Second Van Agt cabinet


The Second Van Agt cabinet was the cabinet of the Netherlands from 11 September 1981 until 29 May 1982. The cabinet was formed by the political parties Christian Democratic Appeal, Labour Party and the Democrats 66 after the election of 1981. The centre-left grand coalition cabinet was a majority government in the House of Representatives. It was the second of three cabinets of Dries van Agt, the Leader of the Christian Democratic Appeal as Prime Minister, with Joop den Uyl the Leader of the Labour Party and Jan Terlouw the Leader of the Democrats 66 serving as Deputy Prime Ministers.

Formation

After the 1981 general election the Christian Democratic Appeal of incumbent Prime Minister Dries van Agt was the winner of the election but lost 1 seat and had now a total of 48 seats. The Labour Party of Joop den Uyl lost 9 seats and had now 44 seats. The Democrats 66 of Jan Terlouw was the biggest winner with 9 new seats and had now 17 seats. A long negotiation between the Christian Democratic Appeal, Labour Party and the Democrats 66 followed. The negotiations were troubled by the personal animosity between incumbent Prime Minister and Leader of the Christian Democratic Appeal Dries van Agt and former Prime Minister and Leader of the Labour Party Joop den Uyl. Van Agt who served as Deputy Prime Minister under Den Uyl his cabinet had a bad working relationship. In the end a coalition was formed.

Term

Many incidents made a healthy coalition impossible. Prime Minister Dries van Agt had much trouble with Deputy Prime Minister Joop den Uyl. Den Uyl tried to create employment as Minister of Social Affairs but plans to reform the health insurance was met with a huge resistance from the left-wing. The cabinet fell because the Christian Democrats wanted a cut in government spending, while the Labour Party opposed it.
and departing Minister of Defence Pieter de Geus at the Ministry of Defence on 11 September 1981.
on 11 September 1981.
and President of the African National Congress Oliver Tambo at the Catshuis on 19 October 1981.
and Prime Minister of Portugal Francisco Pinto Balsemão at the Ministry of General Affairs on 25 February 1982.

Cabinet Members