De Hoop Scheffer studied Law at the Leiden University obtaining a Master of Laws degree and worked as a civil servant and diplomat for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Diplomatic service from October 1976 until June 1986. After the election of 1986 De Hoop Scheffer was elected as a Member of the House of Representatives on 3 June 1986 and served a frontbencher and spokesperson for Foreign and European Affairs. After Party Leader and Parliamentary leader Enneüs Heerma stepped down De Hoop Scheffer was selected as his successor on 27 March 1997. For the election of 1998 De Hoop Scheffer served as "Lijsttrekker" (top candidate). Following a internal power struggle with Party Chairman Marnix van Rij before a upcoming election De Hoop Scheffer announced that he was stepping down as Leader and that he wouldn't stand for the election of 2002.