| The Netherlands |
 This article is part of the series: |
|
|
|
Constitution
Cabinet
Decentralized gov't
Foreign policy
Related subjects
|
|
Other countries · Atlas Politics Portal |
The first cabinet of Jan Peter Balkenende was in office in the Netherlands from July 22, 2002 until October 16 of the same year. The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands The politics of the Netherlands take place within the framework of a parliamentary Representative democracy, a Constitutional monarchy and a The Netherlands and The Kingdom of the Netherlands are two distinct geographical and administrative entities The Council of Ministers of the Kingdom ( Dutch: Ministerraad van het Koninkrijk or Rijksministerraad) is the executive council of the Kingdom of the The Minister Plenipotentiary of Aruba (Gevolmachtigd Minister van Aruba represents the constituent country of Aruba in the Council of Ministers of the Kingdom The Minister Plenipotentiary of the Netherlands Antilles (Gevolmachtigd Minister van de Nederlandse Antillen represents the constituent country of the Netherlands Antilles The Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands (in Dutch Statuut voor het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden; in Papiamentu Statuut pa e Reino di Hulanda) describes the The Constitution of the Netherlands is the Fundamental law of the European territory of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Human rights of the Netherlands are codified in the Dutch constitution. The Netherlands has been an independent Monarchy since 16 March 1815, and has been governed by members of the House of Orange-Nassau Willem-Alexander Prince of Orange (in Dutch: Prins van Oranje The States-General ( Staten-Generaal) is the Parliament of the Netherlands. The Eerste Kamer ( First Chamber) is the Upper House or Senate of the Netherlands parliament the States-General The Historic composition of the Eerste Kamer gives an overview of the composition of the Higher House of the Dutch parliament The Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal ( literally "Second Chamber of the States-General" short Tweede Kamer, is the Dutch Lower house. The Historic composition of the Tweede Kamer gives an overview of the composition of the Lower House of the Dutch parliament The Dutch Council of Ministers is the executive council of Dutch government, formed by all the ministers This executive council initiates laws and policy The cabinet of the Netherlands is the main executive body of the Dutch government. This is a list of cabinets of the Netherlands Note first party mentioned provided prime minister The Prime minister of the Netherlands is the Head of government of the Netherlands and is the chair of the Dutch cabinet, and This is a list of Prime Ministers of the Netherlands since 1848 Jan Peter Balkenende (pronounced ˈjɑn ˈpetər ˈbɑɫkənɛndə) (born 7 May 1956 is a Christian Democratic politician who has been the Prime Minister of the This article lists political parties in the Netherlands. The Netherlands has a Multi-party system with numerous parties in which any one party has little This article gives an overview of liberalism in the Netherlands. This article gives an overview of socialism in the Netherlands, including Communism and Social democracy. This article gives an overview of Christian democracy in the Netherlands, which is also called confessional politics, including political catholicism and Elections in the Netherlands are held for six territorial levels the European Union (beyond the scope of this article the state the 12 Provinces Provincial elections were held in the Netherlands, on March 7, 2007. The 2006 Dutch general elections were held in the Netherlands on Wednesday November 22, 2006, and followed the call for new elections after The Dutch municipal elections of 2006 were held on March 7 2006. The Dutch referendum on the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe was a consultative Referendum that was held on 1 June 2005 to decide if the The European Parliament election of 2004 in the Netherlands was the election of MEP representing Netherlands constituency for the 2004-2009 term of the European A Dutch province represents the administrative layer in between the national government and the local municipalities having the responsibility for matters of subnational or regional The States-Provincial ( Provinciale Staten, or PS - commonly known as simply the Staten, or States) is the provincial parliament and legislative Dutch water boards (waterschappen or nl ''hoogheemraadschappen'' are regional government bodies in the Netherlands. |||} All provinces of the Netherlands are divided into municipalities ( gemeenten) together 443 (2007 The European Union is a unique entity possessing elements of Intergovernmentalism, Supranationalism and a Multi-party Parliamentary democracy The Foreign policy of the Netherlands is based on four basic commitments to the atlantic cooperation, to European integration, to International This page lists embassies and consulates posted in the Netherlands. Listed below are the embassies and consulates of the Netherlands, excluding honorary consulates Europe Tirana A High Council of State (in Dutch: Hoog College van Staat) is a council of which the independence is guaranteed in the Constitution of the Netherlands. The National Ombudsman (in Dutch: Nationale Ombudsman) is a Dutch political office In the Netherlands, the Council of State ( Raad van State) is a Constitutionally established advisory body to the Government which consists of The General Chamber of Auditors (in Dutch: Algemene Rekenkamer) is an independent organ that Audits the spending of the national government on its Efficiency The Sociaal-Economische Raad (Social Economic Council SER is a major economic advisory council of the Dutch government The Hoge Raad der Nederlanden ( High Council of the Netherlands) is the Supreme Court of the Netherlands, situated in The Hague. De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB The Dutch Bank) is the Central bank of the Netherlands. Rise of Socialism In the beginning of the 20th century socialism began to develop in the Netherlands Information on politics by country is available for every Country, including both De jure and De facto independent A cabinet is a body of high-ranking members of Government, typically representing the executive branch. Jan Peter Balkenende (pronounced ˈjɑn ˈpetər ˈbɑɫkənɛndə) (born 7 May 1956 is a Christian Democratic politician who has been the Prime Minister of the The politics of the Netherlands take place within the framework of a parliamentary Representative democracy, a Constitutional monarchy and a Events 1099 - First Crusade: Godfrey of Bouillon is elected the first Defender of the Holy Sepulchre of The Kingdom of See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 456 - Magister militum Ricimer defeats the Emperor Avitus at Piacenza and becomes master of the western The term of 87 days (counting the first and last days in full and excluding its "caretaker" function that continued for months afterwards) was the shortest since the fifth cabinet of Hendrikus Colijn (July 25, 1939 - August 10, 1939). Hendrikus (Hendrik Colijn (22 June 1869 – 18 September 1944 was a successful Dutch soldier businessman and politician Events 285 - Diocletian appoints Maximian as Caesar, co-ruler Year 1939 ( MCMXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 612 BC - Killing of Sinsharishkun, King of Assyrian Empire Year 1939 ( MCMXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
After the May 15, 2002 elections the division of the 150 seats in the lower house (Tweede Kamer) was:
| Christen Democratisch Appèl (CDA) | 43 |
| Lijst Pim Fortuyn (LPF) | 26 |
| Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie (VVD) | 24 |
| Partij van de Arbeid (PvdA) | 23 |
| GroenLinks (GL) | 10 |
| Socialistische Partij (SP) | 9 |
| Democraten 66 (D66) | 7 |
| ChristenUnie (CU) | 4 |
| Staatkundig Gereformeerde Partij (SGP) | 2 |
| Leefbaar Nederland (LN) | 2 |
On May 17 Queen Beatrix appointed Piet Hein Donner, a CDA member of the Raad van State as "informer", to investigate the possibilities for a new government. Events 1252 - Pope Innocent IV issues the Papal bull Ad exstirpanda, which authorizes but also limits the See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. The Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal ( literally "Second Chamber of the States-General" short Tweede Kamer, is the Dutch Lower house. The Christian Democratic Appeal ( CDA) (Christen Democratisch Appèl is a Dutch Christian-democratic Political party. Pim Fortuyn List ( Lijst Pim Fortuyn, LPF is a defunct Political party in the Netherlands. The People's Party for Freedom and Democracy ( VVD) (Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie is a Dutch liberal Political party. GroenLinks ( GL, English: GreenLeft) is a Dutch Green Political party. Democrats 66 ( D66, Democraten 66 official name Politieke Partij Democraten 66) is a Dutch progressive, social-liberal and This article is about the Dutch political party See Christian Union (students (with space between the two words for the university religious organization and Christian The Political Reformed Party ( Dutch: Staatkundig Gereformeerde Partij, SGP) is an orthodox Protestant Dutch political party. Livable Netherlands (in Dutch Leefbaar Nederland, LN was a Dutch populist Political party. Events 1521 - Edward Stafford 3rd Duke of Buckingham, is executed for Treason. Jan Pieter Hendrik Donner (born 20 October 1948 in Amsterdam) is Dutch Minister of Social Affairs and Employment in the The Council of State is the name of an organ of government in many states and especially in Republics The name Council of State is applied to different A coalition between CDA, LPF and VVD was established relatively quickly, despite some initial resistance by the VVD. The Christian Democratic Appeal ( CDA) (Christen Democratisch Appèl is a Dutch Christian-democratic Political party. Pim Fortuyn List ( Lijst Pim Fortuyn, LPF is a defunct Political party in the Netherlands. The People's Party for Freedom and Democracy ( VVD) (Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie is a Dutch liberal Political party. By July 4 a detailed coalition agreement had been drawn up and the Queen appointed Jan Peter Balkenende, the lijsttrekker for the CDA, to form a new cabinet. Events 836 - Pactum Sicardi, peace between the Principality of Benevento and the Duchy of Naples Jan Peter Balkenende (pronounced ˈjɑn ˈpetər ˈbɑɫkənɛndə) (born 7 May 1956 is a Christian Democratic politician who has been the Prime Minister of the The cabinet was named on July 16 and was sworn in on July 22. Events 622 - The beginning of the Islamic calendar. 1054 - Three Roman legates fractured relations between the Western and Events 1099 - First Crusade: Godfrey of Bouillon is elected the first Defender of the Holy Sepulchre of The Kingdom of The cabinet Balkenende-1 comprised 14 ministers and 14 state secretaries, with each post allocated to one of the coalition parties. Each of the ministers headed a department, with the exception of one "minister without a portfolio" to deal with "foreigners policy and integration", accommodated by the Ministry of Justice.
Contents |
Incidents and Scandals
The First Balkenende Cabinet was very unstable from the beginning. Elections had been held in the very recent aftermath of the assassination of Pim Fortuyn, the leader of the newly established LPF. Wilhelmus Simon Petrus (Pim Fortuyn (pɪm fɔʁtœʏn ( February 19, 1948 – May 6, 2002) was a controversial openly gay charismatic Pim Fortuyn List ( Lijst Pim Fortuyn, LPF is a defunct Political party in the Netherlands. Emotions in the Netherlands, a country where the last political assassination had taken place in 1584 with the murder of Prince William of Orange, had run very high. William I Prince of Orange ( April 24 1533 — July 10 1584) also widely known as William the Silent (Willem de Zwijger or simply The LPF was catapulted into enormous wins and the party proved unprepared for cabinet participation. Personality conflicts and the general inexperience of LPF cabinet members led to the rapid implosion of the cabinet. After the ensuing new elections, the LPF lost two-thirds of its seats in the Dutch Lower House and the party has since been disbanded on a national level. The Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal ( literally "Second Chamber of the States-General" short Tweede Kamer, is the Dutch Lower house.
Resignation of Undersecretary Bijlhout
The first scandal in the new government came only nine ours after it took office. Philomena Bijlhout, the staatssecretaris (Undersecretary) for Social Affairs and Work Opportunity appointed by the LPF, resigned after evidence was presented that she had been a member of a militia of Surinamese military coup leader Dési Bouterse in 1982 and 1983, during the period when the militia had committed the political murders known as the "December Murders. Suriname ( Dutch: Suriname; Sranan Tongo: Sranan) officially the Republic of Suriname (traditionally spelled Surinam by Desiré Delano Bouterse of Suriname (born October 13, 1945) has been a military sports instructor coup leader army leader and a Politician Year 1982 ( MCMLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar) Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) The expression December Murders is generally used for the murder on December 8, 1982, of thirteen civilians and two military officials who opposed the military rule "
Power Struggles within the LPF and the Resignation of the Cabinet
In the months following the election, the LPF was beset by power struggles between various factions. Pim Fortuyn List ( Lijst Pim Fortuyn, LPF is a defunct Political party in the Netherlands. A big incident was when minister Nawijn declared to be in favour of the death penalty. The cabinet was officially opposed to the death penalty. Nawijn responded that he made his remark as leader of the LPF. The party in its turn declared that it was opposed to the death penalty. Nawijn was highly criticised when he declared that it was a personal remark, because it was normal that a minister in a coalition cabinet could make remarks as political party member outside his ministerial responsibility.
A huge incident between ministers of the LPF, Bomhoff and Heinsbroek led to the resignation of the cabinet. Pim Fortuyn List ( Lijst Pim Fortuyn, LPF is a defunct Political party in the Netherlands. A bell used by Vice-Prime Minister Bomhoff to indicate he wanted to speak during cabinet meetings annoyed Minister Heinsbroek and a row ensued which dragged on for several weeks. The other LPF ministers decided not to support Bomhoff and Heinsbroek anymore. They made this decision during the funeral of Prince-Consort Claus von Amsberg, who had died on October 6, 2002. Prince Claus of the Netherlands Jonkheer of Amsberg ( September 6 1926 – October 6 2002) was a German-born aristocrat who became Events 105 BC - Battle of Arausio: The Cimbri inflict the heaviest defeat on the Roman army of Gnaeus Mallius Maximus See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. Finance Minister Gerrit Zalm was so outraged at their breach of decorum during a royal funeral that he demanded new elections. Gerrit Zalm (born May 6, 1952) is a former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of the Netherlands. He no longer wanted to be in a government with the LPF. Pim Fortuyn List ( Lijst Pim Fortuyn, LPF is a defunct Political party in the Netherlands. Meetings with the Queen did not take place until the week after the resignation, since she had travelled to Italy immediately after the funeral. Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest On October 21 she accepted the resignation and new elections were called for January 22, 2003. Events 1512 - Martin Luther joins the theological faculty of the University of Wittenberg. Events 565 - Eutychius is deposed as Patriarch of Constantinople by John Scholasticus. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. The cabinet remained in place as a "caretaker" administration, without Bomhoff and Heinsbroek, until the elections and formation of a new cabinet.
On December 12, 2002, Benk Korthals resigned as caretaker Minister of Defence after a commission of inquiry into building industry fraud accused him of giving false information to the Lower House during the previous cabinet. Events 627 - Battle of Nineveh: A Byzantine army under Emperor Heraclius defeats Emperor Khosrau II 's Persian See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. After resigning he said he still denied the allegations.
Cabinet actions
- Revoked a planned ban on mink farming initiated by the previous cabinet[1]
- Approved an expansion of the European Union. There are two living species of " mink," the American Mink and the European Mink. The European Union ( EU) is a political and economic union of twenty-seven member states, located primarily in
- Support for the United States in its plan to invade Iraq. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The 2003 invasion of Iraq, from March 20 to May 1 2003 was spearheaded by the United States, backed by British forces and smaller contingents from Australia
- Cuts to a subsidised jobs scheme of Ad Melkert, the Melkertbanen. Adrianus Petrus Wilhelmus (Ad Melkert ( February 12, 1956) is a Dutch politician who served as chair of the parliamentary party and Minister
- Reorganisation of defence (and budget cuts?) involving 4800 job losses [2]
- Reduction of spending on public transport of 39 million euros in 2003 (originally to be 60 million) [3]
- Cuts to the budgets of most government departments, but with increased spending in some areas. Rail transport Railway tracks The Netherlands has an extensive and much-used railway network which connects virtually all cities and many towns with each other
Ministers
| Prime Minister, General Affairs (CDA) | Jan Peter Balkenende |
| Vice Prime Minister, Health and Sport (LPF) | Eduard Bomhoff (resigned October 16, 2002, after which Aart Jan de Geus added this portfolio). Jan Peter Balkenende (pronounced ˈjɑn ˈpetər ˈbɑɫkənɛndə) (born 7 May 1956 is a Christian Democratic politician who has been the Prime Minister of the Eduard Jan Bomhoff (born September 30 1944 is a Dutch Economist and Academic, and was Minister of Health Welfare and Sport in the First Events 456 - Magister militum Ricimer defeats the Emperor Avitus at Piacenza and becomes master of the western See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. Aart Jan de Geus (born July 28 1955 in Doorn) is a CDA Dutch politician and was the Minister of Social Affairs and Employment |
| Vice Prime Minister, Internal Affairs and Kingdom Relations (VVD) | Johan Remkes |
| Foreign Affairs (CDA) | Jaap de Hoop Scheffer |
| Justice (CDA) | Piet Hein Donner |
| Education, Culture and Sciences (CDA) | Maria van der Hoeven |
| Finances (VVD) | Hans Hoogervorst |
| Defence (VVD) | Benk Korthals (resigned December 12, 2002, after which Henk Kamp added this portfolio) |
| Housing, Spatial Planning and Environment (VVD) | Henk Kamp |
| Transport and Water (LPF) | Roelf de Boer |
| Economic Affairs, External Trade (*) (LPF) | Herman Heinsbroek (resigned October 16, 2002, after which Hans Hoogervorst added this portfolio). Johannes Wijnandus (Johan Remkes (born in Oosterbroek ( Groningen) on 15 June 1951) became a member of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Jakob Gijsbert "Jaap" de Hoop Scheffer (/jɑːp də hoːp ˈsxɛfər/ born 3 April 1948 is a Dutch Politician and the 11th NATO Secretary Jan Pieter Hendrik Donner (born 20 October 1948 in Amsterdam) is Dutch Minister of Social Affairs and Employment in the Maria van der Hoeven (born September 13 1949 in Meerssen) is the Dutch minister of Economic Affairs in the Fourth Balkenende Hans Hoogervorst (b 19 April 1956, Haarlem) was the Minister of Health Welfare and Sport of the Netherlands between May 2003 and February 2007 Events 627 - Battle of Nineveh: A Byzantine army under Emperor Heraclius defeats Emperor Khosrau II 's Persian See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. Henricus ("Henk" Gregorius Jozeph Kamp (born July 23, 1952 in Hengelo, Overijssel) is a Dutch politician Hermanus Philippus Johannes Bernardus Heinsbroek (born January 12 1951 is a Dutch Entrepreneur and was Minister of Economic Affairs in the First Events 456 - Magister militum Ricimer defeats the Emperor Avitus at Piacenza and becomes master of the western See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. |
| Agriculture, Nature Management and Fishery (CDA) | Cees Veerman |
| Social Affairs and Work Opportunity (CDA) | Aart Jan de Geus |
| Foreigners Policy and Integration (LPF) | Hilbrand Nawijn |
Staatssecretaris
| Foreign Affairs (Development Cooperation), Minister of Development Cooperation (*) (CDA) | A. Cornelis Pieter ("Cees" Veerman (born 8 March 1949, Nieuw-Beijerland) is a Dutch Politician. Aart Jan de Geus (born July 28 1955 in Doorn) is a CDA Dutch politician and was the Minister of Social Affairs and Employment Hilbrand Pier Anne Nawijn (born August 8, 1948) is a Dutch Politician, a former Member of the Dutch Parliament, and until M. A. van Ardenne-van der Hoeven |
| Foreign Affairs (European Affairs) (VVD) | Atzo Nicolaï |
| Internal Affairs and Kingdom Relations (LPF) | R. Atzo Nicolaï (born 22 February 1960 in Delft) is a Dutch Politician and was Minister for Government Reform and Kingdom Relations H. Hessing |
| Education, Culture and Sciences (Science and Higher Education) (VVD) | A. D. S. M. Nijs |
| Education, Culture and Sciences (Culture and Media) (LPF) | C. H. J. van Leeuwen |
| Finances (LPF) | S. R. A. van Eijck |
| Defence (CDA) | C. van der Knaap |
| Housing, Spacial Planning and Environment (CDA) | P. B. L. A van Geel |
| Transport and Water (VVD) | M. H. Schultz van Haegen-Maas Geesteranus |
| Economic Affairs (CDA), Minister of Foreign Trade (*) | Joop Wijn |
| Agriculture, Nature Management and Fishery (LPF) | B. Joannes Gerardus (Joop Wijn (born 20 May 1969 in Haarlem) was minister of Economic Affairs in the Third Balkenende cabinet of J. Odink |
| Social Affairs and Work Opportunity (VVD) | M. Rutte |
| Social Affairs and Work Opportunity (Emancipation and Family Affairs) (LPF) | Philomena Bijlhout (resigned July 22, 2002), Khee Liang Phoa (from September 9, 2002) |
| Health and Sport (CDA) | Clemence Ross-Van Dorp |
(*) Alternative title that can be used outside the Netherlands. Political freedom is the absence of interference with the sovereignty of an individual by the use of coercion or aggression Events 1099 - First Crusade: Godfrey of Bouillon is elected the first Defender of the Holy Sepulchre of The Kingdom of See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. Khee Liang Phoa, born in Rotterdam on May 3 1955 is a Dutch politician, secretary of state for emancipation and family affairs in the First Balkenende cabinet Events 1000 - Battle of Svolder, Viking Age. 1379 - Treaty of Neuberg, splitting the Austrian See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar.
Sources
- http://www.volkskrant.nl/1026900268305.html
- http://www.minaz.nl/ministerraad/kabinet_1945/index.html
- The report of Balkenende to the Queen from http://www.minaz.nl/kabinetsformatie/
See also
- Lijst Pim Fortuyn (covers in detail reasons for breakup)
References
Pim Fortuyn List ( Lijst Pim Fortuyn, LPF is a defunct Political party in the Netherlands.Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic