Political parties Elections
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 — although supportive of the welfare state in contrast to the social-liberal D66. The VVD is the second largest opposition party in parliament, after the fourth Balkenende cabinet was formed.

Party history
The VVD was founded in 1948 as a continuation of the Freedom Party, which was a continuation of the Liberal State Party, a pre-World War II conservative liberal party. They were joined by liberals from the social-democratic Partij van de Arbeid (PvdA, Labour Party), led by Pieter Oud. The liberals from the PvdA were members of the pre-war social liberal Vrijzinnig Democratische Bond (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 Willem Drees. The party was a junior partner with only eight seats to the Catholic People's Party (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 the 1956 elections, 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 Anti Revolutionary Party (ARP) and Christian Historical Union (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 Democrats 66 (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.
During this period the VVD had weak ties with other liberal organization and together they formed the neutral pillar. This included the liberal papers Nieuwe Rotterdamsche Courant and the Algemeen Handelsblad, the broadcaster AVRO and the employers' organization VNO.

1948–1971
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. Although the ties between the VVD and other neutral pillarized organizations weakened, the number of neutral organizations, friendly to the VVD, expanded. The TROS and later Veronica, new broadcasters which entered the public broadcasting system were friendly to the VVD. 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 Appeal (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.

1971–1994
Bolkestein's VVD was one of the winners 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, the first Dutch government without any confessional parties. 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 more technocratic and socially 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 Lijst Pim Fortuyn (LPF). Dijkstal stood down, and 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, after the infighting of LPF ministers Bomhoff and Heinsbroek.
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 immigration 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 2, 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, beating Rita Verdonk and Jelleke Veenendaal.

1994-present
The VVD was originally 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 developed during the Great Depression and Second World War. The most common English translation of the name is the literal translation (People's Party for Freedom and Democracy),[1][2][3], the party itself provides the translation "Party for Freedom and Democracy".[4] The reason for this is unknown, but it may be because the term "People's Party" had some connotations with communism in the past.

Name
The VVD is a party founded on liberal philosophy,
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 practical politics.

Ideology and issues
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:

Liberal Manifesto

The Manifesto calls for a directly elected Minister-President, whereby voters can show their preference on the ballot.
The question of (advisory) referendums is left open as a possibility.
Mayors should be directly elected by the people.
Commitment to the Four Freedoms of the European Union. Democracy

A common policy on defense and security in the European Union is called for. Security

The principle of non-discrimination should be given more importance than the exercise of religion.
'Social rights' are to be continued. These are not simple 'rights', but they also create an 'obligation'.
Euthanasia is part of a person's 'right' to self-determination.
Commitment to an open economy, with a 'regulated free-market', including Patents.
Support for the freedom of contract. No nationally binding collective bargaining agreements. Freedom

Minimize the option of dual citizenship.
Social security should only be fully open for Dutch nationals. Migrants will have to integrate in order to become citizens. Citizenship
The most recent parliamentary elections in the Netherlands were the 2006 elections. The VVD had setup a program commission chaired by BT executive Ben Verwaayen. The concept program was released on August 28, 2006. The members of the VVD had a final vote on the program on September 30, 2006. Some points from the program are:

Keeping the social security age at 65.
An across-the-board income tax reduction of 3%.
Mortgage interest payments remain deductible.
"Free" daycare for working people.
50% reduction of the inheritance tax. Election program
In this table the election results of the VVD in Tweede Kamer, Eerste Kamer, Provincial 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. The membership of the VVD and the party chair are also included.

Members of the Tweede Kamer
After the 2003 Upper House elections the party has 15 representatives in the Upper House:

Uri Rosenthal, fractievoorzitter
Fred de Graaf, vice-fractievoorzitter
Heleen Dupuis, fractiesecretaris
Marbeth Bierman-Beukema toe Water
Ger Biermans
Nicole van den Broek-Laman Trip
Ankie Broekers-Knol
Dick Dees
Jan van Heukelum
Willem Hoekzema
Elsabe Kalsbeek-Schimmelpenninck van der Oije
Niek Ketting
Paul Luijten
Cees van den Oosten
Paula Swenker Members of the Eerste Kamer
After the 2004 European Parliament elections the party has four representatives in the European Parliament:
VVD MEPs are part of the European Liberal, Democrat and Reform Party.

Jules Maaten, fractievoorzitter
Janine Hennis-Plasschaert
Toine Manders
Jan Mulder Members of the European Parliament
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 In the following figure one can see the election results of the provincial election of 2003 and 2007 per province. It shows the areas where the VVD is strong, namely the Randstad urban area that consists out of the provinces North and South Holland, Utrecht and (parts of) Flevoland. The party is weak in peripheral provinces like Friesland, Overijssel, Zeeland and Limburg.
109 of the 414 Dutch mayors are member of the VVD. Furthermore the party has about 250 aldermen and 1100 members of municipal councils.
Municipal and provincial government
Historically the VVD electorate consisted mainly of secular middle-class voters. Under the leadership of Wiegel, the VVD has expanded its appeal to lower class voters.

Provincial government
The highest organ of the VVD is the General Assembly, in which all members present have a single vote. It convenes usually twice every year. It appoints the party board and decides on the party program. The order of the First Chamber, Second Chamber, European Parliament candidates list is decided by a referendum under all members voting by internet, phone or mail. If contested, the lijsttrekker of a candidates lists is appointed in a separate referendum in advance. Since 2002 the General Assembly can call for a referendum on other subjects too. The present chairman of the board was elected this way. About 90 members elected by the members in meetings of the regional 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. The party board handles the daily affairs of the party, its current chair is Jan van Zanen.
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 magazine Liberaal Reveil every two months. The party published the magazine Liber bi-monthly.
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.
The VVD has always been a very independent party. The VVD cooperates on the European and the international level with the social-liberal D66. It has a long history of coalitions with the CDA and its Christian-democratic predecessors, but was in government with the social democratic PvdA from 1994 to 2002.
Municipal government
The VVD is more of an economically liberal party, committed to the free market, and is comparable to the German Free Democratic Party of Germany. In its economic policies the VVD is closer to the British Conservatives than to 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 the Libertarians. While the VVD's support for the free market and national security resembles that of the Republicans, its support for freedom in personal matters resembles that of the Democrats.

Organization

People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) official site