First Lubbers cabinet

The First Lubbers cabinet was the executive branch of the Dutch Government from 4 November 1982 until 14 July 1986. The cabinet was formed by the christian-democratic Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) and the conservative-liberal People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) after the election of 1982. The cabinet was a right-wing coalition and had a substantial majority in the House of Representatives with Christian Democratic Leader Ruud Lubbers serving as Prime Minister. Prominent Liberal politician Gijs van Aardenne a former Minister of Economic Affairs served as Deputy Prime Minister and returned Minister of Economic Affairs.

First Lubbers cabinet

59th Cabinet of the Netherlands
The installation of the First Lubbers cabinet on 4 November 1982
Date formed4 November 1982 (1982-11-04)
Date dissolved14 July 1986 (1986-07-14)
(Demissionary from 22 May 1986 (1986-05-22))
People and organisations
Head of stateQueen Beatrix
Head of governmentRuud Lubbers
Deputy head of governmentGijs van Aardenne
No. of ministers14
Total no. of members15
Member partyChristian Democratic Appeal
(CDA)
People's Party for
Freedom and Democracy

(VVD)
Status in legislatureRight-wing
Majority government
Opposition partyLabour Party
Opposition leaderJoop den Uyl
History
Election(s)1982 election
Outgoing election1986 election
Legislature term(s)1982–1986
Incoming formation1982 formation
Outgoing formation1986 formation
PredecessorThird Van Agt cabinet
SuccessorSecond Lubbers cabinet

The cabinet served during the Economic expansion of the 1980s, domestically it was able to implement several major social reforms to Social security and stimulating privatization and sustainable development and dealing with early 1980s recession, internationally it had to deal with several crises such as the decision to allow NATO to place the Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) at Woensdrecht Air Base. The cabinet suffered several major internal conflicts including a critical parliamentary inquiry into Deputy Prime Minister Van Aardenne, but completed its entire term and was succeeded by a continuation of the coalition in the Second Lubbers cabinet following the election of 1986.[1][2][3]

Formation

Following the fall of the Second Van Agt cabinet on 12 May 1982 the Labour Party (PvdA) left the coalition, subsequently on 14 May 1982 Queen Beatrix appointed Senator Piet Steenkamp (CDA) as Informateur to look at the possibilities of the Labour Party rejoining the coalition. After negotiations between the parties, Piet Steenkamp failed to reach an agreement between the parties. On 25 May 1982 Queen Beatrix appointed incumbent Prime Minister Dries van Agt (CDA) as Formateur to form a rump cabinet with the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) and the Democrats 66 (D'66). On 29 May 1982 the Third Van Agt cabinet was installed and served as a caretaker government until the election of 1982.

After the election on 8 September 1982 the Labour Party of Joop den Uyl was the winner of the election winning 3 new seats and had now a total of 47 seats. The Christian Democratic Appeal of incumbent Prime Minister Dries van Agt lost 3 seats and now had 45 seats. The People's Party for Freedom and Democracy under the new leadership of Ed Nijpels was the biggest winner gaining 10 new seats and now had a total of 36 seats in the House of Representatives.

On 10 September 1982 Queen Beatrix appointed Member of the House of Representatives Jos van Kemenade (PvdA), the former Minister of Education and Sciences as Informateur to start the cabinet formation process. The first round of talks between the Labour Party and the Christian Democratic Appeal were troubled by the personal animosity between incumbent Prime Minister and Leader of the Christian Democratic Appeal Dries van Agt and former Prime Minister and Leader of the Labour Party Joop den Uyl. Van Agt had served as Deputy Prime Minister under Den Uyl his cabinet, and Den Uyl had served as Deputy Prime Minister under Van Agt in his Second cabinet. On 30 September 1982 after long negotiations between the parties, Jos van Kemenade failed to reach an agreement to form a new coalition.

On 1 October 1982 Queen Beatrix appointed Vice-President of the Council of State Willem Scholten (CDA), a former Minister of Defence as Informateur to start a cabinet formation process between the Christian Democratic Appeal and the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy. Soon there after incumbent Prime Minister and Leader of the Christian Democratic Appeal Dries van Agt unexpectedly announced his retirement from national politics and stood down as Leader of the Christian Democratic Appeal on 25 October 1982 and subsequently endorsed the Parliamentary leader of the Christian Democratic Appeal in the House of Representatives Ruud Lubbers, a former Minister of Economic Affairs as his successor. On 30 October 1982 the Christian Democratic Appeal and the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy agreed to form a coalition and Queen Beatrix subsequently appointed Ruud Lubbers as Formateur and tasked him with forming a new cabinet. On 4 November 1982 the cabinet formation was completed and the First Lubbers cabinet was installed with Ruud Lubbers as Prime Minister.

Term

Changes

On 12 November 1982 just 4 days after taking office State Secretary for Defence Charl Schwietert (VVD) resigned after he admitted to have falsified his curriculum vitae. On 12 November 1982 Mayor of Coevorden Willem Hoekzema (VVD) was appointed as his successor.

On 20 February 1986 Minister of the Interior Koos Rietkerk (VVD) unexpectedly died in his office from a heart Attack at the age of 58. Minister of Justice Frits Korthals Altes (VVD) served as acting Minister of the Interior until 12 March 1986 when Member of the House of Representatives Rudolf de Korte (VVD) was installed as the new Minister of the Interior.

On 22 June 1986 State Secretary for Economic Affairs Piet van Zeil (CDA) resigned after he was appointed as Mayor of Heerlen and because the cabinet was already demissionary he was not replaced.

Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers, Prime Minister of Luxembourg Pierre Werner and Prime Minister of Belgium Wilfried Martens at the Ministry of General Affairs on 10 November 1982.
United States Secretary of State George Shultz and Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers at the Catshuis on 11 December 1982.
Prime Minister of Italy Amintore Fanfani and Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers at the Catshuis on 13 April 1983.
Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers and the former King of Cambodia Norodom Sihanouk at the Torentje on 15 September 1983.
Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Margaret Thatcher and Minister Hans van den Broek at the Catshuis on 19 September 1983.
Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers and President of Gabon Omar Bongo at Zestienhoven Airport on 7 November 1984.
Pope John Paul II and Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers at the Catshuis on 13 May 1985.
Premier of the People's Republic of China Zhao Ziyang and Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers in The Hague on 17 June 1985.
Chancellor of West-Germany Helmut Kohl and Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers at a European People's Party conference in The Hague on 12 April 1986.

Cabinet Members

Ministers Title/Ministry/Portfolio(s) Term of office Party
Ruud Lubbers
(1939–2018)
Prime Minister General Affairs 4 November 1982 –
22 Augustus 1994
[Continued]
Christian
Democratic Appeal
Gijs van Aardenne
(1930–1995)
Deputy
Prime Minister
Economic Affairs 4 November 1982 –
14 July 1986
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Minister
Koos Rietkerk
(1927–1986)
Minister Interior 4 November 1982 –
20 February 1986
[Died]
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Frits
Korthals Altes

(born 1931)
20 February 1986 –
12 March 1986
[Ad Interim]
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Dr.
Rudolf de Korte
(1936–2020)
12 March 1986 –
14 July 1986
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Hans van
den Broek

(born 1936)
Minister Foreign Affairs 4 November 1982 –
3 January 1993
[Continued]
Christian
Democratic Appeal
Dr.
Onno Ruding
(born 1939)
Minister Finance 4 November 1982 –
7 November 1989
[Continued]
Christian
Democratic Appeal
Frits
Korthals Altes

(born 1931)
Minister Justice 4 November 1982 –
7 November 1989
[Continued]
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Dr.
Job de Ruiter
(1930–2015)
Minister Defence 4 November 1982 –
14 July 1986
Christian
Democratic Appeal
Elco Brinkman
(born 1948)
Minister Welfare, Health
and Culture
4 November 1982 –
7 November 1989
[Continued]
Christian
Democratic Appeal
Jan de Koning
(1926–1994)
Minister Social Affairs and
Employment
4 November 1982 –
3 February 1987
[Continued]
Christian
Democratic Appeal
Minister Interior Netherlands
Antilles and
Aruba Affairs
29 May 1982 –
7 November 1989
[Retained] [Continued]
Wim Deetman
(born 1945)
Minister Education and
Sciences
29 May 1982 –
14 September 1989
[Retained] [Continued]
Christian
Democratic Appeal
Neelie Kroes
(born 1941)
Minister Transport and
Water Management
4 November 1982 –
7 November 1989
[Continued]
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Gerrit Braks
(1933–2017)
Minister Agriculture and
Fisheries
4 November 1982 –
18 September 1990
[Continued]
Christian
Democratic Appeal
Dr.
Pieter Winsemius
(born 1942)
Minister Housing, Spatial
Planning and the
Environment
4 November 1982 –
14 July 1986
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Minister without portfolio Title/Ministry/Portfolio(s) Term of office Party
Eegje Schoo
(born 1944)
Minister Foreign Affairs Development
Cooperation
4 November 1982 –
14 July 1986
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
State Secretaries Title/Ministry/Portfolio(s) Term of office Party
Marius van
Amelsvoort

(1930–2006)
State Secretary Interior Municipalities
Emergency
Services

Emergency
Management
8 November 1982 –
14 July 1986
Christian
Democratic Appeal
Dr.
Wim van Eekelen
(born 1931)
State Secretary
[Title]
Foreign Affairs European Union
Benelux
5 November 1982 –
14 July 1986
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Henk Koning
(1933–2016)
State Secretary Finance Fiscal Policy
Tax and Customs
Governmental
Budget
4 November 1982 –
7 November 1989
[Continued]
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Virginie
Korte-van Hemel

(1929–2014)
State Secretary Justice Immigration
and Asylum

Civil Law
• Youth Justice
Penitentiaries
Gambling
8 November 1982 –
7 November 1989
[Continued]
Christian
Democratic Appeal
Piet van Zeil
(1927–2012)
State Secretary Economic Affairs Small and
Medium-sized
Businesses

Regional
Development

• Consumer
Protection
Tourism
11 September 1981 –
22 June 1986
[Retained] [App]
Christian
Democratic Appeal
Frits Bolkestein
(born 1933)
Trade and Export
[Title]
4 November 1982 –
14 July 1986
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Jan van
Houwelingen

(1939–2013)
State Secretary Defence) • Equipment 14 September 1981 –
7 November 1989
[Retained] [Continued]
Christian
Democratic Appeal
Charl Schwietert
(born 1943)
Human
Resources
8 November 1982 –
11 November 1982
[Res]
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Willem Hoekzema
(born 1939)
19 November 1982 –
14 July 1986
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Joop van
der Reijden

(1927–2006)
State Secretary Welfare, Health
and Culture
Primary
Healthcare

• Social Services
Elderly Care
Disability Policy
Medical Ethics
5 November 1982 –
14 July 1986
Christian
Democratic Appeal
Louw de Graaf
(1930–2020)
State Secretary Social Affairs and
Employment
• Social Security
• Unemployment
Occupational
Safety
5 November 1982 –
3 February 1987
[Continued]
Christian
Democratic Appeal
Annelien
Kappeyne van
de Coppello

(1936–1990)
Disability Policy
Family Policy
Equality
Emancipation
8 November 1982 –
14 July 1986
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Nell Ginjaar-Maas
(1931–2012)
State Secretary Education and
Sciences
Secondary
Education

Adult
Education
5 November 1982 –
7 November 1989
[Continued]
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Gerard van
Leijenhorst

(1928–2001)
Primary
Education
8 November 1982 –
14 July 1986
Christian
Democratic Appeal
Jaap
Scherpenhuizen

(1934–2012)
State Secretary Transport and
Water Management
Public
Infrastructure

Public
Transport

Postal Service
Weather
Forecasting
8 November 1982 –
14 July 1986
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Ad Ploeg
(1927–1994)
State Secretary Agriculture and
Fisheries
Food Policy
Environmental
Policy

• Nature
• Fisheries
• Forestry
• Animal Welfare
8 November 1982 –
14 July 1986
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Gerrit Brokx
(1933–2002)
State Secretary Housing, Spatial
Planning and the
Environment
Urban Planning
• Public Housing
Spatial Planning
5 November 1982 –
23 October 1986
[Continued]
Christian
Democratic Appeal
Resigned
Retained from the previous cabinet
Continued in the next cabinet
Ad Interim
Died in Office
Designated with the diplomatic rank of Minister
Appointed as Mayor of Heerlen

Trivia

References

  1. (in Dutch) Willem Drees gekozen tot ‘Dé premier na WO II’, Geschiedenis24.nl, 15 January 2006
  2. (in Dutch) NRC-enquête: Drees en Lubbers beste premiers sinds 1900, NRC Handelsblad, 28 September 2013
  3. "De jaren tachtig van Onno Ruding" (in Dutch). Historisch Nieuwsblad. 19 August 2001. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
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