Catherine Van Helsing

State Portrait of acting-Premier van Helsing, 2146, during the Third World War

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Dame **Catherine Van Helsing** (2088-2185) was a Frisian Politician who served as the 12th and 14th Premier of Neo-Europe, though her early time as Premier is disputed due to the Third World War. However, it is accepted she served as Premier of the whole of Neo-Europe from 2050, being formally elected in 2152, until 2162, then again from 2166 to 2169. A moderate member of the **National Party,** she believed in social conservatism, Monarchism, State Capitalism and anti-Socialist values.

She also served as a National Party Deputy for 45 years from 2125 until 2170 (not accounting for disruptions as a result of the war), an optional decision for a sitting Premier.

## Early Life

Born in Amsterdam, Frisia on 21 February 2088 to Biologist Bram Van Helsing (2049-2131) and Writer Fenna (Née Jansen; 2054-2117) as the third of four children. Her paternal grandfather, Hugo Van Helsing (2014-2107) was Governor of Frisia from 2082 to 2091, and a member of the Frisian Assembly from 2064 to 2092. At her grandfather's funeral, she met Emperor Franz for the first time. She lived in Frisia until the start of her political career in 2125. Prior to then she was a teacher of English and German at several schools in Frisia after attending University, where she became Chairwoman of the Frisian Student's Cultural Society during her time there. In 2116 she married the Frisian Geert Rutte (2075-2178). Together they have two sons (born 2120 and 22); Rutte also has a daughter from a previous relationship.

## Political Career

The Civil War inspired her to stand for Neo-European values and against separatism and Communism. She decided to stand in the Commons in the 2125 Election as a member of the governing National Party. She entered Premier Carron's Federal Government in 2131 as Undersecretary for Culture, before becoming Culture Secretary in 2135 and, following the resignation of Claude Innsbruck, became Foreign Secretary in 2136 partly due to her popularity, and partly due to her efficiency as Culture Secretary.

In 2137 she became internationally known when she acted as the Neo-European representative in the Krivoy Rog event, peacefully settling the dispute. However, tensions between Neo-Europe and GUISS were growing, and internally the growing Republican Party was causing problems.

She became poised as a potential successor for Alois Carron, who at almost 80 years old in 2140 admitted he would not stand for another term as Premier, regardless of the result. The Nationals lost to the Republicans (although evidence is now here of election meddling) and a Premiership election was moved forward to three months following that Commons election, where Van Helsing stood as the National Party candidate. However, she lost to the Republican Oscar Murphy, becoming Leader of the Opposition. This was the first time in 30 years that Neo-Europe did not have a National Party Premier. Leading the Opposition, she saw suspicion with Murphy and the Republicans, her support among other Republican opponents increased.

Eventually she formed the 'Monarchist Bloc,' which other parties soon joined, though following 2144's Silent Revolution she and other prominent Right-Wing Politicans and members of the Stuttgart Dynasty fled the country, going to Nordica.

## As Wartime Leader

Following several states' enaction of their Secessionist Clauses, head base was set up in Islamabad, Punjab. She encouraged Nordica to ally with the 'true' Neo-Europe, which they did after war was declared following NESR's invasion of Francia -and technically already set due to treaties by Carron and Nordican leaders in the 2130s. She presented herself as the true and rightful head of government of Neo-Europe. In this time she developed a strong working relationship with Nordican Commissioner Svend Anker - something NESR picked up on, producing various fictitious Propaganda cartoons of them being lovers. Following London's successful recapture, then GUISS' surrender, she helped draft the Treaty of Moscow with Anker to deal with the terms of the war.

## Official Premiership

Following the National Party's Victory in 2151, she was officially elected Premier in 2152 after serving as Provisional Premier for two years. As a result, her policies largely guided Neo-Europe's postwar recovery. This included Constitutional changes, such as the full formation of the Commonwealths. It was ultimately her party that made her lose the 2161 election, due to divisions between different factions. Following a hung commons, the National Party formed a Coalition with the Liberals, on the condition that Van Helsing does not run in next year's Premier Election - she accepted.

### In Opposition, 2162-66

Kosntantin Smirnov's breakaway group, the Orthodox Party, took more and more National Party deputies, and he was elected Premier in 2162. At this time, Van Helsing's coalition with the Liberals collapsed, though she remained Leader of the National Party.

### Second Premiership, 2166-69

She and the National Party returned to power in a surprise victory in 2166. She inherited the problems of Sanctorum from Smirnov, which partly contributed to her decision to organize the International Confederation, an organisation whereupon all nations are permited to join to ensure peace. She is met with some opposition due to her decision to support an ammendment by future Premier Alexander Miliband, which would forbid religious activities in order to quell the influence of groups such as Sanctorum. In a joint mission with Nordica, Sanctorum leader Sebastian Bauer is captured and tried, sentenced to Sanctorum, a decision directly influenced by Van Helsing. In 2169, aged 81, she announces she will retire from politics due to her self-assessed mental and physical deterioration, as well as the declining health of her husband, with publicity putting him under a lot of strain in his advanced age. Vice Premier Benito Brossi succeeded her.

## Post-Premiership

While still attending some meetings and conferences, including meeting Empress Elaine on several occasions, she remained largely out of the public eye in the 2170s. Her husband, Geert Rutte, died in 2176 of natural causes. Following this, she purchased a summer home in Nordican North America which she used for holidays, and spent more and more time there. Luckily for her, she was there when Tekin's coup happened, using her place out of Neo-Europe to publicly criticise the Supreme Marshal. She died in 2185 aged 97 in Nordican America, and requested her remains be placed there. Her sons were with Catherine just before she died, and they thanked Nordica for honouring her after her death.

## Personal Life

She married fellow Frisian Geert Rutte (2075-2178) in 2116, having two sons: Willem (2120-2231) and Daan (2122-2239). She also adopted Rutte's daughter, Hanna (2108-2204), whom he had from a previous relationship.

She had several grandchildren through her two sons, and later, some great-grandchildren. Not all of them survived the Purge by Tekin, such as Daan's daughter, National Party Deputy Lotte Rutte (2151-2184), though most had managed to emigrate to Nordican North America before the coup. Another of Daan's children, son Lucas (born 2157) fathered Maud Rutte (born 2184) who would eventually become **Vice Premier of Neo-Europe in 2239,** and later, **Premier of Neo-Europe** in January 2243.Through Lucas, this makes her Catherine Van Helsing's Great-Granddaughter.

## Legacy

Van Helsing was a respected Premier who was remembered with mainly favourible views by the Neo-European populace. But, according to some National Party members, they did not entirely think this way. National deputy Joseph Struber defined her as a 'brilliant wartime leader, but not so much in peace time.' This was also true of National defectors to the Orthodox Party - Smirnov himself believed she 'lacked a single backbone in her body following the war.'

Regardless, she brought hope, peace and stability to Neo-Europe.