These are Alexandra van Huffelen (D66, Kingdom Relations and Digitization), Eric van der Burg (VVD, Asylum and Migration) and Vivianne Heijnen (CDA, Infrastructure and Water Management). Van Huffelen may call himself Minister for Digitization abroad, Van der Burg then becomes Minister for Migration and Heijnen is Minister for the Environment abroad. The other six state secretaries also remain state secretary abroad.
This is apparent from the report that formateur Mark Rutte issued on Saturday to Vera Bergkamp, chairman of the House of Representatives and thus formal client of the cabinet formation. The cabinet also has twelve ministers ‘of’ and ‘eight ministers ‘for’. The ‘of’ ministers are the heads of their ministry and are therefore formally responsible for the budget. Rutte III initially counted four ministers ‘for’, so without portfolio.
In the past, the State Secretary for Economic Affairs or Foreign Affairs was sometimes allowed to call himself a minister abroad. This happened, for example, with Ben Knapen as State Secretary at Foreign Affairs, because such a title can make negotiations more flexible during trade missions.
Other ministry
In his report, Rutte explicitly names two portfolios that are moving to another ministry. The first is dealing with earthquake damage in Groningen. A State Secretary for Mining has been appointed for this purpose, Hans Vijlbrief (D66), who does not come under the Ministry of the Interior, but under Economic Affairs. The social service, a long-cherished wish of former CDA leader Sybrand Buma, who did not get started under Rutte III, is moving from the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport to the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, where Minister Dennis Wiersma (VVD) should give it dynamism.
In two cases involving subjects that affect many ministries, coordinating ministers have been appointed. Climate policy is coordinated by Rob Jetten (D66), Minister for Climate and Energy. Nitrogen policy, another wide-ranging portfolio, is coordinated by Christianne van der Wal (VVD), Minister for Nature and Nitrogen. The report also shows that the Minister of Higher Education and Science Robbert Dijkgraaf (D66) will also take care of secondary vocational education. In addition to gas extraction, Vijlbrief will also be tasked with competition policy at the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
The new ministerial team met for the first time on Saturday for the constituent meeting, the founding meeting of Rutte IV. The delineation of the portfolios was on the agenda there, most of the work for this had already been done in recent weeks.
photo opportunity
Monday morning is the presentation of the cabinet with a photo opportunity on the stairs of the Noordeinde Palace, after which the transfer takes place at the various ministries. The House of Representatives will only debate the government statement on 18 and 19 January. Next week, the Central Planning Bureau will first calculate the plans. The cabinet will also issue a start-up memorandum, containing the financial agreements that have been made.