Jetten I Cabinet divides portfolios, abolishes ‘Minister for’ titles
The Jetten I Cabinet held its first formal meeting Saturday morning, officially dividing responsibilities among ministers and state secretaries and marking the start of the new minority government. After the meeting, Rob Jetten submitted the cabinet’s final report to the Speaker of the Tweede Kamer.
Jetten has ended the distinction between “ministers of” and “ministers for.” Ministers for traditionally did not have their own budgets and were often viewed as having lower status. Under the new structure, all cabinet members now carry the title “minister of,” even when no separate budget is attached.
The minority Jetten I Cabinet consists of 18 ministers and 10 state secretaries from D66, VVD and CDA. According to people familiar with the process, the allocation of portfolios caused no difficulties because most arrangements had already been agreed upon in advance, NOS reported. In previous cabinets, portfolio divisions sometimes led to disputes, including instances in which newly appointed ministers unexpectedly lost policy areas to colleagues.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs will now be known as the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate. The change eliminates the Ministry of Climate and Green Growth as a standalone department, with its responsibilities absorbed into Economic Affairs and Climate. State Secretary Aerdts of D66 will take office there Monday and will be responsible for digital affairs, a portfolio currently assigned to the Ministry of the Interior.
At the Ministry of Social Affairs, Minister Vijlbrief of D66 will oversee reforms to the social security system. His responsibilities include raising the AOW retirement age and tightening benefits under the WW unemployment scheme and the WIA disability program. VVD Minister Aartsen, serving as minister of Work and Participation, will handle integration policy and childcare.
The Jetten I Cabinet will be officially sworn in Monday by King Willem-Alexander, followed by the traditional group photo. The cabinet will present itself to the media later that evening.
