Second Lubbers cabinet


The Second Lubbers cabinet was the cabinet of the Netherlands from 14 July 1986 until 7 November 1989. The cabinet was formed by the political parties Christian Democratic Appeal and the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy after the election of 1986. The right-wing cabinet was a majority government in the House of Representatives and was a continuation of the previous cabinet Lubbers I. It was the second of three cabinets of Ruud Lubbers as Prime Minister, with Rudolf de Korte the former Leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy serving as Deputy Prime Minister.

Formation

After the election on 21 May 1986 the Christian Democratic Appeal of incumbent Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers was the winner of the election winning nine new seats and had now a total of 54 seats. The Labour Party of Joop den Uyl gained 5 seats and had now a total of 52 seats. The People's Party for Freedom and Democracy under Ed Nijpels lost nine seats and now had a total of 27 seats in the House of Representatives, following this loss Ed Nijpels resigned as Leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy on 9 July 1986
and was temporarily succeeded by Rudolf de Korte. On 23 May 1986 Queen Beatrix appointed Minister of Social Affairs and Employment Jan de Koning as Informateur to start the cabinet formation process. The previous coalition of Christian Democratic Appeal and the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy agreed to continue the coalition. On 11 July 1986 Queen Beatrix subsequently appointed incumbent Prime Minister as Formateur and tasked him with forming a new cabinet. On 14 July 1986 the cabinet formation was completed and the Second Lubbers cabinet was installed with Ruud Lubbers beginning a second term as Prime Minister and Rudolf de Korte as the new Deputy Prime Minister.
On 21 July 1986 shortly after the cabinet formation Joop den Uyl who had been the Leader of the Labour Party since 13 September 1966 announced his retirement from front line politics and stood down on 21 July 1986 after serving 19 years as Leader of the Labour Party, he was succeeded by former Trade union leader Wim Kok who had only been a Member of the House of Representatives since 3 June 1986.

Term

Changes

On 23 October 1986 State Secretary for Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment Gerrit Brokx resigned after Parliamentary leader of the Christian Democratic Appeal in the House of Representatives Bert de Vries lost his confidence in his ability to remain in office after a critical parliamentary inquiry. On 27 October 1986 State Secretary for Economic Affairs for international trade Enneüs Heerma was appointed as his successor. On 30 October 1986 Member of the House of Representatives Yvonne van Rooy was nominated to succeed him as State Secretary for Economic Affairs for international trade.
On 3 February 1987 Minister of the Interior Kees van Dijk took a medical leave of absence after he had to undergo surgery as a result of heart problems. During his sick leave Minister of Social Affairs and Employment Jan de Koning served as acting Minister of the Interior while State Secretary for Social Affairs and Employment Louw de Graaf was temporarily appointed as Minister of Social Affairs and Employment. On 6 May 1987 Kees van Dijk returned from his sick leave and resumed his duties as Minister of the Interior.
On 6 September 1988 Minister of Defence Wim van Eekelen resigned after the conclusions of a critical parliamentary inquiry into fraud was released about the time he had served as State Secretary for Foreign Affairs in the previous cabinet. On 9 September 1988 State Secretary for Foreign Affairs René van der Linden also resigned. Minister for Development Cooperation Piet Bukman served as acting Minister of Defence until 24 September 1988 when Member of the House of Representatives Frits Bolkestein, the former State Secretary for Economic Affairs was appointed as Minister of Defence. On 27 September 1988 Berend-Jan van Voorst tot Voorst, who until then had been working as senior official at the Ministry of Economic Affairs was sworn in as State Secretary for Foreign Affairs.
On 30 June 1989 State Secretary for Economic Affairs for small business policy Albert-Jan Evenhuis resigned following a publication in the NRC Handelsblad after he had provided a dubious loan and subsidy and because the cabinet was already demissionary he was not replaced.
On 14 September 1989 Minister of Education and Sciences Wim Deetman resigned after he was appointed as Speaker of the House of Representatives. Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Gerrit Braks served as acting Minister of Education and Sciences until the new cabinet took office on 7 November 1989.
On 1 October 1989 one month before the new cabinet took office State Secretary for Social Affairs and Employment Louw de Graaf resigned after he was appointed as chairman of the trade associations of Insurance Companies.
Lho Shin-yong and Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers at Airport Schiphol on 20 January 1987.
and Deputy Prime Minister Rudolf de Korte during a
social economical debate in the House of Representatives on 11 March 1987.
and Minister of Defence of France André Giraud at the Ministry of Defence on 13 April 1987.
and Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers during a press conference in The Hague on 20 May 1987.
, Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers and Minister of Foreign Affairs Hans van den Broek at Zestienhoven Airport on 3 June 1987.
and Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi at Airport Schiphol on 21 October 1987.
and Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers at the Catshuis on 30 November 1987.
, President of the European Commission Jacques Delors, Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers and Minister of Foreign Affairs Hans van den Broek at the Binnenhof on 7 May 1988.
and Prime Minister of Japan Noboru Takeshita at Airport Schiphol on 3 June 1988.
, Prime Minister of Norway Gro Harlem Brundtland and Prime Minister of France Michel Rocard in The Hague on 10 March 1989.
and Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers at Airport Schiphol on 15 June 1989.
George H. W. Bush and Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers at the Catshuis on 17 July 1989.
and Member of the House of Representatives Jacob Kohnstamm during a debate on the legalization of Euthanasia in the House of Representatives on 27 April 1989.

Cabinet Members