Norbert Schmelzer
Encyclopedia
Wilhelm Klaus Norbert Schmelzer (March 22, 1921 - November 14, 2008) was a Dutch
politician of the defunct Catholic People's Party
(KVP) now merged into the Christian Democratic Appeal
(CDA). Serving numerus positions in his career including Minister of Foreign Affairs
from July 6, 1971 until May 11, 1973. In 1966 while serving as the parliamentary leader
of the Catholic People's Party
in the House of Representatives he proposed a Motion of no confidence
against the Cabinet Cals
and Prime Minister
Jo Cals
. A shocking and surprised action in Dutch politics
, it marked the first time that a motion of no confidence
was proposed against a cabinet of the same party. The Cabinet Cals
resigned that evening.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
politician of the defunct Catholic People's Party
Catholic People's Party
The Catholic People's Party was a Catholic Christian democratic Dutch political party. During its entire existence, the party was in government. The party is one of the precursors of the Christian Democratic Appeal.- 1945-1965 :The KVP was founded on 22 December, 1945...
(KVP) now merged into the Christian Democratic Appeal
Christian Democratic Appeal
The Christian Democratic Appeal is a centre-right Dutch Christian democratic political party. It suffered severe losses in the 2010 elections and fell from the first to the fourth place...
(CDA). Serving numerus positions in his career including Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Netherlands)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the Dutch ministry of foreign affairs: it is occupied with the external relations of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, including European cooperation and International development...
from July 6, 1971 until May 11, 1973. In 1966 while serving as the parliamentary leader
Parliamentary group leader
The leader or chairman of a parliamentary group holds an influential political post in a parliamentary system with strong party discipline...
of the Catholic People's Party
Catholic People's Party
The Catholic People's Party was a Catholic Christian democratic Dutch political party. During its entire existence, the party was in government. The party is one of the precursors of the Christian Democratic Appeal.- 1945-1965 :The KVP was founded on 22 December, 1945...
in the House of Representatives he proposed a Motion of no confidence
Motion of no confidence
A motion of no confidence is a parliamentary motion whose passing would demonstrate to the head of state that the elected parliament no longer has confidence in the appointed government.-Overview:Typically, when a parliament passes a vote of no...
against the Cabinet Cals
Netherlands cabinet Cals
Cals is the name given to a Dutch cabinet, consisting of ministers from KVP, PvdA and ARP.After the fall of the Marijnen cabinet, the confessional parties did not want snap elections because those could centre around the introduction of commercial television, the issue that led to the fall of the...
and Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the Netherlands
The Prime Minister of the Netherlands is the chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Netherlands. He is the de facto head of government of the Netherlands and coordinates the policy of the government...
Jo Cals
Jo Cals
Jozef Maria Laurens Theo "Jo" Cals was a Dutch politician of the defunct Catholic People's Party now merged into the Christian Democratic Appeal...
. A shocking and surprised action in Dutch politics
Politics of the Netherlands
The politics of the Netherlands take place within the framework of a parliamentary representative democracy, a constitutional monarchy and a decentralised unitary state. The Netherlands is described as a consociational state...
, it marked the first time that a motion of no confidence
Motion of no confidence
A motion of no confidence is a parliamentary motion whose passing would demonstrate to the head of state that the elected parliament no longer has confidence in the appointed government.-Overview:Typically, when a parliament passes a vote of no...
was proposed against a cabinet of the same party. The Cabinet Cals
Netherlands cabinet Cals
Cals is the name given to a Dutch cabinet, consisting of ministers from KVP, PvdA and ARP.After the fall of the Marijnen cabinet, the confessional parties did not want snap elections because those could centre around the introduction of commercial television, the issue that led to the fall of the...
resigned that evening.