Elco Brinkman
Brinkman in 2008
Leader of the Christian Democratic Appeal in the Senate
In office 7 June 2011 – 11 June 2019
Preceded by	Jos Werner
Succeeded by	Ben Knapen
Member of the Senate
In office 7 June 2011 – 11 June 2019
Member of the Social and Economic Council
In office 1 June 1995 – 1 July 2013
Chairman	See list Theo Quené (1995–1996) Klaas de Vries (1996–1998) Herman Wijffels (1999–2006) Alexander Rinnooy Kan (2006–2012) Wiebe Draijer (2012–2013)
Leader of the Christian Democratic Appeal
In office 29 January 1994 – 16 August 1994
Preceded by	Ruud Lubbers
Succeeded by	Enneüs Heerma
Leader of the Christian Democratic Appeal in the House of Representatives
In office 7 November 1989 – 16 August 1994
Preceded by	Ruud Lubbers
Succeeded by	Enneüs Heerma
Member of the House of Representatives
In office 14 September 1989 – 26 April 1995
In office 3 June 1986 – 14 July 1986
Minister of Welfare, Health and Culture
In office 4 November 1982 – 7 November 1989
Prime Minister	Ruud Lubbers
Preceded by	Til Gardeniers-Berendsen Health and Environment
Succeeded by	Hedy d'Ancona
Personal details
Born	Leendert Cornelis Brinkman (1948-02-05) 5 February 1948 (age 76) Dirksland, Netherlands
Political party	Christian Democratic Appeal (from 1980)
Spouse	Janneke Salentijn ​ (m. 1977)​
Children	3 children
Parent	Bram Brinkman (1915–2009) (father)
Residence	Leiden
Alma mater	Free University Amsterdam (Bachelor of Social Science, Bachelor of Laws, Master of Social Science, Master of Laws)
Occupation	Politician · Civil servant · Jurist · Researcher · Businessperson · Corporate director · Nonprofit director · Trade association executive · Lobbyist

Leendert Cornelis "Elco" Brinkman (born 5 February 1948) is a retired Dutch politician and businessman who served as Minister of Welfare, Health and Culture from 1982 to 1989 and Leader of the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) in 1994.^[1]

Career

Brinkman studied political science and law and at the Free University Amsterdam simultaneously obtaining a Master of Social Science and Laws degree. Brinkman worked as a researcher at his alma mater from September 1970 until July 1974 and as a civil servant for the Ministry of the Interior from July 1974 until November 1982. After the 1982 general election, Brinkman was appointed Minister of Welfare, Health and Culture in the First Lubbers cabinet taking office on 4 November 1982. After the election of 1986 Brinkman continued his office in the Second Lubbers cabinet. At the election of 1989 Brinkman was reelected as a member of the House of Representatives and took office on 14 September. He declined to serve in the new cabinet and instead was selected as parliamentary leader on 7 November 1989. Shortly before an upcoming election, party leader and Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers announced his retirement and Brinkman was anonymously selected as his successor on 29 January 1994. For the election of 1994 Brinkman served as lijsttrekker (top candidate) but shortly thereafter announced that he was stepping down following disappointing election results on 16 August 1994 but continued to serve in the House of Representatives as a frontbencher chairing the House Committee on Kingdom Relations and spokesperson for Health. In April 1995 Brinkman unexpectedly announced his retirement and resigned from the House of Representatives on 26 April 1995.

Brinkman retired from active politics at just 47 and became active in the private and public sectors as a corporate and non-profit director and served on several state commissions and councils on behalf of the government; he worked as a trade association executive serving as Chairman of the Construction Association from May 1995 until July 2013, Vice Chairman of the Industry and Employers Confederation (VNO-NCW) from April 2002 until May 2008 and a Member of the Social and Economic Council for the VNO-NCW from June 1995 until July 2013. Brinkman returned to active in politics and after the Senate election of 2011 was elected as a member of the Senate and became parliamentary leader serving from 7 June 2011 until 11 June 2019. Brinkman retired from active politics a second time at 71 but following his retirement continues to be active as an advocate and lobbyist for trade associations.

Decorations

Honours
Ribbon bar	Honour	Country	Date	Comment
	Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour	France	6 February 1984
	Grand Cross of the Order of Leopold II	Belgium	10 September 1988
	Commander of the Order of Orange-Nassau	Netherlands	20 November 1989