PM Rutte to Lead 23 Ministers and State Secretaries from 4 Different Parties.
On October 26, King Willem-Alexander has installed the new centre-right government, which is the first government in 40 years to draw its members from four different parties - VVD/Liberal Conservatives, CDA/Christian Democrats, D66/Liberal Democrats and ChristenUnie/Christian Conservatives.
The inclusion of four parties in the coalition has forced Prime Minister Rutte to abandon his ‘small-government’ principles and appoint a larger team than before - 23 Ministers and State Secretaries (Junior Ministers), regarding which new Ministries (including ‘Dual Ministries’) have been created.
Next to Prime Minister Rutte, three Deputy Prime Ministers have been appointed, representing each of the other three coalition parties. These three Deputy Prime Ministers will also run their own Ministry:
- Health (Elderly Care) - Mr Hugo de Jonge (CDA/Christian Democrats): A primary school teacher by profession, Mr De Jonge has been an alderman in Rotterdam since 2010.
- Interior - Ms Kajsa Ollongren (D66/Liberal Democrats): PM Rutte’s secretary general at the General Affairs Ministry until 2014 when she became alderman for economic affairs and culture in Amsterdam. A dual national with Dutch and Swedish passports, as well as roots in the Finnish aristocracy.
- Agriculture - Ms Carola Schouten (ChristenUnie/Christian Conservatives): Was a parliamentary party worker till 2011 when she became a MP. Famed for her knowledge of finance.
Other key Ministers include:
- Finance - Mr Wopke Hoekstra (CDA/Christian Democrats): Currently a Senator and a Partner at consultancy firm McKinsey & Company, where he is active in the energy and public sectors.
- Foreign Affairs - Mr Halbe Zijlstra (VVD/Liberal Conservatives): Was the VVD faction chairman in the Parliament for five years and was one of the VVD negotiators during the government formation process. Known as a hardliner, he has called for a ‘realistic foreign policy’.
- Economic Affairs and Climate (including Energy) - Mr Eric Wiebes (VVD/Liberal Conservatives): Struggled with reorganizing the tax office in PM Rutte’s second government but rewarded for his doggedness with new post.
- Justice and Security – Mr Ferdinand Grapperhaus (CDA/Christian Democrats). Mr Grapperhuis is a professor of European labour law at Maastricht University and he was Managing Director for international law firm Allen & Overy.
- Justice and Security (Legal Protection) – Mr Sander Dekker (VVD/Liberal Conservatives): Education State Secretary since 2013. Prior to that he was an Alderman (education and finance) in The Hague city council.
- Health (Medical Care) - Mr Bruno Bruins (VVD/Liberal Conservatives). Was Education State Secretary up to 2007 and Chair of the Management Board at UWV (Employee Insurance Agency).
- Infrastucture and Environment - Ms Cora van Nieuwenhuizen (VVD/Liberal Conservatives): Elected an MP in 2010, she focused on integration and asylum issues. Has been a MEP since 2014.
- Social Affairs and Employment – Mr Wouter Koolmees (D66/Liberal Democrats): A civil servant in the Finance Ministry before being elected as MP in 2010. Had a key role in the coalition negotiations.
This update was prepared for you by Public Matters.
