Verhofstadt II Government explained

The Verhofstadt II Government was the federal government of Belgium from 12 July 2003 to 21 December 2007.

It was the second government headed by Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt (VLD). It was formed after the 2003 general election. It consisted of the Flemish Liberals and Democrats (VLD), the French-speaking Liberal Reformist Party (MR), the Flemish Socialist Party (SP.a) and the French-speaking Socialist Party (PS). Because it comprised liberals and socialists it was also known as a "purple" coalition. It was a continuation of the Verhofstadt I Government but without the Green parties.

Original Composition 2003-2004

FunctionHolderParty
Prime MinisterGuy VerhofstadtVLD
Deputy Prime Minister
Minister of Justice
Laurette OnkelinxPS
Deputy Prime Minister
Minister of Foreign Affairs
MR
Deputy Prime Minister
Minister of the Budget and Public Enterprises
Johan Vande LanotteSP.a
Deputy Prime Minister
Minister of the Interior
Patrick DewaelVLD
Minister of Employment and PensionsFrank VandenbrouckeSP.a
Minister of DefenceAndré FlahautPS
Minister of Development CooperationMarc VerwilghenVLD
Minister of FinanceDidier ReyndersMR
Minister of the Economy, Energy, Foreign Trade, and ScienceFientje MoermanVLD
Minister of Social Affairs and Public HealthPS
Minister of Mobility and Social EconomyBert AnciauxSpirit
(SP.a)
Minister of the Civil Service, Integration, and Large CitiesMarie ArenaPS
Minister of the Middle Class and AgricultureSabine LaruelleMR
Minister of the Environment, Consumer Protection, and Sustainable DevelopmentFreya Van den BosscheSP.a
Secretary of State for InformatizationPeter VanvelthovenSP.a
Secretary of State for European AffairsJacques SimonetMR
Secretary of State for Financial Modernization and the Fight Against Fiscal FraudHervé JamarMR
Secretary of State for Labour Organization and Welfare at WorkAnissa TemsamaniSP.a
Secretary of State for Family and the HandicappedIsabelle SimonisPS
Secretary of State for Administrative ReformVincent Van QuickenborneVLD

Reshuffles

Composition after the 2004 Regional elections

The 2004 Regional elections saw a fundamental reshuffle to the federal government as various federal ministers joined regional governments after these elections. The federal government after this date is often called Verhofstadt IIbis.

2004 Reshuffles

Later Reshuffles