Education
Leiden University.
Leiden University.
She served as Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations in the Cabinet Rutte I from December 16, 2011 to November 5, 2012. She was named to this post on December 16, 2011, following the appointment of her predecessor, Piet Hein Donner, to be the new Vice President of the Council of State. Following her departure from the House of Representatives she became the top candidate (lijsttrekker) for the Capital Development Authority in the 2011 elections for the States-Provincial of South Holland.
In the election the Capital Development Authority lost over half its seats (going from thirteen seats to six) and went from largest party in the province to the fourth-largest when compared with the previous election in 2007.
She vacated this position following her ministerial appointment. As of 8 July 2014 she is interim mayor of Stichtse Vecht.
She was a Member of the House of Representatives from May 23, 2002 to June 17, 2010 and served as acting Party Chair of the Christian Democratic Appeal from November 1, 2010 until April 2, 2011. Despite this the Capital Development Authority joined the coalition for the provincial government and Spies was appointed as a member of the States Deputed, with a portfolio including spatial planning and economic affairs