page_title: First Van Agt cabinet
section_title: Changes
hierarchical_section_title: First Van Agt cabinet / Term / Changes
caption_attribution_description: Nederlands: Ontvangst door premier van Agt; v.l.n.r. minister de Koning , president Ziaur Rahman en premier van Agt
context_page_description: The First Van Agt cabinet, also called the Van Agt–Wiegel cabinet was the executive branch of the Dutch Government from 19 December 1977 until 11 September 1981. The cabinet was formed by the christian-democratic Christian Democratic Appeal and conservative-liberal People's Party for Freedom and Democracy after the election of 1977. The cabinet was a right-wing coalition and had a slim majority in the House of Representatives. It was the first cabinet to be composed of the newly formed Christian Democratic Appeal which was formed from the Anti-Revolutionary Party, the Catholic People's Party and the Christian Historical Union. It was the first of three cabinets of Christian-Democratic Leader Dries van Agt as Prime Minister. Liberal Leader Hans Wiegel served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior. The cabinet suffered several internal and external conflicts, including a informal caucus of several members of the Christian Democrats in the House of Representatives that did't fully supported the cabinet, and internally multiple resignations but completed its entire term.
context_section_description: On 5 March 1978 Minister of Defence Roelof Kruisinga (CHU) resigned in-protest after the cabinet decided to not publicly condemn the United States for further developing the Neutron bomb. Minister for Development Cooperation Jan de Koning (ARP) served as acting Minister of Defence until 8 March 1978 when Member of the Council of State Willem Scholten (CHU) was appointed as his successor.
  On 1 April 1979 Minister for Science Policy Rinus Peijnenburg (KVP) unexpectedly died from a heart attack at the age of 51. Minister of Health and Environment Leendert Ginjaar (VVD) served as acting Minister for Science Policy until 3 May 1979 when Ton van Trier, who until then had been working as a professor of electrical engineering at the Eindhoven University of Technology was installed as his successor. Ton van Trier an Independent Christian Democrat joined the Catholic People's Party that same month.
  On 22 February 1980 Minister of Finance Frans Andriessen (KVP) resigned after disagreeing with the cabinets decision to not implement a stronger austerity policy. State Secretary for Finance Ad Nooteboom (CHU) declares his solidarity with Frans Andriessen and also resigned that same day.
  Minister of Economic Affairs Gijs van Aardenne (VVD) served as acting Minister of Finance until 5 March 1980 when Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Fons van der Stee (KVP) was appointed as Minister of Finance. That same day Member of the House of Representatives Gerrit Braks (KVP) was installed as Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries. On 16 April 1980 Member of the House of Representatives Marius van Amelsvoort (KVP) was appointed as State Secretary for Finance.
  On 25 August 1980 Minister of Defence Willem Scholten (CHU) resigned after he was appointed Vice-President of the Council of State. That same day former naval officer Pieter de Geus (CHU), who until then had been working as a top official at the Ministry of Defence was appointed as his successor.
  On 1 September 1981 ten days before the new cabinet took office Minister for Housing and Spatial Planning Pieter Beelaerts van Blokland (CDA) resigned after he had been appointed Mayor of Apeldoorn. Minister of Transport and Water Management Dany Tuijnman (VVD) took over the position until the new cabinet was installed on 11 September 1981.
caption: Minister Jan de Koning, President of Bangladesh Ziaur Rahman and Prime Minister Dries van Agt at the Ministry of General Affairs on 23 April 1979.
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