demissionaire

Demissionaire is a term used in Dutch and Belgian contexts to describe a government or individual minister who has submitted their resignation and remains in office only in a caretaker or transitional capacity while a new government is formed. In English, the adjective is sometimes rendered as demissionary, and the concept is closely related to a caretaker or interim government.

Etymologically, the word derives from the French démission, meaning resignation, with the adjectival form démisionaire. In Dutch, the standard spelling is demissionair (and demissionaire can appear in English-language coverage), used to describe the status of ministers or cabinets rather than to name a separate institution.

In the Netherlands, a demissionaire cabinet typically remains in office after elections or a cabinet collapse. It handles routine administration and urgent tasks but refrains from pursuing major policy reforms or long-term commitments that could constrain a future government. The aim is to ensure continuity of government while avoiding significant political changes until a new cabinet is formed.

In Belgium and other Dutch-language contexts, a similar situation can occur, with ministers continuing in a caretaker capacity under the heading of affaires courantes or lopende zaken during the transition to a new government. The general principle is to maintain essential public functions while limiting new policy initiatives.

In English-language media, demissionaire is sometimes used to describe any caretaker government, though the more common terms are caretaker government or interim government. The concept emphasizes limited powers and a focus on routine administration during a transition period.