Second Kok cabinet

The new cabinet was the successor of the First Kok cabinet (First Purple 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' ('second purple cabinet') called such because it contained both the social-democratic Labour Party (red) and the liberal People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (blue).

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. 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.

On 7 June 1999 Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Fisheries Haijo Apotheker (D66) resigned citing that as a former mayor he could not adjust to national politics. Minister of Social Affairs and Employment Klaas de Vries (PvdA) served as acting Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Fisheries until 9 June 1999 when Member of the European Parliament Laurens Jan Brinkhorst (D66), 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 (PvdA) 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 (D66) served as acting Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations until 24 March 2000 when Minister of Social Affairs and Employment Klaas de Vries (PvdA) was installed as his successor. That same day State Secretary for Finance Willem Vermeend (PvdA) was appointed as Minister of Social Affairs and Employment and Member of the House of Representatives Wouter Bos (PvdA) was installed as State Secretary for Finance.

On 1 January 2001 State Secretary for Justice Job Cohen (PvdA) resigned after he was appointed as Mayor of Amsterdam. That same day Member of the House of Representatives Ella Kalsbeek (PvdA) was installed as his successor.

File:Frank de Grave William S. Cohen.jpg at The Pentagon on 25 September 2000.]]

File:Vladimir Putin 19 January 2001-2.jpg Vladimir Putin at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow on 19 January 2001.]]

File:Jozias van Aartsen 2001.jpg on 18 May 2001.]]

:{{note_label|Resigned|Resigned}}

:{{note_label|Retained|Retained from the previous cabinet}}

:{{note_label|Ad Interim|Ad Interim}}

:{{note_label|Title|Designated with the diplomatic rank of Minister}}

:{{note_label|Note|Medical leave of absence from 4 June 1996 until 26 June 1996}}

:{{note_label|Appointed1|Appointed as Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations}}

:{{note_label|Appointed2|Appointed as Minister of Social Affairs and Employment}}

:{{note_label|Appointed3|Appointed as Mayor of Amsterdam}}

• Seven cabinet members had previous experience as scholars and professors: Els Borst (Medical Ethics), Bram Peper (Social Economics), Gerrit Zalm (Political Economics), Willem Vermeend (Fiscal Law), Laurens Jan Brinkhorst (International Law and Relations), Job Cohen (Jurisprudence) and Rick van der Ploeg (Macroeconomics).
• Seven cabinet members (later) served as Party Leaders: Wim Kok (1986–2001), Wouter Bos (2002–2010), Job Cohen (2010–2012) of the Labour Party, Gerrit Zalm (2002–2004) and Jozias van Aartsen (2004–2006) of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy, Els Borst (1998) and Laurens Jan Brinkhorst (1982) of the Democrats 66.
• Eleven cabinet members (later) served as Mayor: Annemarie Jorritsma (Delfzijl and Almere), Bram Peper (Rotterdam), Jozias van Aartsen (The Hague and Amsterdam), Loek Hermans (Zwolle), Tineke Netelenbos (Ede, Haarlemmermeer and Oud-Beijerland), Haijo Apotheker (Muntendam, Veendam, Leeuwarden, Steenwijk, Steenwijkerland, Sneek, Súdwest-Fryslân, Waadhoeke and Noardeast-Fryslân), Job Cohen (Amsterdam), Henk van Hoof (Delfzijl), Annelies Verstand (Heteren and Zutphen), Geke Faber (Zeewolde, Wageningen, Den Helder and Zaanstad) and Johan Remkes (The Hague).

{{Reflist}}

;Official

• {{in lang|nl}} [http://www.parlement.com/id/vh8lnhronvx4/kabinet_kok_ii_1998_2002 Kabinet-Kok II] Parlement & Politiek
• {{in lang|nl}} [https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/regering/inhoud/over-de-regering/kabinetten-sinds-1945/kabinet-kok-ii Kabinet-Kok II] Rijksoverheid

{{Commons category|Cabinet Kok II}}

{{Second Kok cabinet}}

{{Government of the Netherlands}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kok cabinet, Second}}

Category:Cabinets of the Netherlands

Category:1998 establishments in the Netherlands

Category:2002 disestablishments in the Netherlands

Category:Cabinets established in 1998

Category:Cabinets disestablished in 2002

Category:Grand coalition governments