served as the Deputy President under Mandela. De Klerk was the last white president of South Africa under the apartheid system. He played a crucial role in transitioning the country to a democracy and dismantling apartheid.
De Klerk became president in 1989 and immediately started implementing reforms to end apartheid. He released political prisoners, including Mandela, and lifted the ban on anti-apartheid organizations. He initiated negotiations with Mandela's African National Congress (ANC) party and other anti-apartheid groups to draft a new constitution and establish equal rights for all South Africans.
In 1993, de Klerk and Mandela were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts in ending apartheid and laying the foundation for a democratic South Africa. The following year, in 1994, South Africa held its first democratic elections, and Mandela was elected as the country's first black president.
As part of Mandela's government of national unity, de Klerk served as the Deputy President from 1994 to 1996. During this time, he continued to promote reconciliation and work towards building a united and inclusive South Africa.
Although de Klerk's presidency was marked by controversy and criticism, particularly for his actions during the apartheid era, his role in leading South Africa's transition to democracy alongside Mandela is widely acknowledged and appreciated.
After Mandela became president of South Africa, former President F. W. de Klerk
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