Bert-Jan Claes
Bert-Jan Claes | |
|---|---|
 Claes in 1935 | |
| President of Hevatia | |
| In office 6 August 1923 – 17 April 1938 | |
| Prime Minister | Timen Clarijs Bernhard Dederick Rogier Tiessens |
| Preceded by | Korneel Mijsters |
| Succeeded by | Clement Declercq (as Acting President) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Bert-Jan Claes 23 July 1870 Tijakia, Borish Hevatia |
| Died | 5 December 1940 (aged 70) Stresen, Borish Republic |
| Citizenship | Hevatian (1870–1938) Borish (1938–1940) |
| Political party | None |
| Spouse | Lotte Claes (m. 1895) |
| Children | 3 |
Bert-Jan Claes (23 July 1870 – 5 December 1940) was a Hevatian politician and business oligarch who served as the sixth and final President of the United Republic of Hevatia.
Claes was a wealthy coal magnate as the owner of the Hevatian National Mining Corporation until his election as president in 1923. He was known for his pro-business stance, his opposition to racial and gender equality, and his hostility towards leftism. Claes presided over a political machine that awarded favours to maintain political support, particularly to his allies in big business. While officially an independent politician, Claes was ideologically aligned with the right-wing New Republican Party that controlled the national legislature.
After his fraudulent reelection in March 1938, the country was consumed by political violence and his government was overthrown in April. He fled to Borland to avoid prosecution and the URH was transformed into a socialist state, with his remaining colleagues and allies being imprisoned, executed, or exiled. He died in exile in Borland in 1940.