Jack de Vries (politician)

Jacob Gabe "Jack" de Vries (born 25 July 1968) is a retired Dutch politician of the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) party and political consultant.

Politics
De Vries studied at the VU University Amsterdam where he in 1992 obtained a MSc degree in political science. He was leader of the Christian Democratic youth movement (CDJA) and completed his military service with a stint as communications advisor to the Dutch Army. Never away from national politics, he became media spokesman of the CDA parliamentary faction in 1997, serving under Enneüs Heerma and Jaap de Hoop Scheffer. De Vries then became advisor to Jan Peter Balkenende who became political leader of the CDA in October 2001, after De Hoop Scheffer's lijsttrekker candidacy was not supported by the party. Balkenende won the 2002 elections, became Prime Minister, and brought de Vries with him to the Ministry of General Affairs.

In 2005, De Vries was appointed as CDA campaign chairman, and lead them through the 2006 municipal elections, the 2006 general election, and the 2007 provincial elections.

Resignation
He resigned on 14 May 2010 after admitting to an extra-marital affair with his personal aide a few days earlier. He announced his retirement from politics the same day.