Following independence in 1981, Bird gained the external affairs portfolio and was the first chairman of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States in 1982.

An executive committee met, with Venizelos at its centre holding the foreign affairs portfolio.

Labor's participation in Mr. Sharon's government, in which it held both the defense and foreign affairs portfolios, also undercut its ability to present itself as a stark alternative.

He was promoted to the rank of Minister of State, while retaining the foreign affairs portfolio, in November 2002.

He was kept in the intergovernmental affairs portfolio after the election and was also appointed as minister responsible for the Outaouais on 15 December 1998.

Laurent Lessard inherited the municipal affairs portfolio.

On 8 September 2009, Andriamanjato was promoted to the rank of Deputy Prime Minister, while retaining the foreign affairs portfolio.

Douglas-Home accepted the foreign affairs portfolio in Heath's shadow cabinet.

Heath moved Maudling to the foreign affairs portfolio, and Douglas-Home took over Lloyd's responsibilities as spokesman on Commonwealth relations.

It was finally pressured into participating, and was awarded the interior and religious affairs portfolios in the cabinet, which was sworn in on 12 August 1955.