First Kok Cabinet

First Kok Cabinet

The First cabinet of Wim Kok (1994-1998), also called the "Purple Coalition" because of its social-democrat (red) and liberal (blue) components, was a Dutch government formed by the political parties PVDA, VVD and D66. D66 had won its greatest political victory with the slogan that the Christian Democratic Appeal should be in the opposition for a change. The desire to form a cabinet without the Christian Democrats was based on the pivotal role in the political center that the CDA played in Dutch politics. The CDA had been in government continuously since its formation in 1980, and at least one of its three antecedents had been in government since 1918.

The main aim of the cabinet was to create employment. The Dutch economy had been in a strong recession for years. The market should get more influence in the economy. This let to a policy of tax reduction, economizing and trying to keep people out of the social care by supporting employment. Large infrastructural projects were started. Another aim was to make an end to the enormous debt of the Dutch government.

The Treaty of Amsterdam was signed during this cabinet. The Srebrenica massacre occurred under the responsibility of this Government, which led later to the fall of the second Kok cabinet.

The first non-Christian coalition supported by a non-CDA majority in the parliament in many decades was responsible for passing legislation allowing euthanasia, gay marriage and legalized prostitution.

This was the last cabinet in recent history to serve a full term. Five of the following cabinets resigned and one was a temporary caretaker cabinet.