Borst served as Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport from 22 August 1994 until 22 July 2002 in the Cabinets Kok I and II and Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 3 August 1998 until 22 July 2002 in the Second purple cabinet. For the Dutch general election of 1998 she was the lijsttrekker "(top candidate)" and served as Party leader from 15 February 1998 until 14 May 1998. The Democrats 66 lost ten seats and Borst became the Parliamentary leader of the Democrats 66 in House of Representatives, serving from 7 May 1998 until 14 May 1998 and a Member of the House of Representatives from 19 May 1998 until 3 August 1998.