First Kok cabinet
The First Kok cabinet, also called the First Purple cabinet was the cabinet of the Netherlands from 22 August 1994 until 3 August 1998. The cabinet was formed by the political parties Labour Party (PvdA), People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and the Democrats 66 (D66) after the election of 1994. The centre (Purple) grand coalition cabinet was a majority government in the House of Representatives. The First Kok cabinet was the first cabinet without a Christian democratic coalition party since the Cort van der Linden cabinet 75 years, 347 days before in 1918. It was the first of two cabinets of Wim Kok, the Leader of the Labour Party as Prime Minister. Hans Dijkstal the Deputy Leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy and Hans van Mierlo the Leader of the Democrats 66 served as Deputy Prime Ministers.[1]
First Kok cabinet First Purple cabinet | |
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62nd Cabinet of the Netherlands | |
The installation of the First Kok cabinet on 22 August 1994 | |
Date formed | 22 August 1994 |
Date dissolved | 3 August 1998 (Demissionary from 6 May 1998 ) |
People and organisations | |
Head of state | Queen Beatrix |
Head of government | Wim Kok |
Deputy head of government | Hans Dijkstal Hans van Mierlo |
No. of ministers | 14 |
Member party | Labour Party (PvdA) People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) Democrats 66 (D66) |
Status in legislature | Centre (Purple) Grand coalition |
Opposition party | Christian Democratic Appeal |
Opposition leader | Enneüs Heerma (1994–1997) Jaap de Hoop Scheffer (1997–1998) |
History | |
Election(s) | 1994 election |
Outgoing election | 1998 election |
Legislature term(s) | 1994–1998 |
Incoming formation | 1994 formation |
Outgoing formation | 1998 formation |
Predecessor | Third Lubbers cabinet |
Successor | Second Kok cabinet |
This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Netherlands |
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Local government
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Related topics |
Formation
After the election on 3 May 1994 the Labour Party (PvdA) of Wim Kok was the winner of the election despite losing 12 seats and now had a total of 37 seats. The Christian Democratic Appeal of incumbent Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers who had announced his retirement from national politics earlier was succeeded as Leader of the Christian Democratic Appeal by the Parliamentary leader of the Christian Democratic Appeal in the House of Representatives Elco Brinkman, a former Minister of Welfare, Health and Culture on 29 January 1994, under the new leadership they lost 20 seats and now had 34 seats. The Democrats 66 of Hans van Mierlo was the biggest winner gaining 12 new seats and now had a total of 24 seats. The People's Party for Freedom and Democracy under Frits Bolkestein where the other big winner gaining 9 new seats had a total of 31 seats in the House of Representatives.
On 6 May 1994 Queen Beatrix appointed President of the Senate Herman Tjeenk Willink (PvdA) as Informateur to start the cabinet formation process. After a first round of talks the Labour Party, the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy and the Democrats 66 agreed to start negotiation talks. The first round of negotiations were troubled by objections from the Leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy Frits Bolkenstein, in the end an agreement was reached to form a coalition. On 14 May 1994 Queen Beatrix appointed President of the Association of Netherlands Municipalities Klaas de Vries (PvdA), a former Member of the House of Representatives and Gijs van Aardenne (VVD), a former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Affairs and Senator Jan Vis (D66), a professor of Constitutional law at the University of Groningen as Informateurs. On 3 June 1994 party leaders Wim Kok (PvdA), Frits Bolkenstein (VVD) and Hans van Mierlo (D66) reached an agreement to begin the cabinet formation. The final cabinet formation negotiations were also troubled by new objections from Frits Bolkenstein about a stronger integration policy and on 26 June 1994 negotiations between the parties failed to form a cabinet.
On 27 June 1994 Queen Beatrix reappointed Herman Tjeenk Willink as Informateur to look at the possibility of the Christian Democratic Appeal joining the Labour Party and the Democrats 66 in a coalition but objections from Democrats 66 halted that. On 6 July 1994 Queen Beatrix appointed Wim Kok as Informateur to write an open coalition proposal with the possibility of other parties to join the agreement. On 29 July 1994 the Labour Party, the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy and the Democrats 66 finally agreed to form a cabinet and Queen Beatrix appointed Wim Kok as Formateur that same day and tasked him with forming a new cabinet. On 22 August 1994 the cabinet formation was completed and the First Kok cabinet was installed with Wim Kok as Prime Minister and with Hans Dijkstal and Hans van Mierlo as Deputy Prime Ministers.
On 16 August 1994 shortly before the cabinet formation was completed Elco Brinkman who had only been the Leader of the Christian Democratic Appeal since 29 January 1994 stepped down following the disappointing election results and his inability to join the new cabinet, he was succeeded by Member of the House of Representatives Enneüs Heerma, the former State Secretary for Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment.
Term
The main aim of the cabinet under the lead of Wim Kok was to create employment. Gross domestic product (GDP) growth had been erratic in recent years. The aim of the cabinet was to increase the influence of markets in the economy, with policies of tax reduction, economizing and trying to keep people out of the social care by supporting employment. Large infrastructural projects were started. Another aim was to make an end to the enormous debt of the Dutch government.
The Treaty of Amsterdam was signed during this cabinet. The Srebrenica massacre occurred under the responsibility of this government, which led later to the fall of the Second Kok cabinet.
The cabinet started processes of liberalization which were completed by the same coalition in the following cabinet: the legalization of prostitution in 2000, same-sex marriage in 2001 and Euthanasia in 2002.
This cabinet was the last to serve a full term until the Second Rutte cabinet from 2012 to 2017. Five of the following cabinets resigned and one was a temporary caretaker cabinet.[2]
Changes
On 28 June 1996, State Secretary for Social Affairs and Employment Robin Linschoten (VVD) resigned after a majority of the House of Representatives indicated that they had lost confidence in his ability to remain in office after a critical parliamentary inquiry into his handling of several social security issues was released. On 2 July 1996, Amsterdam alderman Frank de Grave (VVD), a former Member of the House of Representatives was appointed as his successor.
Cabinet Members
Ministers | Title/Ministry | Term of office | Party | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wim Kok (1938–2018) |
Prime Minister | General Affairs | 22 August 1994 – 22 July 2002 |
Labour Party | ||
Hans Dijkstal (1943–2010) |
Deputy Prime Minister / Minister |
Interior | 22 August 1994 – 3 August 1998 |
People's Party for Freedom and Democracy | ||
Hans van Mierlo (1931–2010) |
Deputy Prime Minister / Minister |
Foreign Affairs | 22 August 1994 – 3 August 1998 |
Democrats 66 | ||
Gerrit Zalm (born 1952) |
Minister | Finance | 22 August 1994 – 4 June 1996 [Note] |
People's Party for Freedom and Democracy | ||
Dr. Hans Wijers (born 1951) |
4 June 1996 – 26 June 1996 [Ad interim] |
Democrats 66 | ||||
Gerrit Zalm (born 1952) |
26 June 1996 – 22 July 2002 |
People's Party for Freedom and Democracy | ||||
Winnie Sorgdrager (born 1948) |
Minister | Justice | 22 August 1994 – 3 August 1998 |
Democrats 66 | ||
Dr. Hans Wijers (born 1951) |
Minister | Economic Affairs | 22 August 1994 – 3 August 1998 |
Democrats 66 | ||
Dr. Joris Voorhoeve (born 1945) |
Minister | Defence | 22 August 1994 – 3 August 1998 |
People's Party for Freedom and Democracy | ||
Dr. Els Borst (1932–2014) |
Minister | Health, Welfare and Sport |
3 August 1998 – 22 July 2002 |
Democrats 66 | ||
Ad Melkert (born 1956) |
Minister | Social Affairs and Employment |
22 August 1994 – 3 August 1998 |
Labour Party | ||
Dr. Jo Ritzen (born 1945) |
Minister | Education, Culture and Science |
7 November 1989 – 3 August 1998 [Retained] |
Labour Party | ||
Annemarie Jorritsma (born 1950) |
Minister | Transport and Water Management |
22 August 1994 – 3 August 1998 |
People's Party for Freedom and Democracy | ||
Jozias van Aartsen (born 1947) |
Minister | Agriculture, Nature and Fisheries |
22 August 1994 – 3 August 1998 |
People's Party for Freedom and Democracy | ||
Margreeth de Boer (born 1939) |
Minister | Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment |
22 August 1994 – 3 August 1998 |
Labour Party | ||
Ministers without portfolio | Title/Portfolio/Ministry | Term of office | Party | |||
Dr. Joris Voorhoeve (born 1945) |
Minister | Netherlands Antilles and Aruba Affairs (within Interior) |
22 August 1994 – 3 August 1998 |
People's Party for Freedom and Democracy | ||
Jan Pronk (born 1940) |
Minister | Development Cooperation (within Foreign Affairs) |
7 November 1989 – 3 August 1998 [Retained] |
Labour Party | ||
State Secretaries | Title/Portfolio/Ministry | Term of office | Party | |||
Tonny van de Vondervoort (born 1950) |
State Secretary | • Provincial Government Affairs • Local Government Affairs • Government Reform (within Interior) |
22 August 1994 – 3 August 1998 |
Labour Party | ||
Jacob Kohnstamm (born 1949) |
• Urban Planning • Emergency Services • Disaster Management (within Interior) |
22 August 1994 – 3 August 1998 |
Democrats 66 | |||
Michiel Patijn (born 1942) |
State Secretary | • European Affairs • NATO Affairs • Benelux Affairs • International Aviation Policy (within Foreign Affairs) |
22 August 1994 – 3 August 1998 |
People's Party for Freedom and Democracy | ||
Dr. Willem Vermeend (born 1948) |
State Secretary | • Fiscal Affairs • Tax and Customs Administration • Local Government Finances • National Mint • Gambling Policy • State Lottery (within Finance) |
22 August 1994 – 24 March 2000 |
Labour Party | ||
Elizabeth Schmitz (born 1938) |
State Secretary | • Integration • Immigration • Asylum Affairs • Privacy Policy • Family Law • Youth Justice • Prison Administration (within Justice) |
22 August 1994 – 3 August 1998 |
Labour Party | ||
Anneke van Dok -van Weele (born 1947) |
State Secretary [Title] |
• International Trade • Export Promotion • Regional Development • Consumer Protection • Tourism Affairs (within Economic Affairs) |
22 August 1994 – 3 August 1998 |
Labour Party | ||
Jan Gmelich Meijling (1936–2012) |
State Secretary | • Personnel Affairs • Equipment Policy • Organizational Restructuring • Veteran Affairs (within Defence) |
22 August 1994 – 3 August 1998 |
People's Party for Freedom and Democracy | ||
Erica Terpstra (born 1943) |
State Secretary | • Youth Policy • Elderly Policy • Disability Affairs • Minority Affairs • Food Policy • Sport (within Health, Welfare and Sport) |
22 August 1994 – 3 August 1998 |
People's Party for Freedom and Democracy | ||
Robin Linschoten (born 1956) |
State Secretary | Social Security • Unemployment Affairs • Occupational Safety • Social Services • Poverty Policy (within Social Affairs and Employment) |
22 August 1994 – 28 June 1996 [Res] |
People's Party for Freedom and Democracy | ||
Frank de Grave (born 1955) |
2 July 1996 – 3 August 1998 |
People's Party for Freedom and Democracy | ||||
Tineke Netelenbos (born 1944) |
State Secretary | • Primary Education • Secondary Education • Special Education (within Education, Culture and Science) |
22 August 1994 – 3 August 1998 |
Labour Party | ||
Aad Nuis (1933–2007) |
• Science Policy • Media Affairs • Culture Policy • Arts Policy (within Education, Culture and Science) |
22 August 1994 – 3 August 1998 |
Democrats 66 | |||
Dr. Dick Tommel (born 1942) |
State Secretary | • Public Housing • Spatial Planning • Environmental Policy • Nature Policy • Environmental Remediation • Sustainability Policy • Rural Development (within Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment) |
22 August 1994 – 3 August 1998 |
Democrats 66 | ||
Source: (in Dutch) Kabinet-Kok I Rijksoverheid |
- Retained Retained this position from the previous cabinet.
- Res Resigned.
- Ad interim Served ad interim.
- Title Allowed to use the title of Minister while on foreign business.
- Note Gerrit Zalm took a medical leave of absence from 4 June 1996 until 26 June 1996.
References
- "De formatie van Paars 1: een heidens karwei" (in Dutch). Andere Tijden. 3 September 2002. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
- "Paarse kabinetten (1994-2002)" (in Dutch). IsGeschiedenis. 13 September 2012. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
External links
- Official
- (in Dutch) Kabinet-Kok I Rijksoverheid
- (in Dutch) Kabinet-Kok I Parlement & Politiek
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