Second Kok cabinet


The Second Kok cabinet, also called the Second Purple cabinet was the cabinet of the Netherlands from 3 August 1998 until 22 July 2002. The cabinet was formed by the political parties Labour Party, People's Party for Freedom and Democracy and the Democrats 66 after the election of 1998. The grand coalition cabinet was a majority government in the House of Representatives and was a continuation of the previous cabinet Kok I. It was the last of two cabinets of Wim Kok, the Leader of the Labour Party as Prime Minister, with Annemarie Jorritsma of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy and Els Borst the former Leader of the Democrats 66 serving as Deputy Prime Ministers.

Formation

The new cabinet was the successor of the First Kok cabinet and was formed from the same coalition of Labour Party, People's Party for Freedom and Democracy and Democrats 66. It was also known as the 'tweede paarse kabinet' called such because it contained both the social-democratic Labour Party and the liberal People's Party for Freedom and Democracy.

Term

The aim of the cabinet was to continue the policy of cabinet Kok I, which was concerned with economizing, tax reduction and making an end to unemployment. Wim Kok was the Prime Minister, Annemarie Jorritsma as the Deputy Prime Minister for the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy, and Els Borst for Democrats 66. The cabinet was considered boring, because both left-wing and right-wing political parties were a part of it. There was no strong opposition in the parliament. The cabinet completed processes of liberalisation which were started by the previous cabinet: the legalisation of prostitution in 2000, same-sex marriage in 2001 and Euthanasia in 2002. This cabinet was notable for resigning twice. The first time was in May 1999, when Democrats 66 stepped out of the coalition when proposed legislation entered by this party was blocked; through negotiations the crisis was solved and the cabinet stayed together. The second and final time was on 16 April 2002, just one month before the next election, when Prime Minister Kok wished to resign over the NIOD report into the genocide of Srebrenica in 1995 and the other ministers had no choice but to follow him. The Second Kok cabinet remained in place as a Demissionary cabinet until 22 July 2002, when it was replaced by the First Balkenende cabinet.

Changes

On 7 June 1999 Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Fisheries Haijo Apotheker resigned citing that as a former Mayor he couldn't adjust to national politics. Minister of Social Affairs and Employment Klaas de Vries served as acting Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Fisheries until 9 June 1999 when Member of the European Parliament Laurens Jan Brinkhorst, a former State Secretary for Foreign Affairs was appointed as his successor.
On 13 March 2000 Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations Bram Peper resigned after a report was released about inappropriate declarations he had made when he served as Mayor of Rotterdam. Minister for Integration and Urban Planning Roger van Boxtel served as acting Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations until 24 March 2000 when Minister of Social Affairs and Employment Klaas de Vries was installed as his successor. That same day State Secretary for Finance Willem Vermeend was appointed as Minister of Social Affairs and Employment and Member of the House of Representatives Wouter Bos was installed as State Secretary for Finance.
On 1 January 2001 State Secretary for Justice Job Cohen resigned after he was appointed as Mayor of Amsterdam. That same day Member of the House of Representatives Ella Kalsbeek was installed as his successor.
William Cohen at The Pentagon on 25 September 2000.
and President of Russia Vladimir Putin during a meeting in the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow on 19 January 2001.
during a meeting at The Pentagon on 18 May 2001.

Cabinet Members