People's Party for Freedom and Democracy

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Template:Politicsboxend The People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie; VVD) is the Dutch right-wing liberal party. It currently participates in the Balkenende II Cabinet.

Contents

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Party History

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1948-1971

The VVD was founded in 1948 as a continuation of the Freedom Party, which was continuation of the Liberal Political 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 left-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.

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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, how 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 1971 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. Mark Rutte, the current staatssecretaris of education is the most likely candidate to replace him.

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Ideology & Issues

The VVD is a classical free market liberal party. The VVD started out as a left-leaning liberal party committed to building a welfare state. After 1972 the party became more conservative and populist. The most important principle for the VVD has always been the individual freedom of the individual. The VVD is fiscally conservative and it is committed to the reform of the welfare state. It is in favour of cutting taxes and simplifying regulations to stimulate individual enterprise. An other important theme for the VVD is public safety. The VVD is also the defender of car-owners. The VVD has taken hard stances on migration and integration.

A new policy paper is in preparation by a special committee chaired by Ben Verwaayen, the executive chairman of BT Group plc and expected in September 2006.

Some of the current 2006 party views are outlined below.

On social issues the VVD aligns itself with traditional left-wing parties in the Netherlands. The VVD supports the current Dutch abortion legislation (legal up to 24 weeks) provided the pregnant woman finds herself an emergency situation. The party is also a supporter of the current legislation on euthanasia (legal). It also supports the drug policy of the Netherlands where soft drugs are legal, the Dutch ban on the death penalty and same-sex marriage extending to gay adoption.

The VVD is not a democratic reform party. It is in favor of the monarchy, opposes elected mayors and an elected prime minister.

It is a pro-European party and did support the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe although it was voted down in the Dutch referendum on the European Constitution in 2005. It also welcomes Turkey as a new member of the European union.

The VVD is fiscally conservative giving priority to reducing the national government debt although it is a strong supporter for tax deductions for home-owners. The party is critical of the welfare state and in favor of sobering the current system of unemployment benefits.

The VVD is also a free market party for instance in favor of privatization of the Dutch national airport Schiphol and in favor of deregulation in the energy market.

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Representation

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Leadership

Chairman of the Lower House parliamentary party

2006 - Willibrord van Beek ad interim
2003-2006 Jozias van Aartsen
2002-2003 Gerrit Zalm
1998-2002 Hans Dijkstal
1990-1998 Frits Bolkestein
1986-1990 Joris Voorhoeve
1982-1986 Ed Nijpels
1981-1982 Hans Wiegel
1977-1981 Koos Rietkerk
1971-1977 Hans Wiegel
1969-1971 Willem Geertsema
1965-1969 Edzo Toxopeus
1963-1965 Willem Geertsema
1948-1963 Pieter Oud

Lijsttrekker

2003 Gerrit Zalm
2002 Hans Dijkstal
1998 Frits Bolkestein
1994 Frits Bolkestein
1989 Joris Voorhoeve
1986 Ed Nijpels
1982 Ed Nijpels
1981 Hans Wiegel
1977 Hans Wiegel
1972 Hans Wiegel
1971 Willem Geertsema
1967 Edzo Toxopeus
1963 Edzo Toxopeus
1959 Pieter Oud
1956 Pieter Oud
1952 Pieter Oud
1948 Pieter Oud
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Ministers

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

Ministers:

Staatssecretarissen:

  • Henk van Hoof - Staatssecretaris for Social Affairs
  • Atzo Nicolaï - Staatssecretaris for Foreign Affairs, especially for European Affairs
  • Mark Rutte - Staatssecretaris for Education, Culture and Science, especially for Higher Education and Science
  • Melanie Schultz van Haegen-Maas Geesteranus - Staatssecretaris of Transport and Waterworks
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Members of the Lower House of Parliament

Development of the number of seats in the Lower House, of the 150 available between 1956 and now and 100 before 1956:

2004 - 27, after the resignation of Geert Wilders from the party whip.
2003 - 28
2002 - 24
1998 - 38
1994 - 31
1989 - 22
1986 - 27
1982 - 36
1981 - 26
1977 - 28
1972 - 22
1971 - 16
1967 - 17
1963 - 16
1959 - 19
1956 - 13
1952 - 9
1948 - 8

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

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Members of the Higher House of Parliament

Development of the number of seats in the Higher House, of the 75 available between 1956 and now and 50 before 1956:

2003 - 15
1999 - 19
1995 - 23
1991 - 12
1987 - 12
1986 - 16
1983 - 17
1981 - 12
1980 - 13
1977 - 15
1974 - 12
1971 - 8
1969 - 8
1966 - 8
1963 - 7
1960 - 8
1956 - 7
1955 - 4
1952 - 4
1951 - 4
1948 - 3

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

  • Uri Rosenthal, fractievoorzitter
  • Fred de Graaf, vice-fractievoorzitter
  • Marbeth Bierman-Beukema toe Water
  • Ger Biermans
  • Nicole van den Broek-Laman Trip
  • Ankie Broekers-Knol
  • Dick Dees
  • Heleen Dupuis
  • Jan van Heukelum
  • Willem Hoekzema
  • Elsabe Kalsbeek-Schimmelpenninck van der Oije
  • Niek Ketting
  • Paul Luijten
  • Cees van den Oosten
  • Paula Swenker
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Members of the European Parliament

Development of the number of seats in the European Parliament, of the between 600 to 700 available:

2004 - 4
1999 - 6
1994 - 6
1989 - 3
1984 - 5
1979 - 4

VVD MEPs are part of the European Liberal, Democrat and Reform Party.

After the 2004 European Parliament elections the party has 4 representatives in the European Parliament:

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Muncipal and Provincial Government

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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

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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.

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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.

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Organization

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Organizational structure

The highest organ of the PvdA 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

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Linked organisations

The youth-organization of the VVD is the Youth Organisation for 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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International Comparison

The VVD is a rightwing liberal party, and is comparable to the German FDP. It is more similar to the British Conservatives than the Liberal Democrats. In the United States it is similar to centrist and liberal Republicans, like John McCain and Rudy Giuliani.

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See also

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External links

eo:Popola Partio por Libereco kaj Demokratio fr:Parti populaire libéral et démocrate (Pays-Bas) nl:Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie pt:Partido Popular para a Liberdade e Democracia ru:Народная партия за свободу и демократию sv:Folkpartiet för Frihet och Demokrati

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