Editing First Balkenende cabinet (section)

==Formation==
{{Main|2002 Dutch cabinet formation}}
On 17 May 2002 [[Beatrix of the Netherlands|Queen Beatrix]] appointed [[Council of State (Netherlands)|Member of the Council of State]] [[Piet Hein Donner]] (CDA) as "[[informateur]]", to investigate the possibilities for a new government. A coalition between CDA, LPF and VVD was established relatively quickly, despite some initial resistance by the VVD. By 4 July a detailed coalition agreement had been drawn up and the Queen appointed [[Jan Peter Balkenende]], the [[lijsttrekker]] for the CDA, as [[formateur]] to form a new cabinet. The cabinet was named on 16 July and was sworn in on 22 July. The first Balkenende cabinet comprised 14 ministers and 14 State Secretaries, with each post allocated to one of the coalition parties. Each of the ministers headed a department, with the exception of one "minister without a portfolio" to deal with "foreigners policy and integration", accommodated by the Ministry of Justice.