Cabinet finalised next Thursday, says prime minister designate (update)

The new cabinet will probably pose for its traditional photograph with queen Beatrix next Thursday, prime minister designate and VVD leader Mark Rutte told reporters after meeting the monarch.


Maxime Verhagen, leader of the Christian Democrats and the VVD’s partner in the minority cabinet, will be deputy prime minister.
The two parties will be able to count on the support of the anti-Islam PVV in parliament to give it a slim majority of 76 seats to 74.

Fewer ministers

Rutte said he will appoint 20 ministers and junior ministers, seven fewer than the outgoing administration.
The number of ministries is also being cut by two. Economic affairs will merge with agriculture, while transport and the environment will be combined to form a new ministry of infrastructure and the environment.
Immigration and asylum seekers will fall under home affairs, rather than justice and they will have a separate minister.
Appointments
According to the Telegraaf, the following jobs have already been allocated:
Deputy prime minister, and minister for economic affairs, agriculture and innovation: Maxime Verhagen (CDA)
Social affairs and employment: Henk Kamp (VVD)
Home affairs: Piet Hein Donner (CDA)
Security and Justice: Ivo Opstelten (VVD)
Infrastructure and environment: Melanie Schultz van Haegen (VVD)
Defence: Hans Hillen (CDA)

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