The new Dutch government will be made up of 16 ministers – some of whom will share departments – and eight junior ministers, prime minister Mark Rutte has confirmed.

With Rutte in the lead role for the third time, the three other parties in the cabinet will also appoint one of ‘their’ ministers as deputy prime ministers.

The VVD will have six ministers, D66 and the CDA four and ChristenUnie 2. Three of junior functions (staatssecretarissen) – who are not members of the cabinet – will go to the VVD, the CDA and D66 will each have two and ChristenUnie one.

The new team is likely to be presented to the public on October 26, Rutte said.

According to insiders, the Christian Democrats are likely to have the position of finance minister – given the party was second in the March general election. D66 is keen to have economic affairs – which will also include a minister for climate, and social affairs is set to go to ChristenUnie.

The CDA is also after the newly created post of minister for agriculture, while both D66 and ChristenUnie want the education job.

Vacancies

Rutte now has the job of filling the vacant posts ahead of the formal presentation after the autumn holidays.

Three VVD ministers in the previous administration – health minister Edith Schippers, economic affairs minister Henk Kamp and infrastructure minister Melanie Schultz – are all leaving politics. Defence minister Jeanine Hennis, who resigned last week, had been keen to return to a cabinet post but that is now unlikely, insiders say.

Junior justice minister Klaas Dijkhoff is also likely to become leader of the VVD’s parliamentary party, replacing Halbe Zijlstra who is set for a cabinet position.

The leaders of the three other parties in the coalition are remaining in the lower house of parliament to ensure strict party discipline. The new cabinet has a majority of just one seat.