First Van Agt cabinet

First Van Agt cabinet
*Van Agt–Wiegel cabinet*
First Van Agt cabinet ; Van Agt–Wiegel cabinet
	; 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
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

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.

The Members of the First Van Agt cabinet after the installation at Soestdijk Palace on 19 December 1977.

Prime Minister of the Netherlands Antilles Boy Rozendal and Deputy Prime Minister Hans Wiegel at a press conference in The Hague on 26 January 1978.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Chris van der Klaauw, President of the European Commission Roy Jenkins and Prime Minister Dries van Agt at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 21 March 1978.

Minister for Relations with the European Communities of Spain Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo at the Ministry of General Affairs on 17 May 1978.

State Minister for Economics and Finance of Indonesia Widjojo Nitisastro and Minister for Development Cooperation Jan de Koning at a Inter-Governmental Group on Indonesia meeting in The Hague on 22 May 1978.

Prime Minister Dries van Agt and Leader of the Christian Democratic Union of Germany Helmut Kohl at the Ministry of General Affairs on 13 September 1978.

President of the Gambia Dawda Jawara and Minister for Development Cooperation Jan de Koning in Amsterdam on 21 November 1978.

Vice President of the United States Walter Mondale Second Lady of the United States Joan Mondale, Prime Minister Dries van Agt and Eugenie van Agt-Krekelberg at the Catshuis on 21 April 1979.

Minister for Development Cooperation Jan de Koning, President of Bangladesh Ziaur Rahman and Prime Minister Dries van Agt at the Ministry of General Affairs on 23 April 1979.

Prime Minister Dries van Agt and Secretary General of NATO Joseph Luns at a NATO summit in The Hague on 30 May 1979.

President of Cameroon Ahmadou Ahidjo and Deputy Prime Minister Hans Wiegel at the Catshuis on 5 July 1979.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan Sunao Sonoda and Minister of Foreign Affairs Chris van der Klaauw at Airport Schiphol on 31 July 1979.

Ambassador of the Soviet Union to the Netherlands Vasily Tolstikov and Minister of Foreign Affairs Chris van der Klaauw in The Hague on 23 January 1980.

Prime Minister Dries van Agt, Minister of Foreign Affairs of France Jean François-Poncet and Prime Minister of France Raymond Barre at the Catshuis on 18 March 1980.

President of Rwanda Juvénal Habyarimana and Prime Minister Dries van Agt at the Catshuis on 13 May 1980.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Israel Yitzhak Shamir and Minister of Foreign Affairs Chris van der Klaauw at Airport Schiphol on 5 June 1980.

Incoming President of the European Commission Gaston Thorn and Prime Minister Dries van Agt at the Catshuis on 22 October 1980.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Chris van der Klaauw, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Margaret Thatcher and Prime Minister Dries van Agt at the Catshuis on 6 February 1981.

Queen Beatrix, Prime Minister Dries van Agt, Princess Margriet, Chancellor of West-Germany Helmut Schmidt, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Margaret Thatcher and President of France Valéry Giscard d'Estaing at a European Council summit in Maastricht on 23 March 1981.

Prime Minister of Japan Zenkō Suzuki and Prime Minister Dries van Agt at the Catshuis on 18 June 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
	Dries van Agt (born 1931)	Prime Minister	General Affairs	19 December 1977 – 4 November 1982	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 (1929–2019)	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
	Fons van der Stee (1928–1999)			5 March 1980 – 4 November 1982	Christian Democratic Appeal
	Dr. Job de Ruiter (1930–2015)	Minister	Justice	19 December 1977 – 4 November 1982	Anti-Revolutionary Party
	Dr. Job de Ruiter (1930–2015)	Minister	Justice	19 December 1977 – 4 November 1982	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
	Pieter de Geus (1929–2004)			25 August 1980 – 11 September 1981	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
	Dr. Wil Albeda (1925–2014)	Minister	Social Affairs	19 December 1977 – 11 September 1981	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
	Gerrit Braks (1933–2017)			5 March 1980 – 11 September 1981	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
	Jonkheer Pieter Beelaerts van Blokland (born 1932)			19 December 1977 – 1 September 1981 ^[Appt]	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 (1925–2019)	Minister	Culture, Recreation and Social Work	19 December 1977 – 11 September 1981	Catholic People's Party
	Til Gardeniers-Berendsen (1925–2019)	Minister	Culture, Recreation and Social Work	19 December 1977 – 11 September 1981	Christian Democratic Appeal
Ministers without portfolio		Title/Portfolio/Ministry		Term of office	Party
	Fons van der Stee (1928–1999)	Minister	Netherlands Antilles Affairs (within Interior)	19 December 1977 – 11 September 1981	Catholic People's Party
	Fons van der Stee (1928–1999)	Minister	Netherlands Antilles Affairs (within Interior)	19 December 1977 – 11 September 1981	Christian Democratic Appeal
	Jan de Koning (1926–1994)	Minister	Development Cooperation (within Foreign Affairs)	19 December 1977 – 11 September 1981	Anti-Revolutionary Party
	Jan de Koning (1926–1994)	Minister	Development Cooperation (within Foreign Affairs)	19 December 1977 – 11 September 1981	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
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
	Durk van der Mei (1924–2018)	State Secretary		28 December 1977 – 11 September 1981	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
	Marius van Amelsvoort (1930–2006)			16 April 1980 – 11 September 1981	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
	Bert Haars (1913–1997)	State Secretary		28 December 1977 – 11 September 1981	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
	Ted Hazekamp (1926–1987)			11 May 1973 – 11 September 1981 ^[Retained]	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
	Cees van Lent (1922–2000)		• Personnel Affairs (within Defence)	11 March 1974 – 11 September 1981 ^[Retained]	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
	Louw de Graaf (born 1930)	State Secretary		28 December 1977 – 11 September 1981	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
	Klaas de Jong (1926–2011)			1 September 1975 – 11 September 1981 ^[Retained]	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
	Ad Hermes (1929–2002)			9 January 1978 – 9 September 1981 ^[Res]	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
	Gerrit Brokx (1933–2002)	State Secretary		28 December 1977 – 11 September 1981	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
	Jeltien Kraaijeveld-Wouters (born 1932)			28 December 1977 – 9 September 1981 ^[Res]	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

"Partij of Principes - De dissidenten binnen het kabinet Van Agt/Wiegel" (in Dutch). 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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[1] "Partij of Principes - De dissidenten binnen het kabinet Van Agt/Wiegel" (in Dutch). Andere Tijden. 23 September 2010. Retrieved 16 February 2018.

[Res]

[Ad interim

[Appt]

[Retained]

[Died]

First Van Agt cabinet (1977–1981)
Preceded by: Den Uyl cabinet Succeeded by: Second Van Agt cabinet
Prime Minister	Dries van Agt (General Affairs)
Deputy Prime Minister	Hans Wiegel (Interior)
Ministers	Chris van der Klaauw (Foreign Affairs) Frans Andriessen (Finance) (1977–1980) Gijs van Aardenne (Finance) (Ad interim) Fons van der Stee (Finance and Netherlands Antilles Affairs) (from 1980) Job de Ruiter (Justice) Gijs van Aardenne (Economic Affairs) Roelof Kruisinga (Defence) (1977–1978) Jan de Koning (Defence) (Ad interim) Willem Scholten (Defence) (1978–1980) Pieter de Geus (Defence) (from 1980) Leendert Ginjaar (Health and Environment) Wil Albeda (Social Affairs) Arie Pais (Education and Sciences) Dany Tuijnman (Transport and Water Management) Fons van der Stee (Agriculture and Fisheries and Netherlands Antilles Affairs) (1977–1980) Gerrit Braks (Agriculture and Fisheries) (from 1980) Pieter Beelaerts van Blokland (Housing and Spatial Planning) (1977–1981) Dany Tuijnman (Housing and Spatial Planning) (from 1981) (Ad interim) Til Gardeniers-Berendsen (Culture, Recreation and Social Work)
Ministers without portfolio	Jan de Koning (Development Cooperation) Rinus Peijnenburg (Science Policy) (1977–1979) (†) Leendert Ginjaar (Science Policy) (Ad interim) Ton van Trier (Science Policy) (from 1979)
State Secretaries	Henk Koning (Interior) Durk van der Mei (Foreign Affairs) Ad Nooteboom (Finance) (1977–1980) Marius van Amelsvoort (Finance) (from 1980) Bert Haars (Justice) Ted Hazekamp (Economic Affairs) Has Beyen (Economic Affairs) Cees van Lent (Defence) Wim van Eekelen (Defence) Els Veder-Smit (Health and Environment) Louw de Graaf (Social Affairs) Klaas de Jong (Education and Sciences) Ad Hermes (Education and Sciences) Neelie Kroes (Transport and Water Management) Gerrit Brokx (Housing and Spatial Planning) Jeltien Kraaijeveld-Wouters (Culture, Recreation and Social Work) Gerard Wallis de Vries (Culture, Recreation and Social Work)