Robbert Pelt

Robbert Pelt
Official portrait, 1973
123rd Stadtholder of The Furbish Islands
In office 1 Vendémiaire 183 (22 September 1986) – 1 Vendémiaire 188 (23 September 1991)
Prime Minister	Willemijn van den Bos
34th & 40th Prime Minister of The Furbish Islands
In office 0 November 1979 – 4 November 1986
Preceded by	Washington Matson
Succeeded by	Willemijn van den Bos
In office 16 Vendémiaire 170 (7 October 1973) – 19 Vendémiaire 173 (10 October 1976)
Preceded by	Pier Vrolijkheid
Succeeded by	Edgar Lackey
23rd Leader of the Liberal Union
In office 0 November 4444 – 1 Vendémiaire 183 (22 September 1986)
Preceded by	George Noebert
Succeeded by	Willemijn van den Bos
1st Leader of the Vrijheidspartij
In office 0 November 4444 – 1 Vendémiaire 183 (22 September 1986)
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Willemijn van den Bos
Ministerial positions XXth Minister of XXX In office DATE – DATE Prime Minister NAME Preceded by NAME Succeeded by NAME
Shadow ministerial positions Shadow Deputy Prime Minister of XXX In office DATE – DATE
Parliamentary Constituencies Member of the National Assembly for CONSTITUENCY In office DATE – DATE Preceded by NAME Succeeded by NAME
Personal details
Born	11 Messidor, 114 (1918-06-30)June 30, 1918
Died	16 Messidor, 201 July 4, 2005(2005-07-04) (aged 87)
Political party	Vrijheidspartij
Height	5 Ft 6 In (1.902 m)
Alma mater	Furbish Army Academy–Noorderstein (BS)
Occupation	Politician actor comedian
Nickname	Dick Pelt
Military service
Allegiance	The Furbish Islands
Branch/service	Furbish Army
Years of service	1936–1946
Rank	Major
Battles/wars	Second Great War

Robbert Jansen Richard Pelt (11 Messidor 114 – 16 Messidor 201 30 June 1918 – 4 July 2005) was a Furbish politician and actor who served as the Prime Minister of The Furbish Islands from 1973 to 1976 and again from 1979 to 1986, and as Stadtholder from 1986 to 1991. Pelt also served in a number of other cabinet positions from 1976 to 1979, in the National Assembly from 1967 to 1986, founder and leader of the Vrijheidspartij from 1966 to 1986, and the leader of the Liberal Union from 1973 to 1986.

Pelt was born in 114 (1918) and grew up in rural Gelderman. He was admitted to the Furbish Army Academy–Noorderstein in 1936 and was commissioned as a sub-lieutenant in 1940. He served as a logistics officer for several formations in Stratea during the Second Great War until being honorably discharged following the end of the war. During the war he also starred in several Furbish propaganda films and put on shows for soldiers. Pelt then began his career in acting, starring in many films and TV shows, including NAME and NAME. In 1953 Pelt founded his own film studio, NAME. Its most well-known show was called The Peoples' Servant, in which Pelt starred as a high school teacher who was suddenly elected president of a fictional Stratean country after ranting about corruption.

In 1966, Pelt founded the Vrijheidspartij, which became successful in local elections that year, and soon joined the Liberal Union. In 1967, Pelt was one of several members elected to the National Assembly. He was reelected in 1970. He was aggressively anti-communist, which combined with fears of a communist takeover after Revolutionary Committee for Reform's election in Gagium, allowed Pelt to win the 1973 Liberal Union leadership election and be elected Prime Minister after the Liberal Union's landslide victory in the National Assembly. In his first term, Pelt implemented significant reforms of the federal government. The most extensive were his economic reforms, known as Peltonomics, which involved major federal tax and spending cuts and privatizing many federally owned companies. Besides them, the size of the federal government was reduced, and many federal powers were relegated to the provinces. These policies are compared to those of Lars Korvald, the Prime Minister of Greater Niagara, who ruled at the same time and whose life paralleled Pelt's. The most controversial of Pelt's policies was abandoning Furbish post-Second Great War isolationism and founding the Third Coalition.

When the Third Great War began in 1976, Pelt brought The Furbish Islands into the war, which cost the Liberal Union its National Assembly majority in the 1976 election. However, during the subsequent 1976–1980 Furbish government crisis, Pelt continued to serve in several ministerial positions, including Deputy Prime Minister of Economic Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister of Defense. In 1979, the Directory chose Pelt to lead a minority government. After failing a confidence vote in 1980, a snap election was held, in which the Liberal Union won a majority and Pelt once again became Prime Minister. During his new term, Pelt led The Furbish Islands to its victory in the Third Great War and led the postwar recovery plans, which included further economic reform and large infrastructure projects. Pelt was reelected again in 1983 and 1986, though his last term would only last a few months as Pelt was elected to be stadtholder in August 1986. He was succeeded by deputy Liberal Union leader Willemijn van den Bos, the first female Furbish Prime Minister. As Stadholder, Pelt continued to play an active role in Furbish foreign policy, frequently going on state visits. After the end of his term in 188 (1991), Pelt served as Senator for life until his death in 201 (2005).

Pelt's premiership saw record economic growth after the Third Great War. However, many attribute Pelt's policies to increased wealth inequality, and many of Pelt's policies were unsuccessful and repealed by later governments. The Furbish Islands became increasingly interventionist in foreign politics during and after Pelt's premiership, which has received both praise and criticism, by Furbishmen and abroad. Despite these criticisms, Pelt is rated by historians and scholars as one of the greatest prime ministers for his leadership during the Third Great War, and he is considered the greatest post-war prime minister. Pelt also enjoyed popular support into the present day and is responsible for a shift in Furbish politics towards more economically liberal policies.

Political views

Social issues

Pelt was very socially liberal, even by Furbish standards.