Bukman attended a
Gymnasium in
Delft from April 1946 until June 1952 and applied at the
Free University Amsterdam in July 1952
majoring in Economics obtaining a
Bachelor of Economics degree in June 1954 before obtaining a
Master of Economics degree in July 1958. Bukman worked as a trade association executive for the
Christian Farmers and Gardeners Association (CBTB) from August 1958 until December 1980 and served as general-secretary from May 1968 until September 1975 and as chairman from September 1975 until December 1980. Bukman served as
chairman of the Christian Democratic Appeal from 11 October 1980 until 14 July 1986. Bukman was elected to the
Senate after the
1981 Senate election, taking office on 10 June 1981 serving as a
frontbencher and spokesperson for agriculture. Bukman also served as
President of the European People's Party from 10 July 1985 until 30 July 1987. After the
1986 general election Bukman was appointed
Minister for Development Cooperation in the
Lubbers II cabinet, taking office on 14 July 1986. Bukman served as acting
Minister of Defence from 6 September 1988 until 24 September 1988 following the resignation of
Wim van Eekelen. The Lubbers II cabinet fell on 3 May 1989 and continued to serve in a
demissionary capacity. Bukman was elected to the
House of Representatives after the
1989 general election, taking office on 14 September 1989. Following the
cabinet formation of 1989 Bukman was appointed
State Secretary for Economic Affairs in the
Lubbers III cabinet, taking office on 7 November 1989. Bukman was appointed
Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Fisheries following the resignation of
Gerrit Braks, taking office on 28 September 1990. After the
1994 general election Bukman returned to the House of Representatives, taking office on 17 May 1994. The Lubbers III cabinet was replaced by the
Kok I cabinet following the
cabinet formation of 1994 on 22 August 1994 and he continued to serve in the House of Representatives as a frontbencher and spokesperson for development cooperation, development aid and Kingdom relations. After the
Speaker of the House of Representatives Wim Deetman announced his resignation following his nomination as
Mayor of The Hague, Bukman announced his candidacy to succeed him. Bukman won the election defeating party member and fellow frontbencher
Ali Doelman-Pel and was elected as Speaker, taking office on 3 December 1996. On 23 September 1997 Bukman announced his retirement from national politics and that he would not stand for the
1998 general election and continued to serve until the end of the parliamentary term on 19 May 1998. Bukman retired after spending 17 years in national politics and became active in the
private sector and
public sector and occupied numerous seats as a corporate director and nonprofit director on several boards of directors and supervisory boards (
International Food Policy Research Institute,
LEI Wageningen UR,
European Cultural Foundation and the
World Food Programme). Bukman was known for his abilities as a team leader and manager. Bukman continued to comment on political affairs until his retirement in 2018 and held the distinction as the first unified Chairman of the Christian Democratic Appeal and as the only Dutchman that served as President of the European People's Party as of . == Electoral history ==