Politics & Government in The Netherlands
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The current Dutch government ‘Balkenende IV’ is formed by and exists of a coalition of
· Christian Democratic Alliance (CDA, prime minister + 7 ministers + 4 state secretaries),
· Labour Party (PvdA, co-deputy prime minister + 7 ministers + 4 state secretaries) and
· Christian Union Party (CU, co-deputy prime minister + 1 minister + 1 state secretaries)
The main outlines of government policy are set down in the coalition agreement and the government statement of policy on taking office. The government presents its plans for the coming year at the state opening of parliament on the third Tuesday in September ('Prinsjesdag').
When a new government is being formed, the parties who are going to take part in the coalition agree on the policies that will be pursued for the next four years. These plans and the principles on which the policies are based are set down in the coalition agreement.
On 7 February 2007 the Christian Democratic Alliance, Labour Party and Christian Union have reached a coalition agreement.
This is the statement delivered by the Prime Minister to the House of Representatives of the States General presenting the new government and outlining the main plans for the next government's term of office.
Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende delivered his government's statement of policy on 1 March 2007.
The Policy Programme for 2007-2011 was presented to Parliament on 14 June 2007. The programme fleshes out the coalition agreement.
Every year, on the third Tuesday in September, the government presents its budget and the Queen delivers the Speech from the Throne, outlining the government's policy plans for the coming year.
In the Netherlands there is a bicameral States General (Staten Generaal) that consists of:
· The First Chamber (Eerste Kamer) -75 seats; members indirectly elected by the country's 12
provincial councils to serve four-year terms, and
· The Second Chamber (Tweede Kamer); 150 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms)
Next election will be May 2011.
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Balkenende IV – Ministery
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Minister
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State Secretary
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Prime Minister, General Affairs
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Jan Peter Balkenende (CDA)
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Deputy Prime Minister, Youth and Families
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André Rouvoet (CU)
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Deputy Prime Minister, Finance
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Wouter Bos (PvdA)
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Jan Kees de Jager (CDA)
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Development Cooperation
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Bert Koenders (PvdA)
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European Affairs
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Frans Timmermans (PvdA)
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Foreign Trade
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Frank Heemskerk (PvdA)
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Housing, Communities and Integration
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Eberhard v/dr Laan (PvdA)
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Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality
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Gerda Verburg (CDA)
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Defence
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Eimert van Middelkoop (CU)
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Jack de Vries (CDA)
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Economic Affairs
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Maria v/dr Hoeven (CDA)
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Education, Culture and Science
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Ronald Plasterk (PvdA)
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Marja v Bijsterveldt-Vliegenthart (CDA) & |
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Foreign Affairs
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Maxime Verhagen (CDA)
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Health, Welfare and Sport
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Ab Klink (CDA)
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Jet Bussemaker (PvdA)
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Justice
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Ernst Hirsch Ballin (CDA)
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Nebahat Albayrak (PvdA)
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Social Affairs and Employment
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Piet Hein Donner (CDA)
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Jetta Klijnsma (PvdA)
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Environment and Spatial Planning
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Jacqueline Cramer (PvdA)
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Interior and Kingdom Relations
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Guusje ter Horst (PvdA)
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Jetta Klijnsma
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Transport, Public Works & Water Mgt
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Camiel Eurlings (CDA)
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Tineke Huizinga-Heringa (CU)
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Politic Party |
Party leader
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Second Chamber | |
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CDA, Christian Democratic Appeal
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Pieter van Geel
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26.5%
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41
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ChristenUnie, Christian Union Party
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Arie Slob
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4.0%
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6
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D66, Democrats 66
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Alexander Pechtold
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2.0%
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3
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Groen Links, Green Left Party
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Femke Halsema
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4.6%
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7
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PvdA, Labor Party
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Mariette Hamer
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21.2%
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33
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PVV, Party for Freedom
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Geert Wilders
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5.9%
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9
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PvdD, Party for the Animals
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Marianne Thieme
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1.8%
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2
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VVD, Liberal People's Party Freedom.
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Mark Rutte
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14.6%
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22
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SGP, Reformed Political Party
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Bas van der Vlies
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1,6%
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2
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SP, Socialist Party
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Agnes Kant
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16.6%
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25
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few minor parties
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1.2%
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0
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Main Political Pressure Groups
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Chairman
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CNV, Christian Trade Union Federation or CNV
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Rene Paas
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VNO-NCW, Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers
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Bernard Wientjes
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MKB, Federation for Small and Medium-sized businesses or MKB
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Loek Hermans
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FNV,Netherlands Trade Union Federation or FNV
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Agnes Jongerius
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SER, Social Economic Council
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Alexander Rinnooy Kan
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MHP, Trade Union Federation of Middle and High Personnel
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Ad Verhoeven
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Main source: Government.nl - the official Dutch Government website (English)