First Van Agt cabinet
First Van Agt cabinet Van Agt–Wiegel cabinet | |
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56th cabinet of the Netherlands | |
The installation of the Van Agt–Wiegel cabinet on 19 December 1977 | |
Date formed | 19 December 1977 |
Date dissolved |
11 September 1981 (Demissionary from 26 May 1981 ) |
People and organisations | |
Head of state |
Queen Juliana (1977–1980) Queen Beatrix (1980–1981) |
Head of government | Dries van Agt |
Deputy head of government | Hans Wiegel |
No. of ministers | 17 |
Ministers removed (Death/resignation/dismissal) | 5 |
Total no. of ministers | 21 |
Member party |
Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) |
Status in legislature | Right-wing Majority government |
Opposition party | Labour Party |
Opposition leader | Joop den Uyl |
History | |
Election(s) | 1977 election |
Outgoing election | 1981 election |
Legislature term(s) | 1977–1981 |
Incoming formation | 1977 formation |
Outgoing formation | 1981 formation |
Predecessor | Den Uyl cabinet |
Successor | Second Van Agt cabinet |
This article is part of a series on the politics and government of the Netherlands |
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Local government |
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The First Van Agt cabinet, also called the Van Agt–Wiegel cabinet was the cabinet of the Netherlands from 19 December 1977 until 11 September 1981. The cabinet was formed by the political parties Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) and the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) after the election of 1977. The right-wing cabinet was a majority government in the House of Representatives. The Van Agt–Wiegel cabinet was the first to be composed of the newly formed Christian Democratic Appeal, which was formed from the Anti-Revolutionary Party (ARP), the Catholic People's Party (KVP) and the Christian Historical Union (CHU) on 11 October 1980. It was the first of three cabinets of Dries van Agt, the Leader of the Christian Democratic Appeal as Prime Minister, with Hans Wiegel the Leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy serving as Deputy Prime Minister.[1]
Formation
After the 1977 general election the Labour Party (PvdA) of incumbent Prime Minister Joop den Uyl was the winner of the election which won ten new seats and had now a total of 53 seats. The People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) of Hans Wiegel won six seats and had now 28 seats. The Anti-Revolutionary Party (ARP), Catholic People's Party (KVP) and the Christian Historical Union (CHU) participated for the first time as the combined party Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) with Dries van Agt as its new Leader. This electoral fusion resulted in one new seat and now had a total of 49 seats in the House of Representatives. A long negotiation between the Labour Party and Christian Democratic Appeal followed. Both parties had come out of the elections as equal partners. The negotiations were troubled by the personal animosity between incumbent Prime Minister and Leader of the Labour Party Joop den Uyl and the Leader of the Christian Democratic Appeal Dries van Agt. Van Agt who served as Deputy Prime Minister under Den Uyl his cabinet had a bad working relationship. In the end Van Agt found that the demands of the Den Uyl were too great and instead he formed a coalition with the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy.
Term
The cabinet had to deal with a major economic depression, but refused to cut government spending due to fierce left-wing opposition in the parliament, which had nearly half of the seats. Many left-wing demonstrations were held on the street against the government. Notorious were the harsh demonstrations in Amsterdam during the crowning of Queen Beatrix and the squatting riots. There was a sharp increase in unemployment and the government was seen to have created too much debt.
Changes
On 5 March 1978 Minister of Defence Roelof Kruisinga (CHU) resigned in-protest after the cabinet decided to not publicly condemn the United States for further developing the Neutron bomb. Minister for Development Cooperation Jan de Koning (ARP) served as acting Minister of Defence until 8 March 1978 when Member of the Council of State Willem Scholten (CHU) was appointed as his successor.
On 1 April 1979 Minister for Science Policy Rinus Peijnenburg (KVP) unexpectedly died from a heart attack at the age of 51. Minister of Health and Environment Leendert Ginjaar (VVD) served as acting Minister for Science Policy until 3 May 1979 when Ton van Trier, who until then had been working as a professor of electrical engineering at the Eindhoven University of Technology was installed as his successor. Ton van Trier a Independent Christian Democrat joined the Catholic People's Party that same month.
On 22 February 1980 Minister of Finance Frans Andriessen (KVP) resigned after disagreeing with the cabinets decision to not implement a stronger austerity policy. State Secretary for Finance Ad Nooteboom (CHU) declares his solidarity with Frans Andriessen and also resigned that same day. Minister of Economic Affairs Gijs van Aardenne (VVD) served as acting Minister of Finance until 5 March 1980 when Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Fons van der Stee (KVP) was appointed as Minister of Finance. That same day Member of the House of Representatives Gerrit Braks (KVP) was installed as Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries. On 16 April 1980 Member of the House of Representatives Marius van Amelsvoort (KVP) was appointed as State Secretary for Finance.
On 25 August 1980 Minister of Defence Willem Scholten (CHU) resigned after he was appointed Vice-President of the Council of State. That same day former naval officer Pieter de Geus (CHU), who until then had been working as a top official at the Ministry of Defence was appointed as his successor.
On 1 September 1981 ten days before the new cabinet took office Minister for Housing and Spatial Planning Pieter Beelaerts van Blokland (CDA) resigned after he had been appointed Mayor of Apeldoorn. Minister of Transport and Water Management Dany Tuijnman (VVD) took over the position until the new cabinet was installed on 11 September 1981.
Cabinet Members
Ministers | Title/Ministry | Term of office | Party | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dries van Agt (born 1931) |
Prime Minister | General Affairs | 19 December 1977 – 4 November 1982 |
Catholic People's Party | ||
Christian Democratic Appeal | ||||||
Hans Wiegel (born 1941) |
Deputy Prime Minister / Minister |
Interior | 19 December 1977 – 11 September 1981 |
People's Party for Freedom and Democracy | ||
Dr. Chris van der Klaauw (1924–2005) |
Minister | Foreign Affairs | 19 December 1977 – 11 September 1981 |
People's Party for Freedom and Democracy | ||
Frans Andriessen (born 1929) |
Minister | Finance | 19 December 1977 – 22 February 1980 [Res] |
Catholic People's Party | ||
Gijs van Aardenne (1930–1995) |
22 February 1980 – 5 March 1980 [Ad interim] |
People's Party for Freedom and Democracy | ||||
Fons van der Stee (1928–1999) |
5 March 1980 – 4 November 1982 |
Catholic People's Party | ||||
Christian Democratic Appeal | ||||||
Dr. Job de Ruiter (1930–2015) |
Minister | Justice | 19 December 1977 – 4 November 1982 |
Anti-Revolutionary Party | ||
Christian Democratic Appeal | ||||||
Gijs van Aardenne (1930–1995) |
Minister | Economic Affairs | 19 December 1977 – 11 September 1981 |
People's Party for Freedom and Democracy | ||
Dr. Roelof Kruisinga (1922–2012) |
Minister | Defence | 19 December 1977 – 4 March 1978 [Res] |
Christian Historical Union | ||
Jan de Koning (1926–1994) |
4 March 1978 – 8 March 1978 [Ad interim] |
Anti-Revolutionary Party | ||||
Willem Scholten (1927–2005) |
8 March 1978 – 25 August 1980 [Appt] |
Christian Historical Union | ||||
Pieter de Geus (1929–2004) |
25 August 1980 – 11 September 1981 |
Christian Historical Union | ||||
Christian Democratic Appeal | ||||||
Dr. Leendert Ginjaar (1928–2003) |
Minister | Health and Environment |
19 December 1977 – 11 September 1981 |
People's Party for Freedom and Democracy | ||
Dr. Wil Albeda (1925–2014) |
Minister | Social Affairs | 19 December 1977 – 11 September 1981 |
Anti-Revolutionary Party | ||
Christian Democratic Appeal | ||||||
Dr. Arie Pais (born 1930) |
Minister | Education and Sciences |
19 December 1977 – 11 September 1981 |
People's Party for Freedom and Democracy | ||
Dany Tuijnman (1915–1992) |
Minister | Transport and Water Management |
19 December 1977 – 11 September 1981 |
People's Party for Freedom and Democracy | ||
Fons van der Stee (1928–1999) |
Minister | Agriculture and Fisheries |
1 November 1973 – 5 March 1980 [Retained] [Appt] |
Catholic People's Party | ||
Gerrit Braks (1933–2017) |
5 March 1980 – 11 September 1981 |
Catholic People's Party | ||||
Christian Democratic Appeal | ||||||
Jonkheer Pieter Beelaerts van Blokland (born 1932) |
Minister | Housing and Spatial Planning |
19 December 1977 – 1 September 1981 [Appt] |
Christian Historical Union | ||
Christian Democratic Appeal | ||||||
Dany Tuijnman (1915–1992) |
1 September 1981 – 11 September 1981 [Ad interim] |
People's Party for Freedom and Democracy | ||||
Til Gardeniers-Berendsen (born 1925) |
Minister | Culture, Recreation and Social Work |
19 December 1977 – 11 September 1981 |
Catholic People's Party | ||
Christian Democratic Appeal | ||||||
Ministers without portfolio | Title/Portfolio/Ministry | Term of office | Party | |||
Jan de Koning (1926–1994) |
Minister | Development Cooperation (within Foreign Affairs) |
19 December 1977 – 11 September 1981 |
Anti-Revolutionary Party | ||
Christian Democratic Appeal | ||||||
Rinus Peijnenburg (1928–1979) |
Minister | Science Policy (within Education and Sciences) |
19 December 1977 – 1 April 1979 [Died] |
Catholic People's Party | ||
Dr. Leendert Ginjaar (1928–2003) |
1 April 1979 – 3 May 1979 [Ad interim] |
People's Party for Freedom and Democracy | ||||
Dr. Ton van Trier (1926–1983) |
3 May 1979 – 11 September 1981 |
Independent Christian Democrat (Catholic) | ||||
Catholic People's Party | ||||||
Christian Democratic Appeal | ||||||
Fons van der Stee (1928–1999) |
Minister | Netherlands Antilles Affairs (within Interior) |
19 December 1977 – 11 September 1981 |
Catholic People's Party | ||
Christian Democratic Appeal | ||||||
State Secretaries | Title/Portfolio/Ministry | Term of office | Party | |||
Henk Koning (1933–2016) |
State Secretary | • Central Government Affairs • Local Government Affairs • Government Reform • Government Real Estate (within Interior) |
28 December 1977 – 11 September 1981 |
People's Party for Freedom and Democracy | ||
Durk van der Mei (1924–2018) |
State Secretary | • European Affairs • NATO Affairs • Benelux Affairs • International Aviation Policy (within Foreign Affairs) |
28 December 1977 – 11 September 1981 |
Christian Historical Union | ||
Christian Democratic Appeal | ||||||
Ad Nooteboom (born 1928) |
State Secretary | • Fiscal Affairs • National Mint • Gambling Policy • State Lottery (within Finance) |
28 December 1977 – 22 February 1980 [Res] |
Christian Historical Union | ||
Marius van Amelsvoort (1930–2006) |
16 April 1980 – 11 September 1981 |
Catholic People's Party | ||||
Christian Democratic Appeal | ||||||
Bert Haars (1913–1997) |
State Secretary | • Integration • Immigration • Asylum Affairs • Privacy Policy • Family Law • Youth Justice • International Law • Prison Administration • Rehabilitation (within Justice) |
28 December 1977 – 11 September 1981 |
Christian Historical Union | ||
Christian Democratic Appeal | ||||||
Ted Hazekamp (1926–1987) |
State Secretary | • Small Business Policy • Retail Policy • Competition Policy • Regional Development • Consumer Protection • Tourism Affairs (within Economic Affairs) |
11 May 1973 – 11 September 1981 [Retained] |
Catholic People's Party | ||
Christian Democratic Appeal | ||||||
Has Beyen (1923–2002) |
• International Trade • Export Promotion (within Economic Affairs) |
9 January 1978 – 11 September 1981 |
People's Party for Freedom and Democracy | |||
Cees van Lent (1922–2000) |
State Secretary | • Personnel Affairs (within Defence) |
11 March 1974 – 11 September 1981 [Retained] |
Catholic People's Party | ||
Christian Democratic Appeal | ||||||
Dr. Wim van Eekelen (born 1931) |
• Equipment Policy • Military Justice (within Defence) |
20 January 1978 – 11 September 1981 |
People's Party for Freedom and Democracy | |||
Els Veder-Smit (born 1921) |
State Secretary | • Youth Policy • Elderly Policy • Disability Affairs • Veteran Affairs • Medical Ethics Policy • Food Policy (within Health and Environment) |
3 January 1978 – 11 September 1981 |
People's Party for Freedom and Democracy | ||
Louw de Graaf (born 1930) |
State Secretary | • Social Security • Occupational Safety (within Social Affairs) |
28 December 1977 – 11 September 1981 |
Anti-Revolutionary Party | ||
Christian Democratic Appeal | ||||||
Klaas de Jong (1926–2011) |
State Secretary | • Secondary Education • Higher Education • Adult Education (within Education and Sciences) |
1 September 1975 – 11 September 1981 [Retained] |
Anti-Revolutionary Party | ||
Christian Democratic Appeal | ||||||
Ad Hermes (1929–2002) |
• Primary Education • Teacher Policy (within Education and Sciences) |
9 January 1978 – 9 September 1981 [Res] |
Catholic People's Party | |||
Christian Democratic Appeal | ||||||
Neelie Kroes (born 1941) |
State Secretary | • Transport Infrastructure • Aviation Infrastructure • Water Infrastructure • Public Transport • Postal Service • Weather Forecasting Service (within Transport and Water Management) |
28 December 1977 – 11 September 1981 |
People's Party for Freedom and Democracy | ||
Gerrit Brokx (1933–2002) |
State Secretary | • Urban Planning • Public Housing • Spatial Planning (within Housing and Spatial Planning) |
28 December 1977 – 11 September 1981 |
Catholic People's Party | ||
Christian Democratic Appeal | ||||||
Jeltien Kraaijeveld-Wouters (born 1932) |
State Secretary | • Unemployment Affairs • Poverty Policy • Equality • Emancipation (within Culture, Recreation and Social Work) |
28 December 1977 – 9 September 1981 [Res] |
Anti-Revolutionary Party | ||
Christian Democratic Appeal | ||||||
Gerard Wallis de Vries (1936–2018) |
• Social Services • Environmental Policy • Nature Policy • Media Affairs • Culture Policy • Arts Policy • Recreation Affairs • Sport (within Culture, Recreation and Social Work) |
4 January 1978 – 11 September 1981 |
People's Party for Freedom and Democracy | |||
Source: (in Dutch) Kabinet-Van Agt I Rijksoverheid |
- Retained Retained this position from the previous cabinet.
- Res Resigned.
- Ad interim Served ad interim.
- Appt Appointment: Willem Scholten appointed Vice President of the Council of State; Fons van der Stee appointed Minister of Finance. Pieter Beelaerts van Blokland appointed Mayor of Apeldoorn.
- Died Died in office.
References
- ↑ (in Dutch) "Partij of Principes - De dissidenten binnen het kabinet Van Agt/Wiegel". Andere Tijden. 23 September 2010. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
External links
- Official
- (in Dutch) Kabinet-Van Agt I Parlement & Politiek
- (in Dutch) Kabinet-Van Agt I Rijksoverheid
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