First Lubbers cabinet explained

Cabinet Name:First Lubbers cabinet
Jurisdiction:the Netherlands
Flag:Flag of the Netherlands.svg
Flag Border:true
Image Size2:250px
Date Dissolved:
(Demissionary from)
Government Head:Ruud Lubbers
Deputy Government Head:Gijs van Aardenne
State Head:Queen Beatrix
Members Number:14
Former Members Number:1
Total Number:15
Political Party:Christian Democratic Appeal
(CDA)
People's Party for
Freedom and Democracy

(VVD)
Legislature Status:Right-wing
Majority government
Election:1982 election
Last Election:1986 election
Legislature Term:1982–1986
Incoming Formation:1982 formation
Outgoing Formation:1986 formation
Previous:Third Van Agt cabinet
Successor:Second 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.

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 CDA of incumbent Prime Minister 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 CDA 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 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 CDA and the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy. Soon thereafter incumbent Prime Minister and leader of the CDA Van Agt unexpectedly announced his retirement from national politics and stood down as leader of the CDA on 25 October 1982 and subsequently endorsed the Parliamentary leader of the CDA in the House of Representatives Ruud Lubbers, a former Minister of Economic Affairs as his successor. On 30 October 1982 the CDA and the VVD 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 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.

Cabinet Members

MinistersTitle/Ministry/Portfolio(s)Term of officeParty
Ruud Lubbers
(1939–2018)
Prime MinisterGeneral Affairs4 November 1982 –
22 Augustus 1994
Christian
Democratic Appeal
Gijs van Aardenne
(1930–1995)
Deputy
Prime Minister
Economic Affairs4 November 1982 –
14 July 1986
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Minister
Koos Rietkerk
(1927–1986)
MinisterInterior4 November 1982 –
20 February 1986
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Frits
Korthals Altes

(born 1931)
20 February 1986 –
12 March 1986
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)
MinisterForeign Affairs4 November 1982 –
3 January 1993
Christian
Democratic Appeal
Dr.
Onno Ruding
(born 1939)
MinisterFinance4 November 1982 –
7 November 1989
Christian
Democratic Appeal
Frits
Korthals Altes

(born 1931)
MinisterJustice4 November 1982 –
7 November 1989
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Dr.
Job de Ruiter
(1930–2015)
MinisterDefence4 November 1982 –
14 July 1986
Christian
Democratic Appeal
Elco Brinkman
(born 1948)
MinisterWelfare, Health
and Culture
4 November 1982 –
7 November 1989
Christian
Democratic Appeal
Jan de Koning
(1926–1994)
MinisterSocial Affairs and
Employment
4 November 1982 –
3 February 1987
Christian
Democratic Appeal
MinisterInteriorNetherlands
Antilles and
Aruba Affairs
29 May 1982 –
7 November 1989
Wim Deetman
(born 1945)
MinisterEducation and
Sciences
29 May 1982 –
14 September 1989
Christian
Democratic Appeal
Neelie Kroes
(born 1941)
MinisterTransport and
Water Management
4 November 1982 –
7 November 1989
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Gerrit Braks
(1933–2017)
MinisterAgriculture and
Fisheries
4 November 1982 –
18 September 1990
Christian
Democratic Appeal
Dr.
Pieter Winsemius
(born 1942)
MinisterHousing, Spatial
Planning and the
Environment
4 November 1982 –
14 July 1986
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Minister without portfolioTitle/Ministry/Portfolio(s)Term of officeParty
Eegje Schoo
(born 1944)
MinisterForeign AffairsDevelopment
Cooperation
4 November 1982 –
14 July 1986
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
State SecretariesTitle/Ministry/Portfolio(s)Term of officeParty
Marius van
Amelsvoort

(1930–2006)
State SecretaryInteriorMunicipalities
Emergency
Services

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

(1929–2014)
State SecretaryJusticeImmigration
and Asylum

Civil Law
• Youth Justice
Penitentiaries
Gambling
8 November 1982 –
7 November 1989
Christian
Democratic Appeal
Piet van Zeil
(1927–2012)
State SecretaryEconomic AffairsSmall and
Medium-sized
Businesses

Regional
Development

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

(1939–2013)
State SecretaryDefence)Equipment14 September 1981 –
7 November 1989
Christian
Democratic Appeal
Charl Schwietert
(born 1943)
Human
Resources
8 November 1982 –
11 November 1982
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 SecretaryWelfare, 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 SecretarySocial Affairs and
Employment
• Social Security
• Unemployment
Occupational
Safety
5 November 1982 –
3 February 1987
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 SecretaryEducation and
Sciences
Secondary
Education

Adult
Education
5 November 1982 –
7 November 1989
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 SecretaryTransport 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 SecretaryAgriculture 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 SecretaryHousing, Spatial
Planning and the
Environment
5 November 1982 –
23 October 1986
Christian
Democratic Appeal

Trivia

External links

Official

Notes and References

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