Cals cabinet


The Cals cabinet was the cabinet of the Netherlands from 14 April 1965 until 22 November 1966. The cabinet was formed by the political parties Catholic People's Party, Labour Party and the Anti-Revolutionary Party after the resignation of the Marijnen cabinet on 27 February 1965. The centre-left cabinet was a majority cabinet in the House of Representatives. Jo Cals of the Catholic People's Party was Prime Minister, with Anne Vondeling the Leader of the Labour Party and Barend Biesheuvel the Leader of the Anti-Revolutionary Party serving as Deputy Prime Ministers.

Formation

After the fall of the Marijnen cabinet, the confessional parties did not want snap elections because those could centre on the introduction of commercial television, the issue that led to the fall of the former cabinet. So a new cabinet was formed on the basis of the existing situation. A continuation of the Marijnen cabinet was considered to have too narrow a basis, so PvdA was asked to join in. As a result, CHU stepped out. But previous frictions between PvdA and KVP were overcome because there was a desire to form a cabinet fast, which was indeed done, in just over a month.

Term

After two decades of economic growth, this cabinet experienced a slight recession. Plans to build sports halls, roads and houses had to be tempered. In Limburg the coal mines were closed and plans were drawn to educate and re-employ the former miners.
There was also social unrest, which became apparent in the Provo movement, construction worker protests, riots over the marriage of princess Beatrix in Amsterdam and the rise of new parties like Farmers' Party, Pacifist Socialist Party, Reformed Political League and the Democrats 66. Especially the last party wanted to change the political order.
On 14 October 1966 Norbert Schmelzer the Leader of the Catholic People's Party and Parliamentary leader of the Catholic People's Party in the House of Representatives proposed a Motion of no confidence against the cabinet and Prime Minister Jo Cals. A shocking and surprised action in Dutch politics, it marked the first time that a motion of no confidence was proposed against a cabinet of the same party. The cabinet resigned that evening.

Changes

On 5 February 1966 State Secretary for Defense for Air Force Affairs Jan Borghouts died following a debilitating disease at the age of 55. On 22 June 1966 former Chairman of the United Defence Staff lieutenant general Heije Schaper, who until then had been working as Chief Adjutant in extraordinary service to Queen Juliana was installed as his successor.
On 31 August 1966 Minister of the Interior Jan Smallenbroek resigned after he was involved in a traffic incident while driving under the influence. Minister of Justice Ivo Samkalden served as acting Minister of the Interior until 5 September 1966 when Koos Verdam, who until then had been working as a professor of Roman and International Private Law at the VU University Amsterdam was appointed as his successor.

Cabinet Members

Living cabinet member