A minister without portfolio is a

government minister A minister is a politician who heads a ministry, making and implementing decisions on policies in conjunction with the other ministers. In some jurisdictions the head of government is also a minister and is designated the ' prime minister', ' p ...

without specific responsibility as head of a

government department Ministry or department (also less commonly used secretariat, office, or directorate) are designations used by first-level Executive (government), executive bodies in the Machinery of government, machinery of governments that manage a specific se ...

. The

sinecure A sinecure ( or ; from the Latin , 'without', and , 'care') is a position with a salary or otherwise generating income that requires or involves little or no responsibility, labour, or active service. The term originated in the medieval church, ...

is particularly common in countries ruled by

coalition A coalition is formed when two or more people or groups temporarily work together to achieve a common goal. The term is most frequently used to denote a formation of power in political, military, or economic spaces. Formation According to ''A G ...

governments and a cabinet with decision-making authority wherein ministers without portfolio, while they may not head any particular offices or ministries, may still receive a ministerial salary and have the right to cast a vote in

cabinet Cabinet or The Cabinet may refer to: Furniture * Cabinetry, a box-shaped piece of furniture with doors and/or drawers * Display cabinet, a piece of furniture with one or more transparent glass sheets or transparent polycarbonate sheets * Filin ...

decisions. The office may also exist to be given to party leaders whose offices (such as a

parliamentary leader A parliamentary leader is a political title or a descriptive term used in various countries to designate the person leading a parliamentary group or caucus in a legislature, legislative body, whether it be a national or sub-national legislature. ...

) would not otherwise enable them to sit in Cabinet.

Albania

In Albania, a ''"Minister without portfolio"'' is considered a member of the government who is generally not in charge of a special department, does not have headquarters or offices and usually does not have administration or staff. This post was first introduced in 1918 during the Përmeti II government, otherwise known as the

Government of Durrës The Government of Durrës () was the 4th ruling government of Albania formed after the events at the Congress of Durrës from which it takes its name. The government was headed by Turhan Pashë Përmeti, for whom it was the second time in the p ...

. The members of this cabinet were referred to as ''Delegatë pa portofol'' (delegate without portfolio). The name "minister" was used two years later, during the

government A government is the system or group of people governing an organized community, generally a State (polity), state. In the case of its broad associative definition, government normally consists of legislature, executive (government), execu ...

Sulejman Delvina Sulejman Delvina, also known as ''Sylejman Fehmi'' (5 October 1871 – 1 August 1932), was an Albanian politician, who served as prime minister from 30 January March to 14 November 1920. Life and career Early life Sulejman Delvina wa ...

. In the 1990s it was common the usage of the name ''Sekretar Shteti'' (Secretary of State) to refer to such a position. Mostly these roles were given to smaller allies by the leading parties. Nowadays the name ''Ministër i Shtetit'' (State Minister or Minister of State) is used.

Australia

Willie Kelly was given the title in the Cook Ministry from June 1913 to September 1914.

Stanley Bruce Stanley Melbourne Bruce, 1st Viscount Bruce of Melbourne (15 April 1883 – 25 August 1967) was an Australian politician, statesman and businessman who served as the eighth prime minister of Australia from 1923 to 1929. He held office as ...

was given the title of minister without portfolio when he took up his position in 1932 as the Commonwealth Minister in London. He was given the title by Lyons' Cabinet so that he could better represent the PM and his colleagues free from the limitations of a portfolio. In this case the title was a promotion and carried considerable responsibilities.

Bangladesh

Bangladesh appoints ministers without portfolio during cabinet reshuffles or fresh appointments. Ministers are not usually appointed without portfolio as a coalition negotiation – all long run ministers end up with a portfolio.

Suranjit Sengupta Suranjit Sengupta (5 May 1945 – 5 February 2017) was a Bangladesh Awami League politician. He resigned in 2012 as the first Railway Minister of Bangladesh. He was the member of parliament from Sunamganj-2 constituency in the Jatiya Sangsad ...

was a minister without portfolio in Sheikh Hasina's second government. The most recent minister without portfolio is from the

Interim government of Bangladesh An interim government led by Muhammad Yunus was formed on 8 August 2024 in Bangladesh, following the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on 5 August 2024 amid nationwide student and public protests against the government. Following the ...

Mahfuz Alam Mahfuj Alam () also known as Mahfuj Abdullah, is a Bangladeshi activist and was a coordinator of the liaison committee of Anti-discrimination Students Movement which led the Student–People's uprising. He currently holds the position of the Mini ...

who is also an

adviser An adviser or advisor is normally a person with more and deeper knowledge in a specific area and usually also includes persons with cross-functional and multidisciplinary expertise. An adviser's role is that of a mentor or guide and differs catego ...

to the chief adviser

Bulgaria

Bozhidar Dimitrov Bozhidar Dimitrov Stoyanov (, 3 December 1945 – 1 July 2018) was a Bulgarian historian, politician, and polemicist in the sphere of Medieval Bulgarian history, the Ottoman rule of Bulgaria and the Macedonian Question. He was director of the ...

(2009–2011)

Brazil

The

Constitution A constitution is the aggregate of fundamental principles or established precedents that constitute the legal basis of a polity, organization or other type of entity, and commonly determines how that entity is to be governed. When these pri ...

determines that the

Ministries Ministry may refer to: Government * Ministry (collective executive), the complete body of government ministers under the leadership of a prime minister * Ministry (government department), a department of a government Religion * Christian mi ...

(and also other bodies headed by a

Minister of State Minister of state is a designation for a government minister, with varying meanings in different jurisdictions. In a number of European countries, the title is given as an honorific conferring a higher rank, often bestowed upon senior minister ...

) are provided for by law, so the

Federal Government A federation (also called a federal state) is an entity characterized by a political union, union of partially federated state, self-governing provinces, states, or other regions under a #Federal governments, federal government (federalism) ...

has less freedom to create and reformulate portfolios as it happens in other cabinets.

Extraordinary minister

During the brief parliamentary experience, the position of "''Extraordinary Minister''" was instituted to provide for political and administrative affairs within the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, it was equivalent in prerogatives, advantages and salaries to a Minister of State. There were no nominations after the return to presidentialism, but a 1964 law created an "''Extraordinary Ministry''" to coordinate some related bodies that would be equivalent to a

ministry of the interior An interior ministry or ministry of the interior (also called ministry of home affairs or ministry of internal affairs) is a government department that is responsible for domestic policy, public security and law enforcement. In some states, the ...

. The reorganization of federal public administration in 1967 provided for the appointment of up to four Extraordinary Ministers to perform temporary duties of a relevant nature. Currently, the legislation requires that the Coordinator of the Government Transition Cabinet (the team of the candidate elected to the office of

President of the Republic The President of the Republic is a title used for heads of state and/or heads of government in countries having republican form of government. Designation In most cases the president of a republic is elected, either: * by direct universal s ...

) be appointed as an Extraordinary Minister if the nominee is a

Senator A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or Legislative chamber, chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the Ancient Rome, ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior ...

or a

Federal Deputy A legislator, or lawmaker, is a person who writes and passes laws, especially someone who is a member of a legislature. Legislators are often elected by the people, but they can be appointed, or hereditary. Legislatures may be supra-national ...

. In 2018, then President

Michel Temer Michel Miguel Elias Temer Lulia (; born 23 September 1940) is a Brazilian politician, lawyer and writer who served as the 37th president of Brazil from 31 August 2016 to 1 January 2019. He took office after the Impeachment of Dilma Rousseff, impe ...

issued a

provisional measure A provisional measure () is a legal act in Brazil through which the President of Brazil can, "in important and urgent cases", enact law Law is a set of rules that are created and are enforceable by social or governmental institutions t ...

creating an "''Extraordinary Ministry of Public Security''", it became a common ministry after

National Congress National Congress is a term used in the names of various political parties and legislatures. Political parties *Ethiopia: Oromo National Congress, original name of the Oromo People's Congress *Guyana: People's National Congress Reform *India: **In ...

converted the provisional measure into law.

Canada

While the minister without portfolio is seen by some as a mere

appointment, it has been a role that numerous political notables have played over time, including future Prime Minister

Jean Chrétien Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien (; born January 11, 1934) is a retired Canadian politician, statesman, and lawyer who served as the 20th prime minister of Canada from 1993 to 2003. He served as Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, leader of t ...

, who filled the role in a

Pearson Pearson may refer to: Organizations Education * Lester B. Pearson College, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada * Pearson College (UK), London, owned by Pearson PLC *Lester B. Pearson High School (disambiguation) Companies * Pearson plc, a UK-based ...

cabinet in the 1960s;

John Turner John Napier Wyndham Turner (June 7, 1929September 19, 2020) was a Canadian lawyer and politician who served as the 17th prime minister of Canada from June to September 1984. He served as leader of the Liberal Party and leader of the Opposit ...

also "kept a seat warm" in a Pearson cabinet. Notable Conservatives who filled the role include R. B. Bennett, and

Arthur Meighen Arthur Meighen ( ; June 16, 1874 – August 5, 1960) was a Canadian lawyer and politician who served as the ninth prime minister of Canada from 1920 to 1921 and from June to September 1926. He led the Conservative Party from 1920 to 1926 and ...

; however, Meighen served this role after he had been prime minister. The title of minister without portfolio has been used off and on; in recent times, though, the title has fallen out of favour, and the penultimate minister without portfolio,

Gilles Lamontagne Joseph Georges Gilles Claude Lamontagne (; April 17, 1919 – June 14, 2016) was a Canadian politician who held a number of offices both in Quebec and federally. A Liberal, he was Mayor of Quebec City (1965–1977), Postmaster General of Can ...

, was promoted to

postmaster general A Postmaster General, in Anglosphere countries, is the chief executive officer of the postal service of that country, a ministerial office responsible for overseeing all other postmasters. History The practice of having a government official ...

in 1978. The practice has continued primarily under the guise of

ministers of state Minister of state is a designation for a government minister, with varying meanings in different jurisdictions. In a number of European countries, the title is given as an honorific conferring a higher rank, often bestowed upon senior ministers ...

without responsibilities in the ministers' titles. The position has also been filled on the federal or provincial level by experienced politicians near the end of their careers as a way of allowing them to counsel the government and take on projects without the burdens associated with administering a government department. In January 2021, Prime Minister

Justin Trudeau Justin Pierre James Trudeau (born December 25, 1971) is a Canadian politician who served as the 23rd prime minister of Canada from 2015 to 2025. He led the Liberal Party from 2013 until his resignation in 2025 and was the member of Parliament ...

appointed

Jim Carr James Gordon Carr (October 11, 1951 – December 12, 2022) was a Canadian politician, cabinet minister, journalist, and professional oboist. A member of the Liberal Party of Canada, Liberal Party, he served as the Member of Parliament (Canada) ...

as a minister without portfolio, in addition to his role as special representative to the Prairies. Carr had previously served as a cabinet minister until November 2019, leaving as a consequence of his diagnosis with

multiple myeloma Multiple myeloma (MM), also known as plasma cell myeloma and simply myeloma, is a cancer of plasma cells, a type of white blood cell that normally produces antibody, antibodies. Often, no symptoms are noticed initially. As it progresses, bone ...

China

A state councillor () is similar to ministers without portfolio. The 14th state councillors from 2023 are: *

Li Shangfu Li Shangfu (; born February 1958) is a Chinese aerospace engineer and former military administrator. He served as the 13th Minister of National Defense and as State Councillor of China from March to October 2023. Li joined the People's Liberati ...

(former) *

Wang Xiaohong Wang Xiaohong ( zh, c=王小洪, p=Wáng Xiǎohóng; born 11 July 1957) is a Chinese politician who has been serving as the minister of public security of China and deputy secretary of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission of the C ...

Wu Zhenglong Wu Zhenglong (; born November 1964) is a Chinese politician and who is currently a State councillor, state councilor and the Secretary-General of the State Council, secretary-general of the State Council. Previously, he was the Governor of Jiangs ...

Shen Yiqin Shen Yiqin (; born 15 December 1959) is a Chinese politician of Bai ethnic heritage who is currently a state councilor and President of the All-China Women's Federation since 2023. She previously served as the Party Secretary of Guizhou, a pro ...

Qin Gang Qin Gang (born 19 March 1966) is a Chinese former diplomat and politician who served as the 12th Minister of Foreign Affairs (China), Minister of Foreign Affairs from December 2022 to July 2023 and as State councillor, State Councillor from Mar ...

(former)

Croatia

* Dragutin Kalogjera (1990) *

Zvonimir Medvedović Zvonimir is a Croatian male given name, used since the Middle Ages. The name was popular in the former Yugoslavia among the Croatian people because Dmitar Zvonimir was the Croatian king, who ruled from 1075 to 1089. People named Zvonimir *Deme ...

(1990) *

Gojko Šušak Gojko Šušak (; 16 March 1945 – 3 May 1998) was a Croatian politician who held the post of Ministry of Defence (Croatia), Minister of Defence from 1991 to 1998 under President Franjo Tuđman. From 1990 to 1991 he was the Minister of Emigration ...

(1990–1991) *

Zdravko Mršić Zdravko () is a masculine given name of South Slavic origin derived from word "zdrav" meaning "healthy". Notable people with the name include: *Zdravko Čolić, Bosnian singer *Zdravko Ježić, Croatian water polo player * Zdravko Kovačić, Croa ...

(1990–1991) *

Dražen Budiša Dražen Budiša (born 25 July 1948) is a Croatian politician who used to be a leading opposition figure in the 1990s and a two-time presidential candidate. As president of the Croatian Social Liberal Party through the 1990s he remains to date the ...

(1991–1992) *

Ivan Cesar Ivan Cesar (9 May 1936 – 26 November 1993) was a Croatian politician. In 1990 he was the founder and the leader of Croatian Christian Democratic Party (HKDS). In the 1992 presidential elections in Croatia he ran as a candidate, finishing 7th. ...

(1991–1992) *

Ivica Crnić Ivica is a Slavic masculine given name, a diminutive form of Ivan. The direct English equivalent of the name is Johnny, while the equivalent of its augmentative Ivan is John. It is one of the frequent male given names in Croatia, and is also pres ...

(1992) *

Darko Čargonja Darko is a common Slavic given name, and an Akan family name. People: * Darko (given name) * Darko (surname) Places: * Velké Dářko, a pond in the Czech Republic Movies: * ''Donnie Darko'', a 2001 film by Richard Kelly starring Jake Gyllenhaal ...

(1992) *

Živko Juzbašić Živko () is a South Slavic masculine name and means "life", "alive". The Bulgarian variant is Zhivko. It may refer to: * Živko Adamović, Serbian entomologist and artist * Živko Andrijašević, Montenegrin historian and writer * Živko Anoč ...

(1991–1992) * Mladen Vedriš (1992) * Vladimir Veselica (1991) * Muhamed Zulić (1991–1992) *

Zvonimir Baletić Zvonimir is a Croatian male given name, used since the Middle Ages. The name was popular in the former Yugoslavia among the Croatian people because Dmitar Zvonimir was the Croatian king, who ruled from 1075 to 1089. People named Zvonimir *Deme ...

(1991–1992) * Slavko Degoricija (1991) * Stjepan Zdunić (1991) *

Čedomir Pavlović Čedomir (Cyrillic script The Cyrillic script ( ) is a writing system used for various languages across Eurasia. It is the designated national script in various Slavic languages, Slavic, Turkic languages, Turkic, Mongolic languages, Mongolic, ...

(1992–1993) * Smiljko Sokol (1992–1993) *

Zlatko Mateša Zlatko Mateša (; born 17 June 1949) is a Croatian politician who served as Prime Minister of Croatia from 1995 to 2000. A member of the Croatian Democratic Union, Mateša is currently the president of the Croatian Olympic Committee and honora ...

(1993–1995) – Prime Minister (1995–2000) *

Juraj Njavro Juraj Njavro (2 July 1938 – 15 September 2008) was a Croatian medical doctor and politician. Njavro was born in Cerovica, near Neum in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia (today part of Bosnia and Herzegovina). He attended elementary school here a ...

(1993–1997) * Ivan Majdak (1993–1995) *

Marijan Petrović Marijan is a male Croatian given name. Marijan is also a surname found in Croatia. People named Marijan *Marijan Beneš – Croatian boxer * Marijan Brkić Brk – Croatian musician * Marijan Brnčić – Croatian footballer *Marijan Buljat � ...

(1995) *

Adalbert Rebić Adalbert is a German language, German given name which means "noble bright" or "noble shining", derived from the words ''adal'' (meaning noble) and ''berht'' (shining or bright). Alternative spellings include Adelbart, Adelbert and Adalberto. Deriv ...

(1995) *

Davor Štern Davor Štern (born 18 June 1947 in Zagreb, Yugoslavia) is a former Minister of Economy, Labour and Entrepreneurship in the Croatian Government, businessman and entrepreneur. Background and education Štern was born in Zagreb on 18 June 1947. Hi ...

(1995) * Branko Močibob (1995–1997) *

Gordana Sobol Gordana () is a Slavic female first name, mostly used in Slavic countries such as Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The name is derived from Proto-Slavic ''*gъrdъ'' (''gȏrd'') 'proud'. Notable peo ...

(2002–2003) * Bianca Matković (2009–2011) * Goran Marić (2016)

Deputy Prime Ministers without portfolio

Bernardo Jurlina Bernardo is a given name, possibly derived from the Germanic Bernhard. It may refer to: People * Bernardo the Japanese (died 1557), early Japanese Christian convert and disciple of Saint Francis Xavier * Bernardo Accolti (1465–1536), Italian p ...

(1990–1991) * Mate Babić (1990) * Milan Ramljak (1990–1992) *

Franjo Gregurić Franjo Gregurić (; born 12 October 1939) is a Croatian politician who served as Prime Minister of Croatia from July 1991 to September 1992, leading a national unity government at the beginning of the Croatian War of Independence. Gregurić was ...

(1990–1991) – Prime Minister (1991–1992) *

Mate Granić Mate Granić (born 19 September 1947) is a Croatian diplomat, politician and physician who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Government of Croatia from 1993 to 2000. Biography Granić was born in Baška Voda in Dalmatia (then PR C ...

(1991–1993) – Minister of Foreign Affairs (1993–2000) * Jurica Pavelić (1991–1992) *

Zdravko Tomac Zdravko Tomac (24 May 1937 – 4 January 2020) was a Croatian politician. A native of Slavonski Brod, Zdravko Tomac began his political career in the Communist Party of Yugoslavia. There he rose through the ranks, becoming a close associate of ...

(1991–1992) * Ivan Milas (1992–1993) *

Vladimir Šeks Vladimir Šeks (born 1 January 1943) is a Croatian lawyer and politician. He has been a representative in the Croatian Parliament since the nation's independence, and has held the posts of the Speaker of the Parliament, as well as Deputy Prime M ...

(1992–1994) * Mladen Vedriš (1992–1993) *

Ivica Kostović Ivica Kostović (born 7 June 1943) is a Croatian politician and physician. He was born in Zagreb. After receiving a degree in medicine in 1967 at the University of Zagreb, he worked in the Institute for Anatomy Drago Perović at the School of Me ...

(1993–1995) * Bosiljko Mišetić (1995) *

Borislav Škegro Borislav or Boryslav (Cyrillic script The Cyrillic script ( ) is a writing system used for various languages across Eurasia. It is the designated national script in various Slavic languages, Slavic, Turkic languages, Turkic, Mongolic langu ...

(1993–1997) * Ljerka Mintas Hodak (1995–1998) *

Željka Antunović Željka Antunović (; born 15 September 1955) is a Croatian former politician who served as acting president of the Social Democratic Party between April and June 2007, and as Minister of Defence from 2002 until 2003 in the second cabinet of Ivi ...

(2000–2002) *

Slavko Linić Slavko Linić (born 19 September 1949) is a Croatian politician and economist. He is a graduate of the Faculty of Economics on the University of Rijeka. From 1990 to 2000, he was the Mayor of Rijeka Rijeka (; Fiume ( �fjuːme in Italian ...

(2000–2003) *

Goran Granić Goran Granić (born 18 April 1950) is a former Croatian centre-left politician who was the deputy prime minister from 2000 to 2002. Granić was born in Baška Voda. He graduated from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering in Zagreb in 1972, obt ...

(2000–2002) * Ante Simonić (2002–2003) * Damir Polančec (2005–2008) * Đurđa Adlešić (2008–2010) *

Slobodan Uzelac Slobodan Uzelac ( sr-Cyrl, Слободан Узелац; born 9 August 1947) is a Croatian Serb politician who served as Deputy Prime Minister of Croatia for Regional Development, Reconstruction and Return in the second cabinet of Prime Minis ...

(2008–2011) * Domagoj Ivan Milošević (2010–2011) *

Tomislav Karamarko Tomislav Karamarko (; born 25 May 1959) is a Croatian politician who served as First Deputy Prime Minister of Croatia from January to June 2016. He served in the Cabinet of Jadranka Kosor as Minister of the Interior from 2008 to 2011. Early li ...

(2016) *

Božo Petrov Božo Petrov (; born 16 October 1979) is a Croatian politician and psychiatrist who served as Speaker of the Croatian Parliament from 2016 to 2017. He has been the president of The Bridge party since 2012. He previously served as mayor of his n ...

(2016) – Speaker of Parliament (2016–2017) *

Boris Milošević Boris Milošević ( sr-Cyrl, Борис Милошевић, ; born 5 November 1974) is a Croatian Serb lawyer and politician who served as Deputy Prime Minister of Croatia between 2020 and 2022. He is a member of the Independent Democratic Serb ...

(2020–2022) *

Anja Šimpraga Anja Šimpraga ( sr-Cyrl, Ања Шимпрага; born 23 July 1987) is a Croatian politician serving as a Deputy Prime Minister of Croatia and a minister without portfolio in charge of social affairs and human and minority rights from 2022 to 20 ...

(2022–present)

Denmark

Three "control ministers" served as ministers without portfolio during

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. After the

Liberation of Denmark Liberation or liberate may refer to: Film and television * ''Liberation'' (film series), a 1970–1971 series about the Great Patriotic War * "Liberation" (''The Flash''), a TV episode * "Liberation" (''K-9''), an episode Gaming * '' Liberati ...

in May 1945, the first Danish

included four ministers without portfolio. Among these were Danish ambassador to the U.S.

Henrik Kauffmann Henrik Kauffmann (26 August 1888 – 5 June 1963) was the Danish ambassador to the United States during World War II, who signed over part of Greenland to the US. Career Kauffmann started his foreign career by serving as envoy in Rome, 1921� ...

, who had conducted his own foreign policy throughout the war and refused to follow orders from Copenhagen as long as Denmark remained occupied by a foreign power. Kauffmann served in this capacity from 12 May to 7 November 1945. The three other holders of this title had joined the cabinet a few days before –

Aksel Larsen Aksel Larsen (5 August 1897 – 10 January 1972) was a Danish politician who was chairman of the Communist Party of Denmark (DKP), and chairman and founder of the Socialist People's Party. He is remembered today for his long service in the C ...

(

Communist Party of Denmark The Communist Party of Denmark (, DKP) is a communist party in Denmark. The DKP was founded on 9 November 1919 as the Left-Socialist Party of Denmark (, VSP), through a merger of the Socialist Youth League and Socialist Labour Party of Denma ...

), Kr. Juul Christensen (

Danish Unity Danish Unity or Danish Collection () is a political party in Denmark, founded in 1936 by Arne Sørensen (politician), Arne Sørensen. In 1939 the National Unity party, established by Victor Pürschel in 1938, merged with the party. It contested e ...

) and

Frode Jakobsen Frode Jakobsen (21 December 1906 – 15 June 1997), was a Danish writer and politician who is remembered for his contribution to Danish resistance activities during the German occupation of Denmark in the Second World War. He established and ran ...

(

Social Democrats Social democracy is a social, economic, and political philosophy within socialism that supports political and economic democracy and a gradualist, reformist, and democratic approach toward achieving social equality. In modern practice, s ...

). Lise Østergaard held a position as minister without portfolio with special attention to foreign policy issues in

Anker Jørgensen Anker Henrik Jørgensen (13 July 1922 – 20 March 2016) was a Danish politician who served at various times as prime minister and foreign minister of Denmark. Between 1972 and 1982 he led five cabinets as prime minister. Jørgensen was presiden ...

's cabinet from 26 February 1977 to 28 February 1980.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen Anders Fogh Rasmussen (; born 26 January 1953) is a Danish politician who was the prime minister of Denmark from November 2001 to April 2009 and the Secretary General of NATO, secretary general of NATO from August 2009 to October 2014. He became ...

appointed

Bertel Haarder Bertel Geismar Haarder (born 7 September 1944) is a Danish writer, teacher and politician, who was a member of the Folketing for the Venstre political party. He has served as minister several times, including Minister of Education from 1982 to 1 ...

as minister without portfolio, but effectively Minister for European Affairs. Haarder served in this capacity from 27 November 2001 to 18 February 2005. The reason for appointing a minister without a ministry was the Danish European Union Presidency of 2002. Haarder was considered the most experienced Danish politician on European affairs.

Estonia

Jaan Tõnisson Jaan Tõnisson ( – 1941?) was an Estonian statesman, serving as the Prime Minister of Estonia twice during 1919 to 1920, as State Elder (head of state and government) from 1927 to 1928 and in 1933, and as Foreign Minister of Estonia from 19 ...

(1918) (provisional government) * Karl Ast (1924–1925) *

Juhan Kaarlimäe Juhan Kaarlimäe (born Johann Karlsberg; 21 November 1901 Vana-Vändra Parish (now Põhja-Pärnumaa Parish), Kreis Pernau – 5 February 1977 Raikküla Selsoviet, Rapla District) was an Estonian politician. He was a member of V Riigikogu V Riig ...

(1944) *

Johannes Sikkar Johannes Sikkar (October 15, 1897 – August 22, 1960) was the first head of the Estonian government in exile as Acting Prime Minister (January 12, 1953 – January 1, 1962). Biography Sikkar was born in Kõnnu, Tartu County. Sikkar served in ...

(1952–1953) ( in exile) * Artur Terras (1952–1953) (in exile) * Aksel Mark (1956–1962) (in exile) *

Arvo Horm Arvo Horm (until 1935 Arnold Horn, October 8, 1913 – April 15, 1996) was an Estonian politician, economist, and journalist. Early life and education Arvo Horm was born Arnold Horn at Vastseliina Manor, the son of Peeter Horn (later Horm, 187 ...

(1956–1964) (in exile) * Peeter Panksep (1956–1964) (in exile) * Eduard Leetmaa (1959–1962) (in exile; appointed, but did not enter office) *

Ivar Grünthal Ivar Grünthal (8 April 1924 – 14 February 1996) was an Estonian writer. Biography His parents were lawyers Vera Poska-Grünthal and Timotheus Grünthal. His grandfather was statesman Jaan Poska. From 1932 to 1941 he studied at Hugo Treff ...

(1962–1964) (in exile) * Renate Kaasik (1971–1990) (in exile) *

Verner Hans Puurand Verner Hans Puurand (until 1938 Puurmann; 14 September 1904 – 12 June 1983) was an Estonian Naval officer and politician. From 1973 to 1977 he was a minister of Estonian government-in-exile. He was born in Tapa parish, Estonia. In 1928 he gradu ...

(1973–1977) (in exile) * Jaan Timusk (1973–1990) (in exile) * Ants Pallop (1973–1992) (in exile) *

(1977–1992) (in exile) * Ivar Paljak (1985–1990) (in exile) *

Olev Olesk Olev Olesk (4 March 1921 – 18 May 2017) was a former Estonian politician. He served as the last Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs in exile, between 1990 and 1992. Olev Olesk was born in the village of Sooküla, Peri Parish, Võru County (now ...

(1986–1990) (in exile) *

Endel Lippmaa Endel Lippmaa (15 September 1930 – 30 July 2015) was an Estonian scientist, academician, politician, and twice government minister in 1990–1991 and 1995–1996. Lippmaa was founder and chairman of the Science Council of the National Insti ...

(1990–1991) (interim government) *Artur Kuznetsov (1990–1991) (interim government) * Klara Hallik (1992) (interim government) * Arvo Niitenberg (1992) (interim government) *

Jüri Luik Jüri Luik (born 17 August 1966) is an Estonian diplomat and politician. He has served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Defence, and he has acted as Estonia's ambassador to Benelux, NATO, North America, and Russia. Early life Jür ...

(1992–1993) *

Peeter Olesk Peeter Olesk may refer to: * Peeter Olesk (politician) (1953–2021), Estonian literary scholar and politician * Peeter Olesk (sport shooter) (born 1993), Estonian sport shooter {{hndis, Olesk, Peeter ...

(1993–1994) *

Eiki Nestor Eiki Nestor (born 5 September 1953 in Tallinn) is an Estonian politician, member of the Social Democratic Party. He was the leader of the party from 1994 to 1996. Nestor has been a member of the 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th Parliament of E ...

(1994–1995) * Arvo Niitenberg (1994–1995) *

Ants Leemets Ants Leemets (23 June 1950 – 23 November 2019) was an Estonian politician and museum director who served as Minister without Portfolio and later as Deputy Mayor of Tallinn. Leemets was born in Rakvere and graduated in 1968 from Rakvere 1st Se ...

(1995) *

Jaak Allik Jaak Allik (born 6 October 1946) is an Estonian theatre critic, theatre director and politician. He is a member of the Social Democratic Party, and was previously the Estonian Minister of Culture 1995–1999 (). He was member of the VII, VIII a ...

(1995–1996) *

(1995–1996) * Tiit Kubri (1995–1997) *

Riivo Sinijärv Riivo Sinijärv (born 27 May 1947 in Tallinn) is an Estonian politician and a former Minister of Foreign Affairs In many countries, the ministry of foreign affairs (abbreviated as MFA or MOFA) is the highest government department exclusively ...

(1996) * Andra Veidemann (1996–1999) *

Peep Aru Peep Aru (born 20 April 1953 in Abja-Paluoja) is an Estonian politician. He was a member of X, XI and XII Riigikogu and is the former Minister of Regional Affairs of Estonia. Aru was the Deputy Governor of Viljandi from 1989 to 1993, the Deput ...

(1997–1999) *

Katrin Saks Katrin Saks (born 29 November 1956 in Tallinn) is an Estonian politician and journalist. From 1999 to 2002, she was Minister of Population Affairs in the cabinet of Mart Laar. She was the vice-chairwoman of the Social Democratic Party (Estonia), S ...

(1999–2003) * Toivo Asmer (1999–2003) *

Eldar Efendijev Eldar Efendijev ( Azerbaijani: Eldar Əfəndiyev; born 29 June 1954, Tallinn) is an Estonian politician of Azeri descent who was the minister of Population and Ethnic Affairs from 2002 to 2003 and who represented the Estonian Centre Party in the ...

(2002–2003) *

Paul-Eerik Rummo Paul-Eerik Rummo (born 19 January 1942) is an Estonian poet, playwright, translator and politician who was the former Estonian Minister of Culture and Education, as well as the former Estonian Minister of Population Affairs. Rummo was born in T ...

(2003–2007) *

Jaan Õunapuu Jaan Õunapuu (born 13 September 1958 in Mustjala) is an Estonia Estonia, officially the Republic of Estonia, is a country in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland across from Finland, to the west by the Baltic S ...

(2003–2007) * Urve Palo (2007–2009) *

Urmas Kruuse Urmas Kruuse (born 14 July 1965) is an Estonian politician who has been the Minister of Rural Affairs since 2021. From 2014 to 2015, he was the Minister of Health and Labour. He is member of the Estonian Reform Party. Early life Ummi graduated ...

(2014) * Anne Sulling (2014)

Finland

Minister without portfolio is not a common type of cabinet position, and the last minister without portfolio served in 1949. The most famous one was

Juho Kusti Paasikivi Juho Kusti Paasikivi (, 27 November 1870 – 14 December 1956) was a Finnish politician who served as the seventh president of Finland from 1946 to 1956. Representing the Finnish Party until its dissolution in 1918 and then the National Coaliti ...

, who was a part of the "Triumvirate" of Prime Minister

Risto Ryti Risto Heikki Ryti (; 3 February 1889 – 25 October 1956) was a Finnish people, Finnish politician who served as the fifth president of Finland from 1940 to 1944. Ryti started his career as a politician in the field of economics and as a politica ...

, Minister of Foreign Affairs

Väinö Tanner Väinö Alfred Tanner (; 12 March 1881 – 19 April 1966; surname until 1895 ''Thomasson'') was a leading figure in the Social Democratic Party of Finland, and a pioneer and leader of the cooperative movement in Finland. He was Prime Minist ...

and Paasikivi during the

Winter War The Winter War was a war between the Soviet Union and Finland. It began with a Soviet invasion of Finland on 30 November 1939, three months after the outbreak of World War II, and ended three and a half months later with the Moscow Peac ...

and the year 1940. *

Mikko Luopajärvi Mikko Luopajärvi (15 November 1871 – 5 January 1920) was a Finnish farmer and politician, born in Jalasjärvi. He was a member of the Parliament of Finland The Parliament of Finland ( ; ) is the Unicameralism, unicameral and Parliame ...

( Agrarian Union) 17.4.1919 – 15.8.1919 ( Kaarlo Castren Cabinet), 15.8.1919 – 5.1.1920 (

Vennola I Cabinet Juho Vennola's first cabinet was the fifth Government of Republic of Finland. The cabinet's time period was August 15, 1919 – March 15, 1920. It was a minority government A minority government, minority cabinet, minority administration, o ...

) * Kalle Aukusti Lohi ( Agrarian Union) 31.3.1925 – 31.12.1925 (

Tulenheimo Cabinet Antti Tulenheimo's cabinet was the Government of Finland from March 31, 1925 to December 31, 1925. It was formed between the National Coalition Party The National Coalition Party (NCP; , Kok; , Saml) is a liberal conservatism, liberal-conser ...

) *

Matti Paasivuori Matti Paasivuori (6 May 1866, Ilmajoki - 16 June 1937 in Helsinki) was a Finnish politician from the Social Democratic Party. Paasivuori was the Chairman of the Social Democratic Party on three occasions: 1909–1911, 1913–1917 and 1926–193 ...

(

Social Democratic Party The name Social Democratic Party or Social Democrats has been used by many political parties in various countries around the world. Such parties are most commonly aligned to social democracy as their political ideology. Active parties Form ...

) 13.12.1926 – 15.11.1927 ( Tanner Cabinet) * Kalle Jutila ( Agrarian Union) 17.12.1927 – 16.10.1928 (

Sunila I Cabinet Juho Sunila's first cabinet was the 15th government of Republic of Finland. Cabinet's time period was from December 17, 1927 to December 22, 1928. It was a minority government A minority government, minority cabinet, minority administration, or ...

) *

Juhani Leppälä Johan (Juhani) Fredrik Leppälä (10 May 1880 – 15 December 1976; surname until 1906 ''Lindeqvist'') was a Finnish schoolteacher, farmer and politician. Born in Nummi, he was a member of the Parliament of Finland The Parliament of F ...

( Agrarian Union) 16.8.1929 – 27.8.1929 ( Kallio III Cabinet) *

Eljas Erkko Juho Eljas Erkko (1 June 1895 in Helsinki – 20 February 1965 in Helsinki) was a Finnish politician and journalist. He was the foreign minister and negotiated with the Soviet Union before the Winter War started. Erkko's father, too, was a po ...

( Progressive Party) 20.10.1932 – 25.11.1932 ( Sunila II Cabinet) *

Ernst von Born Baron Ernst Viktor Lorenz von Born (24 August 1885, Pernå, Grand Duchy of Finland - 7 July 1956) was a Finnish lawyer, farmer and politician. He served as Minister of the Interior from March 1931 to December 1932 and from December 1939 to May 1 ...

(

Swedish People's Party The Swedish People's Party of Finland (SPP; , SFP; , RKP) is a Finnish political party founded in 1906. Its primary aim is to represent the interests of the minority Swedish-speaking population of Finland. The party is currently a participant in ...

) 13.10.1939 – 1.12.1939 ( Cajander III Cabinet) *

(Unaffiliated/No party) 1.12.1939 – 27.3.1940 ( Ryti I Cabinet) *

Mauno Pekkala Mauno Pekkala (27 January 1890 – 30 June 1952) was a Finnish statesman and politician who served as Prime Minister from 1946 to 1948. Mauno Pekkala was the brother of Eino Pekkala. Pekkala was a member of the Social Democratic Party of Finla ...

(

) 17.11.1944 – 24.11.1944 ( Paasikivi II Cabinet) *

Hertta Kuusinen Hertta Elina Kuusinen (14 February 1904 – 18 March 1974) was a Finland, Finnish communism, Communist politician. She was a member of the central committee (1944–1971) and the political bureau of the Communist Party of Finland; member of Finla ...

( Finnish People's Democratic Party) 26.5.1948 – 4.6.1948 ( Pekkala Cabinet) * Aleksi Aaltonen (

) 29.7.1948 – 30.7.1948 ( Fagerholm I Cabinet) * Unto Varjonen (

) 29.7.1949 – 19.8.1949 ( Fagerholm I Cabinet)

Germany

Hermann Göring Hermann Wilhelm Göring (or Goering; ; 12 January 1893 – 15 October 1946) was a German Nazism, Nazi politician, aviator, military leader, and convicted war criminal. He was one of the most powerful figures in the Nazi Party, which gov ...

(1933) *

Ernst Röhm Ernst Julius Günther Röhm (; 28 November 1887 – 1 July 1934) was a German military officer, politician and a leading member of the Nazi Party. A close friend and early ally of Adolf Hitler, Röhm was the co-founder and leader of the (SA), t ...

(1933) *

Rudolf Hess Rudolf Walter Richard Hess (Heß in German; 26 April 1894 – 17 August 1987) was a German politician, Nuremberg trials, convicted war criminal and a leading member of the Nazi Party in Nazi Germany, Germany. Appointed Deputy Führer ( ...

(1933–1941) *

Arthur Seyss-Inquart Arthur Seyss-Inquart (; ; 22 July 1892 16 October 1946) was an Austrian Nazi politician who served as Chancellor of Austria in 1938 for two days before the ''Anschluss''. His positions in Nazi Germany included deputy governor to Hans Frank in t ...

(1939–1945) *

Hjalmar Schacht Horace Greeley Hjalmar Schacht (); 22 January 1877 – 3 June 1970) was a German economist, banker, politician, and co-founder of the German Democratic Party. He served as the Currency Commissioner and President of the Reichsbank during the ...

(1939–1943) *

Martin Bormann Martin Ludwig Bormann (17 June 1900 – 2 May 1945) was a German Nazi Party official and head of the Nazi Party Chancellery, private secretary to Adolf Hitler, and a war criminal. Bormann gained immense power by using his position as Hitler ...

(1941–1945) Since 1949, a Federal Minister for Special Affairs (''Bundesminister für besondere Aufgaben'') is a member of the

that does not have charge of a Federal Ministry, although the ministry is now commonly assigned to the

Heads of the German Chancellery The Head of the Chancellery (, abbreviated ''ChefBK'') is the highest ranking official of the German Chancellery and the principal assistant of the Chancellor of Germany. The Chief of Staff is in charge of the running of the German Chancellery a ...

to give this important government functionary cabinet-rank. The ministry was first created in October 1953 to give a ministry level position to

Franz Josef Strauss Franz Josef Strauss ( ; 6 September 1915 – 3 October 1988) was a German politician. He was the long-time chairman of the Christian Social Union in Bavaria (CSU) from 1961 until 1988, member of the federal cabinet in different positions between ...

, but has been used almost exclusively for the Head of the Federal Chancellery since the 1960s. A notable exception occurred in the course of

German reunification German reunification () was the process of re-establishing Germany as a single sovereign state, which began on 9 November 1989 and culminated on 3 October 1990 with the dissolution of the East Germany, German Democratic Republic and the int ...

when four members of East Germany's last government were made "Minister for Special Affairs" from October 3, 1990, to January 1991.

Greece

The position of a Minister without portfolio was first created in 1918, with Emmanouil Repoulis being the first Minister without portfolio. Previously, the term had been used to describe Prime Ministers who had not undertaken any secondary Ministerial position (e.g.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs In many countries, the ministry of foreign affairs (abbreviated as MFA or MOFA) is the highest government department exclusively or primarily responsible for the state's foreign policy and relations, diplomacy, bilateral, and multilateral r ...

). Prominent politicians like

Georgios Papandreou Georgios Papandreou (, ''Geórgios Papandréou''; 13 February 1888 – 1 November 1968) was a Greek politician, the founder of the Papandreou political dynasty. He served three terms as the prime minister of Greece (1944–1945, 1963, 1964 ...

Panagiotis Kanellopoulos Panagiotis Kanellopoulos or Panayotis Kanellopoulos (; 13 December 1902 – 11 September 1986) was a Greek writer, politician and Prime Minister of Greece. He was the Prime Minister of Greece deposed by the Greek military junta of 1967–1974. ...

Napoleon Zervas Napoleon Zervas (; May 17, 1891 – December 10, 1957) was a Hellenic Army officer and resistance leader during World War II. He organized and led the National Republican Greek League (EDES), the second most significant (after National Liberation ...

and

Spyros Markezinis Spyridon "Spyros" Markezinis (or Markesinis; ; 22 April 1909 – 4 January 2000) was a Greek politician, longtime member of the Hellenic Parliament, and briefly the Prime Minister of Greece during the aborted attempt at metapolitefsi (democrati ...

served as Ministers without portfolio during their career, while novelist

Nikos Kazantzakis Nikos Kazantzakis (; ; 2 March (Old Style and New Style dates, OS 18 February) 188326 October 1957) was a Greeks, Greek writer, journalist, politician, poet and philosopher. Widely considered a giant of modern Greek literature, he was nominate ...

had a brief, 46-day-long tenure as Minister without portfolio in Sofoulis' 1945 cabinet. In 1991, the position was renamed to

; the last person to be designated Minister without portfolio and simultaneously the first Minister of State, is

Mikis Theodorakis Michail "Mikis" Theodorakis ( ; 29 July 1925 – 2 September 2021) was a Greek composer and lyricist credited with over 1,000 works. He scored for the films '' Zorba the Greek'' (1964), '' Z'' (1969), and '' Serpico'' (1973). He was a three-ti ...

Hungary

Zsolt Semjén Zsolt Semjén (; born 8 August 1962) is a Hungarian politician. Member of Parliament between 1994 and 1998 and from 2002. Since 2003, he has been the chairman of the Christian Democratic People's Party (Hungary), Christian Democratic People's Pa ...

(2010–present) *

Tamás Fellegi Tamás László Fellegi (born 7 January 1956) is a Hungarian politician, jurist, political scientist, businessman, who served as Minister of National Development in Viktor Orbán's government from May 29, 2010 to December 14, 2011. After that he ...

(2011–2012)

India

C. Rajagopalachari Chakravarti Rajagopalachari (10 December 1878 – 25 December 1972), popularly known as Rajaji or C.R., also known as Mootharignar Rajaji (Rajaji'', the Scholar Emeritus''), was an Indian statesman, writer, lawyer, and Indian independence ...

N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar Diwan Bahadur Sir Narasimha Gopalaswami Ayyangar (31 March 1882 – 10 February 1953) was an Indian civil servant and statesman, who served as the Prime Minister of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir and later a minister in the firs ...

and V.K. Krishna Menon – 1st Nehru government * T.T. Krishnamachari and

Lal Bahadur Shastri Lal Bahadur Shastri (; born Lal Bahadur Srivastava; 2 October 190411 January 1966) was an Indian politician and statesman who served as the Prime Minister of India, prime minister of India from 1964 to 1966. He previously served as Minister ...

– 2nd Nehru Government *

Mamata Banerjee Mamata Banerjee (; born 5 January 1955) is an Indian politician who is serving as the eighth and current List of chief ministers of West Bengal, chief minister of the States and union territories of India, Indian state of West Bengal since 2 ...

and

Murasoli Maran Murasoli Maran (17 August 1934, Thirukkuvalai – 23 November 2003) was an Indian politician and leader of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party, which was headed by his maternal uncle and mentor, M. Karunanidhi. A Member of Parliament fo ...

– 3rd Vajpayee government * K. Chandrasekhar Rao and

Natwar Singh Natwar Singh (16 May 1931 – 10 August 2024) was an Indian politician and diplomat of the Indian Foreign Service who later served as India's Minister of External Affairs from May 2004 to December 2005. Having been suspended by the Indian Nati ...

– 1st Manmohan Singh government

Indonesia

Since the inception of the state, Indonesia had ministers without portfolio, usually given the title ''Menteri Negara'' ('State Minister'). The number was not fixed, entirely depended on the behest of the President. Although not explicitly forbidden, Law No. 39/2008 on State Ministries mandated that a ministry must have specific function and responsibilities and also must have minimum number of directorates and other ministerial apparatuses, thus formation of minister without portfolio is currently unlikely in post-Reformation Indonesia. Below is the list of ministers without portfolio that ever existed in Indonesian history.

Presidential Cabinet (19 August – 14 November 1945)

* Mohammad Amir * Sartono *

Alexander Andries Maramis Alexander Andries Maramis (20 June 1897 – 31 July 1977), more commonly known simply as A. A. Maramis, was an Indonesian politician and National Hero of Indonesia, who was involved in the struggle for independence. He was a member of the Investi ...

Oto Iskandar di Nata Oto Iskandar di Nata ( Sundanese: , also spelled Otto Iskandardinata, called Otista and nicknamed Si Jalak Harupat; born 31 March 1897 – disappeared 19 December 1945, retrospectively declared dead 20 December 1945) was an Indonesian politician ...

First Sjahrir Cabinet (11 November 1945 – 28 February 1946)

* Rasjidi (on religious affairs)

Third Sjahrir Cabinet (5 October 1946 – 27 July 1947)

Hamengkubuwono IX Shri#South and Southeast Asia, Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX (Javanese script, Hanacaraka: ; 12 April 1912 – 2 October 1988), often abbreviated as HB IX, was an Indonesian politician and Javanese people, Javanese royal who was the second Vice P ...

Wahid Hasyim Abdul Wahid Hasyim (1 June 1914 – 19 April 1953) was the first Minister of Religious Affairs in the government of President Sukarno of Indonesia, a post he held in 1945, and from 1949 to 1952. He was the son of Nahdlatul Ulama founder Hasyim ...

Wikana Wikana (16 October 1914 – 1966) was an Indonesian minister and independence leader. He was one of the youths who forced Sukarno and Hatta to declare independence immediately after the surrender of the Japanese. He was the first Indonesian Min ...

(on youth affairs) * Soedarsono *

Tan Po Goan Tan Po Goan ( zh, t=陈宝源, 1911–1985), sometimes spelled Tan Po Gwan, was a Chinese Indonesians, Chinese Indonesian lawyer and Socialist Party of Indonesia politician. He was a Minister without portfolio representing the Chinese community in ...

(on Chinese affairs) * Danoedirdja Setiaboedi

Sixth Development Cabinet (6 June – 1 October 1997)

The cabinet was unique, with President

Suharto Suharto (8 June 1921 – 27 January 2008) was an Indonesian Officer (armed forces), military officer and politician, and dictator, who was the second and longest serving president of Indonesia, serving from 1967 to 1998. His 32 years rule, cha ...

moved the Minister of Information

Harmoko Harmoko (7 February 1939 – 4 July 2021), colloquially referred to as Bung Harmoko, was an Indonesian politician and journalist who was active during the New Order era. He served as the Speaker of the People's Representative Council from 1997 ...

to the office of State Minister of Special Affairs () on 6 June 1997. The Ministry of Special Affairs was dissolved on 1 October 1997, following the inauguration of next-term's

parliament In modern politics and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...

and the appointment of Harmoko as its speaker.

Ireland

The Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1939 allows a Minister to be a member of the

Government of Ireland The Government of Ireland () is the executive (government), executive authority of Republic of Ireland, Ireland, headed by the , the head of government. The government – also known as the cabinet (government), cabinet – is composed of Mini ...

who does not have charge of a

Department of State The United States Department of State (DOS), or simply the State Department, is an executive department of the U.S. federal government responsible for the country's foreign policy and relations. Equivalent to the ministry of foreign affairs ...

, such a person to be known as a "Minister without portfolio". Such a minister may be given a specific style or title. The only substantive minister without portfolio has been

Frank Aiken Francis Thomas Aiken (13 February 1898 – 18 May 1983) was an Irish revolutionary and politician. He was Chief of Staff of the Irish Republican Army, chief of staff of the Irish Republican Army (1922–1969), Anti-Treaty IRA at the end of the I ...

, the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defensive Measures during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. By the

Emergency Powers Act 1939 The Emergency Powers Act 1939 (EPA) was an Act of the Oireachtas (Irish parliament) enacted on 3 September 1939, after an official state of emergency had been declared on 2 September 1939 in response to the outbreak of World War II. The Act empo ...

then in force, the

Minister for Defence Minister may refer to: * Minister (Christianity), a Christian cleric ** Minister (Catholic Church) * Minister (government), a member of government who heads a ministry (government department) ** Minister without portfolio, a member of government w ...

was able to delegate some competences to him. On a number of occasions a minister has been appointed to an incoming government with the title of a new

. Between the date of appointment and the date of creation of the department, such a minister is formally a minister without portfolio. When

Helen McEntee Helen McEntee (born 8 June 1986) is an Irish Fine Gael politician who has served as Minister for Education and Youth since January 2025 and Leader of Fine Gael#Deputy leaders, deputy leader of Fine Gael since October 2024. A Teachta Dála (TD) ...

took six months'

maternity leave Parental leave, or family leave, is an employee benefit available in almost all countries. The term "parental leave" may include maternity, paternity, and adoption leave; or may be used distinctively from "maternity leave" and "paternity leave ...

on 28 April 2021, her portfolio as

Minister for Justice A justice ministry, ministry of justice, or department of justice, is a ministry or other government agency in charge of the administration of justice. The ministry or department is often headed by a minister of justice (minister for justice in a ...

was reassigned to

Heather Humphreys Heather Maud Humphreys (née Stewart, born 1960) is an Irish former Fine Gael politician who served in various cabinet positions from 2014 to 2025. She was a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Cavan–Monaghan constituency from 2011 to 2024, and serve ...

, in addition to Humphreys's existing portfolio as

Minister for Social Protection The Minister for Social Protection () is a senior minister in the Government of Ireland and leads the Department of Social Protection. The Minister for Social Protection is Dara Calleary. He is also Minister for Rural and Community Developm ...

and

Minister for Rural and Community Development The Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht ( Irish: ''An tAire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta'') is a senior minister in the Government of Ireland and leads the Department of Rural and Community Developmen ...

. McEntee remained a member of the coalition government as minister without portfolio, and was reassigned to the Department of Justice on 1 November 2021. On 25 November 2022, Heather Humphreys was again appointed as Minister for Justice to facilitate a second period of six months' maternity leave from December.

Israel

It is common practice in Israel to appoint ministers without portfolio as part of the coalition negotiations, as it allows small coalition partners a seat at the cabinet table. All cabinets in recent years have had at least some such appointment. The Governance Law passed in 2013 forbade ministers without portfolio effectively ending the practice, however in spite of some objections, after the 2015 elections this issue was revisited in the Knesset and it was allowed for the practice to resume. The full alphabetical list of ministers without portfolio since 1949 is: *

Mansour Abbas Mansour Abbas (; ; born 22 April 1974) is an Israeli Arab politician. He is currently the leader of the United Arab List and represents the party in the Knesset. He was appointed as the chair of Special Committee on Arab Society Affairs in the K ...

(2021–2022) *

Ofir Akunis Ofir Akunis (; born 28 May 1973) is an Israeli politician and diplomat. Since May 2024 he has been the Israeli Consul General in New York, his first diplomatic posting. As a politician, Akunis served as a member of the Knesset for Likud and was ...

(2015) *

Yosef Almogi Yosef Aharon Almogi (; 5 May 1910 – 2 November 1991) was an Israeli politician who served as a member of the Knesset between 1955 and 1977, as well as holding several ministerial posts. Biography Born Josef Karlenboim in Hrubieszów in the R ...

(1961–62) *

Shulamit Aloni Shulamit Aloni (; 27 December 1927 – 24 January 2014) was an Israeli politician. She founded the Ratz (political party), Ratz party, was leader of the Meretz party, Leader of the Opposition (Israel), Leader of the Opposition from 1988 to 1990, ...

(1974, 1993) *

Yehuda Amital Yehuda Amital (; born Yehuda Klein; 31 October 1924 – 9 July 2010) was an Orthodox rabbi, the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Har Etzion, and a member of the Israeli cabinet, associated with the Israeli Left. The concept of a Hesder Yeshiva is att ...

(1995–96) * Shaul Amor (1999) *

Zalman Aran Zalman "Ziama" Aran (; 1 March 1899 – 6 September 1970) was a Zionist activist, educator and Israeli government minister. Biography Zalman Aharonowitz (later Aran) was born in Yuzovka in the Yekaterinoslav Governorate of the Russian Empire (no ...

(1954–55) *

Moshe Arens Moshe Arens (; 27 December 1925 – 7 January 2019) was an Israeli aeronautical engineer, researcher, diplomat, and Likud politician. A member of the Knesset between 1973 and 1992 and again from 1999 until 2003, he served as Minister of Defense ...

(1984–86, 1987–88) * Eli Avidar (2021–2022) *

Ruhama Avraham Ruhama Avraham Balila (; born 29 January 1964) is an Politics of Israel, Israeli politician who served as a member of the Knesset for Likud and Kadima between 2003 and 2013. She also held the positions of Deputy minister of interior Tourism Mi ...

(2007–08) *

Ami Ayalon Amichai "Ami" Ayalon (, born 27 June 1945) is an Israeli politician and a former member of the Knesset for the Labor Party. He was previously head of the Shin Bet, Israel's secret service, and commander-in-chief of the Navy. He came in second to ...

(2007–08) *

Yisrael Barzilai Yisrael Barzilai (; 1 October 1913 – 12 June 1970) was an Israeli politician who served as a government minister during the 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s. Life and career Born Yisrael Eisenberg in Nieszawa in the Russian Empire (today in Poland ...

(1969–70) *

Benny Begin Ze'ev Binyamin (Benny) Begin (; born 1 March 1943), is an Israeli geologist and politician. He was a member of the Knesset for New Hope, having previously served as a member for Likud and Herut – The National Movement. He is the son of forme ...

(2009–13, 2015) *

Menachem Begin Menachem Begin ( ''Menaḥem Begin'', ; (Polish documents, 1931–1937); ; 16 August 1913 – 9 March 1992) was an Israeli politician, founder of both Herut and Likud and the prime minister of Israel. Before the creation of the state of Isra ...

(1967–70) * Mordechai Ben-Porat (1982–84) *

Yosef Burg Shlomo Joseph Burg (, 31 January 1909 – 15 October 1999) was a German-born Israeli politician. In 1949, he was elected to the first Knesset and served in many ministerial positions for the next 40 years. He was one of the founders of the Nati ...

(1984) *

Eitan Cabel Eitan Cabel (; born 23 August 1959) is an Israeli politician who represented the Israeli Labor Party in the Knesset from 1996 to 2019. Biography Eitan Cabel was born in Rosh HaAyin. After serving in the Israeli Defense Force, he studied at the ...

(2006–07) *

Ra'anan Cohen Ra'anan Cohen (; born 28 February 1941) is an Israeli former politician who served as a government minister during the early 2000s. Biography Born in Baghdad in Iraq, Cohen emigrated to Israel in 1951. During his youth he was a counsellor in th ...

(2001–02) *

Yitzhak Cohen Rabbi Isaac Cohen (; born 2 October 1951) is an Israeli politician who served as a member of the Knesset for Shas in two spells between 1996 and 2020. He also held several ministerial portfolios. Biography Born in Ashkelon, Cohen served on the ...

(2006–08) *

Aryeh Deri Aryeh Makhlouf Deri (; ), also Arie Deri, Arye Deri, or Arieh Deri (born 17 February 1959), is an Israeli politician and one of the founders of the Shas political party who served as the Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Health, and Minister ...

(1993) * Aryeh Dolchin (1969–70) *

Sarah Doron Sarah Doron (; 20 June 1922 – 3 November 2010) was an Israeli politician who served as a Minister without Portfolio from July 1983 until September 1984. Biography Born in Kaunas in Lithuania, Doron emigrated to Mandatory Palestine in 1933. She ...

(1983–84) *

Abba Eban Abba Solomon Meir Eban (; ; born Aubrey Solomon Meir Eban; 2 February 1915 – 17 November 2002) was a History of the Jews in South Africa, South African-born Israeli diplomat and politician, and a scholar of the Arabic and Hebrew languages. D ...

(1959–60) *

Rafael Edri Rafael Edri (; 10 September 1937 – 22 June 2024) was an Israeli buisnessman and politician who served as a Member of the Knesset for the Alignment and Labor Party from 1981 to 1999. He also served as Minister without Portfolio between 1988 and ...

(1988–90) *

Yaakov Edri Ya'akov Edri (; also spelt Edery or Edrey, born 25 November 1950) is an Israeli politician, serving as the mayor of Or Akiva. He served as a member of the Knesset for Likud and Kadima between 2003 and 2013, as well as holding the posts of Mini ...

(2006–07) *

Effi Eitam Efraim "Effi" Eitam (; born 25 July 1952) is an Israeli brigadier general, former commander of the 91st Division, and politician. A former leader of the National Religious Party, he later led a breakaway faction, Ahi, which merged into Likud ...

(2002) *

Gadi Eizenkot Gadi Eisenkot (; born 19 May 1960), also spelt Eizenkot, is an Israeli general and politician from the Israeli National Unity party. He served as the 21st Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces from 2015 to 2019 and from 2023 to 2024, as ...

(2023–2024) *

Yisrael Galili Yisrael Galili (; 10 February 1911 – 8 February 1986) was an Israeli politician, government minister and member of Knesset. Before Israel's independence in 1948, he served as Chief of Staff of Haganah, the main Zionist political violence, Zion ...

(1966–67, 1969–77) *

Benny Gantz Benjamin Gantz ( ; born 9 June 1959) is an Israeli politician and retired army general. He served as a Minister without portfolio#Israel, minister without portfolio from 2023 to 2024, as the Ministry of Defense (Israel), minister of defense bet ...

(2023–2024) * Akiva Govrin (1963–64) *

Mordechai Gur Mordechai "Motta" Gur (; May 6, 1930 – July 16, 1995) was an Israeli politician and the 10th Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces. During the Six-Day War (1967), he commanded the brigade that penetrated the Old City of Jerusalem and b ...

(1988–90) *

Gideon Hausner Gideon Max Hausner (; 26 September 1915 – 15 November 1990) was an Israeli jurist and politician. Between 1960 and 1963, he served as Attorney General and was later elected to the Knesset and served in the cabinet. Hausner is most widely known ...

(1974–77) *

Tzachi Hanegbi Tzachi Hanegbi (; born 26 February 1957) is an Israeli politician and national security expert serving as Israel's National Security Advisor. A member of Likud, Hanegbi previously served as Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mini ...

(2016, 2020) *

Yigal Hurvitz Yigal Hurvitz (; 15 October 1918 – 10 January 1994) was an Israeli farmer, businessman and politician who served as a government minister in the late 1970s and 1980s. Biography Hurvitz was born in Nahlat Yehuda (today part of Rishon LeZion) i ...

(1984–88) *

Haim Landau Haim Landau (; 10 September 1916 – 16 October 1981) was an Israeli independence fighter, Knesset member and Minister in the governments of Golda Meir and Menachem Begin. Career Landau was born in Kraków, Austria-Hungary (today in Poland) and ...

(1978–79) *

Pinhas Lavon Pinhas Lavon (; 12 July 190424 January 1976) was an Israeli politician, minister and labor leader, best known for the Lavon Affair. Early life Lavon was born Pinhas Lubianiker in the small city of Kopychyntsi in the Galicia region of Austria ...

(1952–54) * David Levy (2002) *

Yitzhak Levy Yitzhak Levy (; born 6 July 1947) is an Israeli Orthodox rabbi and politician who served as a member of the Knesset for the National Religious Party (NRP) and the Ahi faction of the National Union between 1988 and 2009. Between 1998 and 2002, ...

(2002) *

Tzipi Livni Tziporah Malka "Tzipi" Livni (, ; born 8 July 1958) is an Israeli politician, diplomat and lawyer. A former member of the Knesset and leader in the center-left political camp, Livni is a former Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Israel), foreign mini ...

(2001–02) *

David Magen David Magen (; born 4 September 1945) is an Israeli former politician who served as a Minister of Economics and Planning, Minister without Portfolio, Mayor of Qiryat Gat, Chairman of the board of the Amidar company, and Chairman of the speci ...

(1990) *

Raleb Majadele Raleb Majadele (, Levantine Arabic: ; , ; also spelt Ghaleb Majadele, born 5 April 1953) is an Israeli Arab politician. He served as a member of the Knesset for the Labor Party in three spells between 2004 and 2015, and became the country's firs ...

(2007) *

Dan Meridor Dan Meridor (; born 23 April 1947) is an Israeli politician and minister. A longtime member of the Likud party, in the late 1990s he became one of the founders of the Center Party. He rejoined Likud a decade later, and returned to the Knesset ...

(2001–03) *

Yitzhak Moda'i Yitzhak Moda'i (; 17 January 1926 – 14 May 1998) was an Israeli politician who served five terms in the Knesset for Likud and then the New Liberal Party over the course of a 20-year career. Biography Yitzhak Madzovitch (later Moda'i) w ...

(1981–82, 1986–88) *

Shaul Mofaz Shaul Mofaz (; 4 November 1948) is a retired Israeli military officer and politician. He joined the Israel Defense Forces in 1966 and served in the Paratroopers Brigade. He fought in the Six-Day War, Yom Kippur War, 1982 Lebanon War, and Operati ...

(2012) * Peretz Naftali (1951–52, 1955–59) *

Meshulam Nahari Rabbi Meshulam Nahari (; born 7 May 1951) is an Israeli politician. He served as a member of the Knesset for Shas in two spells between 1999 and 2021. Biography Meshullam Nahari was born in Jerusalem to Yemenite Jewish immigrant parents, and ...

(2006–13) *

Dan Naveh Dan Naveh (; born 21 June 1960) is an Israeli businessman and former politician. He served as a member of the Knesset for Likud between 1999 and 2007 and as a government minister from 2001 until 2006. He is the founder and the managing general pa ...

(2001–03) *

Moshe Nissim Moshe Nissim (; born 10 April 1935) is a former Israeli politician, minister and Deputy Prime Minister. Biography Moshe Nissim was born in Jerusalem. He studied law at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and served as an Officer of Justice in the ...

(1978–80, 1988–90) *

Ehud Olmert Ehud Olmert (; , ; born 30 September 1945) is an Israeli politician and lawyer who served as the prime minister of Israel from 2006 to 2009. The son of a former Herut politician, Olmert was first elected to the Knesset for Likud in 1973, at th ...

(1988–90) *

Yossi Peled Yossi Peled (; born 18 January 1941) is an Israeli general and politician, the former Aluf of the Northern Command in the Israel Defense Forces. Biography Early life Yossi Peled was born Jozef (Jeffke) Mendelevich in Belgium. ("Jeffke," or Lit ...

(2009) *

Shimon Peres Shimon Peres ( ; ; born Szymon Perski, ; 2 August 1923 – 28 September 2016) was an Israeli politician and statesman who served as the prime minister of Israel from 1984 to 1986 and from 1995 to 1996 and as the president of Israel from 2007 t ...

(1969) * Yitzhak Peretz (1984, 1987–88) *

Haim Ramon Haim Ramon (; born 10 April 1950) is an Israeli politician who served as a member of the Knesset between 1983 and 2009, and as both Vice Prime Minister and Minister in the Prime Minister's Office with responsibility for state policy. Biography ...

(2005) *

Gideon Sa'ar Gideon Moshe Sa'ar (; born 9 December 1966) is an Israeli politician currently serving as Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Israel), Foreign Minister and member of the Knesset for the party New Hope (Israel), New Hope. Sa'ar was first electe ...

(2023–2024) *

Pinchas Sapir Pinchas Sapir (; born Pinchas Kozlowski 15 October 1906 – 12 August 1975) was an Israeli politician during the first three decades following the country's founding. He held two important ministerial posts, Minister of Finance (1963–68 and ...

(1968–69) *

Yosef Sapir Yosef Sapir (; January 27, 1902 – February 26, 1972) was an Israeli politician and Knesset member of the 1st to 7th Knessets. He served as head of the General Zionists and was a founding member of the Gahal party. Sapir was born in Jaffa in 1 ...

(1967–69) *

Avner Shaki Avner-Hai Shaki (; 5 February 1926 – 28 May 2005) was an Israeli politician who served as a government minister in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Biography Early life Shaki was born in Safed, the son of Hana (Nazli) and Rabbi Ovadia Shaki ...

(1988–90) *

Yosef Shapira Yosef "Yoske" Shapira (; 26 December 1926 – 28 December 2013) was an Israeli politician and educator who served as Minister without Portfolio between 1984 and 1988, although he was never a member of the Knesset. Born in Jerusalem during the ...

(1984–88) *

Ariel Sharon Ariel Sharon ( ; also known by his diminutive Arik, ; 26 February 192811 January 2014) was an Israeli general and politician who served as the prime minister of Israel from March 2001 until April 2006. Born in Kfar Malal in Mandatory Palestin ...

(1983–84) *

Yifat Shasha-Biton Yifat Shasha-Biton (; born 23 May 1973) is an Israeli educator and politician who served as Minister of Education between 2021 and 2022. She also served as a Member of the Knesset between 2015 and 2024, as minister without portfolio between 202 ...

(2023–2024) *

Victor Shem-Tov Victor Shem-Tov (; ; 1 February 1915 – 8 March 2014) was an Israeli politician who held several ministerial portfolios in the late 1960s and 1970s. Biography Born in Bulgaria to a family of Samokov goldsmiths, Shem-Tov mostly lived in the capi ...

(1969–70) *

Salah Tarif Salah Tarif (, ; born 9 February 1954) is a Druze Israeli politician who served as a member of the Knesset between 1992 and 2006. When appointed Minister without Portfolio by Ariel Sharon in 2001, he became Israel's first non-Jewish Cabinet of Isr ...

(2001–02) *

Hili Tropper Yehiel Moshe "Hili" Tropper (; born 22 April 1978) is an Israeli educator, social worker and politician. He is currently a member of the Knesset for National Unity and served as a minister without portfolio in the thirty-seventh government fro ...

(2023–2024) *

Ezer Weizman Ezer Weizman (, ; 15 June 1924 – 24 April 2005) was an Israeli major general and politician who served as the president of Israel, first elected in 1993 and re-elected in 1998. Before the presidency, Weizman was commander of the Israeli Air ...

(1984–88) *

Dov Yosef Dov Joseph (; 27 May 1899 – 7 January 1980) was an Israeli statesman. During the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, he was in charge of Jerusalem. He later held ministerial positions in nine Israeli governments. Biography Bernard Joseph (later Dov J ...

(1952–53) *

Rehavam Ze'evi Rehavam Ze'evi ( ; 20 June 192617 October 2001) was an Israeli general and politician who founded the far-right nationalist Moledet party. He mainly advocated for complete cleansing of the Palestinian population through population transfer. ...

(1991–92)

Italy

Japan

In Japan, is not defined by law. The does not forbid ministers who do not serve any ministries, establishing the existence of minister without portfolio. There are two meanings of minister without portfolio in Japan: The broader sense is a minister who is neither

Prime Minister of Japan The is the head of government of Japan. The prime minister chairs the Cabinet of Japan and has the ability to select and dismiss its ministers of state. The prime minister also serves as the commander-in-chief of the Japan Self-Defense Force ...

or ministers of

Cabinet of Japan The is the chief executive body of the government of Japan. It consists of the prime minister, who is appointed by the Emperor after being nominated by the National Diet, in addition to up to nineteen other members, called ministers of stat ...

, while the narrower sense is further from the broader sense - which specifically refers to ministers without ministries and certain titles such as

Chair of the National Public Safety Commission The is a member of the Cabinet of Japan and is the presiding officer of the National Public Safety Commission (Japan), National Public Safety Commission, which is the parent agency of the National Police Agency (Japan), National Police Agency. T ...

, Chief Cabinet Secretary, or Minister of State for Special Missions ( ja). In Japan, a minister without portfolio usually refers to the narrower sense. There has not been minister without portfolio since Takashi Sasagawa of the Mori Cabinet in 2001. Most ministers without serving ministries in a cabinet will be Ministers of State for Special Missions in practice.

Kenya

Kenya Kenya, officially the Republic of Kenya, is a country located in East Africa. With an estimated population of more than 52.4 million as of mid-2024, Kenya is the 27th-most-populous country in the world and the 7th most populous in Africa. ...

, ministers without portfolio are not common. However three individuals have held the position in the country's history. They are: *

Chunilal Madan Chunilal Bhagwandas Madan QC (born Chunilal Bhagwandas Bhusri; 11 November 1912 – 22 September 1989) was a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Kenya. He served between 1985–1986 and was succeeded by Justice Cecil Henry Ethelwood Miller. ...

(1956–1957) He was the first Kenyan minister with Asian descent and also country's first minister without portfolio. He was appointed to oversee Kenya's Colonial government operations prior to being appointed as a judge in the country's

Supreme court In most legal jurisdictions, a supreme court, also known as a court of last resort, apex court, high (or final) court of appeal, and court of final appeal, is the highest court within the hierarchy of courts. Broadly speaking, the decisions of ...

in 1957. * Raphael Tuju (2018–2022). He was appointed by

Uhuru Kenyatta Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta ( born 26 October 1961) is a Kenyan politician who served as the fourth president of Kenya from 2013 to 2022. The son of Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya's first president, he previously served as Prime Minister of Kenya, Deputy Pri ...

to oversee government operations in his second term of presidency. * Cleophas Wakhungu Malala (2023-to 2024). He was appointed as the secretary general of the ruling party UDA to oversee the operations of the ruling party and push the hustler agenda for the next five years. Malala was however unceremoniously fired by UDA for sympathizing with former deputy president, Rigathi Gachagua.

Malta

Carmelo Abela Carmelo Abela (born 10 February 1972) is a Maltese politician and is serving as an incumbent Labour MP and was the Minister for Home Affairs and National Security. He also served as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion, and as Depu ...

(2020–2022) *

Joe Mizzi Joe Mizzi is a Maltese politician from the Labour Party. He served as a member of the Parliament of Malta. Career Mizzi met Elizabeth II on two occasions. In 2022, Mizzi was appointed to the Authority for Transport in Malta. In January 202 ...

(1996–1998) *

Konrad Mizzi Konrad Mizzi (born 4 November 1977) is a Maltese politician and served as a Member of Parliament until 2022. He served as Minister for Energy and the Conservation of Water between 2013 and 2014, Minister for Energy and Health from 2014 until 20 ...

(2016–2017) On April 28, 2016, following the appearance of his name in the

Panama Papers The Panama Papers () are 11.5 million leaked documents (or 2.6 terabytes of data) published beginning April 3, 2016. The papers detail financial and attorney–client information for more than 214,488 offshore entities. These document ...

leaks, Prime Minister

Joseph Muscat Joseph Muscat (born 22 January 1974) is a Maltese politician who served as the 13th prime minister of Malta from 2013 to 2020 and leader of the Labour Party from 2008 to 2020. Muscat was first elected Prime Minister in March 2013 with 54.83 ...

announced in a press conference at the

Auberge de Castille The Auberge de Castille (), historically in full known as the Auberge de Castille et Portugal, is an Inn, auberge in Valletta, Malta. The auberge is located at Castile Place, close to Saint James Cavalier, the Malta Stock Exchange, and the Upp ...

that Konrad Mizzi was to be removed from the position of Health and Energy Minister. Mizzi would however retain the title of minister without portfolio, working within the Office of the Prime Minister.

Nepal

Ram Sharan Mahat.

Netherlands

A minister without portfolio in the Netherlands is a minister that does not head a specific ministry, but assumes the same power and responsibilities as a minister that does. The minister is responsible for a specific part of another minister's policy field. In that sense, a minister without portfolio is comparable to a ''

staatssecretaris Undersecretary (or under secretary) is a title for a person who works for and has a lower rank than a secretary (person in charge). It is used in the executive branch of government, with different meanings in different political systems, and is al ...

'' (state secretary or junior minister) in Dutch politics, who also falls under another ministry and is responsible for a specific part of that minister's policy field. However, one distinct difference is that a minister without portfolio is a member of the

council of ministers Council of Ministers is a traditional name given to the supreme Executive (government), executive organ in some governments. It is usually equivalent to the term Cabinet (government), cabinet. The term Council of State is a similar name that also m ...

and can vote in it, whereas a state secretary is not. The minister for development cooperation has always been a minister without portfolio. In the

second Balkenende cabinet The second Balkenende cabinet was the executive branch of the Government of the Netherlands from 27 May 2003 until 7 July 2006. The cabinet was formed by the Christian-democratic Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), the conservative-liberal Peo ...

there were three ministers without portfolio: Agnes van Ardenne (Development Cooperation),

Rita Verdonk Maria Cornelia Frederika "Rita" Verdonk (born 18 October 1955) is a Dutch politician and businesswoman formerly affiliated with the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and later Proud of the Netherlands (TON), which she founded in 2 ...

(Integration and Immigration) and

Alexander Pechtold Alexander Pechtold (born 16 December 1965) is a Dutch politician and art historian. He is a member of Democrats 66. Pechtold studied Archaeology and History of Dutch Art at Leiden University, and obtained a Master of Arts degree. Pechtold work ...

(Government Reform and Kingdom Relations). In the

fourth Balkenende cabinet The fourth Balkenende cabinet was the Executive (government), executive branch of the Politics of the Netherlands, Government of the Netherlands from 22 February 2007 until 14 October 2010. The Cabinet of the Netherlands, cabinet was formed by ...

there were three ministers without portfolio:

Eberhard van der Laan Eberhard Edzard van der Laan (; 28 June 1955 – 5 October 2017) was a Dutch politician who served as Minister for Housing, Communities and Integration from 2008 to 2010 and Mayor of Amsterdam from 2010 until his death in 2017. He was a membe ...

(Housing, Neighbourhoods and Integration),

Bert Koenders Albert Gerard Koenders (; born 28 May 1958) is a Dutch politician of the Labour Party (PvdA) who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2014 to 2017. He is currently a professor at Leiden University and a special envoy of the World Bank. He i ...

(Development Cooperation) and

André Rouvoet André Rouvoet (; born 4 January 1962) is a retired Dutch politician of the Reformatory Political Federation (RPF) party and later the Christian Union (CU) party and jurist. He is the chairman of the executive board of the Healthcare Insura ...

, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Youth and Family. The

second Rutte cabinet The second Rutte cabinet, also called the Rutte–Asscher cabinet, was the executive branch of the Government of the Netherlands from 5 November 2012 until 26 October 2017. The cabinet was formed by the conservative-liberal People's Party for F ...

had two ministers without portfolio:

Stef Blok Stephanus Abraham "Stef" Blok (born 10 December 1964) is a Dutch politician who served as Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy in the Third Rutte cabinet from 25 May 2021 till 10 January 2022. He is a member of the People's Party for ...

(Housing and the Central Government Sector) and

Lilianne Ploumen Elisabeth Maria Josepha "Lilianne" Ploumen (; born 12 July 1962) is a Dutch politician and activist who served as Leader of the Labour Party from January 2021 until April 2022. She had been a member of the House of Representatives since 2017, a ...

(Development Cooperation). The

third Rutte cabinet The third Rutte cabinet was the cabinet of the Netherlands from 26 October 2017 until 10 January 2022 (since 15 January 2021 demissionary). It was formed by a coalition government of the political parties People's Party for Freedom and Democra ...

had four ministers without portfolio:

Sigrid Kaag Sigrid Agnes Maria Kaag (; born 2 November 1961) is a Dutch politician, humanitarian and diplomat who is the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process since 2025 and the Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Ga ...

(Development Cooperation),

Sander Dekker Sander Dekker (born 9 February 1975) is a Dutch politician who served as Minister for Legal Protection in the Third Rutte cabinet from 2017 to 2022. A member of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), he previously served as State ...

(Legal Protection),

Martin van Rijn Maarten Johannes "Martin" van Rijn (born 7 February 1956) is a Dutch politician and businessman who served as Minister for Medical Care from March to July 2020. A member of the Labour Party (PvdA), he previously was CEO and chairman of the Rein ...

(Medical Care), and

Arie Slob Arie Slob (; born 16 November 1961) is a Dutch politician and history teacher who served as Minister for Primary and Secondary Education and Media in the Third Rutte cabinet from 26 October 2017 until 10 January 2022. A member of the Christian ...

(Primary and Secondary Education and Media). The

fourth Rutte cabinet The fourth Rutte cabinet was the cabinet of the Netherlands from 10 January 2022 until 2 July 2024. The cabinet was a continuation of the third Rutte cabinet and was formed by the conservative liberal People's Party for Freedom and Democracy ( ...

has eight ministers without portfolio:

Carola Schouten Cornelia Johanna "Carola" Schouten (; born 6 October 1977) is a Dutch politician of the Christian Union (CU). She was Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality and Third Deputy Prime Minister in the third Rutte cabinet from 2017 to 20 ...

(Poverty, Participation and Pensions), Liesje Schreinemacher (Development Cooperation),

Rob Jetten Rob Arnoldus Adrianus Jetten (; born 25 March 1987) is a Dutch politician who has been the Leader of the Democrats 66 (D66) party since August 2023 and a member of the House of Representatives (Netherlands), House of Representatives since Decemb ...

(Climate and Energy),

Conny Helder Conny Helder (born 27 November 1958) is a Dutch healthcare manager, who served as the Minister for Long-term Care and Sport and, for a few months, as Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport in the fourth Rutte cabinet (2022–2024). She was bor ...

(Long-Term healthcare and Sport), Christianne van der Wal (Nature and Nitrogen reduction),

Franc Weerwind Franciscus Max "Franc" Weerwind (born 22 September 1964) is a Dutch politician of Democrats 66 (D66) who served as minister for legal protection in the cabinet of Prime Minister Mark Rutte from January 2022 until July 2024. Early life and edu ...

(Legal Protection),

Hugo de Jonge Hugo Mattheüs de Jonge (; born 26 September 1977) is a Dutch politician who has served as Acting King's Commissioner of Zeeland since 16 September 2024. A member of the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), he was elected to its leadership in 202 ...

(Housing and Urban Development), and Dennis Wiersma (Primary and Secondary Education and Media).

New Zealand

In the

First Labour Government The first MacDonald ministry of the United Kingdom lasted from January to November 1924. The Labour Party, under Ramsay MacDonald, had failed to win the general election of December 1923, with 191 seats, although the combined Opposition tall ...

from 1935 Mark Fagan was a "minister without portfolio" from 1935 to 1939, as was David Wilson from 1939 to 1949. They were appointed to the

upper house An upper house is one of two Legislative chamber, chambers of a bicameralism, bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the lower house. The house formally designated as the upper house is usually smaller and often has more restricted p ...

and made a "minister without portfolio" to add them to the cabinet although neither were elected to a seat in Parliament. In the

Third National Government Third or 3rd may refer to: Numbers * 3rd, the ordinal form of the cardinal number 3 * , a fraction of one third * 1⁄60 of a ''second'', i.e., the third in a series of fractional parts in a sexagesimal number system Places * 3rd Street (dis ...

Keith Holyoake Sir Keith Jacka Holyoake (11 February 1904 – 8 December 1983) was a New Zealand politician who served as the 26th prime minister of New Zealand, serving for a brief period in 1957 and then from 1960 to 1972, and also as the 13th governor-g ...

was made a Minister of State 1975–77 after he had retired as party leader, and in the Fourth National Government Robin Gray was made a Minister of State 1993–96 after he was replaced as Speaker (though he was also Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs). Both appointments were considered sinecures to avoid their return as '

backbencher In Westminster system, Westminster and other parliamentary systems, a backbencher is a member of parliament (MP) or a legislator who occupies no Minister (government), governmental office and is not a Frontbencher, frontbench spokesperson ...

s'. The following were appointed to the Executive Council as ministers without portfolio. ;Key
†: Died in office

North Macedonia

As of 2017, ministers without portfolio (министер без ресор) are: * Ramiz Merko * Edmond Ademi * Robert Popovski *

Zoran Sapurik Zoran ( sr-Cyrl, Зоран) is a common South Slavic name, the masculine form of Zora, which means ''dawn, daybreak''. The name is especially common in Serbia, North Macedonia, Croatia and to some degree in Slovenia. Notable people with this g ...

* Zorica Apostolovska * Adnan Kahil * Samka Ibraimovski

Norway

From 2009 to 2013 Karl Eirik Schjøtt-Pedersen (Labour) was a Minister without Portfolio and Chief of Staff in the Prime Ministers Office, where his job was to co-ordinate within government.

Philippines

During the

Japanese Occupation of the Philippines The Japanese occupation of the Philippines (Filipino language, Filipino: ''Pananakop ng mga Hapones sa Pilipinas''; ) occurred between 1942 and 1945, when the Empire of Japan, Japanese Empire occupied the Commonwealth of the Philippines during Wo ...

, then-Senate President

Manuel Roxas Manuel Acuña Roxas (; January 1, 1892 – April 15, 1948) was a Filipino lawyer and politician who served as the fifth president of the Philippines from 1946 until his death in 1948. He served briefly as the third and last President of the ...

was appointed minister without portfolio by the Japanese Government.

Poland

In Poland, the term is used for a minister who is a member of the

Council of Ministers Council of Ministers is a traditional name given to the supreme Executive (government), executive organ in some governments. It is usually equivalent to the term Cabinet (government), cabinet. The term Council of State is a similar name that also m ...

but does not head a government department and is not supported by a ministry. A minister without portfolio performs tasks determined by the

prime minister A prime minister or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. A prime minister is not the head of state, but r ...

. Since the enactment of the 1997 Constitution, this option has been provided for in Article 149(1).

Portugal

Following the

Carnation Revolution The Carnation Revolution (), code-named Operation Historic Turn (), also known as the 25 April (), was a military coup by military officers that overthrew the Estado Novo government on 25 April 1974 in Portugal. The coup produced major socia ...

, several politicians were made ministers without portfolio: *

Álvaro Cunhal Álvaro Barreirinhas Cunhal (; 10 November 1913 – 13 June 2005) was a Portuguese communist revolutionary and politician. He was one of the major opponents of the dictatorial regime of the '' Estado Novo''. He served as secretary-general of the P ...

(1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th provisional government) *

Ernesto Melo Antunes Ernesto Augusto de Melo Antunes junior, Order of Liberty, GCL (Lisbon, 2 October 1933 – 10 August 1999) was a Portugal, Portuguese military officer who had a major role in the Carnation Revolution of 25 April 1974. Background Melo Antunes was ...

(2nd, 3rd provisional government) * Francisco Pereira de Moura (1st, 4th provisional government) *

Francisco Sá Carneiro Francisco Manuel Lumbrales de Sá Carneiro (; 19 July 19344 December 1980) was a Portuguese politician, who was one of the founders and the first leader of the Social Democratic Party (then known as the Popular Democratic Party). He served as ...

(1st provisional government) *

Joaquim Magalhães Mota Joaquim Jorge de Magalhães Saraiva da Mota (November 17, 1935 in Santarém, São Salvador – September 26, 2007 in Lisbon) was a Portuguese lawyer and politician. Background He was a son of Elói do Nascimento Saraiva da Mota (July 2, 190 ...

(2nd, 3rd, 4th provisional government) * Jorge Campinos (1st constitutional government) *

Mário Soares Mário Alberto Nobre Lopes Soares (; 7 December 1924 – 7 January 2017) was a Portugal, Portuguese politician, who served as prime minister of Portugal from 1976 to 1978 and from 1983 to 1985, and subsequently as the List of Presidents of P ...

(4th provisional government) * Vítor Alves (2nd, 3rd provisional government) After the 1st Constitutional Government (1976–1978), there haven't been any appointments of ministers without portfolio. A similar but not sinecural cabinet position, that of Minister Adjunct (''ministro adjunto''), who does not head a particular ministry but is instead tasked with the general interministerial measures found in the government programme, has been created in some Portuguese governments.

Serbia

From 2007 to 2008,

Dragan Đilas Dragan Đilas ( sr-cyr, Драган Ђилас, , born 22 February 1967) is a Serbian businessman and politician who served as the mayor of Belgrade from 2008 to 2013. From 25 November 2012 until 31 May 2014, he served as the President of the ...

was a "minister without portfolio" in charge of the National Investment Plan. *

Milan Krkobabić Milan Krkobabić ( sr-cyr, Милан Кркобабић; born 12 October 1952) is a Serbian politician. A member of the Krkobabić political family, he has led the Party of United Pensioners, Farmers, and Proletarians of Serbia (PUPS) since 20 ...

(2016) *

Slavica Đukić Dejanović Slavica Đukić Dejanović ( sr-Cyrl, Славица Ђукић Дејановић, ; born 4 July 1951) is a Serbian politician who served as minister of education from 2023 to 2025. A long-time member of the Socialist Party of Serbia, she previ ...

(2017) *

Nenad Popović Nenad Popović ( sr-cyr, Ненад Поповић; born 30 September 1966) is a Serbian politician and businessman who served as minister without portfolio since 2024, previously serving that role from 2017 to 2022. A long-time member of the D ...

(2017)

Singapore

In Singapore, the appointment holder is known as a 'Minister in the Prime Minister's Office'.

Spain

In Spain, in addition to the Ministers in charge of a Department, there may be Ministers without a portfolio, who will be responsible for certain government functions. In the event that there are Ministers without a portfolio, the scope of their powers, the administrative structure, as well as the material and personal resources attached to it will be determined by

Royal Decree A decree is a legal proclamation, usually issued by a head of state, judge, royal figure, or other relevant authorities, according to certain procedures. These procedures are usually defined by the constitution, Legislative laws, or customary l ...

Sweden

Dag Hammarskjöld Dag Hjalmar Agne Carl Hammarskjöld (English: ,; 29 July 1905 – 18 September 1961) was a Swedish economist and diplomat who served as the second secretary-general of the United Nations from April 1953 until his death in a plane crash in Septe ...

(1951–1953). *

Olof Palme Sven Olof Joachim Palme (; ; 30 January 1927 – 28 February 1986) was a Swedish politician and statesman who served as Prime Minister of Sweden from 1969 to 1976 and 1982 to 1986. Palme led the Swedish Social Democratic Party from 1969 until as ...

(1963–1965).

Taiwan

Article 5 of the Organizational Act of the Executive Yuan () allows the

Executive Yuan The Executive Yuan () is the executive (government), executive branch of the government of the Republic of China (Taiwan). Under the Additional Articles of the Constitution of the Republic of China, amended constitution, the head of the Execut ...

of the

Republic of China Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia. The main geography of Taiwan, island of Taiwan, also known as ''Formosa'', lies between the East China Sea, East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocea ...

to appoint seven to nine Ministers without Portfolio (). According to the article, they can also serve ministers of councils or commissions in the Executive Yuan. , they are: *

Chen Shih-chung Chen Shih-chung (; born December 1952) is a Taiwanese politician. He served as Minister of Health and Welfare from 2017 to 2022, gaining wide recognition in 2020 as the public face of Taiwan's COVID-19 efforts. He was the Democratic Progressiv ...

Liu Chin-ching Liu (; or ) is an East Asian surname. pinyin: in Mandarin Chinese, in Cantonese. It is the family name of the Han dynasty emperors. The character originally meant 'battle axe', but is now used only as a surname. It is listed 252nd in the clas ...

, also serving as Minister of National Development * Wu Cheng-wen, also serving as Minister of Science and Technology *

Chen Chin-de Chen Chin-te (; born 26 September 1961), also known as Derek Chen, is a Taiwanese politician. Education Chen was educated at National Taipei University of Technology, where he earned a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in 1986 in chemical engineerin ...

, also serving as Minister of Public Construction *

Yang Jen-ni Yang Jen-ni () is a Taiwanese politician who is a Director-General. Early life and education Yang was born in November 1954. She received her bachelor's degree in foreign literature from National Taiwan University in 1978. Career Yang curre ...

Chi Lien-cheng __NOTOC__ Chi may refer to: __NOTOC__ Greek *Chi (letter) (Χ or χ), the twenty-second letter of the Greek alphabet Chinese * ''Chi'' (length) (尺), a traditional unit of length, about ⅓ meter *Chi (mythology) (螭), a dragon *Chi (surname) ...

Shih Che Shih Che (; born 14 July 1969) is a Taiwanese politician. He was the Minister of Culture under the Chen Chien-jen cabinet. Before his ministerial office, he had served as the deputy mayor of Kaohsiung and the director of the Department of Inform ...

Lin Ming-hsin LIN or LIN may refer to: People *Lin (surname) (normally ), a Chinese surname * Lin (''The King of Fighters''), Chinese assassin character *Lin Chow Bang, character in Fat Pizza *Lin (NouerA) (Chinese name Lin Hanzhong Korean name Lim Hanjung), a ...

Tanzania

President

Jakaya Kikwete Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete (born 7 October 1950) is a Tanzanian politician who was the List of Presidents of Tanzania, fourth president of Tanzania, in office from 2005 to 2015. Prior to his election as president, he was the Ministry of Foreign Aff ...

appointed Professor Mark Mwandosya as a minister without portfolio in 2012.

Uganda

Since 2015, the cabinet list has included a minister without portfolio: * Abraham Byandala – 2015 until 2016 * Abdul Nadduli – 2016 to 2019 *

Kirunda Kivejinja Ali Kirunda Kivejinja (12 June 1935 – 19 December 2020), more commonly known as Kirunda Kivejinja, was a veteran Ugandan politician and senior presidential advisor to the President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni. He at the time of his demise was ...

– 2019 to 2021

United Kingdom

United States

The Vice President of the United States is a member of the

Cabinet Cabinet or The Cabinet may refer to: Furniture * Cabinetry, a box-shaped piece of furniture with doors and/or drawers * Display cabinet, a piece of furniture with one or more transparent glass sheets or transparent polycarbonate sheets * Filin ...

but heads no department. As such, the Vice President may be assigned to policy areas of the President's choosing such as foreign diplomacy (

Richard Nixon Richard Milhous Nixon (January 9, 1913April 22, 1994) was the 37th president of the United States, serving from 1969 until Resignation of Richard Nixon, his resignation in 1974. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican ...

), space programs (

Lyndon B. Johnson Lyndon Baines Johnson (; August 27, 1908January 22, 1973), also known as LBJ, was the 36th president of the United States, serving from 1963 to 1969. He became president after the assassination of John F. Kennedy, under whom he had served a ...

) or public health (

Mike Pence Michael Richard Pence (born June 7, 1959) is an American politician and lawyer who served as the 48th vice president of the United States from 2017 to 2021 under President Donald Trump. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Repub ...

). Prior to the mid-19th century, the Vice President's position as

President of the Senate President of the Senate is a title often given to the presiding officer of a senate. It corresponds to the Speaker (politics), speaker in some other assemblies. The senate president often ranks high in a jurisdiction's Order of succession, succes ...

caused the office to be seen as primarily legislative in nature, and as such they were not assigned to deal with public policy. Cabinet-level officials are president-designated additional members of the Cabinet, which can vary under each president. Most of them head no department, and some of them are not

officers of the United States An officer of the United States is a functionary of the executive or judicial branches of the federal government of the United States to whom is delegated some part of the country's sovereign power. The term ''officer of the United States'' is not ...

. For example, the

Director of the Office of Management and Budget The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is the largest office within the Executive Office of the President of the United States (EOP). The office's most prominent function is to produce the president's budget, while it also examines agency pro ...

is the head of the

Office of Management and Budget The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is the largest office within the Executive Office of the President of the United States (EOP). The office's most prominent function is to produce the president's budget, while it also examines agency pro ...

, which is an office within a department, namely the

Executive Office of the President of the United States The Executive Office of the President of the United States (EOP) comprises the offices and agencies that support the work of the president at the center of the executive branch of the United States federal government. The office consists o ...

headed by the

White House Chief of Staff The White House chief of staff is the head of the Executive Office of the President of the United States, a position in the federal government of the United States. The chief of staff is a Political appointments in the United States, politi ...

. Similar situations apply (or applied) for the Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers, the Trade Representative,

Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) is a department of the United States government, part of the Executive Office of the President (EOP), established by United States Congress on May 11, 1976, with a broad mandate to advise the pr ...

, National Security Advisor,

Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) is a component of the Executive Office of the President of the United States. The director of the ONDCP, colloquially known as the drug czar, heads the office. "Drug czar" was a term first used ...

. An individual who has great influence on government affairs without holding formal office might be described as a "minister without portfolio". Such an appellation is completely unofficial (possibly intended jokingly or disparagingly) and merely serves to underscore the extent of the individual's already-existing influence; it does not grant any new influence or power. Examples include

Bernard Baruch Bernard Mannes Baruch (August 19, 1870 – June 20, 1965) was an American financier and statesman. After amassing a fortune on the New York Stock Exchange, he impressed President Woodrow Wilson by managing the nation's economic mobilization in W ...

Arthur Burns Arthur Frank Burns (April 27, 1904 – June 26, 1987) was an American economist and diplomat who served as the 10th chairman of the Federal Reserve from 1970 to 1978. He previously chaired the Council of Economic Advisers under President Dwight ...

, and

Ivanka Trump Ivana Marie "Ivanka" Trump (; born October 30, 1981) is an American businesswoman. She is the second child of Donald Trump, the president of the United States, and his first wife, Ivana. Trump was a senior advisor in her father's first admi ...

Herbert Hoover Herbert Clark Hoover (August 10, 1874 – October 20, 1964) was the 31st president of the United States, serving from 1929 to 1933. A wealthy mining engineer before his presidency, Hoover led the wartime Commission for Relief in Belgium and ...

, the Secretary of Commerce of the United States, Secretary of Commerce under presidents Warren G. Harding, Harding and Calvin Coolidge, Coolidge, took the position on the understanding that he would have input on all matters pertaining to the economy. He used this concession so eagerly that Treasury official Seymour Parker Gilbert, S. Parker Gilbert dubbed him "Under-Secretary of all other departments."

Vietnam

In the first Provisional government, government of the North Vietnam, Democratic Republic of Vietnam founded by Ho Chi Minh, Hồ Chí Minh after the August Revolution in September 1945, Huy Cận, Cù Huy Cận and :vi:Nguyễn Văn Xuân (học giả), Nguyễn Văn Xuân were assigned the "Minister without Portfolio" positions. In January 1946, the ":vi:Chính phủ Liên hiệp Lâm thời Việt Nam Dân chủ Cộng hòa, Provisional Coalition Government" was installed, and Nguyen Van Xuan retained the post of Minister without Portfolio while Cu Huy Can was elevated to the Ministry of Agriculture. From November 1946 to early 1955, the Viet Minh (and later the Communist Party of Vietnam, Worker's Party)-led "New Government" fought against the French Indochina, return of France to Indochina and the post Ministers without Portfolio was held by Nguyễn Văn Tố, Đặng Văn Hướng and Bồ Xuân Luật. Since the 1954 Geneva Conference, 1954 Geneva Convention, the position has been vacant, except briefly during the 1960–1964 cabinet elected by the National Assembly (Vietnam), 2nd National Assembly, where Lê Văn Hiến occupied the post "Minister without Portfolio and Deputy Chair of the Ministry of Planning and Investment (Vietnam), State Planning Commission." In 2014, Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng tasked the Cabinet Office to examine the possibility of re-introducing the post "Minister without Portfolio." There have been no further developments since.

References

External links

List of Canadian Ministers Without Portfolio and Ministers of State
(Parliament of Canada Website)

{{Cabinet Office Ministers without portfolio, Ministerial offices, Portfolio, Minister without