was President of South Africa between 1989 and 1994 and shares the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 along with Nelson Mandela for his role in the ending of apartheid.
Mr. De Klerk was elected to Parliament in 1972 and held a number of ministerial posts between 1978 and 1989. During his term as President between 1989 and 1994 he initiated and presided over the negotiations that led to the dismantling of apartheid and to the adoption of South Africa’s first fully democratic constitution in December 1993. He served from 1994 as Executive Deputy President in the Government of National Unity until June 1996 and as Leader of the Opposition until his retirement from politics in September 1997.
Since then Mr. De Klerk has established the F.W. de Klerk Foundation, which is dedicated to the promotion of peace in divided societies, and the Global Leadership Foundation, which harnesses the skills of senior retired statesmen to promote peace, democracy and development throughout the world.
Mr. De Klerk was elected to Parliament in 1972 and held a number of ministerial posts between 1978 and 1989. During his term as President between 1989 and 1994 he initiated and presided over the negotiations that led to the dismantling of apartheid and to the adoption of South Africa’s first fully democratic constitution in December 1993. He served from 1994 as Executive Deputy President in the Government of National Unity until June 1996 and as Leader of the Opposition until his retirement from politics in September 1997.
Since then Mr. De Klerk has established the F.W. de Klerk Foundation, which is dedicated to the promotion of peace in divided societies, and the Global Leadership Foundation, which harnesses the skills of senior retired statesmen to promote peace, democracy and development throughout the world.
