- First Kok cabinet
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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.
Ministers
Prime Minister
General AffairsWim Kok PvdA Vice Prime Minister
Interior AffairsHans Dijkstal VVD Vice Prime Minister
Foreign AffairsHans van Mierlo D66 Justice Winnie Sorgdrager D66 Education, Culture and Sciences Jo Ritzen PvdA FInance Gerrit Zalm VVD Hans Wijers D66 a.i. June 4-26 1996 Defense
Dutch Caribbean and ArubaJoris Voorhoeve VVD Transport and Water Annemarie Jorritsma VVD Economy Hans Wijers D66 Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheryj Jozias van Aartsen VVD Social Affairs and Employment Ad Melkert PvdA Public health, Wellbeing and Sports Els Borst D66 Housing, Spatial Planning and Environment Margreeth de Boer PvdA Development cooperation Jan Pronk 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 PvdA Aad Nuis D66 Finance Willem Vermeend PvdA Defense Jan Gmelich Meijling VVD Housing, Spatial Planning and Environment Dick Tommel D66 Economy Anneke van Dok-van Weele PvdA Social Affairs and Employment Robin Linschoten VVD tot 28 juni 1996 Frank de Grave VVD vanaf 2 juli 1996 Public health, Wellbeing and Sports Erica Terpstra VVD Structure and process StructureGovernmentMinisters, including Ministers without Portfolio, chaired by the Prime Minister of the Netherlands and one or more Deputy Prime Minister of the NetherlandsMinisters, including Ministers without Portfolio and State SecretariesProcessCurrent ministries Cabinets Schimmelpenninck • De Kempenaer-Donker Curtius • Thorbecke I • Van Hall-Donker Curtius • Van der Brugghen • Rochussen • Van Hall-Van Heemstra • Van Zuylen van Nijevelt-Van Heemstra •Thorbecke II • Fransen van de Putte •Van Zuylen van Nijevelt • Van Bosse-Fock • Thorbecke III • De Vries-Fransen van de Putte • Heemskerk-Van Lynden van Sandenburg • Kappeyne van de Coppello • Van Lynden van Sandenburg • Heemskerk Azn. • Mackay • Van Tienhoven • Röell • Pierson • Kuyper • De Meester • Heemskerk • Cort van der Linden • Ruijs de Beerenbrouck I • Ruijs de Beerenbrouck II • Colijn I • De Geer I • Ruijs de Beerenbrouck III • Colijn II • Colijn III • Colijn IV • Colijn V • De Geer II • Gerbrandy I • Gerbrandy II • Gerbrandy III • Schermerhorn-Drees • Beel I • Drees-Van Schaik • Drees I • Drees II • Drees III • Beel II • De Quay • Marijnen • Cals • Zijlstra • De Jong • Biesheuvel I • Biesheuvel II • Den Uyl • Van Agt I • Van Agt II • Van Agt III • Lubbers I • Lubbers II • Lubbers III • Kok I • Kok II • Balkenende I • Balkenende II • Balkenende III • Balkenende IV • RutteCategories:- Cabinets of the Netherlands
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