First Kok cabinet

First Kok cabinet in 1994

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. GDP growth had been erratic in recent years. The aim of the cabinet was to increase the influence of markets in the economy, with policies 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

Prime Minister
General Affairs
Wim Kok PvdA
Vice Prime Minister
Interior Affairs
Hans Dijkstal VVD
Vice Prime Minister
Foreign Affairs
Hans van Mierlo D66
Justice Winnie Sorgdrager D66
Education, Culture and Sciences Jo Ritzen PvdA
FInance Gerrit Zalm VVD
Hans Wijers D66 a.i. June 4–26, 1996
Defense
Dutch Caribbean and Aruba
Joris Voorhoeve VVD
Transport and Water Annemarie Jorritsma VVD
Economy Hans Wijers D66
Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheryj Jozias van Aartsen VVD
Social Affairs and Employment Ad Melkert PvdA
Public health, Wellbeing and Sports Els Borst D66
Housing, Spatial Planning and Environment Margreeth de Boer PvdA
Development cooperation Jan Pronk PvdA

State Secretaries

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

Foreign Affairs Michiel Patijn VVD
Justice Elizabeth Schmitz PvdA
Interior Affairs Jacob Kohnstamm D66
Tonny van de Vondervoort PvdA
Education, Culture and Sciences Tineke Netelenbos PvdA
Aad Nuis D66
Finance Willem Vermeend PvdA
Defense Jan Gmelich Meijling VVD
Housing, Spatial Planning and Environment Dick Tommel D66
Economy Anneke van Dok-van Weele PvdA
Social Affairs and Employment Robin Linschoten VVD until 28 June 1996
Frank de Grave VVD from 2 July 1996
Public health, Wellbeing and Sports Erica Terpstra VVD
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