Carl Romme


Carl Paul Maria Romme was a Dutch politician of the defunct Roman Catholic State Party and later co-founder of the Catholic People's Party now merged into the Christian Democratic Appeal party and jurist. He was granted the honorary title of Minister of State on 16 December 1971.
Romme attended the Amsterdams Lyceum from June 1909 until June 1914 and applied at the University of Amsterdam in June 1914 majoring in Law and obtaining an Bachelor of Laws degree before graduating with an Master of Laws degree in July 1919. Romme worked as a lawyer in Amsterdam from September 1919 until June 1937. Romme also worked as an trade association executive for the Catholic Employers association from November 1919 until December 1924 and was a contributing editor for the magazines Het Patroonsblad and De RK Werkgever from February 1920 until December 1924. Romme served on the Municipal Council of Amsterdam from April 1921 until June 1937 and served on the Provincial-Council of North Holland from June 1935 until June 1937. Romme also became active in the private sector and public sector and occupied numerous seats as a corporate director and nonprofit director on several boards of directors and supervisory boards and served on several :nl:Staatscommissie|state commissions and councils on behalf of the government. Romme also worked as an associate professor of Labour law and at the Tilburg University from 1 January 1933 until 1 January 1935 and as a distinguished professor of Labour law, Administrative law and Constitutional law and at the Tilburg University from 1 January 1935 until 24 June 1937. Romme became a Member of the House of Representatives after the resignation of Leo Guit, serving from 31 January 1933 until 9 May 1933. Romme was elected as a Member of the Senate after the Senate election of 1937, taking office on 8 June 1937. After the election of 1937 Romme was appointed as Minister of Social Affairs in the Cabinet Colijn IV, taking office on 24 June 1937. The Cabinet Colijn IV fell on 29 June 1939 and continued to serve in a demissionary capacity until the cabinet formation of 1939 when it was replaced by the Cabinet Colijn V on 25 July 1939.
Romme again worked as a lawyer in Amsterdam from January 1940 until June 1946. On 10 May 1940 Nazi Germany invaded the Netherlands and the government fled to London to escape the German occupation. During World War II Romme continued to work as a lawyer. In December 1941 Romme was arrested and detained in Amsterdam and was released on January 1942. On 4 May 1942 Romme was arrested again and detained in Sint-Michielsgestel but was released four days later on 7 May 1942. Following the end of World War II Romme became actively involved with politics again and was one of the primary initiators for reforming the Roman Catholic State Party. On 22 December 1945 the Roman Catholic State Party was renamed as the Catholic People's Party, Romme was one of the co-founders and was selected as the first Leader of the Catholic People's Party and the Lijsttrekker of the Catholic People's Party for the election of 1946 on 10 January 1946. The Catholic People's Party had 31 seats in the House of House of Representatives previously held by the Roman Catholic State Party and made a small win, gaining 1 seat and remained the largest party and now had 32 seats in the House of Representatives. Romme was elected again as a Member of the House of Representatives and became the Parliamentary leader of the Catholic People's Party in the House of Representatives on 4 June 1946. Romme served continuously as Leader and Parliamentary leader for the next 15 years and was Lijsttrekker for the elections of 1948, 1952, 1956 and 1959.

Decorations

Honorary degrees