelligence agencies . Army numbers will fall to 95,500 by 2015 – 7,000 fewer than today – but ground forces will continue to have vital operational role in the future , he said . Resignation . On 14 October 2011 , Fox resigned from his office as Secretary of State for Defence , for breaking the ministerial code by letting his friend Adam Werritty into defence meetings . Secretary of State for International Trade . After Theresa May became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in July 2016 , Fox was appointed Secretary of State for International Trade , responsible for helping to secure trade deals with other countries following Brexit . The Wall Street Journal reported Fox as saying he would prefer a free trade agreement with the EU rather than be part of the EU customs union , which he said could restrict Britains ability to negotiate lower tariffs with other trading partners . In a September 2016 speech on international trade , Fox said there needed to be a change in British business culture , arguing that exporting was a duty which companies neglected because it might be too difficult or too time-consuming or because they cant play golf on a Friday afternoon . In April 2017 , he was criticised for a trade visit to the Philippines , where he acknowledged shared values when speaking to Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte , heavily criticised for the increase in extrajudicial killings in the Philippines . In 2017 , Fox announced a new board of trade which would meet four times a year to ensure the benefits of free trade are spread throughout the UK . The announcement was criticised by Liberal Democrat MP Tom Brake , who said the board was a job-creation scheme for Fox . A DIT spokesman said it was a technicality that Fox was the sole member of the board , because of a constitutional convention that full membership is only for privy counsellors.In July 2019 , he lost his cabinet position when new Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a cabinet reshuffle . Brexit . Fox supported Brexit at the EU Referendum 2016 , and is a self-proclaimed staunch Eurosceptic . Following this assertion , he stated that he wants a clean break from Brussels , in order to regain national sovereignty . In July 2019 he acknowledged that no deal could lead to the breakup of the United Kingdom . In March 2018 , Fox said that he would no longer support an extension to the EU transition period . He had previously said that a post-Brexit trade deal should be the easiest in human history . By July 2019 he recognised that a deal with the US would take time and that despite reaching above 99% of agreement on a deal based on Canadas existing deal with the EU , the Canadians were now looking at the zero-tariff access being promised in the event of no deal . On 30 November 2018 , he came out in support for Theresa Mays Brexit deal , calling it the best possible deal that safely delivers Brexit . World Trade Organisation candidate . On 8 July 2020 , the UK government nominated Fox as a candidate for Director-General of the World Trade Organisation . Foxs main rival for the nomination , the Labour peer Peter Mandelson , was overlooked due to his opposition to Brexit . Fox progressed to the second round of the selection process . He did not become one of the two candidates to enter the final round , who were South Koreas Yoo Myung-hee and Nigerias Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala , and was knocked out on 7 October . Positions . Bahrain . In March 2013 , Fox was one of the chief guests at a conference in Bahrain designed to rally Western opinion to the side of the Bahrain government in its struggle against the Arab Spring . Fox was the only Briton on the list of key people attending the Bahrain International Symposium . More than 60 people died during two years of protests , and 13 civil rights demonstrators were sentenced to ten years in prison . Iraq . He voted for the 2003 invasion of Iraq . As Shadow Defence Secretary he supported the Governments position of maintaining British troops in Iraq until the security situation allowed for a withdrawal of troops but was critical of the lack of post-invasion planning and poor equipment initially provided to British troops . He supported the idea of the American Surge and believes that it was successful . After becoming Shadow Defence Secretary , he visited Iraq on a number of occasions . In August 2014 , Fox argued that the UK should start bombing Islamist extremists in northern Iraq . The following month this became government policy . Afghanistan . He has been an outspoken supporter of the war in Afghanistan and the British presence there . He has been critical towards some of the European NATO partners who he believes are not contributing enough to the effort in the more dangerous southern and eastern parts of Afghanistan . Since becoming Shadow Defence Secretary he has visited Afghanistan on five occasions . In July 2010 , Fox said that an early withdrawal of coalition troops from Afghanistan would risk a return of civil war and act as a shot in the arm to jihadists across the world . In marked contrast to David Cameron , who pledged to withdraw all British troops by 2015 , Fox said Britain would be betraying the sacrifices of its fallen soldiers if it left before the job is finished . British forces would be among the last to leave Afghanistan , he added , because they are stationed in Helmand , one of the most dangerous provinces in the country . He said that Were we to leave prematurely , without degrading the insurgency and increasing the capability of the Afghan national security forces , we could see the return of the destructive forces of transnational terror .. . Not only would we risk the return of civil war in Afghanistan , creating a security vacuum , but we would also risk the destabilisation of Pakistan with potentially unthinkable regional , and possibly nuclear , consequences . In July 2010 , it was reported that 1,000 Royal Marines were expected to leave and be redeployed to central Helmand by the end of 2010 . Fox told MPs that UK forces had made good progress in Sangin , but the move would enable Britain to provide more manpower and greater focus on Helmands busy central belt , leaving the north and south to the US . The result will be a coherent and equitable division of the main populated areas of Helmand between three brigade-sized forces , with the US in the north and the south , and the UK-led Task Force Helmand , alongside our outstanding Danish and Estonian allies , in the central population belt , he told the House of Commons . On 19 July 2010 , Fox said that within four years the Afghan army and police should take responsibility for security , leaving British troops to work only as military trainers . The date is a full year earlier than the deadline suggested by David Cameron this month , who said he wanted most troops back by 2015 . Fox said : It has always been our aim to be successful in the mission and the mission has always said that the Afghan national security forces would be able to deal with their own security by 2014 . We recognise that there will be further work to do in terms of training and improving the quality of those forces beyond that , which is why we have said training forces may be available after that date . But we have made it very clear that that will not be combat forces . NATO . He has very strong Atlanticist views . He believes that NATO is the cornerstone of the United Kingdom and Europes defence and that NATO must have primacy over the European Union including the right of first refusal for all matters relating to the defence of continental Europe . He has been critical of the common funding mechanism within NATO and has called for a system to be used that allows for more proportionate burden sharing between NATO member states for NATO led military operations . European Union . He is considered to be staunchly Eurosceptic and opposed to European defence integration as well as European political integration . He is opposed to the European Commission having any role in defence policy . He believes that the European Security and Defence Policy duplicates and takes away scarce national resources from NATO . He specifically opposes the defence provisions in the Lisbon Treaty . He serves as a vice-president of the eurosceptic pressure group Conservatives for Britain . Capital punishment . He does not support capital punishment . Abortion . Fox is critical of abortion and has called for huge restriction , if not abolition on the UKs pro-abortion laws . In an interview with Morgan and Platell , Fox elaborated on these views , stating that he would like to see [ abortion limits ] brought down...well below 20 weeks ; Id like to see us look at limits more akin to some of the European countries at 12 or 14 weeks . He went on to state that a society that actually aborts 180,000 unborn children every year is a society that needs to be asking a lot of questions about itself . For me , its a simple personal belief . It says , thou shall not kill , it doesnt say , thou shall not kill unless Parliament says its OK . For the same reason Im against the death penalty . However , I do accept...that if the majority of the population decide that its something they find acceptable , Ive got to live with that . But Im not going to be quiet and Im not going to pretend that my views are other than they are for the sake of political convenience . Military welfare . Fox has stated on a number of occasions that the Military Covenant is broken and that the British Armed Forces are being asked to do too much for what they are resourced to do . Along with the leader of the Conservative Party , David Cameron , he established the Military Covenant Commission headed by Frederick Forsyth with the aim of finding ways to improve the welfare of service members , veterans , and their families under a future Conservative Government . Fox has a particular interest in mental health issues and has criticised Gordon Browns Labour Government for failing to adequately address the problem . Israel . Fox is a supporter of Israel and is a member of Conservative Friends of Israel . In 2006 he said , Israels enemies are our enemies and this is a battle in which we all stand together or we will all fall divided . The Jewish Chronicle has called Fox a champion of Israel while in government . In January 2009 , referring to Israel , he also said , British support for any ally is never unqualified . International law and values must always be obeyed . In May 2011 , Fox was booed at the We Believe in Israel event for saying that Israeli settlements are illegal and an obstacle to peace . Nuclear deterrent . Fox believes that Britain should maintain its continuous at sea , independent , submarine based strategic nuclear deterrent based on the Trident system . Defence procurement . Fox has pledged to restructure the defence procurement process in the Ministry of Defence . He has also stated that it would be a matter of policy to see Britains share of global defence exports increasing under a Conservative Government . Elevated bilateral defence relationships . Fox believes that it is in Britains national interest to build bilateral defence relations with key strategic partners . Fox has mentioned the United States , France , Norway , Turkey , Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf States . Special Relationship . He is a strong believer in the Special Relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States . He was the UK Director and founding member of The Atlantic Bridge , a UK-based charity that aims to preserve and promote the Special Relationship . The Atlantic Bridge closed down in October 2011 after being told to cease activities by the Charity Commission for promoting a political policy [ that ] is closely associated with the Conservative Party . Fox was able to retain a good relationship with the administration of George W . Bush , despite a five-year breakdown in relations between the Conservative and Republican parties over the Iraq War . He led the Conservative delegation to the 2008 Republican National Convention . In 2018 , he commented that the 25% tariffs imposed by the United States on imported EU steel were patently absurd . Same-sex marriage . On 5 February 2013 , Fox voted against a second reading of the Marriage ( Same Sex Couples ) Bill , designed to introduce same-sex marriage in the United Kingdom . He described David Camerons plans to legalise same-sex marriage as divisive , ill thought through and constitutionally wrong , arguing that redefining marriage for the majority to satisfy a small , yet vocal , minority was not a good basis for a stable , tolerant society . Freedom of the press . In October 2013 , Fox called for The Guardian newspaper to face prosecution over the 2013 mass surveillance disclosures . In January 2015 , Fox published a video on YouTube detailing his opinions and criticism of Edward Snowden . He stated : Were constantly having to protect our society from a range of threats , especially organised crime , paedophilia , and terrorism . For our intelligence services to operate effectively , and to protect us from these threats , they need to be able to do things in secret , secrets whose public disclosure would be damaging to our National Interest . When Edward Snowden stole files and took them with him to China and then Russia , some 58,000 files came from GCHQ , information that had played a vital role in preventing terrorist outrages in Britain , over the past decade and longer . It was not freedom fighting . We should call treason by its name . And those who assisted Snowden must be held responsible for their actions . National Health Service . In January 2014 , Fox stated that ring-fenced funding for the NHS should end , stating : The increase [ in spending ] over the last decade has been phenomenal and yet a lot of our health indicators lag behind other countries , particular things like stroke outcome or a lot of cancer outcomes . Scotland . Before the Scottish independence vote he made a speech setting out reasons why Scotland should remain in the union . If Scotland leaves the United Kingdom we all lose he told a Neighbourhood Watch group from his constituency visiting Westminster Houses of parliament on 1 September 2014 . Syria . Fox was disappointed that Parliament voted not to take military action over the use of chemical weapons in Syria . Fox was critical of Camerons strategy and performance for that debate , and stated There was no need to seek parliamentary approval for any military action , as constitutional authority lies with the government . He later took the view that there were no easy answers to the Syrian civil war and the prospect of the Assad government surviving should be considered . Fox argued that bombing attacks against ISIL in Iraq should be extended into Syria , and safe havens should be created in Syria by military intervention . Expenses . In March 2010 , Fox appealed Sir Thomas Leggs decision that he had overclaimed £22,476 in mortgage interest payments . Fox immediately repaid the money , then appealed the decision . Foxs appeal was rejected and the decision was upheld by Sir Paul Kennedy , a former high court judge . Fox stated that his decision to remortgage his second home to pay for redecorations and claim the higher interest repayments on his expenses represented value for money because he could have charged the taxpayer for the decorating bills directly . In his response , Sir Paul Kennedy stated : What you claimed was not recoverable under the rules then in force . I entirely accept that , like many others , you could have made other claims if the fees office had rejected your claims for mortgage interest , and that you may well have spent some of what you raised by increasing your mortgage on your constituency home , but the evidence is imprecise , and my terms of reference only allow me to interfere if I find special reasons in your individual case showing that it would not be fair and equitable to require repayment , either at all or at the level recommended . This reportedly made him the Conservative Shadow Cabinet member with the largest over-claim on expenses , and as a result , he has been forced to repay the most money . It was reported in June 2009 that Fox claimed expenses of more than £19,000 over the previous four years for his mobile phone . Fox stated that the high bill was due to regular trips overseas , in his capacity as Shadow Defence Secretary and said he was looking for a cheaper tariff . In October 2012 , the Commons Speaker blocked the release of data showing which MPs were renting their homes to other MPs for financial gain . However , a study of parliamentary records was published in the Daily Telegraph . The study showed that Liam Fox receives rental income from his London home while simultaneously claiming rental income from the taxpayer to live at another residence . In October 2013 , documents showed that Fox claimed 3p for a 100 metre car trip a year earlier . He also made an additional 15 claims under £1 for car travel approved in 2012–13 , two of which were for 24p and 44p . He told the Sunday People : I dont do my expenses . My office does them . But they are all done according to the rules for travel distances . Breaches of parliamentary rules . In March 2010 , Fox admitted breaking parliamentary rules on two occasions by visiting Sri Lanka on a trip paid for by the Sri Lankan government without declaring the trip in the Register of Members Financial Interests in the required time of 30 days and failing to declare an interest in Sri Lanka when asking ministers how much UK aid had been given to Sri Lanka . Fox has declared all of his trips to Sri Lanka paid for by the Sri Lankan government in the Register of Members Financial Interests . One trip he took in November 2007 was declared two months late . Fox blamed a changeover of staffing responsibilities for this error . Of the five trips to Sri Lanka mentioned in the BBC article , three were paid for fully by the Sri Lankan government . Those not paid in full by the Sri Lankan government were paid for by the Sri Lankan Development Trust . Fox stated that he had been working for all sides of the ethnic divide : I have been involved in attempts to promote peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka , involving all sides of the ethnic divide , since I was a foreign minister in 1997 . During my most recent visit , I spoke at a press conference to outline my reasons for being there . The declaration of the visit you refer to in November 2007 was highlighted in an end-of-year audit following a changeover of staffing responsibilities . The registrar was immediately notified and my register entry was updated accordingly . All visits have been fully declared on the House of Commons Register of Members Interests and are therefore public knowledge and entirely legitimate . I do , however , recognise that when asking one question in 2008 , I should have noted an interest and will be writing to the registrar to make this clear . Adam Werritty . During October 2011 , Foxs close friendship with Adam Werritty attracted extensive media attention and eventually led to Foxs resignation . Werrity had been best man at his wedding , had lived rent-free in Foxs flat , and been involved with him in business and in the conservative Atlanticist think-tank The Atlantic Bridge . While Fox was Secretary of State for Defence , Werrity had visited Fox at the Ministry of Defence on many occasions , had accompanied Fox on numerous official trips , attended some of his meetings with foreign dignitaries , and had used official-looking business cards which said he was an advisor to Fox , without having a government post or security clearance . The media raised questions about Foxs judgement in allowing this to happen and the source of Werritys income . In response , Fox initially requested Ursula Brennan , the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Defence , to investigate his connection with Werrity . Some of the meetings involved himself , Werritty , Matthew Gould ( prior to appointment , while he was Britains Ambassador-designate to Israel , and afterwards ) , and in some cases , Denis MacShane . The Foreign Office responded by stating : The FCO has total confidence that Matthew Gould has acted appropriately at all times and at no stage was he acting independently , or out of line with government policy . On Sunday 9 October 2011 , in advance of Brennans initial report of the result of her inquiry to the Prime Minister , Fox made a statement apologising publicly for his conduct in relation to Werrity , denying wrongdoing but admitting errors of judgement in mixing his professional and personal loyalties . The inquiry was escalated and Fox resigned in advance of publication of the full report by the Cabinet Secretary . The full list of Foxs meetings for his time in office to date , 20 May 2010 to 8 October 2011 , was published by the MoD after 7 pm on 10 October 2011 and revealed that Werrity was present at 40 of Foxs 70 engagements in that period ( 57% ) . In 2005–6 , Fox used public money , from his expense claims as an MP , to pay Adam Werritty . Finances . Fox was a registered shareholder of the medical educational firm Arrest Ltd which was dissolved in 2010 . In 2009 , his estimated wealth was £1 million . Fox accepted a £50,000 donation from Jon Moulton , whose investment firm , Better Capital , later went on to own Gardner Aerospace , an aerospace metallic manufactured details supplier which includes component parts for both military and civilian aircraft . This potentially exposed Fox to conflict of interest but neither Fox nor Moulton violated any rules with this donation . Personal life . On 10 June 2005 , he announced his engagement to longtime girlfriend Jesme Baird , a doctor who works at the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation and is an alumna of the University of Glasgow . They married at St Margarets Church opposite Parliament on 17 December 2005 . He has lived in North Somerset since 1990 , and currently resides in Tickenham . Author . In September 2013 , Fox launched Rising Tides : Facing the Challenges of a New Era , a 384-page book in which he warns that many of the world’s institutions are ill-equipped to tackle the economic and security threats of the 21st century . |
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"Shadow Foreign Secretary"
] | easy | What was the position of Liam Fox from Nov 2003 to May 2005? | /wiki/Liam_Fox#P39#2 | Liam Fox Liam Fox ( born 22 September 1961 ) is a British politician who served as Secretary of State for International Trade from 2016 to 2019 and Secretary of State for Defence from 2010 to 2011 . A member of the Conservative Party , he has been the Member of Parliament ( MP ) for North Somerset since 2010 . Fox was first elected as the MP for Woodspring in 1992 . Fox studied medicine at the University of Glasgow and worked as a GP and civilian army medical GP before being elected as an MP . After holding several ministerial roles under John Major , Fox served as Constitutional Affairs Spokesman from 1998 to 1999 , Shadow Health Secretary from 1999 to 2003 , Chair of the Conservative Party from 2003 to 2005 , Shadow Foreign Secretary in 2005 and Shadow Defence Secretary from 2005 to 2010 . In the 2009 expenses scandal , he was the Shadow Cabinet minister found to have the largest over-claim on expenses and , as a result , was forced to repay the most money . In 2010 , he was appointed Defence Secretary by Prime Minister David Cameron , a position from which he resigned on 14 October 2011 over allegations that he had given a close friend , lobbyist Adam Werritty , inappropriate access to the Ministry of Defence and allowed him to join official trips overseas . In July 2016 , in the wake of the United Kingdoms vote to leave the European Union , Fox was appointed the first Secretary of State for International Trade by new Prime Minister Theresa May . He was also made President of the Board of Trade . Fox has twice stood unsuccessfully for the leadership of the Conservative Party , in 2005 and 2016 . In July 2019 , he lost his cabinet position when new Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a cabinet reshuffle . Early life . Fox was born and raised in a Catholic family of Irish heritage in East Kilbride , Scotland , and brought up in a council house that his parents later bought . His great-uncle , John Fox , was Labour Provost of Motherwell , and most of his family were Labour supporters . Along with his brother and two sisters , he was educated in the state sector ; he attended St . Brides High School ( now part of St Andrews and St Brides High School ) . He studied medicine at the University of Glasgow Medical School , graduating with a MB ChB in 1983 . Fox is a former general practitioner ( he was a GP in Beaconsfield , Buckinghamshire , before his election to Parliament ) , a former Civilian Army General Practitioner and Divisional Surgeon with St John Ambulance . He is a member of the Royal College of General Practitioners . While studying medicine at the University of Glasgow in the early 1980s , he was a member of the Dialectic Society and became president of the Glasgow University Conservative Association . Fox contested the Hairmyres ward of East Kilbride District Council in May 1984 , coming second ( 210 votes ) to the incumbent Labour councillor , Ed McKenna . While at Glasgow , Fox resigned his position on the universitys Students Representative Council ( SRC ) in protest at the council passing a motion condemning the decision of the universitys Glasgow University Union ( GUU ) not to allow a gay students society to join the union . The SRC motion called both the unions decision and the explanations given for it bigoted . The GUU maintained its stance regardless , and the controversy was reported in the national media ; this led to many other university student unions up and down the country , including Edinburgh , cutting ties with their Glasgow counterparts . Explaining his decision to resign from the SRC and support the GUUs position , Fox was quoted as saying : Im actually quite liberal when it comes to sexual matters . I just dont want the gays flaunting it in front of me , which is what they would do . When asked about these comments in 2008 , Fox said that fortunately most of us have progressed from the days when we were students more than a quarter of a century ago . Member of Parliament . His first attempt to get elected as an MP for a Scottish constituency ended in failure when he contested Roxburgh and Berwickshire in the 1987 general election . Thereafter , he sought and won the nomination for the English constituency of Woodspring and was successful in being elected MP for that constituency at the 1992 general election . In government . In June 1993 , Fox was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Home Secretary , Michael Howard . Thereafter , in July 1994 , he was appointed an Assistant Government Whip . Following a limited government reshuffle in November 1995 , he was appointed a Lord Commissioner of Treasury – a Senior Government Whip . He was Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office from 1996 to 1997 . In 1996 , he brokered an accord in Sri Lanka , called the Fox Peace Plan , between Chandrika Kumaratungas PA and the opposition UNP of Ranil Wickremasinghe , on a bipartisan approach for ending the ethnic war . In 2001 , Jonathan Goodhand wrote , However , little has happened since then to suggest that the various parties would have acted in good faith in the interests of peace . In opposition . Shadow Cabinet . In June 1997 , Fox was appointed Opposition Front Bench Spokesman on Constitutional Affairs and joined the Shadow Cabinet in 1998 as the principal spokesman for Constitutional Affairs . Between 1999 and 2003 , he was the Shadow Secretary of State for Health . In November 2003 , Fox was appointed campaign manager for Michael Howard following the no-confidence vote against the Conservatives party leader , Iain Duncan Smith . Fox became co-chairman of the party following Michael Howards elevation to the post of party leader in November 2003 . After the 2005 general election he was promoted within the Shadow Cabinet to become Shadow Foreign Secretary . On 7 December 2005 he was moved to Shadow Defence Secretary by new Leader of the Opposition David Cameron . Leadership bids . 2005 leadership bid . In September 2005 , Fox announced he would join the contest to be the next leader of the Conservative party . His campaign theme for the 2005 leadership race was based on the broken society theme , which he said Conservatives could address by returning the emphasis to marriage and reforming welfare . In the initial ballot of Conservative MPs , on 18 October 2005 , he gained enough support ( 42 votes ) to enter the second ballot two days later . There he was eliminated with 51 votes in third place behind David Cameron ( 90 votes ) and David Davis ( 57 votes ) . Cameron , who eventually won the leadership election , gave Fox the role of Shadow Defence Secretary . 2016 leadership bid . In late June 2016 , Fox announced on LBC that he intended to run for the leadership of the Conservative party once again , after David Cameron resigned following the result of the EU referendum , in which Fox supported leaving the EU . During the announcement of his candidacy , he said that the UK should trigger Article 50 by the end of 2016 so it could leave the EU by 2019 , specifying 1 January 2019 as the date on which the UK should leave . He stated that he would not allow freedom of movement to be considered as part of any alternative trade arrangement with the EU . Fox promised to increase defence spending , stating that he would particularly like to see an increase in the size of the Navy and our cyber capability . He also promised to scrap HS2 , spending the £55 billion set aside for the project on regional train lines , cut taxes , cut welfare spending , create a new governmental department for trade and foreign affairs and review the aid budget . Fox was eliminated in the first ballot , finishing in last place with 16 votes . Theresa May went on to win the leadership and become Prime Minister and gave Fox the job of International Trade Secretary . Secretary of State for Defence . Fox was appointed as Secretary of State for Defence in the cabinet of David Cameron on 12 May 2010 and that weekend flew out to Afghanistan with the Foreign Secretary , William Hague , and the International Development Secretary , Andrew Mitchell , to see first hand the issues facing the troops based there . In July 2010 , he said that the dire state of the public finances meant the Armed Forces could no longer be equipped to cover every conceivable danger . He said that the strongest signal that it will have to give up one or more of these capabilities , which have been maintained at the same time as contributing to collective security pacts such as NATO . We dont have the money as a country to protect ourselves against every potential future threat , he said . We have to look at where we think the real risks will come from , where the real threats will come from and we need to deal with that accordingly . The Russians are not going to come over the European plain any day soon , he added . Foxs admission cast doubt on the future of the 25,000 troops currently stationed in Germany . The Defence Secretary had previously said that he hoped to withdraw them at some point , leaving Britain without a presence in the country for the first time since 1945 . The Ministry of Defence ( MoD ) faced budget cuts of up to 8% over the next five years , according to some analysts , and the department was grappling with a £37 billion shortfall on programmes it has signed up to . The results of the Strategic Defence and Security Review ( SDSR ) were published on 19 October 2010 . Speaking in September 2010 at a meeting in Paris with his French counterpart Hervé Morin on the possibility of sharing aircraft carriers with the French Navy , Fox said , I think it is unrealistic to share an aircraft carrier but , in other areas like tactical lift we can see what we can do . He added : I cant deny that there is an element of urgency added by budget concerns . In September 2010 , in a private letter to David Cameron , Fox refused to back any draconian cuts in the Armed Forces at a time when Britain was at war . The letter was written the night before a National Security Council ( NSC ) meeting on the Strategic Defence and Security Review ( SDSR ) . In the letter , Fox wrote that : Frankly this process is looking less and less defensible as a proper SDSR ( Strategic Defence and Strategy Review ) and more like a super CSR ( Comprehensive Spending Review ) . If it continues on its current trajectory it is likely to have grave political consequences for us . Fox continued saying that Our decisions today will limit severely the options available to this and all future governments . The range of operations that we can do today we will simply not be able to do in the future . In particular , it would place at risk . In February 2011 , Fox criticised ballooning spending in his own department . The top 15 major procurement projects were running at £8.8 billion over budget and , between them , were delayed by a total of 32 years . That included the A400M transporter aircraft order that was £603 million over budget and six years behind schedule . Fox criticised what he called a conspiracy of optimism based on poor cost-estimation , unrealistic timescales at the MoD and in industry . These practices in the MOD would simply not be tolerated in the private sector , and they will no longer be tolerated in the MoD . In March 2011 , Fox defended the decision to make 11,000 redundancies in the armed forces , insisting that personnel who have recently returned from Afghanistan would not be sacked . Cameron had conceded that axing around 5,000 personnel from the army , 3,300 from the Navy and 2,700 from the RAF will be difficult for those affected . Strategic Defence and Security Review ( SDSR ) set out plans for reducing the size of the armed forces by 17,000 in total . Some of that number would be met by not replacing people who were retiring or leaving for other reasons . Defence officials said 11,000 personnel still faced being redundant on a compulsory or voluntary basis . Fox said it was essential that service personnel were made fully aware of the options available and the time-scales involved . That means that a timetable needs to be adhered to for the sake of themselves and their families , he said . It would simply be wrong to alter that timetable for the convenience of the Government . In light of the 2011 Libyan civil war , Fox warned that Libya could end up split in two as Muammar Gaddafi unleashed the full fury of his military arsenal , sending warplanes and ground troops to attack rebel-held positions across the country . We could see the Gaddafi forces centred around Tripoli , Fox said . We could see a de facto partition of the country . In May 2011 , Fox opposed plans to sharply increase Britains aid budget , in a direct challenge to David Camerons authority . In a leaked letter to the Prime Minister , Fox said he could not accept plans to increase the development budget to 0.7 percent of the gross domestic product . The aid pledge , made in the Conservative election manifesto last year , was at the heart of Camerons attempts to change his partys image . It has gained opponents among right-wing Tories , many of whom voted for Fox when he fought Cameron for the party leadership in 2005 . I cannot support the proposal in its current form , Fox told the Prime Minister . Fox suggested that development funding should be diverted to the defence budget , writing that reneging on the aid pledge would release more public money to be spent on other activities or programmes rather than aid . The Telegraph James Kirkup said the leak was increasing suspicion among Camerons allies that the Defence Secretary was trying to undermine the Prime Minister . After negative comments by Sir Simon Bryant and Sir Mark Stanhope , Secretary Fox said admirals and air marshals who have voiced concerns were giving strength to Muammar Gaddafis regime . He also warned that high-ranking members of the Armed Forces were facing the sack because the Government wanted to reduce bureaucracy by cutting the star count . The Daily Telegraph had learned that the redundancies would include up 500 starred officers , equivalent to the rank of an Army brigadier and above . Fox said : We must be very careful , those of us who have authority in defence , when discussing the sustainability of a mission . Peoples lives are at stake and there can only be one message that goes out on Libya . Admiral Sir John Sandy Woodward , a former deputy chief of the defence staff , suggested Fox was trying to blame military chiefs for his own failings . He said : Of course the service chiefs should not be talking outside the MoD , but when politicians have got it so wrong they have no other choice . Levene report . On 27 June 2011 , Fox announced that Baron Levene had completed his report on the reform of the MoD which suggested that they could cut the number of senior officers and could also lead to ministerial posts being axed . The army , navy and air force would each be run by a single chief . Currently , the services have two commanders , one in charge of strategy , the second in charge of day-to-day operations . The reforms would see operational control pushed down the chain of command . In addition , the three service chiefs will be removed from the defence board , a powerful committee the defence secretary chairs . The overall head of the military , the chief of the defence staff , currently , General Sir David Richards , will represent them . A committee chaired by an independent non-executive director , chosen by the defence secretary , will be in charge of appointments to the services top ranks . The MoD is expected to axe up to 8,000 civil servants in 2012 . Senior commanders would be given more overall control of their budgets and internal appointments . The report also suggested that a new Joint Forces Command structure should be created with senior appointments in the MoD lasting longer than every two years by making sure people stay in post for longer . Levene said that finance and the need for affordability are not regarded as sufficiently important throughout the organisation . He said that the lack of trust which pervades the MoD has led to a tendency for those at the top to try to micromanage , while the individual services look out for themselves rather than thinking of defence as a whole . This has led to a predisposition to overcomplicate .. . and a culture of reinventing the wheel . The role of the chief of the defence staff should also be enhanced so that he alone will be responsible for representing the military voice . Levene says that the new defence board should be the primary decision-making body for non-operational matters , and should meet 10 times a year . It will have nine members , but only one will be from the military , the chief of the defence staff , currently General Sir David Richards . Defence and Security Review . In a speech on the future of the Armed Forces to the House of Commons on 19 October 2010 Prime Minister David Cameron set out plans that would mean cuts : 7,000 jobs go in the British Army ; 5,000 in the Royal Navy ; 5,000 in the Royal Air Force ; and 25,000 civilian jobs at the Ministry of Defence . In terms of equipment , the RAF would lose the Nimrod reconnaissance aircraft programme , the entire Harrier jump-jet fleet would be scrapped , and bases will be turned over to the Army . The Army will have its tanks and heavy artillery cut by 40% , and half of the soldiers in Germany will return to the UK by 2015 , with the rest brought home by 2030 and housed in former RAF bases . The Navy would have its destroyer and frigate fleet cut from 23 to 19 ( by cutting the Type 22 frigates ) and will be provided with less expensive frigates . It will be affected by the loss of the Harriers . Overall , the defence budget was to be cut by 8% but Cameron insisted that Britain would continue to meet the Nato target of spending 2% of GDP on defence . In the same speech Cameron announced a national cyber security programme , costing £500 million , to fix shortfalls in cyber infrastructure , while more focus will be given to tackling terrorists such as Al Qaeda and dissident Irish republicans in what he said would be continuing investment in our world class intelligence agencies . Army numbers will fall to 95,500 by 2015 – 7,000 fewer than today – but ground forces will continue to have vital operational role in the future , he said . Resignation . On 14 October 2011 , Fox resigned from his office as Secretary of State for Defence , for breaking the ministerial code by letting his friend Adam Werritty into defence meetings . Secretary of State for International Trade . After Theresa May became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in July 2016 , Fox was appointed Secretary of State for International Trade , responsible for helping to secure trade deals with other countries following Brexit . The Wall Street Journal reported Fox as saying he would prefer a free trade agreement with the EU rather than be part of the EU customs union , which he said could restrict Britains ability to negotiate lower tariffs with other trading partners . In a September 2016 speech on international trade , Fox said there needed to be a change in British business culture , arguing that exporting was a duty which companies neglected because it might be too difficult or too time-consuming or because they cant play golf on a Friday afternoon . In April 2017 , he was criticised for a trade visit to the Philippines , where he acknowledged shared values when speaking to Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte , heavily criticised for the increase in extrajudicial killings in the Philippines . In 2017 , Fox announced a new board of trade which would meet four times a year to ensure the benefits of free trade are spread throughout the UK . The announcement was criticised by Liberal Democrat MP Tom Brake , who said the board was a job-creation scheme for Fox . A DIT spokesman said it was a technicality that Fox was the sole member of the board , because of a constitutional convention that full membership is only for privy counsellors.In July 2019 , he lost his cabinet position when new Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a cabinet reshuffle . Brexit . Fox supported Brexit at the EU Referendum 2016 , and is a self-proclaimed staunch Eurosceptic . Following this assertion , he stated that he wants a clean break from Brussels , in order to regain national sovereignty . In July 2019 he acknowledged that no deal could lead to the breakup of the United Kingdom . In March 2018 , Fox said that he would no longer support an extension to the EU transition period . He had previously said that a post-Brexit trade deal should be the easiest in human history . By July 2019 he recognised that a deal with the US would take time and that despite reaching above 99% of agreement on a deal based on Canadas existing deal with the EU , the Canadians were now looking at the zero-tariff access being promised in the event of no deal . On 30 November 2018 , he came out in support for Theresa Mays Brexit deal , calling it the best possible deal that safely delivers Brexit . World Trade Organisation candidate . On 8 July 2020 , the UK government nominated Fox as a candidate for Director-General of the World Trade Organisation . Foxs main rival for the nomination , the Labour peer Peter Mandelson , was overlooked due to his opposition to Brexit . Fox progressed to the second round of the selection process . He did not become one of the two candidates to enter the final round , who were South Koreas Yoo Myung-hee and Nigerias Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala , and was knocked out on 7 October . Positions . Bahrain . In March 2013 , Fox was one of the chief guests at a conference in Bahrain designed to rally Western opinion to the side of the Bahrain government in its struggle against the Arab Spring . Fox was the only Briton on the list of key people attending the Bahrain International Symposium . More than 60 people died during two years of protests , and 13 civil rights demonstrators were sentenced to ten years in prison . Iraq . He voted for the 2003 invasion of Iraq . As Shadow Defence Secretary he supported the Governments position of maintaining British troops in Iraq until the security situation allowed for a withdrawal of troops but was critical of the lack of post-invasion planning and poor equipment initially provided to British troops . He supported the idea of the American Surge and believes that it was successful . After becoming Shadow Defence Secretary , he visited Iraq on a number of occasions . In August 2014 , Fox argued that the UK should start bombing Islamist extremists in northern Iraq . The following month this became government policy . Afghanistan . He has been an outspoken supporter of the war in Afghanistan and the British presence there . He has been critical towards some of the European NATO partners who he believes are not contributing enough to the effort in the more dangerous southern and eastern parts of Afghanistan . Since becoming Shadow Defence Secretary he has visited Afghanistan on five occasions . In July 2010 , Fox said that an early withdrawal of coalition troops from Afghanistan would risk a return of civil war and act as a shot in the arm to jihadists across the world . In marked contrast to David Cameron , who pledged to withdraw all British troops by 2015 , Fox said Britain would be betraying the sacrifices of its fallen soldiers if it left before the job is finished . British forces would be among the last to leave Afghanistan , he added , because they are stationed in Helmand , one of the most dangerous provinces in the country . He said that Were we to leave prematurely , without degrading the insurgency and increasing the capability of the Afghan national security forces , we could see the return of the destructive forces of transnational terror .. . Not only would we risk the return of civil war in Afghanistan , creating a security vacuum , but we would also risk the destabilisation of Pakistan with potentially unthinkable regional , and possibly nuclear , consequences . In July 2010 , it was reported that 1,000 Royal Marines were expected to leave and be redeployed to central Helmand by the end of 2010 . Fox told MPs that UK forces had made good progress in Sangin , but the move would enable Britain to provide more manpower and greater focus on Helmands busy central belt , leaving the north and south to the US . The result will be a coherent and equitable division of the main populated areas of Helmand between three brigade-sized forces , with the US in the north and the south , and the UK-led Task Force Helmand , alongside our outstanding Danish and Estonian allies , in the central population belt , he told the House of Commons . On 19 July 2010 , Fox said that within four years the Afghan army and police should take responsibility for security , leaving British troops to work only as military trainers . The date is a full year earlier than the deadline suggested by David Cameron this month , who said he wanted most troops back by 2015 . Fox said : It has always been our aim to be successful in the mission and the mission has always said that the Afghan national security forces would be able to deal with their own security by 2014 . We recognise that there will be further work to do in terms of training and improving the quality of those forces beyond that , which is why we have said training forces may be available after that date . But we have made it very clear that that will not be combat forces . NATO . He has very strong Atlanticist views . He believes that NATO is the cornerstone of the United Kingdom and Europes defence and that NATO must have primacy over the European Union including the right of first refusal for all matters relating to the defence of continental Europe . He has been critical of the common funding mechanism within NATO and has called for a system to be used that allows for more proportionate burden sharing between NATO member states for NATO led military operations . European Union . He is considered to be staunchly Eurosceptic and opposed to European defence integration as well as European political integration . He is opposed to the European Commission having any role in defence policy . He believes that the European Security and Defence Policy duplicates and takes away scarce national resources from NATO . He specifically opposes the defence provisions in the Lisbon Treaty . He serves as a vice-president of the eurosceptic pressure group Conservatives for Britain . Capital punishment . He does not support capital punishment . Abortion . Fox is critical of abortion and has called for huge restriction , if not abolition on the UKs pro-abortion laws . In an interview with Morgan and Platell , Fox elaborated on these views , stating that he would like to see [ abortion limits ] brought down...well below 20 weeks ; Id like to see us look at limits more akin to some of the European countries at 12 or 14 weeks . He went on to state that a society that actually aborts 180,000 unborn children every year is a society that needs to be asking a lot of questions about itself . For me , its a simple personal belief . It says , thou shall not kill , it doesnt say , thou shall not kill unless Parliament says its OK . For the same reason Im against the death penalty . However , I do accept...that if the majority of the population decide that its something they find acceptable , Ive got to live with that . But Im not going to be quiet and Im not going to pretend that my views are other than they are for the sake of political convenience . Military welfare . Fox has stated on a number of occasions that the Military Covenant is broken and that the British Armed Forces are being asked to do too much for what they are resourced to do . Along with the leader of the Conservative Party , David Cameron , he established the Military Covenant Commission headed by Frederick Forsyth with the aim of finding ways to improve the welfare of service members , veterans , and their families under a future Conservative Government . Fox has a particular interest in mental health issues and has criticised Gordon Browns Labour Government for failing to adequately address the problem . Israel . Fox is a supporter of Israel and is a member of Conservative Friends of Israel . In 2006 he said , Israels enemies are our enemies and this is a battle in which we all stand together or we will all fall divided . The Jewish Chronicle has called Fox a champion of Israel while in government . In January 2009 , referring to Israel , he also said , British support for any ally is never unqualified . International law and values must always be obeyed . In May 2011 , Fox was booed at the We Believe in Israel event for saying that Israeli settlements are illegal and an obstacle to peace . Nuclear deterrent . Fox believes that Britain should maintain its continuous at sea , independent , submarine based strategic nuclear deterrent based on the Trident system . Defence procurement . Fox has pledged to restructure the defence procurement process in the Ministry of Defence . He has also stated that it would be a matter of policy to see Britains share of global defence exports increasing under a Conservative Government . Elevated bilateral defence relationships . Fox believes that it is in Britains national interest to build bilateral defence relations with key strategic partners . Fox has mentioned the United States , France , Norway , Turkey , Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf States . Special Relationship . He is a strong believer in the Special Relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States . He was the UK Director and founding member of The Atlantic Bridge , a UK-based charity that aims to preserve and promote the Special Relationship . The Atlantic Bridge closed down in October 2011 after being told to cease activities by the Charity Commission for promoting a political policy [ that ] is closely associated with the Conservative Party . Fox was able to retain a good relationship with the administration of George W . Bush , despite a five-year breakdown in relations between the Conservative and Republican parties over the Iraq War . He led the Conservative delegation to the 2008 Republican National Convention . In 2018 , he commented that the 25% tariffs imposed by the United States on imported EU steel were patently absurd . Same-sex marriage . On 5 February 2013 , Fox voted against a second reading of the Marriage ( Same Sex Couples ) Bill , designed to introduce same-sex marriage in the United Kingdom . He described David Camerons plans to legalise same-sex marriage as divisive , ill thought through and constitutionally wrong , arguing that redefining marriage for the majority to satisfy a small , yet vocal , minority was not a good basis for a stable , tolerant society . Freedom of the press . In October 2013 , Fox called for The Guardian newspaper to face prosecution over the 2013 mass surveillance disclosures . In January 2015 , Fox published a video on YouTube detailing his opinions and criticism of Edward Snowden . He stated : Were constantly having to protect our society from a range of threats , especially organised crime , paedophilia , and terrorism . For our intelligence services to operate effectively , and to protect us from these threats , they need to be able to do things in secret , secrets whose public disclosure would be damaging to our National Interest . When Edward Snowden stole files and took them with him to China and then Russia , some 58,000 files came from GCHQ , information that had played a vital role in preventing terrorist outrages in Britain , over the past decade and longer . It was not freedom fighting . We should call treason by its name . And those who assisted Snowden must be held responsible for their actions . National Health Service . In January 2014 , Fox stated that ring-fenced funding for the NHS should end , stating : The increase [ in spending ] over the last decade has been phenomenal and yet a lot of our health indicators lag behind other countries , particular things like stroke outcome or a lot of cancer outcomes . Scotland . Before the Scottish independence vote he made a speech setting out reasons why Scotland should remain in the union . If Scotland leaves the United Kingdom we all lose he told a Neighbourhood Watch group from his constituency visiting Westminster Houses of parliament on 1 September 2014 . Syria . Fox was disappointed that Parliament voted not to take military action over the use of chemical weapons in Syria . Fox was critical of Camerons strategy and performance for that debate , and stated There was no need to seek parliamentary approval for any military action , as constitutional authority lies with the government . He later took the view that there were no easy answers to the Syrian civil war and the prospect of the Assad government surviving should be considered . Fox argued that bombing attacks against ISIL in Iraq should be extended into Syria , and safe havens should be created in Syria by military intervention . Expenses . In March 2010 , Fox appealed Sir Thomas Leggs decision that he had overclaimed £22,476 in mortgage interest payments . Fox immediately repaid the money , then appealed the decision . Foxs appeal was rejected and the decision was upheld by Sir Paul Kennedy , a former high court judge . Fox stated that his decision to remortgage his second home to pay for redecorations and claim the higher interest repayments on his expenses represented value for money because he could have charged the taxpayer for the decorating bills directly . In his response , Sir Paul Kennedy stated : What you claimed was not recoverable under the rules then in force . I entirely accept that , like many others , you could have made other claims if the fees office had rejected your claims for mortgage interest , and that you may well have spent some of what you raised by increasing your mortgage on your constituency home , but the evidence is imprecise , and my terms of reference only allow me to interfere if I find special reasons in your individual case showing that it would not be fair and equitable to require repayment , either at all or at the level recommended . This reportedly made him the Conservative Shadow Cabinet member with the largest over-claim on expenses , and as a result , he has been forced to repay the most money . It was reported in June 2009 that Fox claimed expenses of more than £19,000 over the previous four years for his mobile phone . Fox stated that the high bill was due to regular trips overseas , in his capacity as Shadow Defence Secretary and said he was looking for a cheaper tariff . In October 2012 , the Commons Speaker blocked the release of data showing which MPs were renting their homes to other MPs for financial gain . However , a study of parliamentary records was published in the Daily Telegraph . The study showed that Liam Fox receives rental income from his London home while simultaneously claiming rental income from the taxpayer to live at another residence . In October 2013 , documents showed that Fox claimed 3p for a 100 metre car trip a year earlier . He also made an additional 15 claims under £1 for car travel approved in 2012–13 , two of which were for 24p and 44p . He told the Sunday People : I dont do my expenses . My office does them . But they are all done according to the rules for travel distances . Breaches of parliamentary rules . In March 2010 , Fox admitted breaking parliamentary rules on two occasions by visiting Sri Lanka on a trip paid for by the Sri Lankan government without declaring the trip in the Register of Members Financial Interests in the required time of 30 days and failing to declare an interest in Sri Lanka when asking ministers how much UK aid had been given to Sri Lanka . Fox has declared all of his trips to Sri Lanka paid for by the Sri Lankan government in the Register of Members Financial Interests . One trip he took in November 2007 was declared two months late . Fox blamed a changeover of staffing responsibilities for this error . Of the five trips to Sri Lanka mentioned in the BBC article , three were paid for fully by the Sri Lankan government . Those not paid in full by the Sri Lankan government were paid for by the Sri Lankan Development Trust . Fox stated that he had been working for all sides of the ethnic divide : I have been involved in attempts to promote peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka , involving all sides of the ethnic divide , since I was a foreign minister in 1997 . During my most recent visit , I spoke at a press conference to outline my reasons for being there . The declaration of the visit you refer to in November 2007 was highlighted in an end-of-year audit following a changeover of staffing responsibilities . The registrar was immediately notified and my register entry was updated accordingly . All visits have been fully declared on the House of Commons Register of Members Interests and are therefore public knowledge and entirely legitimate . I do , however , recognise that when asking one question in 2008 , I should have noted an interest and will be writing to the registrar to make this clear . Adam Werritty . During October 2011 , Foxs close friendship with Adam Werritty attracted extensive media attention and eventually led to Foxs resignation . Werrity had been best man at his wedding , had lived rent-free in Foxs flat , and been involved with him in business and in the conservative Atlanticist think-tank The Atlantic Bridge . While Fox was Secretary of State for Defence , Werrity had visited Fox at the Ministry of Defence on many occasions , had accompanied Fox on numerous official trips , attended some of his meetings with foreign dignitaries , and had used official-looking business cards which said he was an advisor to Fox , without having a government post or security clearance . The media raised questions about Foxs judgement in allowing this to happen and the source of Werritys income . In response , Fox initially requested Ursula Brennan , the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Defence , to investigate his connection with Werrity . Some of the meetings involved himself , Werritty , Matthew Gould ( prior to appointment , while he was Britains Ambassador-designate to Israel , and afterwards ) , and in some cases , Denis MacShane . The Foreign Office responded by stating : The FCO has total confidence that Matthew Gould has acted appropriately at all times and at no stage was he acting independently , or out of line with government policy . On Sunday 9 October 2011 , in advance of Brennans initial report of the result of her inquiry to the Prime Minister , Fox made a statement apologising publicly for his conduct in relation to Werrity , denying wrongdoing but admitting errors of judgement in mixing his professional and personal loyalties . The inquiry was escalated and Fox resigned in advance of publication of the full report by the Cabinet Secretary . The full list of Foxs meetings for his time in office to date , 20 May 2010 to 8 October 2011 , was published by the MoD after 7 pm on 10 October 2011 and revealed that Werrity was present at 40 of Foxs 70 engagements in that period ( 57% ) . In 2005–6 , Fox used public money , from his expense claims as an MP , to pay Adam Werritty . Finances . Fox was a registered shareholder of the medical educational firm Arrest Ltd which was dissolved in 2010 . In 2009 , his estimated wealth was £1 million . Fox accepted a £50,000 donation from Jon Moulton , whose investment firm , Better Capital , later went on to own Gardner Aerospace , an aerospace metallic manufactured details supplier which includes component parts for both military and civilian aircraft . This potentially exposed Fox to conflict of interest but neither Fox nor Moulton violated any rules with this donation . Personal life . On 10 June 2005 , he announced his engagement to longtime girlfriend Jesme Baird , a doctor who works at the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation and is an alumna of the University of Glasgow . They married at St Margarets Church opposite Parliament on 17 December 2005 . He has lived in North Somerset since 1990 , and currently resides in Tickenham . Author . In September 2013 , Fox launched Rising Tides : Facing the Challenges of a New Era , a 384-page book in which he warns that many of the world’s institutions are ill-equipped to tackle the economic and security threats of the 21st century . |
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"Shadow Foreign Secretary"
] | easy | What position did Liam Fox take from May 2005 to Dec 2005? | /wiki/Liam_Fox#P39#3 | Liam Fox Liam Fox ( born 22 September 1961 ) is a British politician who served as Secretary of State for International Trade from 2016 to 2019 and Secretary of State for Defence from 2010 to 2011 . A member of the Conservative Party , he has been the Member of Parliament ( MP ) for North Somerset since 2010 . Fox was first elected as the MP for Woodspring in 1992 . Fox studied medicine at the University of Glasgow and worked as a GP and civilian army medical GP before being elected as an MP . After holding several ministerial roles under John Major , Fox served as Constitutional Affairs Spokesman from 1998 to 1999 , Shadow Health Secretary from 1999 to 2003 , Chair of the Conservative Party from 2003 to 2005 , Shadow Foreign Secretary in 2005 and Shadow Defence Secretary from 2005 to 2010 . In the 2009 expenses scandal , he was the Shadow Cabinet minister found to have the largest over-claim on expenses and , as a result , was forced to repay the most money . In 2010 , he was appointed Defence Secretary by Prime Minister David Cameron , a position from which he resigned on 14 October 2011 over allegations that he had given a close friend , lobbyist Adam Werritty , inappropriate access to the Ministry of Defence and allowed him to join official trips overseas . In July 2016 , in the wake of the United Kingdoms vote to leave the European Union , Fox was appointed the first Secretary of State for International Trade by new Prime Minister Theresa May . He was also made President of the Board of Trade . Fox has twice stood unsuccessfully for the leadership of the Conservative Party , in 2005 and 2016 . In July 2019 , he lost his cabinet position when new Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a cabinet reshuffle . Early life . Fox was born and raised in a Catholic family of Irish heritage in East Kilbride , Scotland , and brought up in a council house that his parents later bought . His great-uncle , John Fox , was Labour Provost of Motherwell , and most of his family were Labour supporters . Along with his brother and two sisters , he was educated in the state sector ; he attended St . Brides High School ( now part of St Andrews and St Brides High School ) . He studied medicine at the University of Glasgow Medical School , graduating with a MB ChB in 1983 . Fox is a former general practitioner ( he was a GP in Beaconsfield , Buckinghamshire , before his election to Parliament ) , a former Civilian Army General Practitioner and Divisional Surgeon with St John Ambulance . He is a member of the Royal College of General Practitioners . While studying medicine at the University of Glasgow in the early 1980s , he was a member of the Dialectic Society and became president of the Glasgow University Conservative Association . Fox contested the Hairmyres ward of East Kilbride District Council in May 1984 , coming second ( 210 votes ) to the incumbent Labour councillor , Ed McKenna . While at Glasgow , Fox resigned his position on the universitys Students Representative Council ( SRC ) in protest at the council passing a motion condemning the decision of the universitys Glasgow University Union ( GUU ) not to allow a gay students society to join the union . The SRC motion called both the unions decision and the explanations given for it bigoted . The GUU maintained its stance regardless , and the controversy was reported in the national media ; this led to many other university student unions up and down the country , including Edinburgh , cutting ties with their Glasgow counterparts . Explaining his decision to resign from the SRC and support the GUUs position , Fox was quoted as saying : Im actually quite liberal when it comes to sexual matters . I just dont want the gays flaunting it in front of me , which is what they would do . When asked about these comments in 2008 , Fox said that fortunately most of us have progressed from the days when we were students more than a quarter of a century ago . Member of Parliament . His first attempt to get elected as an MP for a Scottish constituency ended in failure when he contested Roxburgh and Berwickshire in the 1987 general election . Thereafter , he sought and won the nomination for the English constituency of Woodspring and was successful in being elected MP for that constituency at the 1992 general election . In government . In June 1993 , Fox was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Home Secretary , Michael Howard . Thereafter , in July 1994 , he was appointed an Assistant Government Whip . Following a limited government reshuffle in November 1995 , he was appointed a Lord Commissioner of Treasury – a Senior Government Whip . He was Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office from 1996 to 1997 . In 1996 , he brokered an accord in Sri Lanka , called the Fox Peace Plan , between Chandrika Kumaratungas PA and the opposition UNP of Ranil Wickremasinghe , on a bipartisan approach for ending the ethnic war . In 2001 , Jonathan Goodhand wrote , However , little has happened since then to suggest that the various parties would have acted in good faith in the interests of peace . In opposition . Shadow Cabinet . In June 1997 , Fox was appointed Opposition Front Bench Spokesman on Constitutional Affairs and joined the Shadow Cabinet in 1998 as the principal spokesman for Constitutional Affairs . Between 1999 and 2003 , he was the Shadow Secretary of State for Health . In November 2003 , Fox was appointed campaign manager for Michael Howard following the no-confidence vote against the Conservatives party leader , Iain Duncan Smith . Fox became co-chairman of the party following Michael Howards elevation to the post of party leader in November 2003 . After the 2005 general election he was promoted within the Shadow Cabinet to become Shadow Foreign Secretary . On 7 December 2005 he was moved to Shadow Defence Secretary by new Leader of the Opposition David Cameron . Leadership bids . 2005 leadership bid . In September 2005 , Fox announced he would join the contest to be the next leader of the Conservative party . His campaign theme for the 2005 leadership race was based on the broken society theme , which he said Conservatives could address by returning the emphasis to marriage and reforming welfare . In the initial ballot of Conservative MPs , on 18 October 2005 , he gained enough support ( 42 votes ) to enter the second ballot two days later . There he was eliminated with 51 votes in third place behind David Cameron ( 90 votes ) and David Davis ( 57 votes ) . Cameron , who eventually won the leadership election , gave Fox the role of Shadow Defence Secretary . 2016 leadership bid . In late June 2016 , Fox announced on LBC that he intended to run for the leadership of the Conservative party once again , after David Cameron resigned following the result of the EU referendum , in which Fox supported leaving the EU . During the announcement of his candidacy , he said that the UK should trigger Article 50 by the end of 2016 so it could leave the EU by 2019 , specifying 1 January 2019 as the date on which the UK should leave . He stated that he would not allow freedom of movement to be considered as part of any alternative trade arrangement with the EU . Fox promised to increase defence spending , stating that he would particularly like to see an increase in the size of the Navy and our cyber capability . He also promised to scrap HS2 , spending the £55 billion set aside for the project on regional train lines , cut taxes , cut welfare spending , create a new governmental department for trade and foreign affairs and review the aid budget . Fox was eliminated in the first ballot , finishing in last place with 16 votes . Theresa May went on to win the leadership and become Prime Minister and gave Fox the job of International Trade Secretary . Secretary of State for Defence . Fox was appointed as Secretary of State for Defence in the cabinet of David Cameron on 12 May 2010 and that weekend flew out to Afghanistan with the Foreign Secretary , William Hague , and the International Development Secretary , Andrew Mitchell , to see first hand the issues facing the troops based there . In July 2010 , he said that the dire state of the public finances meant the Armed Forces could no longer be equipped to cover every conceivable danger . He said that the strongest signal that it will have to give up one or more of these capabilities , which have been maintained at the same time as contributing to collective security pacts such as NATO . We dont have the money as a country to protect ourselves against every potential future threat , he said . We have to look at where we think the real risks will come from , where the real threats will come from and we need to deal with that accordingly . The Russians are not going to come over the European plain any day soon , he added . Foxs admission cast doubt on the future of the 25,000 troops currently stationed in Germany . The Defence Secretary had previously said that he hoped to withdraw them at some point , leaving Britain without a presence in the country for the first time since 1945 . The Ministry of Defence ( MoD ) faced budget cuts of up to 8% over the next five years , according to some analysts , and the department was grappling with a £37 billion shortfall on programmes it has signed up to . The results of the Strategic Defence and Security Review ( SDSR ) were published on 19 October 2010 . Speaking in September 2010 at a meeting in Paris with his French counterpart Hervé Morin on the possibility of sharing aircraft carriers with the French Navy , Fox said , I think it is unrealistic to share an aircraft carrier but , in other areas like tactical lift we can see what we can do . He added : I cant deny that there is an element of urgency added by budget concerns . In September 2010 , in a private letter to David Cameron , Fox refused to back any draconian cuts in the Armed Forces at a time when Britain was at war . The letter was written the night before a National Security Council ( NSC ) meeting on the Strategic Defence and Security Review ( SDSR ) . In the letter , Fox wrote that : Frankly this process is looking less and less defensible as a proper SDSR ( Strategic Defence and Strategy Review ) and more like a super CSR ( Comprehensive Spending Review ) . If it continues on its current trajectory it is likely to have grave political consequences for us . Fox continued saying that Our decisions today will limit severely the options available to this and all future governments . The range of operations that we can do today we will simply not be able to do in the future . In particular , it would place at risk . In February 2011 , Fox criticised ballooning spending in his own department . The top 15 major procurement projects were running at £8.8 billion over budget and , between them , were delayed by a total of 32 years . That included the A400M transporter aircraft order that was £603 million over budget and six years behind schedule . Fox criticised what he called a conspiracy of optimism based on poor cost-estimation , unrealistic timescales at the MoD and in industry . These practices in the MOD would simply not be tolerated in the private sector , and they will no longer be tolerated in the MoD . In March 2011 , Fox defended the decision to make 11,000 redundancies in the armed forces , insisting that personnel who have recently returned from Afghanistan would not be sacked . Cameron had conceded that axing around 5,000 personnel from the army , 3,300 from the Navy and 2,700 from the RAF will be difficult for those affected . Strategic Defence and Security Review ( SDSR ) set out plans for reducing the size of the armed forces by 17,000 in total . Some of that number would be met by not replacing people who were retiring or leaving for other reasons . Defence officials said 11,000 personnel still faced being redundant on a compulsory or voluntary basis . Fox said it was essential that service personnel were made fully aware of the options available and the time-scales involved . That means that a timetable needs to be adhered to for the sake of themselves and their families , he said . It would simply be wrong to alter that timetable for the convenience of the Government . In light of the 2011 Libyan civil war , Fox warned that Libya could end up split in two as Muammar Gaddafi unleashed the full fury of his military arsenal , sending warplanes and ground troops to attack rebel-held positions across the country . We could see the Gaddafi forces centred around Tripoli , Fox said . We could see a de facto partition of the country . In May 2011 , Fox opposed plans to sharply increase Britains aid budget , in a direct challenge to David Camerons authority . In a leaked letter to the Prime Minister , Fox said he could not accept plans to increase the development budget to 0.7 percent of the gross domestic product . The aid pledge , made in the Conservative election manifesto last year , was at the heart of Camerons attempts to change his partys image . It has gained opponents among right-wing Tories , many of whom voted for Fox when he fought Cameron for the party leadership in 2005 . I cannot support the proposal in its current form , Fox told the Prime Minister . Fox suggested that development funding should be diverted to the defence budget , writing that reneging on the aid pledge would release more public money to be spent on other activities or programmes rather than aid . The Telegraph James Kirkup said the leak was increasing suspicion among Camerons allies that the Defence Secretary was trying to undermine the Prime Minister . After negative comments by Sir Simon Bryant and Sir Mark Stanhope , Secretary Fox said admirals and air marshals who have voiced concerns were giving strength to Muammar Gaddafis regime . He also warned that high-ranking members of the Armed Forces were facing the sack because the Government wanted to reduce bureaucracy by cutting the star count . The Daily Telegraph had learned that the redundancies would include up 500 starred officers , equivalent to the rank of an Army brigadier and above . Fox said : We must be very careful , those of us who have authority in defence , when discussing the sustainability of a mission . Peoples lives are at stake and there can only be one message that goes out on Libya . Admiral Sir John Sandy Woodward , a former deputy chief of the defence staff , suggested Fox was trying to blame military chiefs for his own failings . He said : Of course the service chiefs should not be talking outside the MoD , but when politicians have got it so wrong they have no other choice . Levene report . On 27 June 2011 , Fox announced that Baron Levene had completed his report on the reform of the MoD which suggested that they could cut the number of senior officers and could also lead to ministerial posts being axed . The army , navy and air force would each be run by a single chief . Currently , the services have two commanders , one in charge of strategy , the second in charge of day-to-day operations . The reforms would see operational control pushed down the chain of command . In addition , the three service chiefs will be removed from the defence board , a powerful committee the defence secretary chairs . The overall head of the military , the chief of the defence staff , currently , General Sir David Richards , will represent them . A committee chaired by an independent non-executive director , chosen by the defence secretary , will be in charge of appointments to the services top ranks . The MoD is expected to axe up to 8,000 civil servants in 2012 . Senior commanders would be given more overall control of their budgets and internal appointments . The report also suggested that a new Joint Forces Command structure should be created with senior appointments in the MoD lasting longer than every two years by making sure people stay in post for longer . Levene said that finance and the need for affordability are not regarded as sufficiently important throughout the organisation . He said that the lack of trust which pervades the MoD has led to a tendency for those at the top to try to micromanage , while the individual services look out for themselves rather than thinking of defence as a whole . This has led to a predisposition to overcomplicate .. . and a culture of reinventing the wheel . The role of the chief of the defence staff should also be enhanced so that he alone will be responsible for representing the military voice . Levene says that the new defence board should be the primary decision-making body for non-operational matters , and should meet 10 times a year . It will have nine members , but only one will be from the military , the chief of the defence staff , currently General Sir David Richards . Defence and Security Review . In a speech on the future of the Armed Forces to the House of Commons on 19 October 2010 Prime Minister David Cameron set out plans that would mean cuts : 7,000 jobs go in the British Army ; 5,000 in the Royal Navy ; 5,000 in the Royal Air Force ; and 25,000 civilian jobs at the Ministry of Defence . In terms of equipment , the RAF would lose the Nimrod reconnaissance aircraft programme , the entire Harrier jump-jet fleet would be scrapped , and bases will be turned over to the Army . The Army will have its tanks and heavy artillery cut by 40% , and half of the soldiers in Germany will return to the UK by 2015 , with the rest brought home by 2030 and housed in former RAF bases . The Navy would have its destroyer and frigate fleet cut from 23 to 19 ( by cutting the Type 22 frigates ) and will be provided with less expensive frigates . It will be affected by the loss of the Harriers . Overall , the defence budget was to be cut by 8% but Cameron insisted that Britain would continue to meet the Nato target of spending 2% of GDP on defence . In the same speech Cameron announced a national cyber security programme , costing £500 million , to fix shortfalls in cyber infrastructure , while more focus will be given to tackling terrorists such as Al Qaeda and dissident Irish republicans in what he said would be continuing investment in our world class intelligence agencies . Army numbers will fall to 95,500 by 2015 – 7,000 fewer than today – but ground forces will continue to have vital operational role in the future , he said . Resignation . On 14 October 2011 , Fox resigned from his office as Secretary of State for Defence , for breaking the ministerial code by letting his friend Adam Werritty into defence meetings . Secretary of State for International Trade . After Theresa May became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in July 2016 , Fox was appointed Secretary of State for International Trade , responsible for helping to secure trade deals with other countries following Brexit . The Wall Street Journal reported Fox as saying he would prefer a free trade agreement with the EU rather than be part of the EU customs union , which he said could restrict Britains ability to negotiate lower tariffs with other trading partners . In a September 2016 speech on international trade , Fox said there needed to be a change in British business culture , arguing that exporting was a duty which companies neglected because it might be too difficult or too time-consuming or because they cant play golf on a Friday afternoon . In April 2017 , he was criticised for a trade visit to the Philippines , where he acknowledged shared values when speaking to Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte , heavily criticised for the increase in extrajudicial killings in the Philippines . In 2017 , Fox announced a new board of trade which would meet four times a year to ensure the benefits of free trade are spread throughout the UK . The announcement was criticised by Liberal Democrat MP Tom Brake , who said the board was a job-creation scheme for Fox . A DIT spokesman said it was a technicality that Fox was the sole member of the board , because of a constitutional convention that full membership is only for privy counsellors.In July 2019 , he lost his cabinet position when new Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a cabinet reshuffle . Brexit . Fox supported Brexit at the EU Referendum 2016 , and is a self-proclaimed staunch Eurosceptic . Following this assertion , he stated that he wants a clean break from Brussels , in order to regain national sovereignty . In July 2019 he acknowledged that no deal could lead to the breakup of the United Kingdom . In March 2018 , Fox said that he would no longer support an extension to the EU transition period . He had previously said that a post-Brexit trade deal should be the easiest in human history . By July 2019 he recognised that a deal with the US would take time and that despite reaching above 99% of agreement on a deal based on Canadas existing deal with the EU , the Canadians were now looking at the zero-tariff access being promised in the event of no deal . On 30 November 2018 , he came out in support for Theresa Mays Brexit deal , calling it the best possible deal that safely delivers Brexit . World Trade Organisation candidate . On 8 July 2020 , the UK government nominated Fox as a candidate for Director-General of the World Trade Organisation . Foxs main rival for the nomination , the Labour peer Peter Mandelson , was overlooked due to his opposition to Brexit . Fox progressed to the second round of the selection process . He did not become one of the two candidates to enter the final round , who were South Koreas Yoo Myung-hee and Nigerias Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala , and was knocked out on 7 October . Positions . Bahrain . In March 2013 , Fox was one of the chief guests at a conference in Bahrain designed to rally Western opinion to the side of the Bahrain government in its struggle against the Arab Spring . Fox was the only Briton on the list of key people attending the Bahrain International Symposium . More than 60 people died during two years of protests , and 13 civil rights demonstrators were sentenced to ten years in prison . Iraq . He voted for the 2003 invasion of Iraq . As Shadow Defence Secretary he supported the Governments position of maintaining British troops in Iraq until the security situation allowed for a withdrawal of troops but was critical of the lack of post-invasion planning and poor equipment initially provided to British troops . He supported the idea of the American Surge and believes that it was successful . After becoming Shadow Defence Secretary , he visited Iraq on a number of occasions . In August 2014 , Fox argued that the UK should start bombing Islamist extremists in northern Iraq . The following month this became government policy . Afghanistan . He has been an outspoken supporter of the war in Afghanistan and the British presence there . He has been critical towards some of the European NATO partners who he believes are not contributing enough to the effort in the more dangerous southern and eastern parts of Afghanistan . Since becoming Shadow Defence Secretary he has visited Afghanistan on five occasions . In July 2010 , Fox said that an early withdrawal of coalition troops from Afghanistan would risk a return of civil war and act as a shot in the arm to jihadists across the world . In marked contrast to David Cameron , who pledged to withdraw all British troops by 2015 , Fox said Britain would be betraying the sacrifices of its fallen soldiers if it left before the job is finished . British forces would be among the last to leave Afghanistan , he added , because they are stationed in Helmand , one of the most dangerous provinces in the country . He said that Were we to leave prematurely , without degrading the insurgency and increasing the capability of the Afghan national security forces , we could see the return of the destructive forces of transnational terror .. . Not only would we risk the return of civil war in Afghanistan , creating a security vacuum , but we would also risk the destabilisation of Pakistan with potentially unthinkable regional , and possibly nuclear , consequences . In July 2010 , it was reported that 1,000 Royal Marines were expected to leave and be redeployed to central Helmand by the end of 2010 . Fox told MPs that UK forces had made good progress in Sangin , but the move would enable Britain to provide more manpower and greater focus on Helmands busy central belt , leaving the north and south to the US . The result will be a coherent and equitable division of the main populated areas of Helmand between three brigade-sized forces , with the US in the north and the south , and the UK-led Task Force Helmand , alongside our outstanding Danish and Estonian allies , in the central population belt , he told the House of Commons . On 19 July 2010 , Fox said that within four years the Afghan army and police should take responsibility for security , leaving British troops to work only as military trainers . The date is a full year earlier than the deadline suggested by David Cameron this month , who said he wanted most troops back by 2015 . Fox said : It has always been our aim to be successful in the mission and the mission has always said that the Afghan national security forces would be able to deal with their own security by 2014 . We recognise that there will be further work to do in terms of training and improving the quality of those forces beyond that , which is why we have said training forces may be available after that date . But we have made it very clear that that will not be combat forces . NATO . He has very strong Atlanticist views . He believes that NATO is the cornerstone of the United Kingdom and Europes defence and that NATO must have primacy over the European Union including the right of first refusal for all matters relating to the defence of continental Europe . He has been critical of the common funding mechanism within NATO and has called for a system to be used that allows for more proportionate burden sharing between NATO member states for NATO led military operations . European Union . He is considered to be staunchly Eurosceptic and opposed to European defence integration as well as European political integration . He is opposed to the European Commission having any role in defence policy . He believes that the European Security and Defence Policy duplicates and takes away scarce national resources from NATO . He specifically opposes the defence provisions in the Lisbon Treaty . He serves as a vice-president of the eurosceptic pressure group Conservatives for Britain . Capital punishment . He does not support capital punishment . Abortion . Fox is critical of abortion and has called for huge restriction , if not abolition on the UKs pro-abortion laws . In an interview with Morgan and Platell , Fox elaborated on these views , stating that he would like to see [ abortion limits ] brought down...well below 20 weeks ; Id like to see us look at limits more akin to some of the European countries at 12 or 14 weeks . He went on to state that a society that actually aborts 180,000 unborn children every year is a society that needs to be asking a lot of questions about itself . For me , its a simple personal belief . It says , thou shall not kill , it doesnt say , thou shall not kill unless Parliament says its OK . For the same reason Im against the death penalty . However , I do accept...that if the majority of the population decide that its something they find acceptable , Ive got to live with that . But Im not going to be quiet and Im not going to pretend that my views are other than they are for the sake of political convenience . Military welfare . Fox has stated on a number of occasions that the Military Covenant is broken and that the British Armed Forces are being asked to do too much for what they are resourced to do . Along with the leader of the Conservative Party , David Cameron , he established the Military Covenant Commission headed by Frederick Forsyth with the aim of finding ways to improve the welfare of service members , veterans , and their families under a future Conservative Government . Fox has a particular interest in mental health issues and has criticised Gordon Browns Labour Government for failing to adequately address the problem . Israel . Fox is a supporter of Israel and is a member of Conservative Friends of Israel . In 2006 he said , Israels enemies are our enemies and this is a battle in which we all stand together or we will all fall divided . The Jewish Chronicle has called Fox a champion of Israel while in government . In January 2009 , referring to Israel , he also said , British support for any ally is never unqualified . International law and values must always be obeyed . In May 2011 , Fox was booed at the We Believe in Israel event for saying that Israeli settlements are illegal and an obstacle to peace . Nuclear deterrent . Fox believes that Britain should maintain its continuous at sea , independent , submarine based strategic nuclear deterrent based on the Trident system . Defence procurement . Fox has pledged to restructure the defence procurement process in the Ministry of Defence . He has also stated that it would be a matter of policy to see Britains share of global defence exports increasing under a Conservative Government . Elevated bilateral defence relationships . Fox believes that it is in Britains national interest to build bilateral defence relations with key strategic partners . Fox has mentioned the United States , France , Norway , Turkey , Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf States . Special Relationship . He is a strong believer in the Special Relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States . He was the UK Director and founding member of The Atlantic Bridge , a UK-based charity that aims to preserve and promote the Special Relationship . The Atlantic Bridge closed down in October 2011 after being told to cease activities by the Charity Commission for promoting a political policy [ that ] is closely associated with the Conservative Party . Fox was able to retain a good relationship with the administration of George W . Bush , despite a five-year breakdown in relations between the Conservative and Republican parties over the Iraq War . He led the Conservative delegation to the 2008 Republican National Convention . In 2018 , he commented that the 25% tariffs imposed by the United States on imported EU steel were patently absurd . Same-sex marriage . On 5 February 2013 , Fox voted against a second reading of the Marriage ( Same Sex Couples ) Bill , designed to introduce same-sex marriage in the United Kingdom . He described David Camerons plans to legalise same-sex marriage as divisive , ill thought through and constitutionally wrong , arguing that redefining marriage for the majority to satisfy a small , yet vocal , minority was not a good basis for a stable , tolerant society . Freedom of the press . In October 2013 , Fox called for The Guardian newspaper to face prosecution over the 2013 mass surveillance disclosures . In January 2015 , Fox published a video on YouTube detailing his opinions and criticism of Edward Snowden . He stated : Were constantly having to protect our society from a range of threats , especially organised crime , paedophilia , and terrorism . For our intelligence services to operate effectively , and to protect us from these threats , they need to be able to do things in secret , secrets whose public disclosure would be damaging to our National Interest . When Edward Snowden stole files and took them with him to China and then Russia , some 58,000 files came from GCHQ , information that had played a vital role in preventing terrorist outrages in Britain , over the past decade and longer . It was not freedom fighting . We should call treason by its name . And those who assisted Snowden must be held responsible for their actions . National Health Service . In January 2014 , Fox stated that ring-fenced funding for the NHS should end , stating : The increase [ in spending ] over the last decade has been phenomenal and yet a lot of our health indicators lag behind other countries , particular things like stroke outcome or a lot of cancer outcomes . Scotland . Before the Scottish independence vote he made a speech setting out reasons why Scotland should remain in the union . If Scotland leaves the United Kingdom we all lose he told a Neighbourhood Watch group from his constituency visiting Westminster Houses of parliament on 1 September 2014 . Syria . Fox was disappointed that Parliament voted not to take military action over the use of chemical weapons in Syria . Fox was critical of Camerons strategy and performance for that debate , and stated There was no need to seek parliamentary approval for any military action , as constitutional authority lies with the government . He later took the view that there were no easy answers to the Syrian civil war and the prospect of the Assad government surviving should be considered . Fox argued that bombing attacks against ISIL in Iraq should be extended into Syria , and safe havens should be created in Syria by military intervention . Expenses . In March 2010 , Fox appealed Sir Thomas Leggs decision that he had overclaimed £22,476 in mortgage interest payments . Fox immediately repaid the money , then appealed the decision . Foxs appeal was rejected and the decision was upheld by Sir Paul Kennedy , a former high court judge . Fox stated that his decision to remortgage his second home to pay for redecorations and claim the higher interest repayments on his expenses represented value for money because he could have charged the taxpayer for the decorating bills directly . In his response , Sir Paul Kennedy stated : What you claimed was not recoverable under the rules then in force . I entirely accept that , like many others , you could have made other claims if the fees office had rejected your claims for mortgage interest , and that you may well have spent some of what you raised by increasing your mortgage on your constituency home , but the evidence is imprecise , and my terms of reference only allow me to interfere if I find special reasons in your individual case showing that it would not be fair and equitable to require repayment , either at all or at the level recommended . This reportedly made him the Conservative Shadow Cabinet member with the largest over-claim on expenses , and as a result , he has been forced to repay the most money . It was reported in June 2009 that Fox claimed expenses of more than £19,000 over the previous four years for his mobile phone . Fox stated that the high bill was due to regular trips overseas , in his capacity as Shadow Defence Secretary and said he was looking for a cheaper tariff . In October 2012 , the Commons Speaker blocked the release of data showing which MPs were renting their homes to other MPs for financial gain . However , a study of parliamentary records was published in the Daily Telegraph . The study showed that Liam Fox receives rental income from his London home while simultaneously claiming rental income from the taxpayer to live at another residence . In October 2013 , documents showed that Fox claimed 3p for a 100 metre car trip a year earlier . He also made an additional 15 claims under £1 for car travel approved in 2012–13 , two of which were for 24p and 44p . He told the Sunday People : I dont do my expenses . My office does them . But they are all done according to the rules for travel distances . Breaches of parliamentary rules . In March 2010 , Fox admitted breaking parliamentary rules on two occasions by visiting Sri Lanka on a trip paid for by the Sri Lankan government without declaring the trip in the Register of Members Financial Interests in the required time of 30 days and failing to declare an interest in Sri Lanka when asking ministers how much UK aid had been given to Sri Lanka . Fox has declared all of his trips to Sri Lanka paid for by the Sri Lankan government in the Register of Members Financial Interests . One trip he took in November 2007 was declared two months late . Fox blamed a changeover of staffing responsibilities for this error . Of the five trips to Sri Lanka mentioned in the BBC article , three were paid for fully by the Sri Lankan government . Those not paid in full by the Sri Lankan government were paid for by the Sri Lankan Development Trust . Fox stated that he had been working for all sides of the ethnic divide : I have been involved in attempts to promote peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka , involving all sides of the ethnic divide , since I was a foreign minister in 1997 . During my most recent visit , I spoke at a press conference to outline my reasons for being there . The declaration of the visit you refer to in November 2007 was highlighted in an end-of-year audit following a changeover of staffing responsibilities . The registrar was immediately notified and my register entry was updated accordingly . All visits have been fully declared on the House of Commons Register of Members Interests and are therefore public knowledge and entirely legitimate . I do , however , recognise that when asking one question in 2008 , I should have noted an interest and will be writing to the registrar to make this clear . Adam Werritty . During October 2011 , Foxs close friendship with Adam Werritty attracted extensive media attention and eventually led to Foxs resignation . Werrity had been best man at his wedding , had lived rent-free in Foxs flat , and been involved with him in business and in the conservative Atlanticist think-tank The Atlantic Bridge . While Fox was Secretary of State for Defence , Werrity had visited Fox at the Ministry of Defence on many occasions , had accompanied Fox on numerous official trips , attended some of his meetings with foreign dignitaries , and had used official-looking business cards which said he was an advisor to Fox , without having a government post or security clearance . The media raised questions about Foxs judgement in allowing this to happen and the source of Werritys income . In response , Fox initially requested Ursula Brennan , the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Defence , to investigate his connection with Werrity . Some of the meetings involved himself , Werritty , Matthew Gould ( prior to appointment , while he was Britains Ambassador-designate to Israel , and afterwards ) , and in some cases , Denis MacShane . The Foreign Office responded by stating : The FCO has total confidence that Matthew Gould has acted appropriately at all times and at no stage was he acting independently , or out of line with government policy . On Sunday 9 October 2011 , in advance of Brennans initial report of the result of her inquiry to the Prime Minister , Fox made a statement apologising publicly for his conduct in relation to Werrity , denying wrongdoing but admitting errors of judgement in mixing his professional and personal loyalties . The inquiry was escalated and Fox resigned in advance of publication of the full report by the Cabinet Secretary . The full list of Foxs meetings for his time in office to date , 20 May 2010 to 8 October 2011 , was published by the MoD after 7 pm on 10 October 2011 and revealed that Werrity was present at 40 of Foxs 70 engagements in that period ( 57% ) . In 2005–6 , Fox used public money , from his expense claims as an MP , to pay Adam Werritty . Finances . Fox was a registered shareholder of the medical educational firm Arrest Ltd which was dissolved in 2010 . In 2009 , his estimated wealth was £1 million . Fox accepted a £50,000 donation from Jon Moulton , whose investment firm , Better Capital , later went on to own Gardner Aerospace , an aerospace metallic manufactured details supplier which includes component parts for both military and civilian aircraft . This potentially exposed Fox to conflict of interest but neither Fox nor Moulton violated any rules with this donation . Personal life . On 10 June 2005 , he announced his engagement to longtime girlfriend Jesme Baird , a doctor who works at the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation and is an alumna of the University of Glasgow . They married at St Margarets Church opposite Parliament on 17 December 2005 . He has lived in North Somerset since 1990 , and currently resides in Tickenham . Author . In September 2013 , Fox launched Rising Tides : Facing the Challenges of a New Era , a 384-page book in which he warns that many of the world’s institutions are ill-equipped to tackle the economic and security threats of the 21st century . |
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"Shadow Defence Secretary"
] | easy | What position did Liam Fox take from Dec 2005 to May 2010? | /wiki/Liam_Fox#P39#4 | Liam Fox Liam Fox ( born 22 September 1961 ) is a British politician who served as Secretary of State for International Trade from 2016 to 2019 and Secretary of State for Defence from 2010 to 2011 . A member of the Conservative Party , he has been the Member of Parliament ( MP ) for North Somerset since 2010 . Fox was first elected as the MP for Woodspring in 1992 . Fox studied medicine at the University of Glasgow and worked as a GP and civilian army medical GP before being elected as an MP . After holding several ministerial roles under John Major , Fox served as Constitutional Affairs Spokesman from 1998 to 1999 , Shadow Health Secretary from 1999 to 2003 , Chair of the Conservative Party from 2003 to 2005 , Shadow Foreign Secretary in 2005 and Shadow Defence Secretary from 2005 to 2010 . In the 2009 expenses scandal , he was the Shadow Cabinet minister found to have the largest over-claim on expenses and , as a result , was forced to repay the most money . In 2010 , he was appointed Defence Secretary by Prime Minister David Cameron , a position from which he resigned on 14 October 2011 over allegations that he had given a close friend , lobbyist Adam Werritty , inappropriate access to the Ministry of Defence and allowed him to join official trips overseas . In July 2016 , in the wake of the United Kingdoms vote to leave the European Union , Fox was appointed the first Secretary of State for International Trade by new Prime Minister Theresa May . He was also made President of the Board of Trade . Fox has twice stood unsuccessfully for the leadership of the Conservative Party , in 2005 and 2016 . In July 2019 , he lost his cabinet position when new Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a cabinet reshuffle . Early life . Fox was born and raised in a Catholic family of Irish heritage in East Kilbride , Scotland , and brought up in a council house that his parents later bought . His great-uncle , John Fox , was Labour Provost of Motherwell , and most of his family were Labour supporters . Along with his brother and two sisters , he was educated in the state sector ; he attended St . Brides High School ( now part of St Andrews and St Brides High School ) . He studied medicine at the University of Glasgow Medical School , graduating with a MB ChB in 1983 . Fox is a former general practitioner ( he was a GP in Beaconsfield , Buckinghamshire , before his election to Parliament ) , a former Civilian Army General Practitioner and Divisional Surgeon with St John Ambulance . He is a member of the Royal College of General Practitioners . While studying medicine at the University of Glasgow in the early 1980s , he was a member of the Dialectic Society and became president of the Glasgow University Conservative Association . Fox contested the Hairmyres ward of East Kilbride District Council in May 1984 , coming second ( 210 votes ) to the incumbent Labour councillor , Ed McKenna . While at Glasgow , Fox resigned his position on the universitys Students Representative Council ( SRC ) in protest at the council passing a motion condemning the decision of the universitys Glasgow University Union ( GUU ) not to allow a gay students society to join the union . The SRC motion called both the unions decision and the explanations given for it bigoted . The GUU maintained its stance regardless , and the controversy was reported in the national media ; this led to many other university student unions up and down the country , including Edinburgh , cutting ties with their Glasgow counterparts . Explaining his decision to resign from the SRC and support the GUUs position , Fox was quoted as saying : Im actually quite liberal when it comes to sexual matters . I just dont want the gays flaunting it in front of me , which is what they would do . When asked about these comments in 2008 , Fox said that fortunately most of us have progressed from the days when we were students more than a quarter of a century ago . Member of Parliament . His first attempt to get elected as an MP for a Scottish constituency ended in failure when he contested Roxburgh and Berwickshire in the 1987 general election . Thereafter , he sought and won the nomination for the English constituency of Woodspring and was successful in being elected MP for that constituency at the 1992 general election . In government . In June 1993 , Fox was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Home Secretary , Michael Howard . Thereafter , in July 1994 , he was appointed an Assistant Government Whip . Following a limited government reshuffle in November 1995 , he was appointed a Lord Commissioner of Treasury – a Senior Government Whip . He was Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office from 1996 to 1997 . In 1996 , he brokered an accord in Sri Lanka , called the Fox Peace Plan , between Chandrika Kumaratungas PA and the opposition UNP of Ranil Wickremasinghe , on a bipartisan approach for ending the ethnic war . In 2001 , Jonathan Goodhand wrote , However , little has happened since then to suggest that the various parties would have acted in good faith in the interests of peace . In opposition . Shadow Cabinet . In June 1997 , Fox was appointed Opposition Front Bench Spokesman on Constitutional Affairs and joined the Shadow Cabinet in 1998 as the principal spokesman for Constitutional Affairs . Between 1999 and 2003 , he was the Shadow Secretary of State for Health . In November 2003 , Fox was appointed campaign manager for Michael Howard following the no-confidence vote against the Conservatives party leader , Iain Duncan Smith . Fox became co-chairman of the party following Michael Howards elevation to the post of party leader in November 2003 . After the 2005 general election he was promoted within the Shadow Cabinet to become Shadow Foreign Secretary . On 7 December 2005 he was moved to Shadow Defence Secretary by new Leader of the Opposition David Cameron . Leadership bids . 2005 leadership bid . In September 2005 , Fox announced he would join the contest to be the next leader of the Conservative party . His campaign theme for the 2005 leadership race was based on the broken society theme , which he said Conservatives could address by returning the emphasis to marriage and reforming welfare . In the initial ballot of Conservative MPs , on 18 October 2005 , he gained enough support ( 42 votes ) to enter the second ballot two days later . There he was eliminated with 51 votes in third place behind David Cameron ( 90 votes ) and David Davis ( 57 votes ) . Cameron , who eventually won the leadership election , gave Fox the role of Shadow Defence Secretary . 2016 leadership bid . In late June 2016 , Fox announced on LBC that he intended to run for the leadership of the Conservative party once again , after David Cameron resigned following the result of the EU referendum , in which Fox supported leaving the EU . During the announcement of his candidacy , he said that the UK should trigger Article 50 by the end of 2016 so it could leave the EU by 2019 , specifying 1 January 2019 as the date on which the UK should leave . He stated that he would not allow freedom of movement to be considered as part of any alternative trade arrangement with the EU . Fox promised to increase defence spending , stating that he would particularly like to see an increase in the size of the Navy and our cyber capability . He also promised to scrap HS2 , spending the £55 billion set aside for the project on regional train lines , cut taxes , cut welfare spending , create a new governmental department for trade and foreign affairs and review the aid budget . Fox was eliminated in the first ballot , finishing in last place with 16 votes . Theresa May went on to win the leadership and become Prime Minister and gave Fox the job of International Trade Secretary . Secretary of State for Defence . Fox was appointed as Secretary of State for Defence in the cabinet of David Cameron on 12 May 2010 and that weekend flew out to Afghanistan with the Foreign Secretary , William Hague , and the International Development Secretary , Andrew Mitchell , to see first hand the issues facing the troops based there . In July 2010 , he said that the dire state of the public finances meant the Armed Forces could no longer be equipped to cover every conceivable danger . He said that the strongest signal that it will have to give up one or more of these capabilities , which have been maintained at the same time as contributing to collective security pacts such as NATO . We dont have the money as a country to protect ourselves against every potential future threat , he said . We have to look at where we think the real risks will come from , where the real threats will come from and we need to deal with that accordingly . The Russians are not going to come over the European plain any day soon , he added . Foxs admission cast doubt on the future of the 25,000 troops currently stationed in Germany . The Defence Secretary had previously said that he hoped to withdraw them at some point , leaving Britain without a presence in the country for the first time since 1945 . The Ministry of Defence ( MoD ) faced budget cuts of up to 8% over the next five years , according to some analysts , and the department was grappling with a £37 billion shortfall on programmes it has signed up to . The results of the Strategic Defence and Security Review ( SDSR ) were published on 19 October 2010 . Speaking in September 2010 at a meeting in Paris with his French counterpart Hervé Morin on the possibility of sharing aircraft carriers with the French Navy , Fox said , I think it is unrealistic to share an aircraft carrier but , in other areas like tactical lift we can see what we can do . He added : I cant deny that there is an element of urgency added by budget concerns . In September 2010 , in a private letter to David Cameron , Fox refused to back any draconian cuts in the Armed Forces at a time when Britain was at war . The letter was written the night before a National Security Council ( NSC ) meeting on the Strategic Defence and Security Review ( SDSR ) . In the letter , Fox wrote that : Frankly this process is looking less and less defensible as a proper SDSR ( Strategic Defence and Strategy Review ) and more like a super CSR ( Comprehensive Spending Review ) . If it continues on its current trajectory it is likely to have grave political consequences for us . Fox continued saying that Our decisions today will limit severely the options available to this and all future governments . The range of operations that we can do today we will simply not be able to do in the future . In particular , it would place at risk . In February 2011 , Fox criticised ballooning spending in his own department . The top 15 major procurement projects were running at £8.8 billion over budget and , between them , were delayed by a total of 32 years . That included the A400M transporter aircraft order that was £603 million over budget and six years behind schedule . Fox criticised what he called a conspiracy of optimism based on poor cost-estimation , unrealistic timescales at the MoD and in industry . These practices in the MOD would simply not be tolerated in the private sector , and they will no longer be tolerated in the MoD . In March 2011 , Fox defended the decision to make 11,000 redundancies in the armed forces , insisting that personnel who have recently returned from Afghanistan would not be sacked . Cameron had conceded that axing around 5,000 personnel from the army , 3,300 from the Navy and 2,700 from the RAF will be difficult for those affected . Strategic Defence and Security Review ( SDSR ) set out plans for reducing the size of the armed forces by 17,000 in total . Some of that number would be met by not replacing people who were retiring or leaving for other reasons . Defence officials said 11,000 personnel still faced being redundant on a compulsory or voluntary basis . Fox said it was essential that service personnel were made fully aware of the options available and the time-scales involved . That means that a timetable needs to be adhered to for the sake of themselves and their families , he said . It would simply be wrong to alter that timetable for the convenience of the Government . In light of the 2011 Libyan civil war , Fox warned that Libya could end up split in two as Muammar Gaddafi unleashed the full fury of his military arsenal , sending warplanes and ground troops to attack rebel-held positions across the country . We could see the Gaddafi forces centred around Tripoli , Fox said . We could see a de facto partition of the country . In May 2011 , Fox opposed plans to sharply increase Britains aid budget , in a direct challenge to David Camerons authority . In a leaked letter to the Prime Minister , Fox said he could not accept plans to increase the development budget to 0.7 percent of the gross domestic product . The aid pledge , made in the Conservative election manifesto last year , was at the heart of Camerons attempts to change his partys image . It has gained opponents among right-wing Tories , many of whom voted for Fox when he fought Cameron for the party leadership in 2005 . I cannot support the proposal in its current form , Fox told the Prime Minister . Fox suggested that development funding should be diverted to the defence budget , writing that reneging on the aid pledge would release more public money to be spent on other activities or programmes rather than aid . The Telegraph James Kirkup said the leak was increasing suspicion among Camerons allies that the Defence Secretary was trying to undermine the Prime Minister . After negative comments by Sir Simon Bryant and Sir Mark Stanhope , Secretary Fox said admirals and air marshals who have voiced concerns were giving strength to Muammar Gaddafis regime . He also warned that high-ranking members of the Armed Forces were facing the sack because the Government wanted to reduce bureaucracy by cutting the star count . The Daily Telegraph had learned that the redundancies would include up 500 starred officers , equivalent to the rank of an Army brigadier and above . Fox said : We must be very careful , those of us who have authority in defence , when discussing the sustainability of a mission . Peoples lives are at stake and there can only be one message that goes out on Libya . Admiral Sir John Sandy Woodward , a former deputy chief of the defence staff , suggested Fox was trying to blame military chiefs for his own failings . He said : Of course the service chiefs should not be talking outside the MoD , but when politicians have got it so wrong they have no other choice . Levene report . On 27 June 2011 , Fox announced that Baron Levene had completed his report on the reform of the MoD which suggested that they could cut the number of senior officers and could also lead to ministerial posts being axed . The army , navy and air force would each be run by a single chief . Currently , the services have two commanders , one in charge of strategy , the second in charge of day-to-day operations . The reforms would see operational control pushed down the chain of command . In addition , the three service chiefs will be removed from the defence board , a powerful committee the defence secretary chairs . The overall head of the military , the chief of the defence staff , currently , General Sir David Richards , will represent them . A committee chaired by an independent non-executive director , chosen by the defence secretary , will be in charge of appointments to the services top ranks . The MoD is expected to axe up to 8,000 civil servants in 2012 . Senior commanders would be given more overall control of their budgets and internal appointments . The report also suggested that a new Joint Forces Command structure should be created with senior appointments in the MoD lasting longer than every two years by making sure people stay in post for longer . Levene said that finance and the need for affordability are not regarded as sufficiently important throughout the organisation . He said that the lack of trust which pervades the MoD has led to a tendency for those at the top to try to micromanage , while the individual services look out for themselves rather than thinking of defence as a whole . This has led to a predisposition to overcomplicate .. . and a culture of reinventing the wheel . The role of the chief of the defence staff should also be enhanced so that he alone will be responsible for representing the military voice . Levene says that the new defence board should be the primary decision-making body for non-operational matters , and should meet 10 times a year . It will have nine members , but only one will be from the military , the chief of the defence staff , currently General Sir David Richards . Defence and Security Review . In a speech on the future of the Armed Forces to the House of Commons on 19 October 2010 Prime Minister David Cameron set out plans that would mean cuts : 7,000 jobs go in the British Army ; 5,000 in the Royal Navy ; 5,000 in the Royal Air Force ; and 25,000 civilian jobs at the Ministry of Defence . In terms of equipment , the RAF would lose the Nimrod reconnaissance aircraft programme , the entire Harrier jump-jet fleet would be scrapped , and bases will be turned over to the Army . The Army will have its tanks and heavy artillery cut by 40% , and half of the soldiers in Germany will return to the UK by 2015 , with the rest brought home by 2030 and housed in former RAF bases . The Navy would have its destroyer and frigate fleet cut from 23 to 19 ( by cutting the Type 22 frigates ) and will be provided with less expensive frigates . It will be affected by the loss of the Harriers . Overall , the defence budget was to be cut by 8% but Cameron insisted that Britain would continue to meet the Nato target of spending 2% of GDP on defence . In the same speech Cameron announced a national cyber security programme , costing £500 million , to fix shortfalls in cyber infrastructure , while more focus will be given to tackling terrorists such as Al Qaeda and dissident Irish republicans in what he said would be continuing investment in our world class intelligence agencies . Army numbers will fall to 95,500 by 2015 – 7,000 fewer than today – but ground forces will continue to have vital operational role in the future , he said . Resignation . On 14 October 2011 , Fox resigned from his office as Secretary of State for Defence , for breaking the ministerial code by letting his friend Adam Werritty into defence meetings . Secretary of State for International Trade . After Theresa May became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in July 2016 , Fox was appointed Secretary of State for International Trade , responsible for helping to secure trade deals with other countries following Brexit . The Wall Street Journal reported Fox as saying he would prefer a free trade agreement with the EU rather than be part of the EU customs union , which he said could restrict Britains ability to negotiate lower tariffs with other trading partners . In a September 2016 speech on international trade , Fox said there needed to be a change in British business culture , arguing that exporting was a duty which companies neglected because it might be too difficult or too time-consuming or because they cant play golf on a Friday afternoon . In April 2017 , he was criticised for a trade visit to the Philippines , where he acknowledged shared values when speaking to Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte , heavily criticised for the increase in extrajudicial killings in the Philippines . In 2017 , Fox announced a new board of trade which would meet four times a year to ensure the benefits of free trade are spread throughout the UK . The announcement was criticised by Liberal Democrat MP Tom Brake , who said the board was a job-creation scheme for Fox . A DIT spokesman said it was a technicality that Fox was the sole member of the board , because of a constitutional convention that full membership is only for privy counsellors.In July 2019 , he lost his cabinet position when new Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a cabinet reshuffle . Brexit . Fox supported Brexit at the EU Referendum 2016 , and is a self-proclaimed staunch Eurosceptic . Following this assertion , he stated that he wants a clean break from Brussels , in order to regain national sovereignty . In July 2019 he acknowledged that no deal could lead to the breakup of the United Kingdom . In March 2018 , Fox said that he would no longer support an extension to the EU transition period . He had previously said that a post-Brexit trade deal should be the easiest in human history . By July 2019 he recognised that a deal with the US would take time and that despite reaching above 99% of agreement on a deal based on Canadas existing deal with the EU , the Canadians were now looking at the zero-tariff access being promised in the event of no deal . On 30 November 2018 , he came out in support for Theresa Mays Brexit deal , calling it the best possible deal that safely delivers Brexit . World Trade Organisation candidate . On 8 July 2020 , the UK government nominated Fox as a candidate for Director-General of the World Trade Organisation . Foxs main rival for the nomination , the Labour peer Peter Mandelson , was overlooked due to his opposition to Brexit . Fox progressed to the second round of the selection process . He did not become one of the two candidates to enter the final round , who were South Koreas Yoo Myung-hee and Nigerias Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala , and was knocked out on 7 October . Positions . Bahrain . In March 2013 , Fox was one of the chief guests at a conference in Bahrain designed to rally Western opinion to the side of the Bahrain government in its struggle against the Arab Spring . Fox was the only Briton on the list of key people attending the Bahrain International Symposium . More than 60 people died during two years of protests , and 13 civil rights demonstrators were sentenced to ten years in prison . Iraq . He voted for the 2003 invasion of Iraq . As Shadow Defence Secretary he supported the Governments position of maintaining British troops in Iraq until the security situation allowed for a withdrawal of troops but was critical of the lack of post-invasion planning and poor equipment initially provided to British troops . He supported the idea of the American Surge and believes that it was successful . After becoming Shadow Defence Secretary , he visited Iraq on a number of occasions . In August 2014 , Fox argued that the UK should start bombing Islamist extremists in northern Iraq . The following month this became government policy . Afghanistan . He has been an outspoken supporter of the war in Afghanistan and the British presence there . He has been critical towards some of the European NATO partners who he believes are not contributing enough to the effort in the more dangerous southern and eastern parts of Afghanistan . Since becoming Shadow Defence Secretary he has visited Afghanistan on five occasions . In July 2010 , Fox said that an early withdrawal of coalition troops from Afghanistan would risk a return of civil war and act as a shot in the arm to jihadists across the world . In marked contrast to David Cameron , who pledged to withdraw all British troops by 2015 , Fox said Britain would be betraying the sacrifices of its fallen soldiers if it left before the job is finished . British forces would be among the last to leave Afghanistan , he added , because they are stationed in Helmand , one of the most dangerous provinces in the country . He said that Were we to leave prematurely , without degrading the insurgency and increasing the capability of the Afghan national security forces , we could see the return of the destructive forces of transnational terror .. . Not only would we risk the return of civil war in Afghanistan , creating a security vacuum , but we would also risk the destabilisation of Pakistan with potentially unthinkable regional , and possibly nuclear , consequences . In July 2010 , it was reported that 1,000 Royal Marines were expected to leave and be redeployed to central Helmand by the end of 2010 . Fox told MPs that UK forces had made good progress in Sangin , but the move would enable Britain to provide more manpower and greater focus on Helmands busy central belt , leaving the north and south to the US . The result will be a coherent and equitable division of the main populated areas of Helmand between three brigade-sized forces , with the US in the north and the south , and the UK-led Task Force Helmand , alongside our outstanding Danish and Estonian allies , in the central population belt , he told the House of Commons . On 19 July 2010 , Fox said that within four years the Afghan army and police should take responsibility for security , leaving British troops to work only as military trainers . The date is a full year earlier than the deadline suggested by David Cameron this month , who said he wanted most troops back by 2015 . Fox said : It has always been our aim to be successful in the mission and the mission has always said that the Afghan national security forces would be able to deal with their own security by 2014 . We recognise that there will be further work to do in terms of training and improving the quality of those forces beyond that , which is why we have said training forces may be available after that date . But we have made it very clear that that will not be combat forces . NATO . He has very strong Atlanticist views . He believes that NATO is the cornerstone of the United Kingdom and Europes defence and that NATO must have primacy over the European Union including the right of first refusal for all matters relating to the defence of continental Europe . He has been critical of the common funding mechanism within NATO and has called for a system to be used that allows for more proportionate burden sharing between NATO member states for NATO led military operations . European Union . He is considered to be staunchly Eurosceptic and opposed to European defence integration as well as European political integration . He is opposed to the European Commission having any role in defence policy . He believes that the European Security and Defence Policy duplicates and takes away scarce national resources from NATO . He specifically opposes the defence provisions in the Lisbon Treaty . He serves as a vice-president of the eurosceptic pressure group Conservatives for Britain . Capital punishment . He does not support capital punishment . Abortion . Fox is critical of abortion and has called for huge restriction , if not abolition on the UKs pro-abortion laws . In an interview with Morgan and Platell , Fox elaborated on these views , stating that he would like to see [ abortion limits ] brought down...well below 20 weeks ; Id like to see us look at limits more akin to some of the European countries at 12 or 14 weeks . He went on to state that a society that actually aborts 180,000 unborn children every year is a society that needs to be asking a lot of questions about itself . For me , its a simple personal belief . It says , thou shall not kill , it doesnt say , thou shall not kill unless Parliament says its OK . For the same reason Im against the death penalty . However , I do accept...that if the majority of the population decide that its something they find acceptable , Ive got to live with that . But Im not going to be quiet and Im not going to pretend that my views are other than they are for the sake of political convenience . Military welfare . Fox has stated on a number of occasions that the Military Covenant is broken and that the British Armed Forces are being asked to do too much for what they are resourced to do . Along with the leader of the Conservative Party , David Cameron , he established the Military Covenant Commission headed by Frederick Forsyth with the aim of finding ways to improve the welfare of service members , veterans , and their families under a future Conservative Government . Fox has a particular interest in mental health issues and has criticised Gordon Browns Labour Government for failing to adequately address the problem . Israel . Fox is a supporter of Israel and is a member of Conservative Friends of Israel . In 2006 he said , Israels enemies are our enemies and this is a battle in which we all stand together or we will all fall divided . The Jewish Chronicle has called Fox a champion of Israel while in government . In January 2009 , referring to Israel , he also said , British support for any ally is never unqualified . International law and values must always be obeyed . In May 2011 , Fox was booed at the We Believe in Israel event for saying that Israeli settlements are illegal and an obstacle to peace . Nuclear deterrent . Fox believes that Britain should maintain its continuous at sea , independent , submarine based strategic nuclear deterrent based on the Trident system . Defence procurement . Fox has pledged to restructure the defence procurement process in the Ministry of Defence . He has also stated that it would be a matter of policy to see Britains share of global defence exports increasing under a Conservative Government . Elevated bilateral defence relationships . Fox believes that it is in Britains national interest to build bilateral defence relations with key strategic partners . Fox has mentioned the United States , France , Norway , Turkey , Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf States . Special Relationship . He is a strong believer in the Special Relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States . He was the UK Director and founding member of The Atlantic Bridge , a UK-based charity that aims to preserve and promote the Special Relationship . The Atlantic Bridge closed down in October 2011 after being told to cease activities by the Charity Commission for promoting a political policy [ that ] is closely associated with the Conservative Party . Fox was able to retain a good relationship with the administration of George W . Bush , despite a five-year breakdown in relations between the Conservative and Republican parties over the Iraq War . He led the Conservative delegation to the 2008 Republican National Convention . In 2018 , he commented that the 25% tariffs imposed by the United States on imported EU steel were patently absurd . Same-sex marriage . On 5 February 2013 , Fox voted against a second reading of the Marriage ( Same Sex Couples ) Bill , designed to introduce same-sex marriage in the United Kingdom . He described David Camerons plans to legalise same-sex marriage as divisive , ill thought through and constitutionally wrong , arguing that redefining marriage for the majority to satisfy a small , yet vocal , minority was not a good basis for a stable , tolerant society . Freedom of the press . In October 2013 , Fox called for The Guardian newspaper to face prosecution over the 2013 mass surveillance disclosures . In January 2015 , Fox published a video on YouTube detailing his opinions and criticism of Edward Snowden . He stated : Were constantly having to protect our society from a range of threats , especially organised crime , paedophilia , and terrorism . For our intelligence services to operate effectively , and to protect us from these threats , they need to be able to do things in secret , secrets whose public disclosure would be damaging to our National Interest . When Edward Snowden stole files and took them with him to China and then Russia , some 58,000 files came from GCHQ , information that had played a vital role in preventing terrorist outrages in Britain , over the past decade and longer . It was not freedom fighting . We should call treason by its name . And those who assisted Snowden must be held responsible for their actions . National Health Service . In January 2014 , Fox stated that ring-fenced funding for the NHS should end , stating : The increase [ in spending ] over the last decade has been phenomenal and yet a lot of our health indicators lag behind other countries , particular things like stroke outcome or a lot of cancer outcomes . Scotland . Before the Scottish independence vote he made a speech setting out reasons why Scotland should remain in the union . If Scotland leaves the United Kingdom we all lose he told a Neighbourhood Watch group from his constituency visiting Westminster Houses of parliament on 1 September 2014 . Syria . Fox was disappointed that Parliament voted not to take military action over the use of chemical weapons in Syria . Fox was critical of Camerons strategy and performance for that debate , and stated There was no need to seek parliamentary approval for any military action , as constitutional authority lies with the government . He later took the view that there were no easy answers to the Syrian civil war and the prospect of the Assad government surviving should be considered . Fox argued that bombing attacks against ISIL in Iraq should be extended into Syria , and safe havens should be created in Syria by military intervention . Expenses . In March 2010 , Fox appealed Sir Thomas Leggs decision that he had overclaimed £22,476 in mortgage interest payments . Fox immediately repaid the money , then appealed the decision . Foxs appeal was rejected and the decision was upheld by Sir Paul Kennedy , a former high court judge . Fox stated that his decision to remortgage his second home to pay for redecorations and claim the higher interest repayments on his expenses represented value for money because he could have charged the taxpayer for the decorating bills directly . In his response , Sir Paul Kennedy stated : What you claimed was not recoverable under the rules then in force . I entirely accept that , like many others , you could have made other claims if the fees office had rejected your claims for mortgage interest , and that you may well have spent some of what you raised by increasing your mortgage on your constituency home , but the evidence is imprecise , and my terms of reference only allow me to interfere if I find special reasons in your individual case showing that it would not be fair and equitable to require repayment , either at all or at the level recommended . This reportedly made him the Conservative Shadow Cabinet member with the largest over-claim on expenses , and as a result , he has been forced to repay the most money . It was reported in June 2009 that Fox claimed expenses of more than £19,000 over the previous four years for his mobile phone . Fox stated that the high bill was due to regular trips overseas , in his capacity as Shadow Defence Secretary and said he was looking for a cheaper tariff . In October 2012 , the Commons Speaker blocked the release of data showing which MPs were renting their homes to other MPs for financial gain . However , a study of parliamentary records was published in the Daily Telegraph . The study showed that Liam Fox receives rental income from his London home while simultaneously claiming rental income from the taxpayer to live at another residence . In October 2013 , documents showed that Fox claimed 3p for a 100 metre car trip a year earlier . He also made an additional 15 claims under £1 for car travel approved in 2012–13 , two of which were for 24p and 44p . He told the Sunday People : I dont do my expenses . My office does them . But they are all done according to the rules for travel distances . Breaches of parliamentary rules . In March 2010 , Fox admitted breaking parliamentary rules on two occasions by visiting Sri Lanka on a trip paid for by the Sri Lankan government without declaring the trip in the Register of Members Financial Interests in the required time of 30 days and failing to declare an interest in Sri Lanka when asking ministers how much UK aid had been given to Sri Lanka . Fox has declared all of his trips to Sri Lanka paid for by the Sri Lankan government in the Register of Members Financial Interests . One trip he took in November 2007 was declared two months late . Fox blamed a changeover of staffing responsibilities for this error . Of the five trips to Sri Lanka mentioned in the BBC article , three were paid for fully by the Sri Lankan government . Those not paid in full by the Sri Lankan government were paid for by the Sri Lankan Development Trust . Fox stated that he had been working for all sides of the ethnic divide : I have been involved in attempts to promote peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka , involving all sides of the ethnic divide , since I was a foreign minister in 1997 . During my most recent visit , I spoke at a press conference to outline my reasons for being there . The declaration of the visit you refer to in November 2007 was highlighted in an end-of-year audit following a changeover of staffing responsibilities . The registrar was immediately notified and my register entry was updated accordingly . All visits have been fully declared on the House of Commons Register of Members Interests and are therefore public knowledge and entirely legitimate . I do , however , recognise that when asking one question in 2008 , I should have noted an interest and will be writing to the registrar to make this clear . Adam Werritty . During October 2011 , Foxs close friendship with Adam Werritty attracted extensive media attention and eventually led to Foxs resignation . Werrity had been best man at his wedding , had lived rent-free in Foxs flat , and been involved with him in business and in the conservative Atlanticist think-tank The Atlantic Bridge . While Fox was Secretary of State for Defence , Werrity had visited Fox at the Ministry of Defence on many occasions , had accompanied Fox on numerous official trips , attended some of his meetings with foreign dignitaries , and had used official-looking business cards which said he was an advisor to Fox , without having a government post or security clearance . The media raised questions about Foxs judgement in allowing this to happen and the source of Werritys income . In response , Fox initially requested Ursula Brennan , the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Defence , to investigate his connection with Werrity . Some of the meetings involved himself , Werritty , Matthew Gould ( prior to appointment , while he was Britains Ambassador-designate to Israel , and afterwards ) , and in some cases , Denis MacShane . The Foreign Office responded by stating : The FCO has total confidence that Matthew Gould has acted appropriately at all times and at no stage was he acting independently , or out of line with government policy . On Sunday 9 October 2011 , in advance of Brennans initial report of the result of her inquiry to the Prime Minister , Fox made a statement apologising publicly for his conduct in relation to Werrity , denying wrongdoing but admitting errors of judgement in mixing his professional and personal loyalties . The inquiry was escalated and Fox resigned in advance of publication of the full report by the Cabinet Secretary . The full list of Foxs meetings for his time in office to date , 20 May 2010 to 8 October 2011 , was published by the MoD after 7 pm on 10 October 2011 and revealed that Werrity was present at 40 of Foxs 70 engagements in that period ( 57% ) . In 2005–6 , Fox used public money , from his expense claims as an MP , to pay Adam Werritty . Finances . Fox was a registered shareholder of the medical educational firm Arrest Ltd which was dissolved in 2010 . In 2009 , his estimated wealth was £1 million . Fox accepted a £50,000 donation from Jon Moulton , whose investment firm , Better Capital , later went on to own Gardner Aerospace , an aerospace metallic manufactured details supplier which includes component parts for both military and civilian aircraft . This potentially exposed Fox to conflict of interest but neither Fox nor Moulton violated any rules with this donation . Personal life . On 10 June 2005 , he announced his engagement to longtime girlfriend Jesme Baird , a doctor who works at the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation and is an alumna of the University of Glasgow . They married at St Margarets Church opposite Parliament on 17 December 2005 . He has lived in North Somerset since 1990 , and currently resides in Tickenham . Author . In September 2013 , Fox launched Rising Tides : Facing the Challenges of a New Era , a 384-page book in which he warns that many of the world’s institutions are ill-equipped to tackle the economic and security threats of the 21st century . |
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"Defence Secretary"
] | easy | What was the position of Liam Fox from May 2010 to Oct 2011? | /wiki/Liam_Fox#P39#5 | Liam Fox Liam Fox ( born 22 September 1961 ) is a British politician who served as Secretary of State for International Trade from 2016 to 2019 and Secretary of State for Defence from 2010 to 2011 . A member of the Conservative Party , he has been the Member of Parliament ( MP ) for North Somerset since 2010 . Fox was first elected as the MP for Woodspring in 1992 . Fox studied medicine at the University of Glasgow and worked as a GP and civilian army medical GP before being elected as an MP . After holding several ministerial roles under John Major , Fox served as Constitutional Affairs Spokesman from 1998 to 1999 , Shadow Health Secretary from 1999 to 2003 , Chair of the Conservative Party from 2003 to 2005 , Shadow Foreign Secretary in 2005 and Shadow Defence Secretary from 2005 to 2010 . In the 2009 expenses scandal , he was the Shadow Cabinet minister found to have the largest over-claim on expenses and , as a result , was forced to repay the most money . In 2010 , he was appointed Defence Secretary by Prime Minister David Cameron , a position from which he resigned on 14 October 2011 over allegations that he had given a close friend , lobbyist Adam Werritty , inappropriate access to the Ministry of Defence and allowed him to join official trips overseas . In July 2016 , in the wake of the United Kingdoms vote to leave the European Union , Fox was appointed the first Secretary of State for International Trade by new Prime Minister Theresa May . He was also made President of the Board of Trade . Fox has twice stood unsuccessfully for the leadership of the Conservative Party , in 2005 and 2016 . In July 2019 , he lost his cabinet position when new Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a cabinet reshuffle . Early life . Fox was born and raised in a Catholic family of Irish heritage in East Kilbride , Scotland , and brought up in a council house that his parents later bought . His great-uncle , John Fox , was Labour Provost of Motherwell , and most of his family were Labour supporters . Along with his brother and two sisters , he was educated in the state sector ; he attended St . Brides High School ( now part of St Andrews and St Brides High School ) . He studied medicine at the University of Glasgow Medical School , graduating with a MB ChB in 1983 . Fox is a former general practitioner ( he was a GP in Beaconsfield , Buckinghamshire , before his election to Parliament ) , a former Civilian Army General Practitioner and Divisional Surgeon with St John Ambulance . He is a member of the Royal College of General Practitioners . While studying medicine at the University of Glasgow in the early 1980s , he was a member of the Dialectic Society and became president of the Glasgow University Conservative Association . Fox contested the Hairmyres ward of East Kilbride District Council in May 1984 , coming second ( 210 votes ) to the incumbent Labour councillor , Ed McKenna . While at Glasgow , Fox resigned his position on the universitys Students Representative Council ( SRC ) in protest at the council passing a motion condemning the decision of the universitys Glasgow University Union ( GUU ) not to allow a gay students society to join the union . The SRC motion called both the unions decision and the explanations given for it bigoted . The GUU maintained its stance regardless , and the controversy was reported in the national media ; this led to many other university student unions up and down the country , including Edinburgh , cutting ties with their Glasgow counterparts . Explaining his decision to resign from the SRC and support the GUUs position , Fox was quoted as saying : Im actually quite liberal when it comes to sexual matters . I just dont want the gays flaunting it in front of me , which is what they would do . When asked about these comments in 2008 , Fox said that fortunately most of us have progressed from the days when we were students more than a quarter of a century ago . Member of Parliament . His first attempt to get elected as an MP for a Scottish constituency ended in failure when he contested Roxburgh and Berwickshire in the 1987 general election . Thereafter , he sought and won the nomination for the English constituency of Woodspring and was successful in being elected MP for that constituency at the 1992 general election . In government . In June 1993 , Fox was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Home Secretary , Michael Howard . Thereafter , in July 1994 , he was appointed an Assistant Government Whip . Following a limited government reshuffle in November 1995 , he was appointed a Lord Commissioner of Treasury – a Senior Government Whip . He was Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office from 1996 to 1997 . In 1996 , he brokered an accord in Sri Lanka , called the Fox Peace Plan , between Chandrika Kumaratungas PA and the opposition UNP of Ranil Wickremasinghe , on a bipartisan approach for ending the ethnic war . In 2001 , Jonathan Goodhand wrote , However , little has happened since then to suggest that the various parties would have acted in good faith in the interests of peace . In opposition . Shadow Cabinet . In June 1997 , Fox was appointed Opposition Front Bench Spokesman on Constitutional Affairs and joined the Shadow Cabinet in 1998 as the principal spokesman for Constitutional Affairs . Between 1999 and 2003 , he was the Shadow Secretary of State for Health . In November 2003 , Fox was appointed campaign manager for Michael Howard following the no-confidence vote against the Conservatives party leader , Iain Duncan Smith . Fox became co-chairman of the party following Michael Howards elevation to the post of party leader in November 2003 . After the 2005 general election he was promoted within the Shadow Cabinet to become Shadow Foreign Secretary . On 7 December 2005 he was moved to Shadow Defence Secretary by new Leader of the Opposition David Cameron . Leadership bids . 2005 leadership bid . In September 2005 , Fox announced he would join the contest to be the next leader of the Conservative party . His campaign theme for the 2005 leadership race was based on the broken society theme , which he said Conservatives could address by returning the emphasis to marriage and reforming welfare . In the initial ballot of Conservative MPs , on 18 October 2005 , he gained enough support ( 42 votes ) to enter the second ballot two days later . There he was eliminated with 51 votes in third place behind David Cameron ( 90 votes ) and David Davis ( 57 votes ) . Cameron , who eventually won the leadership election , gave Fox the role of Shadow Defence Secretary . 2016 leadership bid . In late June 2016 , Fox announced on LBC that he intended to run for the leadership of the Conservative party once again , after David Cameron resigned following the result of the EU referendum , in which Fox supported leaving the EU . During the announcement of his candidacy , he said that the UK should trigger Article 50 by the end of 2016 so it could leave the EU by 2019 , specifying 1 January 2019 as the date on which the UK should leave . He stated that he would not allow freedom of movement to be considered as part of any alternative trade arrangement with the EU . Fox promised to increase defence spending , stating that he would particularly like to see an increase in the size of the Navy and our cyber capability . He also promised to scrap HS2 , spending the £55 billion set aside for the project on regional train lines , cut taxes , cut welfare spending , create a new governmental department for trade and foreign affairs and review the aid budget . Fox was eliminated in the first ballot , finishing in last place with 16 votes . Theresa May went on to win the leadership and become Prime Minister and gave Fox the job of International Trade Secretary . Secretary of State for Defence . Fox was appointed as Secretary of State for Defence in the cabinet of David Cameron on 12 May 2010 and that weekend flew out to Afghanistan with the Foreign Secretary , William Hague , and the International Development Secretary , Andrew Mitchell , to see first hand the issues facing the troops based there . In July 2010 , he said that the dire state of the public finances meant the Armed Forces could no longer be equipped to cover every conceivable danger . He said that the strongest signal that it will have to give up one or more of these capabilities , which have been maintained at the same time as contributing to collective security pacts such as NATO . We dont have the money as a country to protect ourselves against every potential future threat , he said . We have to look at where we think the real risks will come from , where the real threats will come from and we need to deal with that accordingly . The Russians are not going to come over the European plain any day soon , he added . Foxs admission cast doubt on the future of the 25,000 troops currently stationed in Germany . The Defence Secretary had previously said that he hoped to withdraw them at some point , leaving Britain without a presence in the country for the first time since 1945 . The Ministry of Defence ( MoD ) faced budget cuts of up to 8% over the next five years , according to some analysts , and the department was grappling with a £37 billion shortfall on programmes it has signed up to . The results of the Strategic Defence and Security Review ( SDSR ) were published on 19 October 2010 . Speaking in September 2010 at a meeting in Paris with his French counterpart Hervé Morin on the possibility of sharing aircraft carriers with the French Navy , Fox said , I think it is unrealistic to share an aircraft carrier but , in other areas like tactical lift we can see what we can do . He added : I cant deny that there is an element of urgency added by budget concerns . In September 2010 , in a private letter to David Cameron , Fox refused to back any draconian cuts in the Armed Forces at a time when Britain was at war . The letter was written the night before a National Security Council ( NSC ) meeting on the Strategic Defence and Security Review ( SDSR ) . In the letter , Fox wrote that : Frankly this process is looking less and less defensible as a proper SDSR ( Strategic Defence and Strategy Review ) and more like a super CSR ( Comprehensive Spending Review ) . If it continues on its current trajectory it is likely to have grave political consequences for us . Fox continued saying that Our decisions today will limit severely the options available to this and all future governments . The range of operations that we can do today we will simply not be able to do in the future . In particular , it would place at risk . In February 2011 , Fox criticised ballooning spending in his own department . The top 15 major procurement projects were running at £8.8 billion over budget and , between them , were delayed by a total of 32 years . That included the A400M transporter aircraft order that was £603 million over budget and six years behind schedule . Fox criticised what he called a conspiracy of optimism based on poor cost-estimation , unrealistic timescales at the MoD and in industry . These practices in the MOD would simply not be tolerated in the private sector , and they will no longer be tolerated in the MoD . In March 2011 , Fox defended the decision to make 11,000 redundancies in the armed forces , insisting that personnel who have recently returned from Afghanistan would not be sacked . Cameron had conceded that axing around 5,000 personnel from the army , 3,300 from the Navy and 2,700 from the RAF will be difficult for those affected . Strategic Defence and Security Review ( SDSR ) set out plans for reducing the size of the armed forces by 17,000 in total . Some of that number would be met by not replacing people who were retiring or leaving for other reasons . Defence officials said 11,000 personnel still faced being redundant on a compulsory or voluntary basis . Fox said it was essential that service personnel were made fully aware of the options available and the time-scales involved . That means that a timetable needs to be adhered to for the sake of themselves and their families , he said . It would simply be wrong to alter that timetable for the convenience of the Government . In light of the 2011 Libyan civil war , Fox warned that Libya could end up split in two as Muammar Gaddafi unleashed the full fury of his military arsenal , sending warplanes and ground troops to attack rebel-held positions across the country . We could see the Gaddafi forces centred around Tripoli , Fox said . We could see a de facto partition of the country . In May 2011 , Fox opposed plans to sharply increase Britains aid budget , in a direct challenge to David Camerons authority . In a leaked letter to the Prime Minister , Fox said he could not accept plans to increase the development budget to 0.7 percent of the gross domestic product . The aid pledge , made in the Conservative election manifesto last year , was at the heart of Camerons attempts to change his partys image . It has gained opponents among right-wing Tories , many of whom voted for Fox when he fought Cameron for the party leadership in 2005 . I cannot support the proposal in its current form , Fox told the Prime Minister . Fox suggested that development funding should be diverted to the defence budget , writing that reneging on the aid pledge would release more public money to be spent on other activities or programmes rather than aid . The Telegraph James Kirkup said the leak was increasing suspicion among Camerons allies that the Defence Secretary was trying to undermine the Prime Minister . After negative comments by Sir Simon Bryant and Sir Mark Stanhope , Secretary Fox said admirals and air marshals who have voiced concerns were giving strength to Muammar Gaddafis regime . He also warned that high-ranking members of the Armed Forces were facing the sack because the Government wanted to reduce bureaucracy by cutting the star count . The Daily Telegraph had learned that the redundancies would include up 500 starred officers , equivalent to the rank of an Army brigadier and above . Fox said : We must be very careful , those of us who have authority in defence , when discussing the sustainability of a mission . Peoples lives are at stake and there can only be one message that goes out on Libya . Admiral Sir John Sandy Woodward , a former deputy chief of the defence staff , suggested Fox was trying to blame military chiefs for his own failings . He said : Of course the service chiefs should not be talking outside the MoD , but when politicians have got it so wrong they have no other choice . Levene report . On 27 June 2011 , Fox announced that Baron Levene had completed his report on the reform of the MoD which suggested that they could cut the number of senior officers and could also lead to ministerial posts being axed . The army , navy and air force would each be run by a single chief . Currently , the services have two commanders , one in charge of strategy , the second in charge of day-to-day operations . The reforms would see operational control pushed down the chain of command . In addition , the three service chiefs will be removed from the defence board , a powerful committee the defence secretary chairs . The overall head of the military , the chief of the defence staff , currently , General Sir David Richards , will represent them . A committee chaired by an independent non-executive director , chosen by the defence secretary , will be in charge of appointments to the services top ranks . The MoD is expected to axe up to 8,000 civil servants in 2012 . Senior commanders would be given more overall control of their budgets and internal appointments . The report also suggested that a new Joint Forces Command structure should be created with senior appointments in the MoD lasting longer than every two years by making sure people stay in post for longer . Levene said that finance and the need for affordability are not regarded as sufficiently important throughout the organisation . He said that the lack of trust which pervades the MoD has led to a tendency for those at the top to try to micromanage , while the individual services look out for themselves rather than thinking of defence as a whole . This has led to a predisposition to overcomplicate .. . and a culture of reinventing the wheel . The role of the chief of the defence staff should also be enhanced so that he alone will be responsible for representing the military voice . Levene says that the new defence board should be the primary decision-making body for non-operational matters , and should meet 10 times a year . It will have nine members , but only one will be from the military , the chief of the defence staff , currently General Sir David Richards . Defence and Security Review . In a speech on the future of the Armed Forces to the House of Commons on 19 October 2010 Prime Minister David Cameron set out plans that would mean cuts : 7,000 jobs go in the British Army ; 5,000 in the Royal Navy ; 5,000 in the Royal Air Force ; and 25,000 civilian jobs at the Ministry of Defence . In terms of equipment , the RAF would lose the Nimrod reconnaissance aircraft programme , the entire Harrier jump-jet fleet would be scrapped , and bases will be turned over to the Army . The Army will have its tanks and heavy artillery cut by 40% , and half of the soldiers in Germany will return to the UK by 2015 , with the rest brought home by 2030 and housed in former RAF bases . The Navy would have its destroyer and frigate fleet cut from 23 to 19 ( by cutting the Type 22 frigates ) and will be provided with less expensive frigates . It will be affected by the loss of the Harriers . Overall , the defence budget was to be cut by 8% but Cameron insisted that Britain would continue to meet the Nato target of spending 2% of GDP on defence . In the same speech Cameron announced a national cyber security programme , costing £500 million , to fix shortfalls in cyber infrastructure , while more focus will be given to tackling terrorists such as Al Qaeda and dissident Irish republicans in what he said would be continuing investment in our world class intelligence agencies . Army numbers will fall to 95,500 by 2015 – 7,000 fewer than today – but ground forces will continue to have vital operational role in the future , he said . Resignation . On 14 October 2011 , Fox resigned from his office as Secretary of State for Defence , for breaking the ministerial code by letting his friend Adam Werritty into defence meetings . Secretary of State for International Trade . After Theresa May became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in July 2016 , Fox was appointed Secretary of State for International Trade , responsible for helping to secure trade deals with other countries following Brexit . The Wall Street Journal reported Fox as saying he would prefer a free trade agreement with the EU rather than be part of the EU customs union , which he said could restrict Britains ability to negotiate lower tariffs with other trading partners . In a September 2016 speech on international trade , Fox said there needed to be a change in British business culture , arguing that exporting was a duty which companies neglected because it might be too difficult or too time-consuming or because they cant play golf on a Friday afternoon . In April 2017 , he was criticised for a trade visit to the Philippines , where he acknowledged shared values when speaking to Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte , heavily criticised for the increase in extrajudicial killings in the Philippines . In 2017 , Fox announced a new board of trade which would meet four times a year to ensure the benefits of free trade are spread throughout the UK . The announcement was criticised by Liberal Democrat MP Tom Brake , who said the board was a job-creation scheme for Fox . A DIT spokesman said it was a technicality that Fox was the sole member of the board , because of a constitutional convention that full membership is only for privy counsellors.In July 2019 , he lost his cabinet position when new Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a cabinet reshuffle . Brexit . Fox supported Brexit at the EU Referendum 2016 , and is a self-proclaimed staunch Eurosceptic . Following this assertion , he stated that he wants a clean break from Brussels , in order to regain national sovereignty . In July 2019 he acknowledged that no deal could lead to the breakup of the United Kingdom . In March 2018 , Fox said that he would no longer support an extension to the EU transition period . He had previously said that a post-Brexit trade deal should be the easiest in human history . By July 2019 he recognised that a deal with the US would take time and that despite reaching above 99% of agreement on a deal based on Canadas existing deal with the EU , the Canadians were now looking at the zero-tariff access being promised in the event of no deal . On 30 November 2018 , he came out in support for Theresa Mays Brexit deal , calling it the best possible deal that safely delivers Brexit . World Trade Organisation candidate . On 8 July 2020 , the UK government nominated Fox as a candidate for Director-General of the World Trade Organisation . Foxs main rival for the nomination , the Labour peer Peter Mandelson , was overlooked due to his opposition to Brexit . Fox progressed to the second round of the selection process . He did not become one of the two candidates to enter the final round , who were South Koreas Yoo Myung-hee and Nigerias Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala , and was knocked out on 7 October . Positions . Bahrain . In March 2013 , Fox was one of the chief guests at a conference in Bahrain designed to rally Western opinion to the side of the Bahrain government in its struggle against the Arab Spring . Fox was the only Briton on the list of key people attending the Bahrain International Symposium . More than 60 people died during two years of protests , and 13 civil rights demonstrators were sentenced to ten years in prison . Iraq . He voted for the 2003 invasion of Iraq . As Shadow Defence Secretary he supported the Governments position of maintaining British troops in Iraq until the security situation allowed for a withdrawal of troops but was critical of the lack of post-invasion planning and poor equipment initially provided to British troops . He supported the idea of the American Surge and believes that it was successful . After becoming Shadow Defence Secretary , he visited Iraq on a number of occasions . In August 2014 , Fox argued that the UK should start bombing Islamist extremists in northern Iraq . The following month this became government policy . Afghanistan . He has been an outspoken supporter of the war in Afghanistan and the British presence there . He has been critical towards some of the European NATO partners who he believes are not contributing enough to the effort in the more dangerous southern and eastern parts of Afghanistan . Since becoming Shadow Defence Secretary he has visited Afghanistan on five occasions . In July 2010 , Fox said that an early withdrawal of coalition troops from Afghanistan would risk a return of civil war and act as a shot in the arm to jihadists across the world . In marked contrast to David Cameron , who pledged to withdraw all British troops by 2015 , Fox said Britain would be betraying the sacrifices of its fallen soldiers if it left before the job is finished . British forces would be among the last to leave Afghanistan , he added , because they are stationed in Helmand , one of the most dangerous provinces in the country . He said that Were we to leave prematurely , without degrading the insurgency and increasing the capability of the Afghan national security forces , we could see the return of the destructive forces of transnational terror .. . Not only would we risk the return of civil war in Afghanistan , creating a security vacuum , but we would also risk the destabilisation of Pakistan with potentially unthinkable regional , and possibly nuclear , consequences . In July 2010 , it was reported that 1,000 Royal Marines were expected to leave and be redeployed to central Helmand by the end of 2010 . Fox told MPs that UK forces had made good progress in Sangin , but the move would enable Britain to provide more manpower and greater focus on Helmands busy central belt , leaving the north and south to the US . The result will be a coherent and equitable division of the main populated areas of Helmand between three brigade-sized forces , with the US in the north and the south , and the UK-led Task Force Helmand , alongside our outstanding Danish and Estonian allies , in the central population belt , he told the House of Commons . On 19 July 2010 , Fox said that within four years the Afghan army and police should take responsibility for security , leaving British troops to work only as military trainers . The date is a full year earlier than the deadline suggested by David Cameron this month , who said he wanted most troops back by 2015 . Fox said : It has always been our aim to be successful in the mission and the mission has always said that the Afghan national security forces would be able to deal with their own security by 2014 . We recognise that there will be further work to do in terms of training and improving the quality of those forces beyond that , which is why we have said training forces may be available after that date . But we have made it very clear that that will not be combat forces . NATO . He has very strong Atlanticist views . He believes that NATO is the cornerstone of the United Kingdom and Europes defence and that NATO must have primacy over the European Union including the right of first refusal for all matters relating to the defence of continental Europe . He has been critical of the common funding mechanism within NATO and has called for a system to be used that allows for more proportionate burden sharing between NATO member states for NATO led military operations . European Union . He is considered to be staunchly Eurosceptic and opposed to European defence integration as well as European political integration . He is opposed to the European Commission having any role in defence policy . He believes that the European Security and Defence Policy duplicates and takes away scarce national resources from NATO . He specifically opposes the defence provisions in the Lisbon Treaty . He serves as a vice-president of the eurosceptic pressure group Conservatives for Britain . Capital punishment . He does not support capital punishment . Abortion . Fox is critical of abortion and has called for huge restriction , if not abolition on the UKs pro-abortion laws . In an interview with Morgan and Platell , Fox elaborated on these views , stating that he would like to see [ abortion limits ] brought down...well below 20 weeks ; Id like to see us look at limits more akin to some of the European countries at 12 or 14 weeks . He went on to state that a society that actually aborts 180,000 unborn children every year is a society that needs to be asking a lot of questions about itself . For me , its a simple personal belief . It says , thou shall not kill , it doesnt say , thou shall not kill unless Parliament says its OK . For the same reason Im against the death penalty . However , I do accept...that if the majority of the population decide that its something they find acceptable , Ive got to live with that . But Im not going to be quiet and Im not going to pretend that my views are other than they are for the sake of political convenience . Military welfare . Fox has stated on a number of occasions that the Military Covenant is broken and that the British Armed Forces are being asked to do too much for what they are resourced to do . Along with the leader of the Conservative Party , David Cameron , he established the Military Covenant Commission headed by Frederick Forsyth with the aim of finding ways to improve the welfare of service members , veterans , and their families under a future Conservative Government . Fox has a particular interest in mental health issues and has criticised Gordon Browns Labour Government for failing to adequately address the problem . Israel . Fox is a supporter of Israel and is a member of Conservative Friends of Israel . In 2006 he said , Israels enemies are our enemies and this is a battle in which we all stand together or we will all fall divided . The Jewish Chronicle has called Fox a champion of Israel while in government . In January 2009 , referring to Israel , he also said , British support for any ally is never unqualified . International law and values must always be obeyed . In May 2011 , Fox was booed at the We Believe in Israel event for saying that Israeli settlements are illegal and an obstacle to peace . Nuclear deterrent . Fox believes that Britain should maintain its continuous at sea , independent , submarine based strategic nuclear deterrent based on the Trident system . Defence procurement . Fox has pledged to restructure the defence procurement process in the Ministry of Defence . He has also stated that it would be a matter of policy to see Britains share of global defence exports increasing under a Conservative Government . Elevated bilateral defence relationships . Fox believes that it is in Britains national interest to build bilateral defence relations with key strategic partners . Fox has mentioned the United States , France , Norway , Turkey , Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf States . Special Relationship . He is a strong believer in the Special Relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States . He was the UK Director and founding member of The Atlantic Bridge , a UK-based charity that aims to preserve and promote the Special Relationship . The Atlantic Bridge closed down in October 2011 after being told to cease activities by the Charity Commission for promoting a political policy [ that ] is closely associated with the Conservative Party . Fox was able to retain a good relationship with the administration of George W . Bush , despite a five-year breakdown in relations between the Conservative and Republican parties over the Iraq War . He led the Conservative delegation to the 2008 Republican National Convention . In 2018 , he commented that the 25% tariffs imposed by the United States on imported EU steel were patently absurd . Same-sex marriage . On 5 February 2013 , Fox voted against a second reading of the Marriage ( Same Sex Couples ) Bill , designed to introduce same-sex marriage in the United Kingdom . He described David Camerons plans to legalise same-sex marriage as divisive , ill thought through and constitutionally wrong , arguing that redefining marriage for the majority to satisfy a small , yet vocal , minority was not a good basis for a stable , tolerant society . Freedom of the press . In October 2013 , Fox called for The Guardian newspaper to face prosecution over the 2013 mass surveillance disclosures . In January 2015 , Fox published a video on YouTube detailing his opinions and criticism of Edward Snowden . He stated : Were constantly having to protect our society from a range of threats , especially organised crime , paedophilia , and terrorism . For our intelligence services to operate effectively , and to protect us from these threats , they need to be able to do things in secret , secrets whose public disclosure would be damaging to our National Interest . When Edward Snowden stole files and took them with him to China and then Russia , some 58,000 files came from GCHQ , information that had played a vital role in preventing terrorist outrages in Britain , over the past decade and longer . It was not freedom fighting . We should call treason by its name . And those who assisted Snowden must be held responsible for their actions . National Health Service . In January 2014 , Fox stated that ring-fenced funding for the NHS should end , stating : The increase [ in spending ] over the last decade has been phenomenal and yet a lot of our health indicators lag behind other countries , particular things like stroke outcome or a lot of cancer outcomes . Scotland . Before the Scottish independence vote he made a speech setting out reasons why Scotland should remain in the union . If Scotland leaves the United Kingdom we all lose he told a Neighbourhood Watch group from his constituency visiting Westminster Houses of parliament on 1 September 2014 . Syria . Fox was disappointed that Parliament voted not to take military action over the use of chemical weapons in Syria . Fox was critical of Camerons strategy and performance for that debate , and stated There was no need to seek parliamentary approval for any military action , as constitutional authority lies with the government . He later took the view that there were no easy answers to the Syrian civil war and the prospect of the Assad government surviving should be considered . Fox argued that bombing attacks against ISIL in Iraq should be extended into Syria , and safe havens should be created in Syria by military intervention . Expenses . In March 2010 , Fox appealed Sir Thomas Leggs decision that he had overclaimed £22,476 in mortgage interest payments . Fox immediately repaid the money , then appealed the decision . Foxs appeal was rejected and the decision was upheld by Sir Paul Kennedy , a former high court judge . Fox stated that his decision to remortgage his second home to pay for redecorations and claim the higher interest repayments on his expenses represented value for money because he could have charged the taxpayer for the decorating bills directly . In his response , Sir Paul Kennedy stated : What you claimed was not recoverable under the rules then in force . I entirely accept that , like many others , you could have made other claims if the fees office had rejected your claims for mortgage interest , and that you may well have spent some of what you raised by increasing your mortgage on your constituency home , but the evidence is imprecise , and my terms of reference only allow me to interfere if I find special reasons in your individual case showing that it would not be fair and equitable to require repayment , either at all or at the level recommended . This reportedly made him the Conservative Shadow Cabinet member with the largest over-claim on expenses , and as a result , he has been forced to repay the most money . It was reported in June 2009 that Fox claimed expenses of more than £19,000 over the previous four years for his mobile phone . Fox stated that the high bill was due to regular trips overseas , in his capacity as Shadow Defence Secretary and said he was looking for a cheaper tariff . In October 2012 , the Commons Speaker blocked the release of data showing which MPs were renting their homes to other MPs for financial gain . However , a study of parliamentary records was published in the Daily Telegraph . The study showed that Liam Fox receives rental income from his London home while simultaneously claiming rental income from the taxpayer to live at another residence . In October 2013 , documents showed that Fox claimed 3p for a 100 metre car trip a year earlier . He also made an additional 15 claims under £1 for car travel approved in 2012–13 , two of which were for 24p and 44p . He told the Sunday People : I dont do my expenses . My office does them . But they are all done according to the rules for travel distances . Breaches of parliamentary rules . In March 2010 , Fox admitted breaking parliamentary rules on two occasions by visiting Sri Lanka on a trip paid for by the Sri Lankan government without declaring the trip in the Register of Members Financial Interests in the required time of 30 days and failing to declare an interest in Sri Lanka when asking ministers how much UK aid had been given to Sri Lanka . Fox has declared all of his trips to Sri Lanka paid for by the Sri Lankan government in the Register of Members Financial Interests . One trip he took in November 2007 was declared two months late . Fox blamed a changeover of staffing responsibilities for this error . Of the five trips to Sri Lanka mentioned in the BBC article , three were paid for fully by the Sri Lankan government . Those not paid in full by the Sri Lankan government were paid for by the Sri Lankan Development Trust . Fox stated that he had been working for all sides of the ethnic divide : I have been involved in attempts to promote peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka , involving all sides of the ethnic divide , since I was a foreign minister in 1997 . During my most recent visit , I spoke at a press conference to outline my reasons for being there . The declaration of the visit you refer to in November 2007 was highlighted in an end-of-year audit following a changeover of staffing responsibilities . The registrar was immediately notified and my register entry was updated accordingly . All visits have been fully declared on the House of Commons Register of Members Interests and are therefore public knowledge and entirely legitimate . I do , however , recognise that when asking one question in 2008 , I should have noted an interest and will be writing to the registrar to make this clear . Adam Werritty . During October 2011 , Foxs close friendship with Adam Werritty attracted extensive media attention and eventually led to Foxs resignation . Werrity had been best man at his wedding , had lived rent-free in Foxs flat , and been involved with him in business and in the conservative Atlanticist think-tank The Atlantic Bridge . While Fox was Secretary of State for Defence , Werrity had visited Fox at the Ministry of Defence on many occasions , had accompanied Fox on numerous official trips , attended some of his meetings with foreign dignitaries , and had used official-looking business cards which said he was an advisor to Fox , without having a government post or security clearance . The media raised questions about Foxs judgement in allowing this to happen and the source of Werritys income . In response , Fox initially requested Ursula Brennan , the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Defence , to investigate his connection with Werrity . Some of the meetings involved himself , Werritty , Matthew Gould ( prior to appointment , while he was Britains Ambassador-designate to Israel , and afterwards ) , and in some cases , Denis MacShane . The Foreign Office responded by stating : The FCO has total confidence that Matthew Gould has acted appropriately at all times and at no stage was he acting independently , or out of line with government policy . On Sunday 9 October 2011 , in advance of Brennans initial report of the result of her inquiry to the Prime Minister , Fox made a statement apologising publicly for his conduct in relation to Werrity , denying wrongdoing but admitting errors of judgement in mixing his professional and personal loyalties . The inquiry was escalated and Fox resigned in advance of publication of the full report by the Cabinet Secretary . The full list of Foxs meetings for his time in office to date , 20 May 2010 to 8 October 2011 , was published by the MoD after 7 pm on 10 October 2011 and revealed that Werrity was present at 40 of Foxs 70 engagements in that period ( 57% ) . In 2005–6 , Fox used public money , from his expense claims as an MP , to pay Adam Werritty . Finances . Fox was a registered shareholder of the medical educational firm Arrest Ltd which was dissolved in 2010 . In 2009 , his estimated wealth was £1 million . Fox accepted a £50,000 donation from Jon Moulton , whose investment firm , Better Capital , later went on to own Gardner Aerospace , an aerospace metallic manufactured details supplier which includes component parts for both military and civilian aircraft . This potentially exposed Fox to conflict of interest but neither Fox nor Moulton violated any rules with this donation . Personal life . On 10 June 2005 , he announced his engagement to longtime girlfriend Jesme Baird , a doctor who works at the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation and is an alumna of the University of Glasgow . They married at St Margarets Church opposite Parliament on 17 December 2005 . He has lived in North Somerset since 1990 , and currently resides in Tickenham . Author . In September 2013 , Fox launched Rising Tides : Facing the Challenges of a New Era , a 384-page book in which he warns that many of the world’s institutions are ill-equipped to tackle the economic and security threats of the 21st century . |
[
"Secretary of State for International Trade"
] | easy | Which position did Liam Fox hold in Jul 2016? | /wiki/Liam_Fox#P39#6 | Liam Fox Liam Fox ( born 22 September 1961 ) is a British politician who served as Secretary of State for International Trade from 2016 to 2019 and Secretary of State for Defence from 2010 to 2011 . A member of the Conservative Party , he has been the Member of Parliament ( MP ) for North Somerset since 2010 . Fox was first elected as the MP for Woodspring in 1992 . Fox studied medicine at the University of Glasgow and worked as a GP and civilian army medical GP before being elected as an MP . After holding several ministerial roles under John Major , Fox served as Constitutional Affairs Spokesman from 1998 to 1999 , Shadow Health Secretary from 1999 to 2003 , Chair of the Conservative Party from 2003 to 2005 , Shadow Foreign Secretary in 2005 and Shadow Defence Secretary from 2005 to 2010 . In the 2009 expenses scandal , he was the Shadow Cabinet minister found to have the largest over-claim on expenses and , as a result , was forced to repay the most money . In 2010 , he was appointed Defence Secretary by Prime Minister David Cameron , a position from which he resigned on 14 October 2011 over allegations that he had given a close friend , lobbyist Adam Werritty , inappropriate access to the Ministry of Defence and allowed him to join official trips overseas . In July 2016 , in the wake of the United Kingdoms vote to leave the European Union , Fox was appointed the first Secretary of State for International Trade by new Prime Minister Theresa May . He was also made President of the Board of Trade . Fox has twice stood unsuccessfully for the leadership of the Conservative Party , in 2005 and 2016 . In July 2019 , he lost his cabinet position when new Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a cabinet reshuffle . Early life . Fox was born and raised in a Catholic family of Irish heritage in East Kilbride , Scotland , and brought up in a council house that his parents later bought . His great-uncle , John Fox , was Labour Provost of Motherwell , and most of his family were Labour supporters . Along with his brother and two sisters , he was educated in the state sector ; he attended St . Brides High School ( now part of St Andrews and St Brides High School ) . He studied medicine at the University of Glasgow Medical School , graduating with a MB ChB in 1983 . Fox is a former general practitioner ( he was a GP in Beaconsfield , Buckinghamshire , before his election to Parliament ) , a former Civilian Army General Practitioner and Divisional Surgeon with St John Ambulance . He is a member of the Royal College of General Practitioners . While studying medicine at the University of Glasgow in the early 1980s , he was a member of the Dialectic Society and became president of the Glasgow University Conservative Association . Fox contested the Hairmyres ward of East Kilbride District Council in May 1984 , coming second ( 210 votes ) to the incumbent Labour councillor , Ed McKenna . While at Glasgow , Fox resigned his position on the universitys Students Representative Council ( SRC ) in protest at the council passing a motion condemning the decision of the universitys Glasgow University Union ( GUU ) not to allow a gay students society to join the union . The SRC motion called both the unions decision and the explanations given for it bigoted . The GUU maintained its stance regardless , and the controversy was reported in the national media ; this led to many other university student unions up and down the country , including Edinburgh , cutting ties with their Glasgow counterparts . Explaining his decision to resign from the SRC and support the GUUs position , Fox was quoted as saying : Im actually quite liberal when it comes to sexual matters . I just dont want the gays flaunting it in front of me , which is what they would do . When asked about these comments in 2008 , Fox said that fortunately most of us have progressed from the days when we were students more than a quarter of a century ago . Member of Parliament . His first attempt to get elected as an MP for a Scottish constituency ended in failure when he contested Roxburgh and Berwickshire in the 1987 general election . Thereafter , he sought and won the nomination for the English constituency of Woodspring and was successful in being elected MP for that constituency at the 1992 general election . In government . In June 1993 , Fox was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Home Secretary , Michael Howard . Thereafter , in July 1994 , he was appointed an Assistant Government Whip . Following a limited government reshuffle in November 1995 , he was appointed a Lord Commissioner of Treasury – a Senior Government Whip . He was Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office from 1996 to 1997 . In 1996 , he brokered an accord in Sri Lanka , called the Fox Peace Plan , between Chandrika Kumaratungas PA and the opposition UNP of Ranil Wickremasinghe , on a bipartisan approach for ending the ethnic war . In 2001 , Jonathan Goodhand wrote , However , little has happened since then to suggest that the various parties would have acted in good faith in the interests of peace . In opposition . Shadow Cabinet . In June 1997 , Fox was appointed Opposition Front Bench Spokesman on Constitutional Affairs and joined the Shadow Cabinet in 1998 as the principal spokesman for Constitutional Affairs . Between 1999 and 2003 , he was the Shadow Secretary of State for Health . In November 2003 , Fox was appointed campaign manager for Michael Howard following the no-confidence vote against the Conservatives party leader , Iain Duncan Smith . Fox became co-chairman of the party following Michael Howards elevation to the post of party leader in November 2003 . After the 2005 general election he was promoted within the Shadow Cabinet to become Shadow Foreign Secretary . On 7 December 2005 he was moved to Shadow Defence Secretary by new Leader of the Opposition David Cameron . Leadership bids . 2005 leadership bid . In September 2005 , Fox announced he would join the contest to be the next leader of the Conservative party . His campaign theme for the 2005 leadership race was based on the broken society theme , which he said Conservatives could address by returning the emphasis to marriage and reforming welfare . In the initial ballot of Conservative MPs , on 18 October 2005 , he gained enough support ( 42 votes ) to enter the second ballot two days later . There he was eliminated with 51 votes in third place behind David Cameron ( 90 votes ) and David Davis ( 57 votes ) . Cameron , who eventually won the leadership election , gave Fox the role of Shadow Defence Secretary . 2016 leadership bid . In late June 2016 , Fox announced on LBC that he intended to run for the leadership of the Conservative party once again , after David Cameron resigned following the result of the EU referendum , in which Fox supported leaving the EU . During the announcement of his candidacy , he said that the UK should trigger Article 50 by the end of 2016 so it could leave the EU by 2019 , specifying 1 January 2019 as the date on which the UK should leave . He stated that he would not allow freedom of movement to be considered as part of any alternative trade arrangement with the EU . Fox promised to increase defence spending , stating that he would particularly like to see an increase in the size of the Navy and our cyber capability . He also promised to scrap HS2 , spending the £55 billion set aside for the project on regional train lines , cut taxes , cut welfare spending , create a new governmental department for trade and foreign affairs and review the aid budget . Fox was eliminated in the first ballot , finishing in last place with 16 votes . Theresa May went on to win the leadership and become Prime Minister and gave Fox the job of International Trade Secretary . Secretary of State for Defence . Fox was appointed as Secretary of State for Defence in the cabinet of David Cameron on 12 May 2010 and that weekend flew out to Afghanistan with the Foreign Secretary , William Hague , and the International Development Secretary , Andrew Mitchell , to see first hand the issues facing the troops based there . In July 2010 , he said that the dire state of the public finances meant the Armed Forces could no longer be equipped to cover every conceivable danger . He said that the strongest signal that it will have to give up one or more of these capabilities , which have been maintained at the same time as contributing to collective security pacts such as NATO . We dont have the money as a country to protect ourselves against every potential future threat , he said . We have to look at where we think the real risks will come from , where the real threats will come from and we need to deal with that accordingly . The Russians are not going to come over the European plain any day soon , he added . Foxs admission cast doubt on the future of the 25,000 troops currently stationed in Germany . The Defence Secretary had previously said that he hoped to withdraw them at some point , leaving Britain without a presence in the country for the first time since 1945 . The Ministry of Defence ( MoD ) faced budget cuts of up to 8% over the next five years , according to some analysts , and the department was grappling with a £37 billion shortfall on programmes it has signed up to . The results of the Strategic Defence and Security Review ( SDSR ) were published on 19 October 2010 . Speaking in September 2010 at a meeting in Paris with his French counterpart Hervé Morin on the possibility of sharing aircraft carriers with the French Navy , Fox said , I think it is unrealistic to share an aircraft carrier but , in other areas like tactical lift we can see what we can do . He added : I cant deny that there is an element of urgency added by budget concerns . In September 2010 , in a private letter to David Cameron , Fox refused to back any draconian cuts in the Armed Forces at a time when Britain was at war . The letter was written the night before a National Security Council ( NSC ) meeting on the Strategic Defence and Security Review ( SDSR ) . In the letter , Fox wrote that : Frankly this process is looking less and less defensible as a proper SDSR ( Strategic Defence and Strategy Review ) and more like a super CSR ( Comprehensive Spending Review ) . If it continues on its current trajectory it is likely to have grave political consequences for us . Fox continued saying that Our decisions today will limit severely the options available to this and all future governments . The range of operations that we can do today we will simply not be able to do in the future . In particular , it would place at risk . In February 2011 , Fox criticised ballooning spending in his own department . The top 15 major procurement projects were running at £8.8 billion over budget and , between them , were delayed by a total of 32 years . That included the A400M transporter aircraft order that was £603 million over budget and six years behind schedule . Fox criticised what he called a conspiracy of optimism based on poor cost-estimation , unrealistic timescales at the MoD and in industry . These practices in the MOD would simply not be tolerated in the private sector , and they will no longer be tolerated in the MoD . In March 2011 , Fox defended the decision to make 11,000 redundancies in the armed forces , insisting that personnel who have recently returned from Afghanistan would not be sacked . Cameron had conceded that axing around 5,000 personnel from the army , 3,300 from the Navy and 2,700 from the RAF will be difficult for those affected . Strategic Defence and Security Review ( SDSR ) set out plans for reducing the size of the armed forces by 17,000 in total . Some of that number would be met by not replacing people who were retiring or leaving for other reasons . Defence officials said 11,000 personnel still faced being redundant on a compulsory or voluntary basis . Fox said it was essential that service personnel were made fully aware of the options available and the time-scales involved . That means that a timetable needs to be adhered to for the sake of themselves and their families , he said . It would simply be wrong to alter that timetable for the convenience of the Government . In light of the 2011 Libyan civil war , Fox warned that Libya could end up split in two as Muammar Gaddafi unleashed the full fury of his military arsenal , sending warplanes and ground troops to attack rebel-held positions across the country . We could see the Gaddafi forces centred around Tripoli , Fox said . We could see a de facto partition of the country . In May 2011 , Fox opposed plans to sharply increase Britains aid budget , in a direct challenge to David Camerons authority . In a leaked letter to the Prime Minister , Fox said he could not accept plans to increase the development budget to 0.7 percent of the gross domestic product . The aid pledge , made in the Conservative election manifesto last year , was at the heart of Camerons attempts to change his partys image . It has gained opponents among right-wing Tories , many of whom voted for Fox when he fought Cameron for the party leadership in 2005 . I cannot support the proposal in its current form , Fox told the Prime Minister . Fox suggested that development funding should be diverted to the defence budget , writing that reneging on the aid pledge would release more public money to be spent on other activities or programmes rather than aid . The Telegraph James Kirkup said the leak was increasing suspicion among Camerons allies that the Defence Secretary was trying to undermine the Prime Minister . After negative comments by Sir Simon Bryant and Sir Mark Stanhope , Secretary Fox said admirals and air marshals who have voiced concerns were giving strength to Muammar Gaddafis regime . He also warned that high-ranking members of the Armed Forces were facing the sack because the Government wanted to reduce bureaucracy by cutting the star count . The Daily Telegraph had learned that the redundancies would include up 500 starred officers , equivalent to the rank of an Army brigadier and above . Fox said : We must be very careful , those of us who have authority in defence , when discussing the sustainability of a mission . Peoples lives are at stake and there can only be one message that goes out on Libya . Admiral Sir John Sandy Woodward , a former deputy chief of the defence staff , suggested Fox was trying to blame military chiefs for his own failings . He said : Of course the service chiefs should not be talking outside the MoD , but when politicians have got it so wrong they have no other choice . Levene report . On 27 June 2011 , Fox announced that Baron Levene had completed his report on the reform of the MoD which suggested that they could cut the number of senior officers and could also lead to ministerial posts being axed . The army , navy and air force would each be run by a single chief . Currently , the services have two commanders , one in charge of strategy , the second in charge of day-to-day operations . The reforms would see operational control pushed down the chain of command . In addition , the three service chiefs will be removed from the defence board , a powerful committee the defence secretary chairs . The overall head of the military , the chief of the defence staff , currently , General Sir David Richards , will represent them . A committee chaired by an independent non-executive director , chosen by the defence secretary , will be in charge of appointments to the services top ranks . The MoD is expected to axe up to 8,000 civil servants in 2012 . Senior commanders would be given more overall control of their budgets and internal appointments . The report also suggested that a new Joint Forces Command structure should be created with senior appointments in the MoD lasting longer than every two years by making sure people stay in post for longer . Levene said that finance and the need for affordability are not regarded as sufficiently important throughout the organisation . He said that the lack of trust which pervades the MoD has led to a tendency for those at the top to try to micromanage , while the individual services look out for themselves rather than thinking of defence as a whole . This has led to a predisposition to overcomplicate .. . and a culture of reinventing the wheel . The role of the chief of the defence staff should also be enhanced so that he alone will be responsible for representing the military voice . Levene says that the new defence board should be the primary decision-making body for non-operational matters , and should meet 10 times a year . It will have nine members , but only one will be from the military , the chief of the defence staff , currently General Sir David Richards . Defence and Security Review . In a speech on the future of the Armed Forces to the House of Commons on 19 October 2010 Prime Minister David Cameron set out plans that would mean cuts : 7,000 jobs go in the British Army ; 5,000 in the Royal Navy ; 5,000 in the Royal Air Force ; and 25,000 civilian jobs at the Ministry of Defence . In terms of equipment , the RAF would lose the Nimrod reconnaissance aircraft programme , the entire Harrier jump-jet fleet would be scrapped , and bases will be turned over to the Army . The Army will have its tanks and heavy artillery cut by 40% , and half of the soldiers in Germany will return to the UK by 2015 , with the rest brought home by 2030 and housed in former RAF bases . The Navy would have its destroyer and frigate fleet cut from 23 to 19 ( by cutting the Type 22 frigates ) and will be provided with less expensive frigates . It will be affected by the loss of the Harriers . Overall , the defence budget was to be cut by 8% but Cameron insisted that Britain would continue to meet the Nato target of spending 2% of GDP on defence . In the same speech Cameron announced a national cyber security programme , costing £500 million , to fix shortfalls in cyber infrastructure , while more focus will be given to tackling terrorists such as Al Qaeda and dissident Irish republicans in what he said would be continuing investment in our world class intelligence agencies . Army numbers will fall to 95,500 by 2015 – 7,000 fewer than today – but ground forces will continue to have vital operational role in the future , he said . Resignation . On 14 October 2011 , Fox resigned from his office as Secretary of State for Defence , for breaking the ministerial code by letting his friend Adam Werritty into defence meetings . Secretary of State for International Trade . After Theresa May became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in July 2016 , Fox was appointed Secretary of State for International Trade , responsible for helping to secure trade deals with other countries following Brexit . The Wall Street Journal reported Fox as saying he would prefer a free trade agreement with the EU rather than be part of the EU customs union , which he said could restrict Britains ability to negotiate lower tariffs with other trading partners . In a September 2016 speech on international trade , Fox said there needed to be a change in British business culture , arguing that exporting was a duty which companies neglected because it might be too difficult or too time-consuming or because they cant play golf on a Friday afternoon . In April 2017 , he was criticised for a trade visit to the Philippines , where he acknowledged shared values when speaking to Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte , heavily criticised for the increase in extrajudicial killings in the Philippines . In 2017 , Fox announced a new board of trade which would meet four times a year to ensure the benefits of free trade are spread throughout the UK . The announcement was criticised by Liberal Democrat MP Tom Brake , who said the board was a job-creation scheme for Fox . A DIT spokesman said it was a technicality that Fox was the sole member of the board , because of a constitutional convention that full membership is only for privy counsellors.In July 2019 , he lost his cabinet position when new Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a cabinet reshuffle . Brexit . Fox supported Brexit at the EU Referendum 2016 , and is a self-proclaimed staunch Eurosceptic . Following this assertion , he stated that he wants a clean break from Brussels , in order to regain national sovereignty . In July 2019 he acknowledged that no deal could lead to the breakup of the United Kingdom . In March 2018 , Fox said that he would no longer support an extension to the EU transition period . He had previously said that a post-Brexit trade deal should be the easiest in human history . By July 2019 he recognised that a deal with the US would take time and that despite reaching above 99% of agreement on a deal based on Canadas existing deal with the EU , the Canadians were now looking at the zero-tariff access being promised in the event of no deal . On 30 November 2018 , he came out in support for Theresa Mays Brexit deal , calling it the best possible deal that safely delivers Brexit . World Trade Organisation candidate . On 8 July 2020 , the UK government nominated Fox as a candidate for Director-General of the World Trade Organisation . Foxs main rival for the nomination , the Labour peer Peter Mandelson , was overlooked due to his opposition to Brexit . Fox progressed to the second round of the selection process . He did not become one of the two candidates to enter the final round , who were South Koreas Yoo Myung-hee and Nigerias Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala , and was knocked out on 7 October . Positions . Bahrain . In March 2013 , Fox was one of the chief guests at a conference in Bahrain designed to rally Western opinion to the side of the Bahrain government in its struggle against the Arab Spring . Fox was the only Briton on the list of key people attending the Bahrain International Symposium . More than 60 people died during two years of protests , and 13 civil rights demonstrators were sentenced to ten years in prison . Iraq . He voted for the 2003 invasion of Iraq . As Shadow Defence Secretary he supported the Governments position of maintaining British troops in Iraq until the security situation allowed for a withdrawal of troops but was critical of the lack of post-invasion planning and poor equipment initially provided to British troops . He supported the idea of the American Surge and believes that it was successful . After becoming Shadow Defence Secretary , he visited Iraq on a number of occasions . In August 2014 , Fox argued that the UK should start bombing Islamist extremists in northern Iraq . The following month this became government policy . Afghanistan . He has been an outspoken supporter of the war in Afghanistan and the British presence there . He has been critical towards some of the European NATO partners who he believes are not contributing enough to the effort in the more dangerous southern and eastern parts of Afghanistan . Since becoming Shadow Defence Secretary he has visited Afghanistan on five occasions . In July 2010 , Fox said that an early withdrawal of coalition troops from Afghanistan would risk a return of civil war and act as a shot in the arm to jihadists across the world . In marked contrast to David Cameron , who pledged to withdraw all British troops by 2015 , Fox said Britain would be betraying the sacrifices of its fallen soldiers if it left before the job is finished . British forces would be among the last to leave Afghanistan , he added , because they are stationed in Helmand , one of the most dangerous provinces in the country . He said that Were we to leave prematurely , without degrading the insurgency and increasing the capability of the Afghan national security forces , we could see the return of the destructive forces of transnational terror .. . Not only would we risk the return of civil war in Afghanistan , creating a security vacuum , but we would also risk the destabilisation of Pakistan with potentially unthinkable regional , and possibly nuclear , consequences . In July 2010 , it was reported that 1,000 Royal Marines were expected to leave and be redeployed to central Helmand by the end of 2010 . Fox told MPs that UK forces had made good progress in Sangin , but the move would enable Britain to provide more manpower and greater focus on Helmands busy central belt , leaving the north and south to the US . The result will be a coherent and equitable division of the main populated areas of Helmand between three brigade-sized forces , with the US in the north and the south , and the UK-led Task Force Helmand , alongside our outstanding Danish and Estonian allies , in the central population belt , he told the House of Commons . On 19 July 2010 , Fox said that within four years the Afghan army and police should take responsibility for security , leaving British troops to work only as military trainers . The date is a full year earlier than the deadline suggested by David Cameron this month , who said he wanted most troops back by 2015 . Fox said : It has always been our aim to be successful in the mission and the mission has always said that the Afghan national security forces would be able to deal with their own security by 2014 . We recognise that there will be further work to do in terms of training and improving the quality of those forces beyond that , which is why we have said training forces may be available after that date . But we have made it very clear that that will not be combat forces . NATO . He has very strong Atlanticist views . He believes that NATO is the cornerstone of the United Kingdom and Europes defence and that NATO must have primacy over the European Union including the right of first refusal for all matters relating to the defence of continental Europe . He has been critical of the common funding mechanism within NATO and has called for a system to be used that allows for more proportionate burden sharing between NATO member states for NATO led military operations . European Union . He is considered to be staunchly Eurosceptic and opposed to European defence integration as well as European political integration . He is opposed to the European Commission having any role in defence policy . He believes that the European Security and Defence Policy duplicates and takes away scarce national resources from NATO . He specifically opposes the defence provisions in the Lisbon Treaty . He serves as a vice-president of the eurosceptic pressure group Conservatives for Britain . Capital punishment . He does not support capital punishment . Abortion . Fox is critical of abortion and has called for huge restriction , if not abolition on the UKs pro-abortion laws . In an interview with Morgan and Platell , Fox elaborated on these views , stating that he would like to see [ abortion limits ] brought down...well below 20 weeks ; Id like to see us look at limits more akin to some of the European countries at 12 or 14 weeks . He went on to state that a society that actually aborts 180,000 unborn children every year is a society that needs to be asking a lot of questions about itself . For me , its a simple personal belief . It says , thou shall not kill , it doesnt say , thou shall not kill unless Parliament says its OK . For the same reason Im against the death penalty . However , I do accept...that if the majority of the population decide that its something they find acceptable , Ive got to live with that . But Im not going to be quiet and Im not going to pretend that my views are other than they are for the sake of political convenience . Military welfare . Fox has stated on a number of occasions that the Military Covenant is broken and that the British Armed Forces are being asked to do too much for what they are resourced to do . Along with the leader of the Conservative Party , David Cameron , he established the Military Covenant Commission headed by Frederick Forsyth with the aim of finding ways to improve the welfare of service members , veterans , and their families under a future Conservative Government . Fox has a particular interest in mental health issues and has criticised Gordon Browns Labour Government for failing to adequately address the problem . Israel . Fox is a supporter of Israel and is a member of Conservative Friends of Israel . In 2006 he said , Israels enemies are our enemies and this is a battle in which we all stand together or we will all fall divided . The Jewish Chronicle has called Fox a champion of Israel while in government . In January 2009 , referring to Israel , he also said , British support for any ally is never unqualified . International law and values must always be obeyed . In May 2011 , Fox was booed at the We Believe in Israel event for saying that Israeli settlements are illegal and an obstacle to peace . Nuclear deterrent . Fox believes that Britain should maintain its continuous at sea , independent , submarine based strategic nuclear deterrent based on the Trident system . Defence procurement . Fox has pledged to restructure the defence procurement process in the Ministry of Defence . He has also stated that it would be a matter of policy to see Britains share of global defence exports increasing under a Conservative Government . Elevated bilateral defence relationships . Fox believes that it is in Britains national interest to build bilateral defence relations with key strategic partners . Fox has mentioned the United States , France , Norway , Turkey , Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf States . Special Relationship . He is a strong believer in the Special Relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States . He was the UK Director and founding member of The Atlantic Bridge , a UK-based charity that aims to preserve and promote the Special Relationship . The Atlantic Bridge closed down in October 2011 after being told to cease activities by the Charity Commission for promoting a political policy [ that ] is closely associated with the Conservative Party . Fox was able to retain a good relationship with the administration of George W . Bush , despite a five-year breakdown in relations between the Conservative and Republican parties over the Iraq War . He led the Conservative delegation to the 2008 Republican National Convention . In 2018 , he commented that the 25% tariffs imposed by the United States on imported EU steel were patently absurd . Same-sex marriage . On 5 February 2013 , Fox voted against a second reading of the Marriage ( Same Sex Couples ) Bill , designed to introduce same-sex marriage in the United Kingdom . He described David Camerons plans to legalise same-sex marriage as divisive , ill thought through and constitutionally wrong , arguing that redefining marriage for the majority to satisfy a small , yet vocal , minority was not a good basis for a stable , tolerant society . Freedom of the press . In October 2013 , Fox called for The Guardian newspaper to face prosecution over the 2013 mass surveillance disclosures . In January 2015 , Fox published a video on YouTube detailing his opinions and criticism of Edward Snowden . He stated : Were constantly having to protect our society from a range of threats , especially organised crime , paedophilia , and terrorism . For our intelligence services to operate effectively , and to protect us from these threats , they need to be able to do things in secret , secrets whose public disclosure would be damaging to our National Interest . When Edward Snowden stole files and took them with him to China and then Russia , some 58,000 files came from GCHQ , information that had played a vital role in preventing terrorist outrages in Britain , over the past decade and longer . It was not freedom fighting . We should call treason by its name . And those who assisted Snowden must be held responsible for their actions . National Health Service . In January 2014 , Fox stated that ring-fenced funding for the NHS should end , stating : The increase [ in spending ] over the last decade has been phenomenal and yet a lot of our health indicators lag behind other countries , particular things like stroke outcome or a lot of cancer outcomes . Scotland . Before the Scottish independence vote he made a speech setting out reasons why Scotland should remain in the union . If Scotland leaves the United Kingdom we all lose he told a Neighbourhood Watch group from his constituency visiting Westminster Houses of parliament on 1 September 2014 . Syria . Fox was disappointed that Parliament voted not to take military action over the use of chemical weapons in Syria . Fox was critical of Camerons strategy and performance for that debate , and stated There was no need to seek parliamentary approval for any military action , as constitutional authority lies with the government . He later took the view that there were no easy answers to the Syrian civil war and the prospect of the Assad government surviving should be considered . Fox argued that bombing attacks against ISIL in Iraq should be extended into Syria , and safe havens should be created in Syria by military intervention . Expenses . In March 2010 , Fox appealed Sir Thomas Leggs decision that he had overclaimed £22,476 in mortgage interest payments . Fox immediately repaid the money , then appealed the decision . Foxs appeal was rejected and the decision was upheld by Sir Paul Kennedy , a former high court judge . Fox stated that his decision to remortgage his second home to pay for redecorations and claim the higher interest repayments on his expenses represented value for money because he could have charged the taxpayer for the decorating bills directly . In his response , Sir Paul Kennedy stated : What you claimed was not recoverable under the rules then in force . I entirely accept that , like many others , you could have made other claims if the fees office had rejected your claims for mortgage interest , and that you may well have spent some of what you raised by increasing your mortgage on your constituency home , but the evidence is imprecise , and my terms of reference only allow me to interfere if I find special reasons in your individual case showing that it would not be fair and equitable to require repayment , either at all or at the level recommended . This reportedly made him the Conservative Shadow Cabinet member with the largest over-claim on expenses , and as a result , he has been forced to repay the most money . It was reported in June 2009 that Fox claimed expenses of more than £19,000 over the previous four years for his mobile phone . Fox stated that the high bill was due to regular trips overseas , in his capacity as Shadow Defence Secretary and said he was looking for a cheaper tariff . In October 2012 , the Commons Speaker blocked the release of data showing which MPs were renting their homes to other MPs for financial gain . However , a study of parliamentary records was published in the Daily Telegraph . The study showed that Liam Fox receives rental income from his London home while simultaneously claiming rental income from the taxpayer to live at another residence . In October 2013 , documents showed that Fox claimed 3p for a 100 metre car trip a year earlier . He also made an additional 15 claims under £1 for car travel approved in 2012–13 , two of which were for 24p and 44p . He told the Sunday People : I dont do my expenses . My office does them . But they are all done according to the rules for travel distances . Breaches of parliamentary rules . In March 2010 , Fox admitted breaking parliamentary rules on two occasions by visiting Sri Lanka on a trip paid for by the Sri Lankan government without declaring the trip in the Register of Members Financial Interests in the required time of 30 days and failing to declare an interest in Sri Lanka when asking ministers how much UK aid had been given to Sri Lanka . Fox has declared all of his trips to Sri Lanka paid for by the Sri Lankan government in the Register of Members Financial Interests . One trip he took in November 2007 was declared two months late . Fox blamed a changeover of staffing responsibilities for this error . Of the five trips to Sri Lanka mentioned in the BBC article , three were paid for fully by the Sri Lankan government . Those not paid in full by the Sri Lankan government were paid for by the Sri Lankan Development Trust . Fox stated that he had been working for all sides of the ethnic divide : I have been involved in attempts to promote peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka , involving all sides of the ethnic divide , since I was a foreign minister in 1997 . During my most recent visit , I spoke at a press conference to outline my reasons for being there . The declaration of the visit you refer to in November 2007 was highlighted in an end-of-year audit following a changeover of staffing responsibilities . The registrar was immediately notified and my register entry was updated accordingly . All visits have been fully declared on the House of Commons Register of Members Interests and are therefore public knowledge and entirely legitimate . I do , however , recognise that when asking one question in 2008 , I should have noted an interest and will be writing to the registrar to make this clear . Adam Werritty . During October 2011 , Foxs close friendship with Adam Werritty attracted extensive media attention and eventually led to Foxs resignation . Werrity had been best man at his wedding , had lived rent-free in Foxs flat , and been involved with him in business and in the conservative Atlanticist think-tank The Atlantic Bridge . While Fox was Secretary of State for Defence , Werrity had visited Fox at the Ministry of Defence on many occasions , had accompanied Fox on numerous official trips , attended some of his meetings with foreign dignitaries , and had used official-looking business cards which said he was an advisor to Fox , without having a government post or security clearance . The media raised questions about Foxs judgement in allowing this to happen and the source of Werritys income . In response , Fox initially requested Ursula Brennan , the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Defence , to investigate his connection with Werrity . Some of the meetings involved himself , Werritty , Matthew Gould ( prior to appointment , while he was Britains Ambassador-designate to Israel , and afterwards ) , and in some cases , Denis MacShane . The Foreign Office responded by stating : The FCO has total confidence that Matthew Gould has acted appropriately at all times and at no stage was he acting independently , or out of line with government policy . On Sunday 9 October 2011 , in advance of Brennans initial report of the result of her inquiry to the Prime Minister , Fox made a statement apologising publicly for his conduct in relation to Werrity , denying wrongdoing but admitting errors of judgement in mixing his professional and personal loyalties . The inquiry was escalated and Fox resigned in advance of publication of the full report by the Cabinet Secretary . The full list of Foxs meetings for his time in office to date , 20 May 2010 to 8 October 2011 , was published by the MoD after 7 pm on 10 October 2011 and revealed that Werrity was present at 40 of Foxs 70 engagements in that period ( 57% ) . In 2005–6 , Fox used public money , from his expense claims as an MP , to pay Adam Werritty . Finances . Fox was a registered shareholder of the medical educational firm Arrest Ltd which was dissolved in 2010 . In 2009 , his estimated wealth was £1 million . Fox accepted a £50,000 donation from Jon Moulton , whose investment firm , Better Capital , later went on to own Gardner Aerospace , an aerospace metallic manufactured details supplier which includes component parts for both military and civilian aircraft . This potentially exposed Fox to conflict of interest but neither Fox nor Moulton violated any rules with this donation . Personal life . On 10 June 2005 , he announced his engagement to longtime girlfriend Jesme Baird , a doctor who works at the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation and is an alumna of the University of Glasgow . They married at St Margarets Church opposite Parliament on 17 December 2005 . He has lived in North Somerset since 1990 , and currently resides in Tickenham . Author . In September 2013 , Fox launched Rising Tides : Facing the Challenges of a New Era , a 384-page book in which he warns that many of the world’s institutions are ill-equipped to tackle the economic and security threats of the 21st century . |
[
"President of the Board of Trade"
] | easy | Liam Fox took which position from Jul 2016 to Jun 2017? | /wiki/Liam_Fox#P39#7 | Liam Fox Liam Fox ( born 22 September 1961 ) is a British politician who served as Secretary of State for International Trade from 2016 to 2019 and Secretary of State for Defence from 2010 to 2011 . A member of the Conservative Party , he has been the Member of Parliament ( MP ) for North Somerset since 2010 . Fox was first elected as the MP for Woodspring in 1992 . Fox studied medicine at the University of Glasgow and worked as a GP and civilian army medical GP before being elected as an MP . After holding several ministerial roles under John Major , Fox served as Constitutional Affairs Spokesman from 1998 to 1999 , Shadow Health Secretary from 1999 to 2003 , Chair of the Conservative Party from 2003 to 2005 , Shadow Foreign Secretary in 2005 and Shadow Defence Secretary from 2005 to 2010 . In the 2009 expenses scandal , he was the Shadow Cabinet minister found to have the largest over-claim on expenses and , as a result , was forced to repay the most money . In 2010 , he was appointed Defence Secretary by Prime Minister David Cameron , a position from which he resigned on 14 October 2011 over allegations that he had given a close friend , lobbyist Adam Werritty , inappropriate access to the Ministry of Defence and allowed him to join official trips overseas . In July 2016 , in the wake of the United Kingdoms vote to leave the European Union , Fox was appointed the first Secretary of State for International Trade by new Prime Minister Theresa May . He was also made President of the Board of Trade . Fox has twice stood unsuccessfully for the leadership of the Conservative Party , in 2005 and 2016 . In July 2019 , he lost his cabinet position when new Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a cabinet reshuffle . Early life . Fox was born and raised in a Catholic family of Irish heritage in East Kilbride , Scotland , and brought up in a council house that his parents later bought . His great-uncle , John Fox , was Labour Provost of Motherwell , and most of his family were Labour supporters . Along with his brother and two sisters , he was educated in the state sector ; he attended St . Brides High School ( now part of St Andrews and St Brides High School ) . He studied medicine at the University of Glasgow Medical School , graduating with a MB ChB in 1983 . Fox is a former general practitioner ( he was a GP in Beaconsfield , Buckinghamshire , before his election to Parliament ) , a former Civilian Army General Practitioner and Divisional Surgeon with St John Ambulance . He is a member of the Royal College of General Practitioners . While studying medicine at the University of Glasgow in the early 1980s , he was a member of the Dialectic Society and became president of the Glasgow University Conservative Association . Fox contested the Hairmyres ward of East Kilbride District Council in May 1984 , coming second ( 210 votes ) to the incumbent Labour councillor , Ed McKenna . While at Glasgow , Fox resigned his position on the universitys Students Representative Council ( SRC ) in protest at the council passing a motion condemning the decision of the universitys Glasgow University Union ( GUU ) not to allow a gay students society to join the union . The SRC motion called both the unions decision and the explanations given for it bigoted . The GUU maintained its stance regardless , and the controversy was reported in the national media ; this led to many other university student unions up and down the country , including Edinburgh , cutting ties with their Glasgow counterparts . Explaining his decision to resign from the SRC and support the GUUs position , Fox was quoted as saying : Im actually quite liberal when it comes to sexual matters . I just dont want the gays flaunting it in front of me , which is what they would do . When asked about these comments in 2008 , Fox said that fortunately most of us have progressed from the days when we were students more than a quarter of a century ago . Member of Parliament . His first attempt to get elected as an MP for a Scottish constituency ended in failure when he contested Roxburgh and Berwickshire in the 1987 general election . Thereafter , he sought and won the nomination for the English constituency of Woodspring and was successful in being elected MP for that constituency at the 1992 general election . In government . In June 1993 , Fox was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Home Secretary , Michael Howard . Thereafter , in July 1994 , he was appointed an Assistant Government Whip . Following a limited government reshuffle in November 1995 , he was appointed a Lord Commissioner of Treasury – a Senior Government Whip . He was Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office from 1996 to 1997 . In 1996 , he brokered an accord in Sri Lanka , called the Fox Peace Plan , between Chandrika Kumaratungas PA and the opposition UNP of Ranil Wickremasinghe , on a bipartisan approach for ending the ethnic war . In 2001 , Jonathan Goodhand wrote , However , little has happened since then to suggest that the various parties would have acted in good faith in the interests of peace . In opposition . Shadow Cabinet . In June 1997 , Fox was appointed Opposition Front Bench Spokesman on Constitutional Affairs and joined the Shadow Cabinet in 1998 as the principal spokesman for Constitutional Affairs . Between 1999 and 2003 , he was the Shadow Secretary of State for Health . In November 2003 , Fox was appointed campaign manager for Michael Howard following the no-confidence vote against the Conservatives party leader , Iain Duncan Smith . Fox became co-chairman of the party following Michael Howards elevation to the post of party leader in November 2003 . After the 2005 general election he was promoted within the Shadow Cabinet to become Shadow Foreign Secretary . On 7 December 2005 he was moved to Shadow Defence Secretary by new Leader of the Opposition David Cameron . Leadership bids . 2005 leadership bid . In September 2005 , Fox announced he would join the contest to be the next leader of the Conservative party . His campaign theme for the 2005 leadership race was based on the broken society theme , which he said Conservatives could address by returning the emphasis to marriage and reforming welfare . In the initial ballot of Conservative MPs , on 18 October 2005 , he gained enough support ( 42 votes ) to enter the second ballot two days later . There he was eliminated with 51 votes in third place behind David Cameron ( 90 votes ) and David Davis ( 57 votes ) . Cameron , who eventually won the leadership election , gave Fox the role of Shadow Defence Secretary . 2016 leadership bid . In late June 2016 , Fox announced on LBC that he intended to run for the leadership of the Conservative party once again , after David Cameron resigned following the result of the EU referendum , in which Fox supported leaving the EU . During the announcement of his candidacy , he said that the UK should trigger Article 50 by the end of 2016 so it could leave the EU by 2019 , specifying 1 January 2019 as the date on which the UK should leave . He stated that he would not allow freedom of movement to be considered as part of any alternative trade arrangement with the EU . Fox promised to increase defence spending , stating that he would particularly like to see an increase in the size of the Navy and our cyber capability . He also promised to scrap HS2 , spending the £55 billion set aside for the project on regional train lines , cut taxes , cut welfare spending , create a new governmental department for trade and foreign affairs and review the aid budget . Fox was eliminated in the first ballot , finishing in last place with 16 votes . Theresa May went on to win the leadership and become Prime Minister and gave Fox the job of International Trade Secretary . Secretary of State for Defence . Fox was appointed as Secretary of State for Defence in the cabinet of David Cameron on 12 May 2010 and that weekend flew out to Afghanistan with the Foreign Secretary , William Hague , and the International Development Secretary , Andrew Mitchell , to see first hand the issues facing the troops based there . In July 2010 , he said that the dire state of the public finances meant the Armed Forces could no longer be equipped to cover every conceivable danger . He said that the strongest signal that it will have to give up one or more of these capabilities , which have been maintained at the same time as contributing to collective security pacts such as NATO . We dont have the money as a country to protect ourselves against every potential future threat , he said . We have to look at where we think the real risks will come from , where the real threats will come from and we need to deal with that accordingly . The Russians are not going to come over the European plain any day soon , he added . Foxs admission cast doubt on the future of the 25,000 troops currently stationed in Germany . The Defence Secretary had previously said that he hoped to withdraw them at some point , leaving Britain without a presence in the country for the first time since 1945 . The Ministry of Defence ( MoD ) faced budget cuts of up to 8% over the next five years , according to some analysts , and the department was grappling with a £37 billion shortfall on programmes it has signed up to . The results of the Strategic Defence and Security Review ( SDSR ) were published on 19 October 2010 . Speaking in September 2010 at a meeting in Paris with his French counterpart Hervé Morin on the possibility of sharing aircraft carriers with the French Navy , Fox said , I think it is unrealistic to share an aircraft carrier but , in other areas like tactical lift we can see what we can do . He added : I cant deny that there is an element of urgency added by budget concerns . In September 2010 , in a private letter to David Cameron , Fox refused to back any draconian cuts in the Armed Forces at a time when Britain was at war . The letter was written the night before a National Security Council ( NSC ) meeting on the Strategic Defence and Security Review ( SDSR ) . In the letter , Fox wrote that : Frankly this process is looking less and less defensible as a proper SDSR ( Strategic Defence and Strategy Review ) and more like a super CSR ( Comprehensive Spending Review ) . If it continues on its current trajectory it is likely to have grave political consequences for us . Fox continued saying that Our decisions today will limit severely the options available to this and all future governments . The range of operations that we can do today we will simply not be able to do in the future . In particular , it would place at risk . In February 2011 , Fox criticised ballooning spending in his own department . The top 15 major procurement projects were running at £8.8 billion over budget and , between them , were delayed by a total of 32 years . That included the A400M transporter aircraft order that was £603 million over budget and six years behind schedule . Fox criticised what he called a conspiracy of optimism based on poor cost-estimation , unrealistic timescales at the MoD and in industry . These practices in the MOD would simply not be tolerated in the private sector , and they will no longer be tolerated in the MoD . In March 2011 , Fox defended the decision to make 11,000 redundancies in the armed forces , insisting that personnel who have recently returned from Afghanistan would not be sacked . Cameron had conceded that axing around 5,000 personnel from the army , 3,300 from the Navy and 2,700 from the RAF will be difficult for those affected . Strategic Defence and Security Review ( SDSR ) set out plans for reducing the size of the armed forces by 17,000 in total . Some of that number would be met by not replacing people who were retiring or leaving for other reasons . Defence officials said 11,000 personnel still faced being redundant on a compulsory or voluntary basis . Fox said it was essential that service personnel were made fully aware of the options available and the time-scales involved . That means that a timetable needs to be adhered to for the sake of themselves and their families , he said . It would simply be wrong to alter that timetable for the convenience of the Government . In light of the 2011 Libyan civil war , Fox warned that Libya could end up split in two as Muammar Gaddafi unleashed the full fury of his military arsenal , sending warplanes and ground troops to attack rebel-held positions across the country . We could see the Gaddafi forces centred around Tripoli , Fox said . We could see a de facto partition of the country . In May 2011 , Fox opposed plans to sharply increase Britains aid budget , in a direct challenge to David Camerons authority . In a leaked letter to the Prime Minister , Fox said he could not accept plans to increase the development budget to 0.7 percent of the gross domestic product . The aid pledge , made in the Conservative election manifesto last year , was at the heart of Camerons attempts to change his partys image . It has gained opponents among right-wing Tories , many of whom voted for Fox when he fought Cameron for the party leadership in 2005 . I cannot support the proposal in its current form , Fox told the Prime Minister . Fox suggested that development funding should be diverted to the defence budget , writing that reneging on the aid pledge would release more public money to be spent on other activities or programmes rather than aid . The Telegraph James Kirkup said the leak was increasing suspicion among Camerons allies that the Defence Secretary was trying to undermine the Prime Minister . After negative comments by Sir Simon Bryant and Sir Mark Stanhope , Secretary Fox said admirals and air marshals who have voiced concerns were giving strength to Muammar Gaddafis regime . He also warned that high-ranking members of the Armed Forces were facing the sack because the Government wanted to reduce bureaucracy by cutting the star count . The Daily Telegraph had learned that the redundancies would include up 500 starred officers , equivalent to the rank of an Army brigadier and above . Fox said : We must be very careful , those of us who have authority in defence , when discussing the sustainability of a mission . Peoples lives are at stake and there can only be one message that goes out on Libya . Admiral Sir John Sandy Woodward , a former deputy chief of the defence staff , suggested Fox was trying to blame military chiefs for his own failings . He said : Of course the service chiefs should not be talking outside the MoD , but when politicians have got it so wrong they have no other choice . Levene report . On 27 June 2011 , Fox announced that Baron Levene had completed his report on the reform of the MoD which suggested that they could cut the number of senior officers and could also lead to ministerial posts being axed . The army , navy and air force would each be run by a single chief . Currently , the services have two commanders , one in charge of strategy , the second in charge of day-to-day operations . The reforms would see operational control pushed down the chain of command . In addition , the three service chiefs will be removed from the defence board , a powerful committee the defence secretary chairs . The overall head of the military , the chief of the defence staff , currently , General Sir David Richards , will represent them . A committee chaired by an independent non-executive director , chosen by the defence secretary , will be in charge of appointments to the services top ranks . The MoD is expected to axe up to 8,000 civil servants in 2012 . Senior commanders would be given more overall control of their budgets and internal appointments . The report also suggested that a new Joint Forces Command structure should be created with senior appointments in the MoD lasting longer than every two years by making sure people stay in post for longer . Levene said that finance and the need for affordability are not regarded as sufficiently important throughout the organisation . He said that the lack of trust which pervades the MoD has led to a tendency for those at the top to try to micromanage , while the individual services look out for themselves rather than thinking of defence as a whole . This has led to a predisposition to overcomplicate .. . and a culture of reinventing the wheel . The role of the chief of the defence staff should also be enhanced so that he alone will be responsible for representing the military voice . Levene says that the new defence board should be the primary decision-making body for non-operational matters , and should meet 10 times a year . It will have nine members , but only one will be from the military , the chief of the defence staff , currently General Sir David Richards . Defence and Security Review . In a speech on the future of the Armed Forces to the House of Commons on 19 October 2010 Prime Minister David Cameron set out plans that would mean cuts : 7,000 jobs go in the British Army ; 5,000 in the Royal Navy ; 5,000 in the Royal Air Force ; and 25,000 civilian jobs at the Ministry of Defence . In terms of equipment , the RAF would lose the Nimrod reconnaissance aircraft programme , the entire Harrier jump-jet fleet would be scrapped , and bases will be turned over to the Army . The Army will have its tanks and heavy artillery cut by 40% , and half of the soldiers in Germany will return to the UK by 2015 , with the rest brought home by 2030 and housed in former RAF bases . The Navy would have its destroyer and frigate fleet cut from 23 to 19 ( by cutting the Type 22 frigates ) and will be provided with less expensive frigates . It will be affected by the loss of the Harriers . Overall , the defence budget was to be cut by 8% but Cameron insisted that Britain would continue to meet the Nato target of spending 2% of GDP on defence . In the same speech Cameron announced a national cyber security programme , costing £500 million , to fix shortfalls in cyber infrastructure , while more focus will be given to tackling terrorists such as Al Qaeda and dissident Irish republicans in what he said would be continuing investment in our world class intelligence agencies . Army numbers will fall to 95,500 by 2015 – 7,000 fewer than today – but ground forces will continue to have vital operational role in the future , he said . Resignation . On 14 October 2011 , Fox resigned from his office as Secretary of State for Defence , for breaking the ministerial code by letting his friend Adam Werritty into defence meetings . Secretary of State for International Trade . After Theresa May became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in July 2016 , Fox was appointed Secretary of State for International Trade , responsible for helping to secure trade deals with other countries following Brexit . The Wall Street Journal reported Fox as saying he would prefer a free trade agreement with the EU rather than be part of the EU customs union , which he said could restrict Britains ability to negotiate lower tariffs with other trading partners . In a September 2016 speech on international trade , Fox said there needed to be a change in British business culture , arguing that exporting was a duty which companies neglected because it might be too difficult or too time-consuming or because they cant play golf on a Friday afternoon . In April 2017 , he was criticised for a trade visit to the Philippines , where he acknowledged shared values when speaking to Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte , heavily criticised for the increase in extrajudicial killings in the Philippines . In 2017 , Fox announced a new board of trade which would meet four times a year to ensure the benefits of free trade are spread throughout the UK . The announcement was criticised by Liberal Democrat MP Tom Brake , who said the board was a job-creation scheme for Fox . A DIT spokesman said it was a technicality that Fox was the sole member of the board , because of a constitutional convention that full membership is only for privy counsellors.In July 2019 , he lost his cabinet position when new Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a cabinet reshuffle . Brexit . Fox supported Brexit at the EU Referendum 2016 , and is a self-proclaimed staunch Eurosceptic . Following this assertion , he stated that he wants a clean break from Brussels , in order to regain national sovereignty . In July 2019 he acknowledged that no deal could lead to the breakup of the United Kingdom . In March 2018 , Fox said that he would no longer support an extension to the EU transition period . He had previously said that a post-Brexit trade deal should be the easiest in human history . By July 2019 he recognised that a deal with the US would take time and that despite reaching above 99% of agreement on a deal based on Canadas existing deal with the EU , the Canadians were now looking at the zero-tariff access being promised in the event of no deal . On 30 November 2018 , he came out in support for Theresa Mays Brexit deal , calling it the best possible deal that safely delivers Brexit . World Trade Organisation candidate . On 8 July 2020 , the UK government nominated Fox as a candidate for Director-General of the World Trade Organisation . Foxs main rival for the nomination , the Labour peer Peter Mandelson , was overlooked due to his opposition to Brexit . Fox progressed to the second round of the selection process . He did not become one of the two candidates to enter the final round , who were South Koreas Yoo Myung-hee and Nigerias Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala , and was knocked out on 7 October . Positions . Bahrain . In March 2013 , Fox was one of the chief guests at a conference in Bahrain designed to rally Western opinion to the side of the Bahrain government in its struggle against the Arab Spring . Fox was the only Briton on the list of key people attending the Bahrain International Symposium . More than 60 people died during two years of protests , and 13 civil rights demonstrators were sentenced to ten years in prison . Iraq . He voted for the 2003 invasion of Iraq . As Shadow Defence Secretary he supported the Governments position of maintaining British troops in Iraq until the security situation allowed for a withdrawal of troops but was critical of the lack of post-invasion planning and poor equipment initially provided to British troops . He supported the idea of the American Surge and believes that it was successful . After becoming Shadow Defence Secretary , he visited Iraq on a number of occasions . In August 2014 , Fox argued that the UK should start bombing Islamist extremists in northern Iraq . The following month this became government policy . Afghanistan . He has been an outspoken supporter of the war in Afghanistan and the British presence there . He has been critical towards some of the European NATO partners who he believes are not contributing enough to the effort in the more dangerous southern and eastern parts of Afghanistan . Since becoming Shadow Defence Secretary he has visited Afghanistan on five occasions . In July 2010 , Fox said that an early withdrawal of coalition troops from Afghanistan would risk a return of civil war and act as a shot in the arm to jihadists across the world . In marked contrast to David Cameron , who pledged to withdraw all British troops by 2015 , Fox said Britain would be betraying the sacrifices of its fallen soldiers if it left before the job is finished . British forces would be among the last to leave Afghanistan , he added , because they are stationed in Helmand , one of the most dangerous provinces in the country . He said that Were we to leave prematurely , without degrading the insurgency and increasing the capability of the Afghan national security forces , we could see the return of the destructive forces of transnational terror .. . Not only would we risk the return of civil war in Afghanistan , creating a security vacuum , but we would also risk the destabilisation of Pakistan with potentially unthinkable regional , and possibly nuclear , consequences . In July 2010 , it was reported that 1,000 Royal Marines were expected to leave and be redeployed to central Helmand by the end of 2010 . Fox told MPs that UK forces had made good progress in Sangin , but the move would enable Britain to provide more manpower and greater focus on Helmands busy central belt , leaving the north and south to the US . The result will be a coherent and equitable division of the main populated areas of Helmand between three brigade-sized forces , with the US in the north and the south , and the UK-led Task Force Helmand , alongside our outstanding Danish and Estonian allies , in the central population belt , he told the House of Commons . On 19 July 2010 , Fox said that within four years the Afghan army and police should take responsibility for security , leaving British troops to work only as military trainers . The date is a full year earlier than the deadline suggested by David Cameron this month , who said he wanted most troops back by 2015 . Fox said : It has always been our aim to be successful in the mission and the mission has always said that the Afghan national security forces would be able to deal with their own security by 2014 . We recognise that there will be further work to do in terms of training and improving the quality of those forces beyond that , which is why we have said training forces may be available after that date . But we have made it very clear that that will not be combat forces . NATO . He has very strong Atlanticist views . He believes that NATO is the cornerstone of the United Kingdom and Europes defence and that NATO must have primacy over the European Union including the right of first refusal for all matters relating to the defence of continental Europe . He has been critical of the common funding mechanism within NATO and has called for a system to be used that allows for more proportionate burden sharing between NATO member states for NATO led military operations . European Union . He is considered to be staunchly Eurosceptic and opposed to European defence integration as well as European political integration . He is opposed to the European Commission having any role in defence policy . He believes that the European Security and Defence Policy duplicates and takes away scarce national resources from NATO . He specifically opposes the defence provisions in the Lisbon Treaty . He serves as a vice-president of the eurosceptic pressure group Conservatives for Britain . Capital punishment . He does not support capital punishment . Abortion . Fox is critical of abortion and has called for huge restriction , if not abolition on the UKs pro-abortion laws . In an interview with Morgan and Platell , Fox elaborated on these views , stating that he would like to see [ abortion limits ] brought down...well below 20 weeks ; Id like to see us look at limits more akin to some of the European countries at 12 or 14 weeks . He went on to state that a society that actually aborts 180,000 unborn children every year is a society that needs to be asking a lot of questions about itself . For me , its a simple personal belief . It says , thou shall not kill , it doesnt say , thou shall not kill unless Parliament says its OK . For the same reason Im against the death penalty . However , I do accept...that if the majority of the population decide that its something they find acceptable , Ive got to live with that . But Im not going to be quiet and Im not going to pretend that my views are other than they are for the sake of political convenience . Military welfare . Fox has stated on a number of occasions that the Military Covenant is broken and that the British Armed Forces are being asked to do too much for what they are resourced to do . Along with the leader of the Conservative Party , David Cameron , he established the Military Covenant Commission headed by Frederick Forsyth with the aim of finding ways to improve the welfare of service members , veterans , and their families under a future Conservative Government . Fox has a particular interest in mental health issues and has criticised Gordon Browns Labour Government for failing to adequately address the problem . Israel . Fox is a supporter of Israel and is a member of Conservative Friends of Israel . In 2006 he said , Israels enemies are our enemies and this is a battle in which we all stand together or we will all fall divided . The Jewish Chronicle has called Fox a champion of Israel while in government . In January 2009 , referring to Israel , he also said , British support for any ally is never unqualified . International law and values must always be obeyed . In May 2011 , Fox was booed at the We Believe in Israel event for saying that Israeli settlements are illegal and an obstacle to peace . Nuclear deterrent . Fox believes that Britain should maintain its continuous at sea , independent , submarine based strategic nuclear deterrent based on the Trident system . Defence procurement . Fox has pledged to restructure the defence procurement process in the Ministry of Defence . He has also stated that it would be a matter of policy to see Britains share of global defence exports increasing under a Conservative Government . Elevated bilateral defence relationships . Fox believes that it is in Britains national interest to build bilateral defence relations with key strategic partners . Fox has mentioned the United States , France , Norway , Turkey , Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf States . Special Relationship . He is a strong believer in the Special Relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States . He was the UK Director and founding member of The Atlantic Bridge , a UK-based charity that aims to preserve and promote the Special Relationship . The Atlantic Bridge closed down in October 2011 after being told to cease activities by the Charity Commission for promoting a political policy [ that ] is closely associated with the Conservative Party . Fox was able to retain a good relationship with the administration of George W . Bush , despite a five-year breakdown in relations between the Conservative and Republican parties over the Iraq War . He led the Conservative delegation to the 2008 Republican National Convention . In 2018 , he commented that the 25% tariffs imposed by the United States on imported EU steel were patently absurd . Same-sex marriage . On 5 February 2013 , Fox voted against a second reading of the Marriage ( Same Sex Couples ) Bill , designed to introduce same-sex marriage in the United Kingdom . He described David Camerons plans to legalise same-sex marriage as divisive , ill thought through and constitutionally wrong , arguing that redefining marriage for the majority to satisfy a small , yet vocal , minority was not a good basis for a stable , tolerant society . Freedom of the press . In October 2013 , Fox called for The Guardian newspaper to face prosecution over the 2013 mass surveillance disclosures . In January 2015 , Fox published a video on YouTube detailing his opinions and criticism of Edward Snowden . He stated : Were constantly having to protect our society from a range of threats , especially organised crime , paedophilia , and terrorism . For our intelligence services to operate effectively , and to protect us from these threats , they need to be able to do things in secret , secrets whose public disclosure would be damaging to our National Interest . When Edward Snowden stole files and took them with him to China and then Russia , some 58,000 files came from GCHQ , information that had played a vital role in preventing terrorist outrages in Britain , over the past decade and longer . It was not freedom fighting . We should call treason by its name . And those who assisted Snowden must be held responsible for their actions . National Health Service . In January 2014 , Fox stated that ring-fenced funding for the NHS should end , stating : The increase [ in spending ] over the last decade has been phenomenal and yet a lot of our health indicators lag behind other countries , particular things like stroke outcome or a lot of cancer outcomes . Scotland . Before the Scottish independence vote he made a speech setting out reasons why Scotland should remain in the union . If Scotland leaves the United Kingdom we all lose he told a Neighbourhood Watch group from his constituency visiting Westminster Houses of parliament on 1 September 2014 . Syria . Fox was disappointed that Parliament voted not to take military action over the use of chemical weapons in Syria . Fox was critical of Camerons strategy and performance for that debate , and stated There was no need to seek parliamentary approval for any military action , as constitutional authority lies with the government . He later took the view that there were no easy answers to the Syrian civil war and the prospect of the Assad government surviving should be considered . Fox argued that bombing attacks against ISIL in Iraq should be extended into Syria , and safe havens should be created in Syria by military intervention . Expenses . In March 2010 , Fox appealed Sir Thomas Leggs decision that he had overclaimed £22,476 in mortgage interest payments . Fox immediately repaid the money , then appealed the decision . Foxs appeal was rejected and the decision was upheld by Sir Paul Kennedy , a former high court judge . Fox stated that his decision to remortgage his second home to pay for redecorations and claim the higher interest repayments on his expenses represented value for money because he could have charged the taxpayer for the decorating bills directly . In his response , Sir Paul Kennedy stated : What you claimed was not recoverable under the rules then in force . I entirely accept that , like many others , you could have made other claims if the fees office had rejected your claims for mortgage interest , and that you may well have spent some of what you raised by increasing your mortgage on your constituency home , but the evidence is imprecise , and my terms of reference only allow me to interfere if I find special reasons in your individual case showing that it would not be fair and equitable to require repayment , either at all or at the level recommended . This reportedly made him the Conservative Shadow Cabinet member with the largest over-claim on expenses , and as a result , he has been forced to repay the most money . It was reported in June 2009 that Fox claimed expenses of more than £19,000 over the previous four years for his mobile phone . Fox stated that the high bill was due to regular trips overseas , in his capacity as Shadow Defence Secretary and said he was looking for a cheaper tariff . In October 2012 , the Commons Speaker blocked the release of data showing which MPs were renting their homes to other MPs for financial gain . However , a study of parliamentary records was published in the Daily Telegraph . The study showed that Liam Fox receives rental income from his London home while simultaneously claiming rental income from the taxpayer to live at another residence . In October 2013 , documents showed that Fox claimed 3p for a 100 metre car trip a year earlier . He also made an additional 15 claims under £1 for car travel approved in 2012–13 , two of which were for 24p and 44p . He told the Sunday People : I dont do my expenses . My office does them . But they are all done according to the rules for travel distances . Breaches of parliamentary rules . In March 2010 , Fox admitted breaking parliamentary rules on two occasions by visiting Sri Lanka on a trip paid for by the Sri Lankan government without declaring the trip in the Register of Members Financial Interests in the required time of 30 days and failing to declare an interest in Sri Lanka when asking ministers how much UK aid had been given to Sri Lanka . Fox has declared all of his trips to Sri Lanka paid for by the Sri Lankan government in the Register of Members Financial Interests . One trip he took in November 2007 was declared two months late . Fox blamed a changeover of staffing responsibilities for this error . Of the five trips to Sri Lanka mentioned in the BBC article , three were paid for fully by the Sri Lankan government . Those not paid in full by the Sri Lankan government were paid for by the Sri Lankan Development Trust . Fox stated that he had been working for all sides of the ethnic divide : I have been involved in attempts to promote peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka , involving all sides of the ethnic divide , since I was a foreign minister in 1997 . During my most recent visit , I spoke at a press conference to outline my reasons for being there . The declaration of the visit you refer to in November 2007 was highlighted in an end-of-year audit following a changeover of staffing responsibilities . The registrar was immediately notified and my register entry was updated accordingly . All visits have been fully declared on the House of Commons Register of Members Interests and are therefore public knowledge and entirely legitimate . I do , however , recognise that when asking one question in 2008 , I should have noted an interest and will be writing to the registrar to make this clear . Adam Werritty . During October 2011 , Foxs close friendship with Adam Werritty attracted extensive media attention and eventually led to Foxs resignation . Werrity had been best man at his wedding , had lived rent-free in Foxs flat , and been involved with him in business and in the conservative Atlanticist think-tank The Atlantic Bridge . While Fox was Secretary of State for Defence , Werrity had visited Fox at the Ministry of Defence on many occasions , had accompanied Fox on numerous official trips , attended some of his meetings with foreign dignitaries , and had used official-looking business cards which said he was an advisor to Fox , without having a government post or security clearance . The media raised questions about Foxs judgement in allowing this to happen and the source of Werritys income . In response , Fox initially requested Ursula Brennan , the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Defence , to investigate his connection with Werrity . Some of the meetings involved himself , Werritty , Matthew Gould ( prior to appointment , while he was Britains Ambassador-designate to Israel , and afterwards ) , and in some cases , Denis MacShane . The Foreign Office responded by stating : The FCO has total confidence that Matthew Gould has acted appropriately at all times and at no stage was he acting independently , or out of line with government policy . On Sunday 9 October 2011 , in advance of Brennans initial report of the result of her inquiry to the Prime Minister , Fox made a statement apologising publicly for his conduct in relation to Werrity , denying wrongdoing but admitting errors of judgement in mixing his professional and personal loyalties . The inquiry was escalated and Fox resigned in advance of publication of the full report by the Cabinet Secretary . The full list of Foxs meetings for his time in office to date , 20 May 2010 to 8 October 2011 , was published by the MoD after 7 pm on 10 October 2011 and revealed that Werrity was present at 40 of Foxs 70 engagements in that period ( 57% ) . In 2005–6 , Fox used public money , from his expense claims as an MP , to pay Adam Werritty . Finances . Fox was a registered shareholder of the medical educational firm Arrest Ltd which was dissolved in 2010 . In 2009 , his estimated wealth was £1 million . Fox accepted a £50,000 donation from Jon Moulton , whose investment firm , Better Capital , later went on to own Gardner Aerospace , an aerospace metallic manufactured details supplier which includes component parts for both military and civilian aircraft . This potentially exposed Fox to conflict of interest but neither Fox nor Moulton violated any rules with this donation . Personal life . On 10 June 2005 , he announced his engagement to longtime girlfriend Jesme Baird , a doctor who works at the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation and is an alumna of the University of Glasgow . They married at St Margarets Church opposite Parliament on 17 December 2005 . He has lived in North Somerset since 1990 , and currently resides in Tickenham . Author . In September 2013 , Fox launched Rising Tides : Facing the Challenges of a New Era , a 384-page book in which he warns that many of the world’s institutions are ill-equipped to tackle the economic and security threats of the 21st century . |
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"Member of the German Bundestag"
] | easy | Which position did Jürgen Rüttgers hold from Feb 1987 to Dec 1990? | /wiki/Jürgen_Rüttgers#P39#0 | Jürgen Rüttgers Jürgen Rüttgers ( born 26 June 1951 ) is a German politician of the Christian Democratic Union ( CDU ) who served as the 9th Minister President of North Rhine-Westphalia from 2005 to 2010 . Education . Rüttgers was born in Cologne . He holds degrees in Law and History from the University of Cologne and a Dr . Jur . ( Ph.D. ) in Law ( 1979 ) . He became a member of K.D.St . V . Rappoltstein Köln , a Catholic student fraternity that is member of the Cartellverband . Political career . Career in national politics . Rüttgers was a Member of the German Bundestag from 1987 until 2000 . In 1991 he succeeded Friedrich Bohl as First Secretary of the parliamentary group , in this position assisting the parliamentary groups chairman Wolfgang Schäuble . Rüttgers served as Federal Minister for Education , Science , Research and Technology in Chancellor Helmut Kohls fifth cabinet from 1994 to 1998 . During his time as minister , he was – together with Luigi Berlinguer ( Italy ) , Claude Allegre ( France ) , and Baroness Tessa Blackstone ( United Kingdom ) – one of the heads of the Sorbonne declaration , the joint declaration on harmonisation of the architecture of the European higher education system , on 25 May 1998 . That was the starting point of the so-called Bologna process . He also successfully introduced a law under which online providers can be prosecuted for offering a venue for content illegal in Germany – such as child pornography or Nazi propaganda – if they do so knowingly and it is technically possible and reasonable to prevent it . Also , the law made Germany the first country to set rules for so-called digital signatures and give them the status of a legal document . Between 1998 and 2000 , Rüttgers served as deputy chairman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group , again under Schäubles leadership . In 2000 , he succeeded Norbert Blüm as chairman of the CDU in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia . As head of the party in Germanys most populous state , he commanded considerable influence , especially with its grassroots . He also became the partys group leader in the state parliament and was elected as one of the CDUs deputy party chairmen in 2000 . Amid the revelations of the CDU donations scandal in early 2000 , Rüttgers – who ran as the partys candidate in a crucial state election in North Rhine-Wesphalia that year – was one of the few leading figures who remained loyal to former Chancellor Helmut Kohl even after prosecutors began a criminal investigation into Kohls financial dealings . By January 2000 , daily newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung claimed that Kohl , angered by party chairman Wolfgang Schäubles efforts to distance himself from the scandal surrounding secret payments to the party , was encouraging Rüttgers to make a bid for the leadership at the CDUs annual conference ; instead , Angela Merkel was elected as Schäubles successor and Rüttgers became one of her four deputies , alongside Volker Rühe , Annette Schavan and Christian Wulff . In his role as chairman of the CDU in North Rhine-Westphalia , Rüttgers later publicly endorsed Merkel as the partys candidate to challenge incumbent Chancellor Gerhard Schröder in the 2002 federal elections ; instead , Edmund Stoiber ended up being the joint candidate of CDU and CSU . In the state parliament ( Landtag ) election 2005 , Rüttgers was the opposition Christian Democratic Unions front-runner for the second time . After CDU and FDP won a majority of seats in the election on 22 May 2005 , they formed a coalition to take over government from the former SPD and Green party coalition led by Peer Steinbrück . Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia . Rüttgers was elected Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia on 22 June . In his cabinet , he notably included representatives of the Christian Democrats’ more liberal wing , such as Armin Laschet ( as State Minister for Generations , Family , Women and Integration ) and Karl-Josef Laumann ( as State Minister of Labor , Health and Social Affairs ) . On the national level , Rüttgers was part of the CDU/CSU team in the negotiations with the SPD on a coalition agreement following the 2005 federal elections , which paved the way to the formation of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s first government . Under the leadership of Merkel as party chairwoman , he was re-elected vice-chairman of the CDU in November 2006 , this time alongside Roland Koch , Annette Schavan and Christian Wulff . During his time in office , Rüttgers came under severe criticism for failing to mend the states public finances . One of the reasons was the crisis at the state-owned lender WestLB , which led his government to set aside 1.5 billion in 2008 . Rüttgers long wanted the bank to stay independent and categorically ruled out a merger with LBBW . However , by 2007 , he and Roland Koch , his counterpart from the state of Hesse , agreed on approving a merger of their respective state-owned banks , WestLB and Landesbank Hessen-Thüringen ( Helaba ) . WestLB was eventually broken up in 2012 after years of losses and controversy . Between 2007 and 2009 , Rüttgers was one of 32 members of the Second Commission on the modernization of the federal state , which had been established to reform the division of powers between federal and state authorities in Germany . Shortly before the 2010 state elections , Rüttgerss public image was damaged by a party fund-raising scandal , and local issues like education and the troubles of municipalities with heavy debt burdens were central to the campaign . He led his party to an electoral defeat ; the steep drop of 10 percentage points compared with the previous election , in 2005 , was even larger than most analysts had predicted and gave the Christian Democrats their worst postwar showing in that state . The loss also meant Chancellor Angela Merkel could no longer count on a majority for her governing coalition in the Bundesrat , composed of delegations from all 16 states . In July 2010 , Rüttgers stepped down as caretaker premier and also gave up his position as state party chairman . Life after politics . Rüttgers joined the Düsseldorf office of German law firm Beiten Burkhardt as Of Counsel in March 2011 . In this capacity , he is a member of the firms Assets , Succession , Foundations practice group and also advises international companies on investments in Germany and German companies on international investments . In May 2011 , Deutsche Bahn nominated Rüttgers as executive director of the Brussels-based Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies ( CER ) ; instead , Libor Lochman was eventually appointed to the position . Rüttgers was a CDU delegate to the Federal Convention for the purpose of electing the President of Germany in 2017 . In addition , Rüttgers has held several paid and unpaid positions since leaving politics , including the following : - 321-2021 : 1700 Years of Jewish Life in Germany , Chairman of the Board of Trustees ( since 2018 ) - CFC Industriebeteiligungen AG , Member of the Supervisory Board ( since 2011 ) - Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation , Member of the Foundation Council - Brost-Stiftung , Member of the Board of Trustees - Deutsche Telekom Stiftung , Member of the Board of Trustees - Konrad Adenauer Foundation ( KAS ) , Member of the Board Political positions . During his political career , Rüttgers proved to be a conservative on social issues such as immigration . He also positioned himself as a workers leader on economics , defending labor rights and opposing business demands for deregulation of the economy . Unlike many in his party at the time , he was also in favor of expanding day care for young children and supported all-day schools . Following the CDUs performance in the 2005 federal elections and the formation of the first government under Chancellor Angela Merkel , Rüttgers blamed her campaign for talking “too much about flat tax and not enough about the people.” Instead , he called on the party to shed its “capitalist” image . In his 1993 book Dinosaurs of Democracy , Rüttgers attacked Germanys main parties and the government for being unwilling to decentralise political power to ordinary people . Controversy . Rüttgers is widely known for his views on immigration and the much-discussed phrase Kinder statt Inder ( children instead of Indians ) which was a media interpretation of Statt Inder an die Computer müssen unsere Kinder an die Computer ( instead of Indians in front of computers , our children must be in front of computers ) , during an election campaign ( which he eventually lost ) at a time when there was a parallel nationwide discussion about whether or not immigration rules should be liberalised on behalf of attracting more highly qualified foreign academics to the German labor market . In response to Rüttgerss much-discussed phrase Kinder statt Inder , Germanys Green Party overwhelmed his Internet mailbox with thousands of messages . The Internet attack was the first of its kind in German politics . Recognition . Honors and Awards . - 1997 – Georg Schulhoff Award - 1997 – Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany - 2004 – In collaboration with the Ministers of Education Luigi Berlinguer ( Italy ) , Claude Allègre ( France ) and Baroness Tessa Blackstone ( Great Britain ) , Jürgen Rüttgers was one of the heads of the Sorbonne Declaration , with the aim of “harmonising the architecture of the European Higher Education system“ . For their achievements in European education and research , Rüttgers and his colleagues received an honorary doctorate from Roma Tre University in Rome in 2004 . - 2004 – European Craft Award - 2007 – Rident Red Tape Award of the DBB civil servant union and tariff union - 2008 – Commander of the Legion of Honor - 2009 – Grand Cross of the Order of Merit Pro Merito Melitensi of the sovereign Order of Malta - 2010 – Orden wider den tierischen Ernst ( Order against dead seriousness ) - 2010 – Grand Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau - 2015 – Commander Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland Honorary degrees . - 2007 – Honorary doctorate from Waseda University - 2008 – Honorary Professor of Ben Gurion University - 2014 – Honorary Professorship of the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn |
[
"chairman of the CDU in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia"
] | easy | What position did Jürgen Rüttgers take from Jun 2000 to Jun 2005? | /wiki/Jürgen_Rüttgers#P39#1 | Jürgen Rüttgers Jürgen Rüttgers ( born 26 June 1951 ) is a German politician of the Christian Democratic Union ( CDU ) who served as the 9th Minister President of North Rhine-Westphalia from 2005 to 2010 . Education . Rüttgers was born in Cologne . He holds degrees in Law and History from the University of Cologne and a Dr . Jur . ( Ph.D. ) in Law ( 1979 ) . He became a member of K.D.St . V . Rappoltstein Köln , a Catholic student fraternity that is member of the Cartellverband . Political career . Career in national politics . Rüttgers was a Member of the German Bundestag from 1987 until 2000 . In 1991 he succeeded Friedrich Bohl as First Secretary of the parliamentary group , in this position assisting the parliamentary groups chairman Wolfgang Schäuble . Rüttgers served as Federal Minister for Education , Science , Research and Technology in Chancellor Helmut Kohls fifth cabinet from 1994 to 1998 . During his time as minister , he was – together with Luigi Berlinguer ( Italy ) , Claude Allegre ( France ) , and Baroness Tessa Blackstone ( United Kingdom ) – one of the heads of the Sorbonne declaration , the joint declaration on harmonisation of the architecture of the European higher education system , on 25 May 1998 . That was the starting point of the so-called Bologna process . He also successfully introduced a law under which online providers can be prosecuted for offering a venue for content illegal in Germany – such as child pornography or Nazi propaganda – if they do so knowingly and it is technically possible and reasonable to prevent it . Also , the law made Germany the first country to set rules for so-called digital signatures and give them the status of a legal document . Between 1998 and 2000 , Rüttgers served as deputy chairman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group , again under Schäubles leadership . In 2000 , he succeeded Norbert Blüm as chairman of the CDU in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia . As head of the party in Germanys most populous state , he commanded considerable influence , especially with its grassroots . He also became the partys group leader in the state parliament and was elected as one of the CDUs deputy party chairmen in 2000 . Amid the revelations of the CDU donations scandal in early 2000 , Rüttgers – who ran as the partys candidate in a crucial state election in North Rhine-Wesphalia that year – was one of the few leading figures who remained loyal to former Chancellor Helmut Kohl even after prosecutors began a criminal investigation into Kohls financial dealings . By January 2000 , daily newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung claimed that Kohl , angered by party chairman Wolfgang Schäubles efforts to distance himself from the scandal surrounding secret payments to the party , was encouraging Rüttgers to make a bid for the leadership at the CDUs annual conference ; instead , Angela Merkel was elected as Schäubles successor and Rüttgers became one of her four deputies , alongside Volker Rühe , Annette Schavan and Christian Wulff . In his role as chairman of the CDU in North Rhine-Westphalia , Rüttgers later publicly endorsed Merkel as the partys candidate to challenge incumbent Chancellor Gerhard Schröder in the 2002 federal elections ; instead , Edmund Stoiber ended up being the joint candidate of CDU and CSU . In the state parliament ( Landtag ) election 2005 , Rüttgers was the opposition Christian Democratic Unions front-runner for the second time . After CDU and FDP won a majority of seats in the election on 22 May 2005 , they formed a coalition to take over government from the former SPD and Green party coalition led by Peer Steinbrück . Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia . Rüttgers was elected Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia on 22 June . In his cabinet , he notably included representatives of the Christian Democrats’ more liberal wing , such as Armin Laschet ( as State Minister for Generations , Family , Women and Integration ) and Karl-Josef Laumann ( as State Minister of Labor , Health and Social Affairs ) . On the national level , Rüttgers was part of the CDU/CSU team in the negotiations with the SPD on a coalition agreement following the 2005 federal elections , which paved the way to the formation of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s first government . Under the leadership of Merkel as party chairwoman , he was re-elected vice-chairman of the CDU in November 2006 , this time alongside Roland Koch , Annette Schavan and Christian Wulff . During his time in office , Rüttgers came under severe criticism for failing to mend the states public finances . One of the reasons was the crisis at the state-owned lender WestLB , which led his government to set aside 1.5 billion in 2008 . Rüttgers long wanted the bank to stay independent and categorically ruled out a merger with LBBW . However , by 2007 , he and Roland Koch , his counterpart from the state of Hesse , agreed on approving a merger of their respective state-owned banks , WestLB and Landesbank Hessen-Thüringen ( Helaba ) . WestLB was eventually broken up in 2012 after years of losses and controversy . Between 2007 and 2009 , Rüttgers was one of 32 members of the Second Commission on the modernization of the federal state , which had been established to reform the division of powers between federal and state authorities in Germany . Shortly before the 2010 state elections , Rüttgerss public image was damaged by a party fund-raising scandal , and local issues like education and the troubles of municipalities with heavy debt burdens were central to the campaign . He led his party to an electoral defeat ; the steep drop of 10 percentage points compared with the previous election , in 2005 , was even larger than most analysts had predicted and gave the Christian Democrats their worst postwar showing in that state . The loss also meant Chancellor Angela Merkel could no longer count on a majority for her governing coalition in the Bundesrat , composed of delegations from all 16 states . In July 2010 , Rüttgers stepped down as caretaker premier and also gave up his position as state party chairman . Life after politics . Rüttgers joined the Düsseldorf office of German law firm Beiten Burkhardt as Of Counsel in March 2011 . In this capacity , he is a member of the firms Assets , Succession , Foundations practice group and also advises international companies on investments in Germany and German companies on international investments . In May 2011 , Deutsche Bahn nominated Rüttgers as executive director of the Brussels-based Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies ( CER ) ; instead , Libor Lochman was eventually appointed to the position . Rüttgers was a CDU delegate to the Federal Convention for the purpose of electing the President of Germany in 2017 . In addition , Rüttgers has held several paid and unpaid positions since leaving politics , including the following : - 321-2021 : 1700 Years of Jewish Life in Germany , Chairman of the Board of Trustees ( since 2018 ) - CFC Industriebeteiligungen AG , Member of the Supervisory Board ( since 2011 ) - Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation , Member of the Foundation Council - Brost-Stiftung , Member of the Board of Trustees - Deutsche Telekom Stiftung , Member of the Board of Trustees - Konrad Adenauer Foundation ( KAS ) , Member of the Board Political positions . During his political career , Rüttgers proved to be a conservative on social issues such as immigration . He also positioned himself as a workers leader on economics , defending labor rights and opposing business demands for deregulation of the economy . Unlike many in his party at the time , he was also in favor of expanding day care for young children and supported all-day schools . Following the CDUs performance in the 2005 federal elections and the formation of the first government under Chancellor Angela Merkel , Rüttgers blamed her campaign for talking “too much about flat tax and not enough about the people.” Instead , he called on the party to shed its “capitalist” image . In his 1993 book Dinosaurs of Democracy , Rüttgers attacked Germanys main parties and the government for being unwilling to decentralise political power to ordinary people . Controversy . Rüttgers is widely known for his views on immigration and the much-discussed phrase Kinder statt Inder ( children instead of Indians ) which was a media interpretation of Statt Inder an die Computer müssen unsere Kinder an die Computer ( instead of Indians in front of computers , our children must be in front of computers ) , during an election campaign ( which he eventually lost ) at a time when there was a parallel nationwide discussion about whether or not immigration rules should be liberalised on behalf of attracting more highly qualified foreign academics to the German labor market . In response to Rüttgerss much-discussed phrase Kinder statt Inder , Germanys Green Party overwhelmed his Internet mailbox with thousands of messages . The Internet attack was the first of its kind in German politics . Recognition . Honors and Awards . - 1997 – Georg Schulhoff Award - 1997 – Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany - 2004 – In collaboration with the Ministers of Education Luigi Berlinguer ( Italy ) , Claude Allègre ( France ) and Baroness Tessa Blackstone ( Great Britain ) , Jürgen Rüttgers was one of the heads of the Sorbonne Declaration , with the aim of “harmonising the architecture of the European Higher Education system“ . For their achievements in European education and research , Rüttgers and his colleagues received an honorary doctorate from Roma Tre University in Rome in 2004 . - 2004 – European Craft Award - 2007 – Rident Red Tape Award of the DBB civil servant union and tariff union - 2008 – Commander of the Legion of Honor - 2009 – Grand Cross of the Order of Merit Pro Merito Melitensi of the sovereign Order of Malta - 2010 – Orden wider den tierischen Ernst ( Order against dead seriousness ) - 2010 – Grand Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau - 2015 – Commander Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland Honorary degrees . - 2007 – Honorary doctorate from Waseda University - 2008 – Honorary Professor of Ben Gurion University - 2014 – Honorary Professorship of the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn |
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