The Second Lubbers cabinet was the executive branch of the Dutch Government from 14 July 1986 until 7 November 1989. The cabinet was a continuation of the previous First Lubbers cabinet and was formed by the Christian-democratic Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) and the conservative-liberal People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) after the election of 1986. The cabinet was a centre-right coalition and had a substantial majority in the House of Representatives with Christian-Democratic Leader Ruud Lubbers serving Prime Minister. Former Liberal Leader Rudolf de Korte the Minister of the Interior in the previous cabinet served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Affairs.

Quick Facts Date formed, Date dissolved ...

Second Lubbers cabinet
60th Cabinet of the Netherlands
The installation of the Second Lubbers cabinet on 14 July 1986
Date formed	14 July 1986 (1986-07-14)
Date dissolved	7 November 1989 (1989-11-07) 3 years, 116 days in office (Demissionary from 3 May 1989 (1989-05-03))
People and organisations
Monarch	Queen Beatrix
Prime Minister	Ruud Lubbers
Deputy Prime Minister	Rudolf de Korte
No. of ministers	14
Ministers removed	1
Total no. of members	16
Member party	Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD)
Status in legislature	Centre-right Majority government
History
Election(s)	1986 election
Outgoing election	1989 election
Legislature term(s)	1986–1989
Incoming formation	1986 formation
Outgoing formation	1989 formation
Predecessor	First Lubbers cabinet
Successor	Third Lubbers cabinet

Close

The cabinet served in the middle of the turbulent 1980s. Domestically it had to deal with revitalizing the economy following the Early 1980s recession, reducing the deficit and stimulating deregulation and privatization, it was able to implement several major social reforms to social security, student loans, value-added taxes, public broadcasting and further stimulating Urban development. Internationally it had to deal with several crises such as the fallout of the decision to allow NATO to place the Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) at Woensdrecht Air Base. The cabinet suffered several major internal conflicts including multiple resignations, the cabinet fell 3 years into its term on 3 May 1989 following a disagreement in the coalition over a proposed excise and the cabinet continued in a demissionary capacity until it was replaced with the Third Lubbers cabinet following the 1989 election.^[1][2]

After the election on 21 May 1986 the Christian Democratic Appeal of incumbent Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers was the winner of the election winning nine new seats and had now a total of 54 seats. The Labour Party of Joop den Uyl gained 5 seats and had now a total of 52 seats. The People's Party for Freedom and Democracy under Ed Nijpels lost nine seats and now had a total of 27 seats in the House of Representatives, following this loss Ed Nijpels resigned as Leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy on 9 July 1986 and was temporarily succeeded by Rudolf de Korte. On 23 May 1986 Queen Beatrix appointed Minister of Social Affairs and Employment Jan de Koning (CDA) as Informateur to start the cabinet formation process. The previous coalition of Christian Democratic Appeal and the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy agreed to continue the coalition. On 11 July 1986 Queen Beatrix subsequently appointed incumbent Prime Minister as Formateur and tasked him with forming a new cabinet. On 14 July 1986 the cabinet formation was completed and the Second Lubbers cabinet was installed with Ruud Lubbers beginning a second term as Prime Minister and Rudolf de Korte as the new Deputy Prime Minister.

On 21 July 1986 shortly after the cabinet formation Joop den Uyl who had been the Leader of the Labour Party since 13 September 1966 announced his retirement from front line politics and stood down on 21 July 1986 after serving 19 years as Leader of the Labour Party, he was succeeded by former Trade union leader Wim Kok who had only been a Member of the House of Representatives since 3 June 1986.

^Resigned

^{Retained from the previous cabinet}

^{Continued in the next cabinet}

^Acting

^{Ad Interim}

^{Died in Office}

^{Designated with the diplomatic rank of Minister}

^{Medical leave of absence from 26 January 1987 until 6 May 1987}

^{Appointed as Speaker of the House of Representatives}

^{Appointed as State Secretary for Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment}

• Six cabinet members (later) served as Party Leaders and Lijsttrekkers: Ruud Lubbers (1982–1994), Elco Brinkman (1994) and Enneüs Heerma (1994–1997) of the Christian Democratic Appeal, Rudolf de Korte (1986), Frits Bolkestein (1990–1998) and Ed Nijpels (1982–1986) of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy.
• Eight cabinet members had previous experience as scholars or professors: Rudolf de Korte (Business Administration), Jan de Koning (Social Geography), Onno Ruding (Business Economics), Wim van Eekelen (Political Science), Frits Bolkestein (Business Economics and Corporate Law), Gerrit Braks (Agronomy), Henk Koning (Tax Law) and Nell Ginjaar-Maas (Chemistry and Pedagogy)
• Three cabinet members later served as European Commissioner: Hans van den Broek (1993–1999), Frits Bolkestein (1999–2004) and Neelie Kroes (2004–2014).
• Five cabinet members later served as in high-profile international functions: Ruud Lubbers (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), Wim van Eekelen (Secretary General of the Western European Union), Piet Bukman (President of the European People's Party), Frits Bolkestein (President of the Liberal International) and René van der Linden (President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe).
• Five cabinet members later served as legislative speakers: Frits Korthals Altes (1997–2001), Gerrit Braks (2001–2003) en René van der Linden (2009–2011) for the Senate, Wim Deetman (1989–1996) en Piet Bukman (1996–1998) for the House of House of Representatives.