Wijn was elected to the
House of Representatives for the
Christian Democratic Appeal in the
1998 general election, taking office on 19 May 1998. As an MP he served as
spokesperson for finance, small business and integration, and as deputy spokesperson for economic affairs and postal services. In 2000, he was one of the few CDA MPs that voted in favour of the introduction of
same-sex marriage in the Netherlands. The debate about same-sex marriage caused friction between his personal life and his political affiliation, as Wijn himself is gay.), after lobbying from U.S. tax lawyers from 2003-2006. They are credited with making the Netherlands one of the world’s largest
corporate havens (see the
ten major tax havens). The Balkenende II cabinet fell on 30 June 2006 after the
Democrats 66 (D66) had lost confidence in the functioning of
Minister of Integration and Asylum Affairs Rita Verdonk and continued to serve in a demissionary capacity until the
2006–2007 cabinet formation, when it was replaced by the
caretaker Balkenende III cabinet, with Wijn appointed as
Minister of Economic Affairs, taking office on 7 July 2006. After the
2006 general election, Wijn again returned to the House of Representatives, taking office on 30 November 2006. On 6 February 2007, Wijn unexpectedly announced his retirement from national politics and per his own request asked not to be considered for a cabinet post in the new
cabinet, the Balkenende III cabinet was replaced by the
Balkende IV cabinet on 22 February 2007 and he resigned from the House of Representatives the same day. == Business ==