Helen Vandenberg

Helen Katherine Vandenberg (born 17 September 1939) is a former Enderronian politician who served as the 33rd Prime Minister of Enderron from 1990 to 1997, and later the 7th President of Enderron from 2006 to 2012. She served as leader of the Social Democratic Party of Enderron from 1987 to 1997, and as a Member of Parliament for Rosslea from 1982 to 1998. Before entering federal politics, she served as the Governor of Miranda Prefecture from 1980 to 1982 following the resignation of Frank Stanford. She is the first woman to hold the offices of Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition (1987–1990), leader of a major party in Enderron and Governor of Miranda. She is also the first female president to be elected and to have served a full term.

Vandenberg was born in Wentworth to Dutch Enderronian parents, and spent her childhood in the cities of Kingscliffe, Janszoon and Nottingham, Miranda. She joined the Social Democratic Party while studying at the University of Wentworth, serving on the Student Representative Council from 1959 to 1961. She later served as the first female president of the Janszoon Young Social Democrats, from 1967 to 1969. She worked in the political office of Miranda Premier Greg Hines, before being nominated as the running mate of Frank Stanford for the 1978 Miranda gubernatorial election. Stanford was re-elected, with Vandenberg becoming the prefecture's first female Lieutenant Governor. In 1980, Stanford resigned following a sex scandal, and Vandenberg became Governor. She was the first female and the youngest person to serve in the position. She sought election for a full term in 1982, but was defeated by National Party candidate Mark Willis.

Vandenberg then entered federal politics, winning election to the Enderronian Parliament at the 1982 federal election as the member for Rosslea, a safe SDP seat in outer Kingscliffe. She was immediately promoted to the Cabinet, serving as the Minister for Women from 1982 to 1985, then as the Minister for Education from 1985 to 1986, under Prime Minister James Thorpe. Following the Social Democrats' defeat at the 1986 federal election, Vandenberg nominated as a candidate for the ensuing party leadership election, but withdrew prior to the caucus vote; Jeffrey Ruben was elected leader. Vandenberg instead nominated for the position of deputy leader, and was elected unopposed. She served as the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs until June 1987, when Ruben was ousted as party leader. Vandenberg contested the leadership spill and was handily elected as the new leader, defeating Brian Heath.

Under Vandenberg's leadership, the Social Democrats vehemently opposed the United government's economic reforms, and eventually took a significant lead in opinion polling. As widely expected, the Social Democrats defeated the United Party at the 1990 election, and Vandenberg succeeded Mike Behrens as Prime Minister. The Vandenberg Government inherited an economy in recession, and was forced to renege on a number of election promises, essentially advancing the free-market reforms of the previous government, albeit at a less dramatic pace. Under Vandenberg's prime ministership, the National Bank of Enderron was fully privatised, tariffs were fully eliminated, several free trade agreements were established, and the taxation system was reformed, including the introduction of a capital gains tax, fringe benefits tax and stamp duty. Vandenberg also repealed several of the Behrens Government's more unpopular and extreme reforms, reintroducing compulsory superannuation and Medicare for all residents. On the social front, the Vandenberg Government enacted policies to enshrine multiculturalism in legislation, recognised Chinese and Japanese as official minority languages, increased the annual immigration intake, banned discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation, and introduced major restrictions on indoor smoking.

Vandenberg was re-elected in a landslide at the 1994 federal election, winning more than 49 percent of the vote and 98 of the 140 seats in parliament. After serving seven years as Prime Minister and a decade as the leader of the Social Democratic Party, Vandenberg announced her retirement from both positions in November 1997, and was succeeded by her deputy Rick Clarkson. She subsequently sat on the backbench until her retirement from parliament at the 1998 election.

Vandenberg was later nominated by the Social Democratic Party to contest the 2006 presidential election; she defeated incumbent president Margaret Hu in a landslide, winning almost 54 percent of the two-candidate-preferred vote. Vandenberg pledged to serve a single term, and retired from public life following the end of her term in 2012.

Vandenberg is generally highly regarded by historians and commentators for her role in modernising the Enderronian economy in a palatable manner and restoring growth after the early 1990s recession, and for her work in advancing multiculturalism, civil rights, universal healthcare, and the arts.