Facts: - party: people -rrb- independent -lrb- 2007 -rrb- proud of the netherlands -lrb- 's 2007-2012 -rrb- democratic political turning point -lrb- from 2012 -rrb- party for freedom and democracy -lrb- 2002-2007 - predecessor: piet hein donner hilbrand nawijn - birth date: 18 october 1955 - birthname: maria cornelia frederika verdonk - spouse: peter willems - office: parliamentary leader - independent minister for integration and immigration - term end: september 22 , 2006 february 22 , 2007 - name: rita verdonk - website: -lsb- http://ritaverdonk.nl/ official site -rsb- - birth place: utrecht , netherlands - successor: ernst immigration , integration and asylum affairs -rrb- hirsch ballin gerd leers -lrb- as minister for - primeminister: jan peter balkenende jan peter balkenende - nationality: dutch - occupation: politician civil servant prison warden entrepreneur management consultant columnist - alma mater: radboud university nijmegen -lrb- m.a. -rrb- - imagesize: 250px - residence: nootdorp , netherlands - term start: september 21 , 2006 may 27 , 2003 - image: rita verdonk.jpg - religion: lapsed catholic Based on these bullet points, write a short biography describing the life of rita verdonk .
maria cornelia frederika '' rita '' verdonk -lrb- born october 18 , 1955 -rrb- is a former dutch politician .she was a leader of the people 's party for freedom and democracy -lrb- vvd -rrb- for some time , and later founded a new party , proud of the netherlands -lrb- trots -rrb- .in 2011 she retired from politics .she earlier served as minister for integration and immigration in the cabinets balkenende ii and iii .during her time as minister for integration and immigration , she was considered to be the most powerful and influential minister of the cabinets balkenende ii and iii .in 2006 after the minister of justice piet hein donner resigned following a netherlands safety board enquiry into a fire at a cell block near schiphol airport , she served as minister of justice from september 21 , 2006 till september 22 , 2006 .after the dutch general election of 2006 , the people 's party for freedom and democracy lost seats .it became the leading opposition party against the cabinet balkenende iv .verdonk was elected as a member of the house of representatives , but after continuing disagreement with party leader mark rutte , she was expelled from the parliamentary faction of the people 's party for freedom and democracy on september 13 , 2007 .one month later she cancelled her membership , after a reconciliation attempt failed and the people 's party for freedom and democracy party board initiated a procedure of exclusion .in october 2007 , she announced the creation of her own political movement , proud of the netherlands -lrb- dutch : '' trots op nederland '' -rrb- .she was the lijsttrekker of the proud of the netherlands party for the dutch general election of 2010 , but did not win any seats .on october 21 , 2011 she announced her retirement from politics .the proud of the netherlands party eventually merged with the independent citizens ' party -lrb- obp -rrb- of hero brinkman to form the new democratic political turning point -lrb- dpk -rrb- party .this party was described as filling a gap...