Ernst Hirsch Ballin, like Bussemaker, remembers that subjects that do not automatically belong to one minister still have to be coordinated during the deliberations. The police was such a subject for him. In 1989, it had to be decided who would have the most say over this: the Minister of the Interior, Ien Dales, or the Minister of Justice, Hirsch Ballin.
“We had made agreements about this in advance, but they had to be confirmed during the meeting,” says Hirsch Ballin. “For me it was an essential point that, for example, the investigation would not be transferred to the Interior.”
The former minister considers it possible that climate is such an ‘interdepartmental’ topic this year. “Although there will now be a minister for Climate and Energy, but who will be responsible for international climate policy? Does the minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation play a role in this? It is conceivable that further agreements will be made on such a subject.”
‘Doesn’t represent a ball’
Does it make sense for the future ministers to come up with a wish list today? That did happen, says former Finance Minister Gerrit Zalm (VVD). “Some ministers came up with all kinds of budget requests. They were often incited by officials from their departments to bring in something in the constituent deliberations. But I have never seen anything come out of that. Those kinds of requests were cut off.”
In fact, according to Zalm, the deliberation is “almost no ball”. “The finances have been arranged in the coalition agreement, the portfolios have already been divided, so very little actually happens. I thought it was exciting the first time, but it didn’t amount to much.”
Well you get the do’s in don’ts heard, says the former VVD minister. “You will be presented with the ‘blue book’, which states what you have to adhere to as a minister, what the status of the official car, that sort of thing. A kind of ‘soldier’s manual’ for ministers, which you can take home. “
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