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People's Party for Freedom and Democracy

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The People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) (Dutch: Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie) is a Dutch liberal political party. The VVD is the most vociferous supporter of private enterprise in the Netherlands and is often perceived a centre-right, free market or conservative liberal party Andeweg R.B. and G.A. Irwin Government & Politics in the Netherlands 2002 Palgrave p. 48, in contrast to the progressive, social or left-liberal D66. The VVD currently participates in the Third Balkenende cabinet.

Contents

Party History

1948-1971

The VVD was founded in 1948 as a continuation of the Freedom Party, which was a continuation of the Liberal State Party, a pre-war conservative liberal party. They were joined by liberals from the social-democratic PvdA, led by Pieter Oud. The liberals from the PvdA were members of the pre-war social liberal VDB, who had joined the PvdA in the post-war Doorbraak-movement. They were unhappy with the social-democratic orientation of the PvdA.

Between 1948 and 1952 the VVD took part in the broad cabinets led by the social-democrat Drees. The party was a junior partner with only eight seats to the Catholic KVP and social-democratic PvdA, which both had around thirty seats. The party's leadership was in the hands of the respected former PvdA-member Oud. The Drees cabinet laid the foundation for the welfare state and decolonization of the Dutch Indies. In the 1952 elections the VVD gained one seat, but did not join government. They were rewarded for their opposition in 1956, receiving thirteen seats. But they were still kept out of government until the 1959 elections, which were held early because of cabinet crisis. They earned nineteen seats and the party entered government together with the Protestant ARP and CHU and the Catholic KVP.

In 1963 Oud left politics, and he was succeeded by the minister of Home Affairs Edzo Toxopeus. Toxopeus lost three seats in the 1963 elections, but the VVD remained in government. Meanwhile internal debate developed. In 1962 some progressive VVD members founded the Liberal Democratic Centre (Liberaal Democratisch Centrum; LDC) which was supposed to moved the VVD in a more progressive direction. In 1966 many of the LDC-members left the VVD and joined the newly founded social-liberal party D66. In 1966 there was a conflict between the VVD-ministers and their Christian-democratic counterparts. The cabinet fell and without elections it was replaced by the social-democratic/Christian-democratic cabinet-Cals, which fell after a few months. In the following 1967 elections the VVD remained relatively stable and entered the Cabinet-de Jong.

1971-now

In the 1971 elections the VVD lost one seat and their cabinet lost its majority. A cabinet was formed with the Christian-democratic parties, the VVD and the social-democratic offshoot DS70. This cabinet fell after a few months. Meanwhile a charismatic young MP named Hans Wiegel had attracted considerable attention. He became the new leader of the VVD: in 1971 he became the new fractievoorzitter, in 1972 he was appointed lijsttrekker. With Wiegel the VVD oriented towards a new political course, reforming the welfare state, cutting taxes etc. Wiegel did not shun from conflict with the PvdA and the trade unions. With this new course came a new electorate: working class and middle class voters, who because of individualization and depillarization were more easy to attract. The course was very profitable: in the heavily polarized elections of 1972 the VVD won six seats. The VVD was kept out of government by the social-democratic/Christian-democratic-Den Uyl. In 1977 the VVD again won six seats bringing its total to twenty-eight seats. When lengthy formation talks between the social-democrats and Christian-democrats finally led to final break the VVD formed a government with the Christian-democratic CDA, with only a majority of two seats.

In the 1981 elections the VVD lost two seats and its partner the CDA lost even more. The cabinet was without a majority and a CDA/PvdA/D66 cabinet was formed, which fell after a few months. In 1982 Hans Wiegel left politics to become Queen's Commissioner in Friesland, he was succeeded by Ed Nijpels. In the 1982 elections Nijpels' VVD won ten seats, bringing its total up to 36. In entered government with the CDA again under CDA-leader Ruud Lubbers. The cabinet began a program of radical reform of the welfare state, which is still implemented today. The VVD lost nine seats in the 1986 elections but the cabinet nonetheless retained its majority. This was blamed on the person of Nijpels, who stood down as leader of the VVD. He was succeeded by Joris Voorhoeve. In 1989 the CDA/VVD cabinet fell over a minor point. In the subsequent elections the VVD lost five seats, leaving only twenty-two. The VVD was kept out of government. Voorhoeve was replaced by the charismatic intellectual Frits Bolkestein.

Bolkestein's VVD was one of the victors of the 1994 elections: they won nine seats. It formed an unprecedented government with the social-democratic PvdA and the social-liberal D66. The so-called purple cabinet led by Wim Kok. Like many of his predecessors the VVD-leader Bolkestein remained in parliament, his political style was characterized by some as "opposition to one's own government". This style was very successful and the VVD won seven seats in the 1998 elections becoming the second party in parliament with thirty-eight seats. The VVD formed a second Purple cabinet with the PvdA and D66. Bolkestein left Dutch politics in 1999 to become European Commissioner. He was replaced by the social-liberal Hans Dijkstal.

In the heavily polarized 2002 elections, dominated by the rise of Pim Fortuyn, the VVD lost fourteen seats, leaving only twenty-four. The VVD nonetheless entered a cabinet with the CDA and the populist LPF. Dijkstal stood down, he was replaced by the popular former minister of finance Gerrit Zalm. After a few months Zalm "pulled the plug" out of the VVD/CDA/LPF-cabinet.

In the 2003 elections the VVD won only four seats, making a total of twenty-eight. The party expected to do much better, having adopted most of Fortuyn's proposals on migration and integration. The VVD unwillingly entered the VVD/CDA/D66-cabinet with Zalm returning to the ministry of Finance. He was replaced as partyleader by Jozias van Aartsen, former foreign minister. On September 2nd, 2004, VVD MP Geert Wilders left the party after a dispute with parliamentary chairman Van Aartsen. He has chosen to continue as an independent or een-mansfractie in the Tweede Kamer. In 2006 the party lost a considerable number of seats in the municipal elections, prompting parliamentary leader Jozias van Aartsen to step down. Willibrord van Beek was subsequently appointed parliamentary leader ad interim. In the subsequent party leadership run-off Mark Rutte was elected as the leader NRC Handelsblad 31 May 2006 [Link] Dutch language.

Name

The VVD a merger of the Party of Freedom and Freethinking Democratic dissenters within the PvdA. In this name, both tendencies, classical liberalism ("Freedom") and social liberalism ("People's Party"; "Democracy") are represented. Although a liberal party, the VVD did not openly call itself "liberal", mainly because of the still lingering "negative" connotations of liberalism derived from new policies developed during the Great Depression and War.

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The VVD is a party founded on liberal philosophy VVD website statement [Link] English language, traditionally being the most ardent supporter of 'free markets' of all Dutch political parties, promoting fiscal responsibility, democracy and international cooperation, and in general committed to the idea of the welfare state. After 1971 the party became more populist, although liberal elements remain within the partyAndeweg R.B. and G.A. Irwin Government & Politics in the Netherlands 2002 Palgrave p. 48. Often political commentators and political scientist refer to the VVD as a conservative liberal party, in contrast to D66, which is perceived to be a more progressive liberal party. The recent leadership election was interpreted by many as a conflict between the liberal and conservative wings of the party, with Rutte, the 'liberal' candidate, winning from Verdonk, the 'conservative' or 'populist' candidate "Een Liberale VVD" in De Volkskrant June 1, 2006 accessible [here]. The election was rather close, with the votes nearly 50-50 split between Rutte and Verdonk. This enforce the image of the VVD as a conservative-oriented liberal party.

The most important principle for the VVD has always been individual freedom.

The principles of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) are outlined in the Liberal Manifesto ("Liberaal Manifest") and the election programs. The Liberal Manifesto details the principles and foundations of the party, and is a general outlook on the direction of the party. The election programs are more oriented to practicial politics.

Liberal Manifesto

The last Liberal Manifesto of the VVD was published in September, 2005. It develops a broad outline around the themes of democracy, security, freedom and citizenship, along with a vision of the future of party's internal structure. Below some of the points from the Manifesto are presented:

Democracy

Security

Freedom

Citizenship

Election program

The next parliamentary elections in the Netherlands are in 2006. The VVD has setup a program commission chaired by BT executive Ben Verwaayen. The concept program is due to be released in September, 2006. The members of the VVD will then have a final vote on the program on October 27, 2006.

Representation

In this table the election results of the VVD in Tweede Kamer, Eerste Kamer and European elections is represented, as well as the party's political leadership: the fractievoorzitter, is the chair of the parliamentary party and the lijsttrekker is the party's top candidate in the general election, these posts are normally taken by the party's leader. It also possible that the party leader is member of cabinet, if the VVD was part of the governing coalition, the "highest ranking" minister is listed.

Year TK EK EP Lijsttrekker Fractievoorzitter '''Cabinet
1948 8 3 n/a Pieter Oud Pieter Oud Dirk Stikker
1949 8 3 n/a no elections Pieter Oud Dirk Stikker
1950 8 3 n/a no elections Pieter Oud Dirk Stikker
1951 8 4 n/a no elections Pieter Oud Dirk Stikker
1952 9 4 n/a Pieter Oud Pieter Oud opposition
1953 9 4 n/a no elections Pieter Oud opposition
1954 9 4 n/a no elections Pieter Oud opposition
1955 9 4 n/a no elections Pieter Oud opposition
1956 13 7 n/a Pieter Oud Pieter Oud opposition
1957 13 7 n/a no elections Pieter Oud opposition
1958 13 7 n/a no elections Pieter Oud opposition
1959 19 7 n/a Pieter Oud Pieter Oud Henk Korthals
1960 19 8 n/a no elections Pieter Oud Henk Korthals
1961 19 8 n/a no elections Pieter Oud Henk Korthals
1962 19 8 n/a no elections Pieter Oud Henk Korthals
1963 16 7 n/a Edzo Toxopeus Willem Geertsema Edzo Toxopeus
1964 16 7 n/a no elections Willem Geertsema Edzo Toxopeus
1965 16 7 n/a no elections Edzo Toxopeus opposition
1966 16 8 n/a no elections Edzo Toxopeus opposition
1967 17 8 n/a Edzo Toxopeus Edzo Toxopeus Johan Witteveen
1968 17 8 n/a no elections Edzo Toxopeus Johan Witteveen
1969 17 8 n/a no elections Willem Geertsema Johan Witteveen
1970 17 8 n/a no elections Willem Geertsema Johan Witteveen
1971 16 8 n/a Willem Geertsema Hans Wiegel Willem Geertsema
1972 22 8 n/a Hans Wiegel Hans Wiegel Willem Geertsema
1973 22 8 n/a no elections Hans Wiegel opposition
1974 22 12 n/a no elections Hans Wiegel opposition
1975 22 12 n/a no elections Hans Wiegel opposition
1976 22 12 n/a no elections Hans Wiegel opposition
1977 28 15 n/a Hans Wiegel Koos Rietkerk Hans Wiegel
1978 28 15 n/a no elections Koos Rietkerk Hans Wiegel
1979 28 15 4 no elections Koos Rietkerk Hans Wiegel
1980 28 13 4 no elections Koos Rietkerk Hans Wiegel
1981 26 12 4 Hans Wiegel Hans Wiegel opposition
1982 36 12 4 Ed Nijpels Ed Nijpels Gijs van Aardenne
1983 36 17 4 no elections Ed Nijpels Gijs van Aardenne
1984 36 17 5 no elections Ed Nijpels Gijs van Aardenne
1985 36 17 5 no elections Ed Nijpels Gijs van Aardenne
1986 27 16 5 Ed Nijpels Joris Voorhoeve Rudolf de Korte
1987 27 12 5 no elections Joris Voorhoeve Rudolf de Korte
1988 27 12 5 no elections Joris Voorhoeve Rudolf de Korte
1989 22 12 3 Joris Voorhoeve Joris Voorhoeve opposition
1990 22 12 3 no elections Frits Bolkestein opposition
1991 22 12 3 no elections Frits Bolkestein opposition
1992 22 12 3 no elections Frits Bolkestein opposition
1993 22 12 3 Frits Bolkestein no elections opposition
1994 31 12 6 Frits Bolkestein Frits Bolkestein Hans Dijkstal
1995 31 23 6 no elections Frits Bolkestein Hans Dijkstal
1996 31 23 6 no elections Frits Bolkestein Hans Dijkstal
1997 31 23 6 no elections Frits Bolkestein Hans Dijkstal
1998 38 23 6 Hans Dijkstal Hans Dijkstal Annemarie Jorritsma
1999 38 19 6 no elections Hans Dijkstal Annemarie Jorritsma
2000 38 19 6 no elections Hans Dijkstal Annemarie Jorritsma
2001 38 19 6 no elections Hans Dijkstal Annemarie Jorritsma
2002 24 19 6 Hans Dijkstal Gerrit Zalm Johan Remkes
2003 28 15 6 Gerrit Zalm Jozias van Aartsen Gerrit Zalm
2004 27 15 4 no election Jozias van Aartsen Gerrit Zalm
2005 27 15 4 no election Jozias van Aartsen Gerrit Zalm
2006 27 15 4 no election Mark Rutte Gerrit Zalm

Ministers

The VVD is part of the second cabinet Balkenende and supplies six ministers and four junior ministers (staatssecretarissen).

Ministers:

Staatssecretarissen:

Members of the Lower House of Parliament

After the 2003 elections the party has 27 representatives in the lower house of parliament:

Members of the Higher House of Parliament

After the 2003 Lower House elections the party has 15 representatives in the Lower House:

Members of the European Parliament

After the 2004 European Parliament elections the party has 4 representatives in the European Parliament: VVD MEPs are part of the European Liberal, Democrat and Reform Party.

Muncipal and Provincial Government

Provincial government

The VVD provides three of twelve Queen's Commissioners, former party-leader Ed Nijpels is Queen's Commissioner in Friesland. The VVD is part of every college of Gedeputeerde Staten (provincial executive) except for Groningen

Municipal government

109 of the 414 Dutch mayors are member of the VVD. Furthermore the party has about 250 aldermen and 1100 members of municipal councils.

Electorate

The electorate of the VVD historically consisted out of atheist and latitudinarian protestant voters out of higher and middle classes. This group still forms an important part of its electorate, but especially under the leadership of Wiegel the VVD has branched out to lower classes.

Organization

Organizational structure

The highest organ of the VVD is the General Assembly, it is formed by delegates from the municipal branches. It convenes once every year. It appoints the party board and decides the order of the First Chamber, Second Chamber, European Parliament candidates list and has the last say over the party program. Since 2002 the General Assembly can write out a referendum under all members. The lijsttrekker of the Second Chamber candidate list is expected to elected this way. The chairman of all the branches form the Party Council, which advises the Party Board in the months that the General Assembly does not convene. This is important forum within the party. Some journalists call these chairmen the "party barons" of the party

Linked organisations

The youth-organization of the VVD is the Youth Organisation Freedom and Democracy (Jongeren Organisatie voor Vrijheid en Democratie; JOVD), which as a member of the Liberal Youth Movement of the European Union and the International Federation of Liberal and Radical Youth.

The education institute of the VVD is the Haya van Someren Foundation. The Scientific institute Prof.mr. B.M. Telders Foundation publishes the magzine Liberal Reveil every two months. The party published the magazine Politics! (Politiek!) quarterly.

International organisations

The VVD is a member of the European Liberal, Democrat and Reform Party (ELDR), the party of Liberals and Democrats in the European Union, which is a component of Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe. Internationally it is a member of the Liberal International.

Pillarized organisations

The pillarization around the VVD has always been very weak. The broadcasters AVRO and TROS, and the news papers NRC Handelsblad and the Financiële Telegraaf are relatively friendly to the VVD.

Relationships to other parties

The VVD has always been a relatively isolated party. The VVD cooperates on the European and the international level with the social-liberal D66. It has a long history of cabinet of cooperation with the CDA and its Christian-democratic predecessors.

International Comparison

The VVD is a more economic liberal party, committed to the free market, and is comparable to the German FDP. In its economic policies it is closer to the British Conservatives than the Liberal Democrats. In the United States it could be compared to centrist and liberal Republicans, like Lincoln Chafee and Rudy Giuliani, though its policy goals more closely resemble those articulated by Libertarians.

See also

External links

References

Political parties in Netherlands
Tweede Kamer>Second Chamber: Christian Democratic Appeal (44) > Labour Party (42) | People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (28) | Socialist Party (8) | GreenLeft (8) | Democrats 66 (6) | List Pim Fortuyn (5) | ChristianUnion (3) | Political Reformed Party (2) | Group Lazrak (1) | Group Nawijn (1) | Group Wilders (1) | Groep-Van Oudenallen (1)
Eerste Kamer>First Chamber: Christian Democratic Appeal (23) > Labour Party (19) | People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (15) | GreenLeft (5) | Socialist Party (4)| Democrats 66 (3) | ChristianUnion (3) | List Pim Fortuyn (1) | Political Reformed Party (1) | Independent Senate Fraction (1)
European Parliament: Christian Democratic Appeal (7) > Labour Party (7) | People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (4) | GreenLeft (2) | Socialist Party (2) | Europe Transparent (2) | ChristianUnion/Political Reformed Party  (2) | Democrats 66 (1)

 

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