Early Life
De Klerk was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, into a prominent Afrikaner family. His father, Jan de Klerk, was a cabinet minister in the National Party government. De Klerk studied law at the University of Stellenbosch and graduated with a doctorate in law in 1958.
Political Career
De Klerk joined the National Party in 1959 and quickly rose through the ranks. He was elected to the South African Parliament in 1972 and served in various ministerial positions, including Minister of Internal Affairs and Minister of Education.
In 1989, de Klerk was elected State President of South Africa, succeeding P. W. Botha. He inherited a country that was on the brink of civil war, with racial tensions at an all-time high. De Klerk immediately began to implement reforms, including the release of political prisoners, the lifting of the ban on the African National Congress (ANC), and the negotiation of a peaceful transition to democracy.
In 1993, de Klerk and ANC leader Nelson Mandela were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to end apartheid. De Klerk served as State President until 1994, when he was succeeded by Mandela after the first democratic elections were held in South Africa.
Post-Presidency
After leaving office, de Klerk continued to be involved in public life. He served as the leader of the National Party until 1997 and was a member of the South African Parliament until 1999. He also served as a member of the Nelson Mandela Foundation and the FW de Klerk Foundation, which promotes democracy, human rights, and reconciliation in South Africa.
De Klerk died on November 11, 2021, at the age of 85. He is remembered as one of the most influential leaders in South African history and as a key figure in the transition to democracy.