First Van Agt cabinet
Van Agt–Wiegel cabinet

56th Cabinet of the Netherlands
Installation of the cabinet by Queen Juliana at Soestdijk Palace on 19 December 1977
Date formed19 December 1977 (1977-12-19)
Date dissolved11 September 1981 (1981-09-11)
3 years, 266 days in office
(Demissionary from 26 May 1981 (1981-05-26))
People and organisations
MonarchQueen Juliana (1977–1980)
Queen Beatrix (1980–1981)
Prime MinisterDries van Agt
Deputy Prime MinisterHans Wiegel
No. of ministers17
Ministers removed5
Total no. of members21
Member partyChristian Democratic Appeal
(CDA)
People's Party for
Freedom and Democracy

(VVD)
Status in legislatureCentre-right
Majority government
History
Election(s)1977 election
Outgoing election1981 election
Legislature term(s)1977–1981
Incoming formation1977 formation
Outgoing formation1981 formation
PredecessorDen Uyl cabinet
SuccessorSecond Van Agt cabinet

The First Van Agt cabinet, also called the Van Agt–Wiegel cabinet was the executive branch of the Dutch Government from 19 December 1977 until 11 September 1981. The cabinet was formed by the christian-democratic Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) and the conservative-liberal People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) after the election of 1977. The cabinet was a centre-right coalition and had a slim majority in the House of Representatives with Christian Democratic Leader Dries van Agt serving as Prime Minister. Liberal Leader Hans Wiegel served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior.

The cabinet served in the final years of the radical 1970s and the early years of the economic expansion of the 1980s. Domestically it had to deal with the last days of the counterculture, the abdication of Queen Juliana and the installation of Queen Beatrix, a growing inflation following the recession in the 1980s but it was able to implement several major social reforms to the public sector and civil reforms and stimulating deregulation and privatization. Internationally it had to deal with the 1979 oil crisis and the fallout of the increasing international stand against Apartheid in South Africa. The cabinet suffered several major internal and external conflicts including multiple cabinet resignations, including a informal caucus of several Christian Democrats in the House of Representatives that only supported the cabinet in a confidence and supply construction, but it was able to complete its entire term and was succeeded by the Second Van Agt cabinet following the election of 1981.[1][2][3]

Formation

After the 1977 general election the Labour Party (PvdA) of incumbent Prime Minister Joop den Uyl was the winner of the election which won ten new seats and had now a total of 53 seats. The People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) of Hans Wiegel won six seats and had now 28 seats. The Anti-Revolutionary Party (ARP), Catholic People's Party (KVP) and the Christian Historical Union (CHU) participated for the first time as the combined party Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) with Dries van Agt as its new Leader. This electoral fusion resulted in one new seat and now had a total of 49 seats in the House of Representatives. A long negotiation between the Labour Party and Christian Democratic Appeal followed. Both parties had come out of the elections as equal partners. The negotiations were troubled by the personal animosity between incumbent Prime Minister and Leader of the Labour Party Joop den Uyl and the Leader of the Christian Democratic Appeal Dries van Agt. Van Agt who served as Deputy Prime Minister under Den Uyl his cabinet had a bad working relationship. In the end Van Agt found that the demands of the Den Uyl were too great and instead he formed a coalition with the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy.

Term

The cabinet had to deal with a major economic depression, but refused to cut government spending due to fierce left-wing opposition in the parliament, which had nearly half of the seats. Many left-wing demonstrations were held on the street against the government. Notorious were the harsh demonstrations in Amsterdam during the crowning of Queen Beatrix and the squatting riots. There was a sharp increase in unemployment and the government was seen to have created too much debt.

Changes

On 5 March 1978 Minister of Defence Roelof Kruisinga (CHU) resigned in-protest after the cabinet decided to not publicly condemn the United States for further developing the Neutron bomb. Minister for Development Cooperation Jan de Koning (ARP) served as acting Minister of Defence until 8 March 1978 when Member of the Council of State Willem Scholten (CHU) was appointed as his successor.

On 1 April 1979 Minister for Science Policy Rinus Peijnenburg (KVP) unexpectedly died from a heart attack at the age of 51. Minister of Health and Environment Leendert Ginjaar (VVD) served as acting Minister for Science Policy until 3 May 1979 when Ton van Trier, who until then had been working as a professor of electrical engineering at the Eindhoven University of Technology was installed as his successor. Ton van Trier an Independent Christian Democrat joined the Catholic People's Party that same month.

On 22 February 1980 Minister of Finance Frans Andriessen (KVP) resigned after disagreeing with the cabinets decision to not implement a stronger austerity policy. State Secretary for Finance Ad Nooteboom (CHU) declares his solidarity with Frans Andriessen and also resigned that same day. Minister of Economic Affairs Gijs van Aardenne (VVD) served as acting Minister of Finance until 5 March 1980 when Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Fons van der Stee (KVP) was appointed as Minister of Finance. That same day Member of the House of Representatives Gerrit Braks (KVP) was installed as Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries. On 16 April 1980 Member of the House of Representatives Marius van Amelsvoort (KVP) was appointed as State Secretary for Finance.

On 25 August 1980 Minister of Defence Willem Scholten (CHU) resigned after he was appointed Vice-President of the Council of State. That same day former naval officer Pieter de Geus (CHU), who until then had been working as a top official at the Ministry of Defence was appointed as his successor.

On 1 September 1981 ten days before the new cabinet took office Minister for Housing and Spatial Planning Pieter Beelaerts van Blokland (CDA) resigned after he had been appointed Mayor of Apeldoorn. Minister of Transport and Water Management Dany Tuijnman (VVD) took over the position until the new cabinet was installed on 11 September 1981.

Cabinet Members

Ministers Title/Ministry/Portfolio(s) Term of office Party
Dries van Agt Dries van Agt
(born 1931)
Prime Minister General Affairs 19 December 1977 –
4 November 1982
[Continued]
Catholic
People's Party
Christian
Democratic Appeal
Hans Wiegel Hans Wiegel
(born 1941)
Deputy
Prime Minister
Interior 19 December 1977 –
11 September 1981
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Minister
Chris van der Klaauw Dr.
Chris van
der Klaauw

(1924–2005)
Minister Foreign Affairs 19 December 1977 –
11 September 1981
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Frans Andriessen Frans
Andriessen

(1929–2019)
Minister Finance 19 December 1977 –
22 February 1980
[Res]
Catholic
People's Party
Gijs van Aardenne Gijs van
Aardenne

(1930–1995)
22 February 1980 –
5 March 1980
[Ad Interim]
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Fons van der Stee Fons van
der Stee

(1928–1999)
5 March 1980 –
4 November 1982
[Continued]
Catholic
People's Party
Christian
Democratic Appeal
Job de Ruiter Dr.
Job de Ruiter
(1930–2015)
Minister Justice 19 December 1977 –
4 November 1982
[Continued]
Anti-Revolutionary
Party
Christian
Democratic Appeal
Gijs van Aardenne Gijs van
Aardenne

(1930–1995)
Minister Economic Affairs 19 December 1977 –
11 September 1981
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Roelof Kruisinga Dr.
Roelof
Kruisinga

(1922–2012)
Minister Defence 19 December 1977 –
4 March 1978
[Res]
Christian
Historical Union
Jan de Koning Jan de Koning
(1926–1994)
4 March 1978 –
8 March 1978
[Ad Interim]
Anti-Revolutionary
Party
Willem Scholten Willem Scholten
(1927–2005)
8 March 1978 –
25 August 1980
[App]
Christian
Historical Union
Pieter de Geus Captain
Pieter de Geus
(1929–2004)
25 August 1980 –
11 September 1981
Christian
Historical Union
Christian
Democratic Appeal
Leendert Ginjaar Dr.
Leendert
Ginjaar

(1928–2003)
Minister Health and
Environment
19 December 1977 –
11 September 1981
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Wil Albeda Dr.
Wil Albeda
(1925–2014)
Minister Social Affairs 19 December 1977 –
11 September 1981
Anti-Revolutionary
Party
Christian
Democratic Appeal
Arie Pais Dr.
Arie Pais
(1930–2022)
Minister Education and
Sciences
19 December 1977 –
11 September 1981
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Dany Tuijnman Dany Tuijnman
(1915–1992)
Minister Transport and
Water Management
19 December 1977 –
11 September 1981
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Fons van der Stee Fons van
der Stee

(1928–1999)
Minister Agriculture and
Fisheries
1 November 1973 –
5 March 1980
[Retained] [App]
Catholic
People's Party
Gerrit Braks Gerrit Braks
(1933–2017)
5 March 1980 –
11 September 1981
Catholic
People's Party
Christian
Democratic Appeal
Pieter Beelaerts van Blokland Jonkheer
Pieter Beelaerts
van Blokland

(1932–2021)
Minister Housing and
Spatial Planning
19 December 1977 –
1 September 1981
[App]
Christian
Historical Union
Christian
Democratic Appeal
Dany Tuijnman Dany Tuijnman
(1915–1992)
1 September 1981 –
11 September 1981
[Ad Interim]
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Til Gardeniers-Berendsen Til Gardeniers-
Berendsen

(1925–2019)
Minister Culture, Recreation
and Social Work
19 December 1977 –
11 September 1981
Catholic
People's Party
Christian
Democratic Appeal
Ministers without portfolio Title/Ministry/Portfolio(s) Term of office Party
Fons van der Stee Fons van
der Stee

(1928–1999)
Minister Interior Netherlands
Antilles Affairs
19 December 1977 –
11 September 1981
Catholic
People's Party
Christian
Democratic Appeal
Jan de Koning Jan de Koning
(1926–1994)
Minister Foreign Affairs Development
Cooperation
19 December 1977 –
11 September 1981
Anti-Revolutionary
Party
Christian
Democratic Appeal
Rinus Peijnenburg Rinus
Peijnenburg

(1928–1979)
Minister Education and
Sciences
Science Policy 19 December 1977 –
1 April 1979
[Died]
Catholic
People's Party
Leendert Ginjaar Dr.
Leendert
Ginjaar

(1928–2003)
1 April 1979 –
3 May 1979
[Acting]
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Ton van Trier Dr.
Ton van Trier
(1926–1983)
3 May 1979 –
11 September 1981
Independent
Christian Democratic
Catholic
Catholic
People's Party
Christian
Democratic Appeal
State Secretaries Title/Ministry/Portfolio(s) Term of office Party
Henk Koning Henk Koning
(1933–2016)
State Secretary Interior Municipalities
Civil Service
28 December 1977 –
11 September 1981
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Durk van der Mei Durk van
der Mei

(1924–2018)
State Secretary Foreign Affairs European Union
Benelux
28 December 1977 –
11 September 1981
Christian
Historical Union
Christian
Democratic Appeal
Ad Nooteboom Ad Nooteboom
(1928–2023)
State Secretary Finance Fiscal Policy
Tax and Customs
Governmental
Budget
28 December 1977 –
22 February 1980
[Res]
Christian
Historical Union
Marius van Amelsvoort Marius van
Amelsvoort

(1930–2006)
16 April 1980 –
11 September 1981
Catholic
People's Party
Christian
Democratic Appeal
Bert Haars Bert Haars
(1913–1997)
State Secretary Justice Immigration
and Asylum

Judicial Reform
• Youth Justice
Penitentiaries
28 December 1977 –
11 September 1981
Christian
Historical Union
Christian
Democratic Appeal
Ted Hazekamp Ted Hazekamp
(1926–1987)
State Secretary Economic Affairs Small and
Medium-sized
Businesses

Regional
Development

• Consumer
Protection
11 May 1973 –
11 September 1981
[Retained]
Catholic
People's Party
Christian
Democratic Appeal
Has Beyen Has Beyen
(1923–2002)
Trade and Export 9 January 1978 –
11 September 1981
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Cees van Lent Brigadier general
Cees van Lent
(1922–2000)
State Secretary Defence Human
Resources
11 March 1974 –
11 September 1981
[Retained]
Catholic
People's Party
Christian
Democratic Appeal
Wim van Eekelen Dr.
Wim van
Eekelen

(born 1931)
Equipment
Justice
20 January 1978 –
11 September 1981
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Els Veder-Smit Els Veder-Smit
(1921–2020)
State Secretary Health and
Environment
Primary
Healthcare

Elderly Care
Disability Policy
Medical Ethics
Food Policy
3 January 1978 –
11 September 1981
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Louw de Graaf Louw de Graaf
(1930–2020)
State Secretary Social Affairs • Social Security
Occupational
Safety
28 December 1977 –
11 September 1981
Anti-Revolutionary
Party
Christian
Democratic Appeal
Klaas de Jong Klaas de Jong
(1926–2011)
State Secretary Education and
Sciences
Secondary
Education
1 September 1975 –
11 September 1981
[Retained]
Anti-Revolutionary
Party
Christian
Democratic Appeal
Ad Hermes Ad Hermes
(1929–2002)
Primary
Education
9 January 1978 –
4 November 1982
[Continued]
Catholic
People's Party
Christian
Democratic Appeal
Neelie Kroes Neelie Kroes
(born 1941)
State Secretary Transport and
Water Management
Public
Infrastructure

Public
Transport

Rail Transport
Water
Management

Postal Service
Weather
Forecasting
28 December 1977 –
11 September 1981
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Gerrit Brokx Gerrit Brokx
(1933–2002)
State Secretary Housing and
Spatial Planning
Public Housing
Urban Planning
28 December 1977 –
11 September 1981
Catholic
People's Party
Christian
Democratic Appeal
Jeltien Kraaijeveld-Wouters Jeltien
Kraaijeveld-
Wouters
(born 1932)
State Secretary Culture, Recreation
and Social Work
• Unemployment
Equality
Emancipation
28 December 1977 –
9 September 1981
[Res]
Anti-Revolutionary
Party
Christian
Democratic Appeal
Gerard Wallis de Vries Gerard Wallis
de Vries

(1936–2018)
• Social Services
Environmental
Policy

• Nature
Media
Culture
Art
• Recreation
Sport
4 January 1978 –
11 September 1981
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Resigned
Retained from the previous cabinet
Continued in the next cabinet
Ad Interim
Acting
Died in Office
Appointed as Vice-President of the Council of State
Appointed as Minister of Finance
Appointed as Mayor of Apeldoorn

References

  1. "Partij of Principes - De dissidenten binnen het kabinet Van Agt/Wiegel" (in Dutch). Andere Tijden. 23 September 2010. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  2. (in Dutch) Dries van Agt (1931), Absolutefacts.nl, 10 December 2008
  3. (in Dutch) Wiegel houdt belofte van terugkeer levend, Trouw, 24 February 2005
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