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Caretaker government

News item | 24-02-2010

Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende believes that some very clear conclusions can be drawn from the Queen's consultations with party leaders. A caretaker government, formed by the Christian Democratic Alliance (CDA) and the Christian Union (CU), will deal with matters in hand.

At a press conference on 23 February, Mr Balkenende gave further information on the political situation that has arisen.

'Much has happened since the fall of the government,' said Mr Balkenende. 'The Queen has held the necessary consultations, and a number of important conclusions can be drawn from them.'

The parties in the House of Representatives have indicated that they want an election as soon as possible. It will be held on 9 June 2010. 'This is an important decision,' said Mr Balkenende. This date will also give new political groupings the opportunity to register.

A second conclusion was that matters in hand would have to be dealt with by a caretaker government formed by the CDA and the CU.

The Senate and the House of Representatives will play a decisive role in the next few weeks. They will decide which matters may be dealt with by the caretaker government. Mr Balkenende will be holding talks with them this week.

Implications for the members of government

The Queen has accepted the resignation of the Labour (PvdA) ministers and state secretaries. Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende thanked them for their hard work.

CDA and CU ministers and state secretaries will take over the portfolios of their former Labour colleagues. Two State Secretaries have been appointed to different posts. Jan Kees de Jager, who was State Secretary for Finance, is now Minister of Finance, and State Secretary for Transport, Public Works and Water Management Tineke Huizinga has been appointed Minister of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment.

Justice minister Ernst Hirsch Ballin takes over responsibility for the Interior & Kingdom Relations and Minister for Youth & Families André Rouvoet for Education, Culture & Science. Matters relating to Housing, Communities & Integration will be assigned to the Minister of Defence, Eimert van Middelkoop.

More information