Jean Wiertz
Jean Wiertz is a Dutch composer, music teacher, and school administrator. He has served as chairperson of the Christian Democratic Appeal since March 2024.
Life
Wiertz was born in Schaesberg, Limburg, and studied at Maastricht Academy of Music. He attended Utrecht and Leiden Universities before becoming a music teacher at the Rotterdam Sint-Laurenscollege high school in 1982. In addition to teaching, Wiertz worked as a composer and arranger for public broadcasters VARA, KRO, and NOS and contributed to the Rotterdam musicals Kaat Mossel and Mooi Katenderchet.He became principal of Sint-Laurenscollege in 2006, and he filled the same position simultaneously at Eckartcollege and Pleincollege – located in Eindhoven and Nuenen, respectively – between 2011 and 2017. He assumed the position of principal of the Sint-Janslyceum high school in 's-Hertogenbosch in the latter year. Wiertz was appointed chairperson of the CDA at a convention on 23 March 2024. He succeeded Hans Huibers, who had stepped down the summer before. Wiertz declared he wanted to restore the party's stability, honesty, and reliability following a loss of seats in the November 2023 general election.