First cabinet of Wim Kok
Encyclopedia
The First cabinet of Wim Kok
(1994-1998), also called the "Purple Coalition
" because of its social-democrat (red) and liberal
(blue) components, was a Dutch
government formed by the political parties PVDA, VVD and D66
. D66 had won its greatest political victory with the slogan that the Christian Democratic Appeal
should be in the opposition for a change. The desire to form a cabinet without the Christian Democrats was based on the pivotal role in the political center that the CDA played in Dutch politics. The CDA had been in government continuously since its formation in 1980, and at least one of its three antecedents had been in government since 1918.
The main aim of the cabinet was to create employment. The Dutch economy had been in a strong recession for years. The market should get more influence in the economy. This let to a policy 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 first non-Christian coalition supported by a non-CDA majority in the parliament in many decades was responsible for passing legislation
allowing euthanasia
, gay marriage and legalized prostitution.
Wim Kok
Willem "Wim" Kok ; born September 29, 1938) is a retired Dutch politician of the Labour Party . He served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from August 22, 1994 until July 22, 2002....
(1994-1998), also called the "Purple Coalition
Purple (government)
Purple is a common term in politics for governments or other political entities consisting of parties that have red and blue as their political colours...
" because of its social-democrat (red) and liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
(blue) components, was a Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
government formed by the political parties PVDA, VVD and D66
Democrats 66
Democrats 66 is a progressive and social-liberal political party in the Netherlands. D66 was formed in 1966 by a group of politically unaligned, young intellectuals, led by journalist Hans van Mierlo. The party's main objective was to democratise the political system; it proposed to create an...
. D66 had won its greatest political victory with the slogan that the Christian Democratic Appeal
Christian Democratic Appeal
The Christian Democratic Appeal is a centre-right Dutch Christian democratic political party. It suffered severe losses in the 2010 elections and fell from the first to the fourth place...
should be in the opposition for a change. The desire to form a cabinet without the Christian Democrats was based on the pivotal role in the political center that the CDA played in Dutch politics. The CDA had been in government continuously since its formation in 1980, and at least one of its three antecedents had been in government since 1918.
The main aim of the cabinet was to create employment. The Dutch economy had been in a strong recession for years. The market should get more influence in the economy. This let to a policy 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
Srebrenica
Srebrenica is a town and municipality in the east of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the Bosnian Serb entity of Republika Srpska. Srebrenica is a small mountain town, its main industry being salt mining and a nearby spa. During the Bosnian War, the town was the site of the July 1995 massacre,...
massacre occurred under the responsibility of this Government, which led later to the fall of the second Kok cabinet.
The first non-Christian coalition supported by a non-CDA majority in the parliament in many decades was responsible for passing legislation
Legislation
Legislation is law which has been promulgated by a legislature or other governing body, or the process of making it...
allowing euthanasia
Euthanasia
Euthanasia refers to the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering....
, gay marriage and legalized prostitution.
Ministers
| Prime Minister General Affairs |
Wim Kok Wim Kok Willem "Wim" Kok ; born September 29, 1938) is a retired Dutch politician of the Labour Party . He served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from August 22, 1994 until July 22, 2002.... |
PvdA | |
| Vice Prime Minister Interior Affairs |
Hans Dijkstal Hans Dijkstal Henri Frans "Hans" Dijkstal was a Dutch politician of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy . He served as Minister of the Interior and Deputy Prime Minister from 22 August 1994 until 3 August 1998... |
VVD | |
| Vice Prime Minister Foreign Affairs |
Hans van Mierlo Hans van Mierlo Henricus Antonius Franciscus Maria Oliva "Hans" van Mierlo was a Dutch politician of the Democrats 66 . In 1966 Van Mierlo together with Hans Gruijters founded the Democrats 66... |
D66 | |
| Justice | Winnie Sorgdrager Winnie Sorgdrager Winnifred Sorgdrager is a Dutch jurist and former politician.-References:... |
D66 | |
| Education, Culture and Sciences | Jo Ritzen | PvdA | |
| FInance | Gerrit Zalm Gerrit Zalm Gerrit Zalm is a retired Dutch politician of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy . He served as Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister from May 27, 2003 until February 22, 2007 in the Cabinets Balkenende II and III. He served earlier as Minister of Finance in the Cabinets Kok I and... |
VVD | |
| Hans Wijers Hans Wijers Gerardus Johannes Wijers is the current CEO of AkzoNobel. From 1994 until 1998 he was a minister of Economic Affairs of the Netherlands for the liberal democrats party D66.- Personal :... |
D66 | a.i. June 4-26 1996 | |
| Defense Dutch Caribbean and Aruba |
Joris Voorhoeve Joris Voorhoeve Joris Jacob Clemens Voorhoeve is a Dutch politician, former minister, and university professor.Voorhoeve was the leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy between 1986 and 1990 and served as the Dutch Minister of Defence between 1994 and 1998. He is a member of the Dutch Council of... |
VVD | |
| Transport and Water | Annemarie Jorritsma | VVD | |
| Economy | Hans Wijers Hans Wijers Gerardus Johannes Wijers is the current CEO of AkzoNobel. From 1994 until 1998 he was a minister of Economic Affairs of the Netherlands for the liberal democrats party D66.- Personal :... |
D66 | |
| Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheryj | Jozias van Aartsen Jozias van Aartsen Jozias Johannes van Aartsen is a Dutch politician of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy . He is the Mayor of the Hague since March 27, 2008.... |
VVD | |
| Social Affairs and Employment | Ad Melkert Ad Melkert Adrianus Petrus Wilhelmus "Ad" Melkert is a Dutch politician of the Labour Party . He served as chair of the parliamentary party and Minister of Social Affairs and Employment for the social-democratic PvdA. He led the PvdA to a historic low in the contentious 2002 general elections, which were won... |
PvdA | |
| Public health, Wellbeing and Sports | Els Borst Els Borst Else Borst-Eilers is a former Dutch Politician, she led D66 in the 1998 election campaign and served as Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport for eight years, and the last four as Deputy Prime Minister. Before entering politics she had a career in medicine.-Education and Academic Career:Borst... |
D66 | |
| Housing, Spatial Planning and Environment | Margreeth de Boer Margreeth de Boer Margaretha de Boer is a Dutch politician.- References :... |
PvdA | |
| Development cooperation | Jan Pronk Jan Pronk Johannes "Jan" Pieter Pronk is a Dutch politician and diplomat. Currently, he is a Professor of Theory and Practice of International Development at the International Institute of Social Studies in The Hague.... |
PvdA |
Staatssecretarissen
Please refer to the article on staatssecretaris for an explanation about the function.| Foreign Affairs | Michiel Patijn | VVD | |
| Justice | Elizabeth Schmitz | PvdA | |
| Interior Affairs | Jacob Kohnstamm | D66 | |
| Tonny van de Vondervoort | PvdA | ||
| Education, Culture and Sciences | Tineke Netelenbos Tineke Netelenbos Tineke Netelenbos née Tine Koomen is a Dutch politician.-References:... |
PvdA | |
| Aad Nuis Aad Nuis Adrianus Nuis was a Dutch political scientist, literary scientist and critic, journalist, columnist, poet, and politician.-References:... |
D66 | ||
| Finance | Willem Vermeend Willem Vermeend Wilhelmus Adrianus Franciscus Gabriël Vermeend is a Dutch former politician.-References:... |
PvdA | |
| Defense | Jan Gmelich Meijling | VVD | |
| Housing, Spatial Planning and Environment | Dick Tommel Dick Tommel Dirk Krijn Johannes Tommel is a Dutch politician.-References:* at www.parlement.com... |
D66 | |
| Economy | Anneke van Dok-van Weele Anneke van Dok-van Weele Anneke van Dok-van Weele is a Dutch politician.-References:... |
PvdA | |
| Social Affairs and Employment | Robin Linschoten Robin Linschoten Robin Linschoten is a former Dutch politician.-References:... |
VVD | tot 28 juni 1996 |
| Frank de Grave Frank de Grave Franciscus Hendrikus Gerardus de Grave is a Dutch politician.-References:* at parlement.com... |
VVD | vanaf 2 juli 1996 | |
| Public health, Wellbeing and Sports | Erica Terpstra Erica Terpstra Erica Georgine Terpstra is a retired Dutch freestyle swimmer, theosopher, sports journalist, state secretary and member of parliament. Between late 2003 and 18 May 2010 she was chairperson of the NOC*NSF... |
VVD |