Second Rutte cabinet Rutte–Asscher cabinet | |
|---|---|
Cabinet of the Netherlands | |
The installation of the second Rutte cabinet on 5 November 2012 | |
| Date formed | 5 November 2012 (2012-11-05) |
| Date dissolved | 26 October 2017 (2017-10-26) 4 years, 355 days in office (Demissionary from 14 March 2017 (2017-03-14)) |
| People and organisations | |
| Monarch | Queen Beatrix (2012–2013) King Willem-Alexander (2013–2017) |
| Prime Minister | Mark Rutte |
| Deputy Prime Minister | Lodewijk Asscher |
| No. of ministers | 13 |
| Ministers removed | 4 |
| Totalno. of members | 17 |
| Member party | People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) Labour Party (PvdA) |
| Status in legislature | CentristMajority government (Grand coalition/Purple) |
| History | |
| Election | 2012 election |
| Outgoing election | 2017 election |
| Legislature terms | 2012–2017 |
| Incoming formation | 2012 formation |
| Outgoing formation | 2017 formation |
| Predecessor | First Rutte cabinet |
| Successor | Third Rutte cabinet |
Thesecond Rutte cabinet, also called theRutte–Asscher cabinet, was the executive branch of theGovernment of the Netherlands from 5 November 2012 until 26 October 2017. Thecabinet was formed by theconservative-liberalPeople's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and thesocial-democraticLabour Party (PvdA) after theelection of 2012. The cabinet was acentristgrand coalition and had a slim majority in theHouse of Representatives.VVD LeaderMark Rutte served asPrime Minister; prominent PvdA politicianLodewijk Asscher, a former alderman of Amsterdam, served asDeputy Prime Minister andMinister of Social Affairs and Employment.
The cabinet served in the middle of the 2010s. Domestically, it had to deal with theMalaysia Airlines Flight 17 disaster, in which 193 Dutch citizens on board were killed when that civilian aircraft was shot down over Ukraine by asurface-to-air missile; while internationally,climate change was a major point of attention. The cabinet suffered several major internal conflicts such as multiple cabinet resignations, including those of two Justice Ministers. The cabinet completed its entire term, and was succeeded by thethird Rutte cabinet following the2017 election. Having spent four years and 355 days in office, it is the longest-serving post-war cabinet in the Netherlands.[1]
| Title | Minister | Term of office | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Image | Name | Party | Start | End | ||
| Prime Minister | Mark Rutte | VVD | 14 October 2010[i] | 2 July 2024[ii] | ||
| Deputy Prime Minister | Lodewijk Asscher | PvdA | 5 November 2012 | 26 October 2017 | ||
On 6 December 2012, just 31 days after taking office,State Secretary for Economic AffairsCo Verdaas (PvdA) resigned after he was accused of making inappropriate declarations when he served as a Member of theProvincial-Executive ofGelderland.[2] He was replaced asState Secretary for Economic Affairs by formerState Secretary for Education, Culture and ScienceSharon Dijksma (PvdA) on 18 December 2012.[3]
On 17 October 2014Minister of Foreign AffairsFrans Timmermans (PvdA) resigned after he was nominated as the nextEuropean Commissioner succeedingNeelie Kroes.[4] He was replaced asMinister of Foreign Affairs bySpecial Representative of the Secretary-General for theUnited Nations in Mali and formerMinister for Development CooperationBert Koenders (PvdA).[5]
On 10 March 2015Minister of Security and JusticeIvo Opstelten (VVD) andState Secretary for Security and JusticeFred Teeven (VVD) resigned after it was discovered that Fred Teeven when he served as aProsecutor authorized the return of 4.7 million guilders to convicted drugs dealer Cees H. in 2000 without the knowledge of his superior or the tax office.[6]
On 4 October 2017Minister of DefenceJeanine Hennis-Plasschaert (VVD) resigned following a critical report by theDutch Safety Board into the investigation of the accidental deaths of twoArmy soldiers who died following the use of old ammunition during aMortar test during theUnited Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali.[7] She was replaced asMinister of Defence byState Secretary for Security and JusticeKlaas Dijkhoff (VVD) who served out the remaining three weeks before the installation of the newcabinet.[8]