First Kok cabinet

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 cabinet started processes of liberalisation which were completed by the same coalition in the following cabinet: the legalisation of prostitution in 2000, same-sex marriage in 2001 and Euthanasia in 2002.

This was the last cabinet in recent history to serve a full term. Five of the following cabinets resigned and one was a temporary caretaker cabinet.

Ministers

State Secretaries

Please refer to the article on State Secretary (Netherlands) for an explanation about the function.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cabinet Kok I.

v t e Government of the Netherlands   Structure and process Structure Government Monarch and the Ministers, including Ministers without Portfolio Council of Ministers Ministers, including Ministers without Portfolio, chaired by the Prime Minister of the Netherlands and one or more Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands Cabinet (list) Ministers, including Ministers without Portfolio and State Secretaries Formations 2003 2006/2007 2010 2012 Process Demissionary cabinet Dutch cabinet formation   Current ministries General Affairs Interior and Kingdom Relations Foreign Affairs Finance Security and Justice Economic Affairs Defence Health, Welfare and Sport Education, Culture and Science Infrastructure and the Environment Social Affairs and Employment   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 Rutte I Rutte II Portal:Politics