People's Party for Freedom and Democracy facts for kids

The logo of the VVD party.

The People's Party for Freedom and Democracy, often called the VVD (which stands for Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie in Dutch), is a big political party in the Netherlands. It's known as a conservative liberal party. This means they believe in strong individual freedom, a free market economy, and personal responsibility, while also valuing traditional ideas.

The VVD is currently the largest political party in the Netherlands. It was started in 1948 when two older groups, the Freedom Party and the Oud Committee, decided to join together.

Since 2006, the leader of the VVD has been Mark Rutte. He has also been the Prime Minister of the Netherlands since 2010. In the 2017 elections, the VVD won 33 seats in the Dutch parliament.

What the VVD Believes In

The VVD focuses on several key ideas. They believe that people should have a lot of freedom to make their own choices. They also think that the government should not interfere too much in people's lives or in businesses.

Economy and Jobs

The VVD wants a strong economy where businesses can grow and create jobs. They believe that less government rules can help companies do better. They also think that people should be able to keep more of the money they earn.

Safety and Security

Keeping people safe is very important to the VVD. They support a strong police force and fair laws to make sure everyone feels secure. They also believe in a strong national defense.

Education and Healthcare

For education, the VVD wants schools to prepare students well for the future. They believe in good quality healthcare that is available to everyone. They often talk about making sure these services are run efficiently.

How the VVD Works

The VVD is active in many parts of Dutch politics. They have members in the national parliament, local councils, and even the European Parliament.

National Politics

In the Netherlands, the VVD works to form governments and pass laws. As the largest party, they often lead the government, with their leader becoming the Prime Minister. They work with other parties to get things done.

Local and European Roles

The VVD also has a big presence in local governments across the Netherlands. This means they help make decisions about things like schools, roads, and parks in your town. They also have representatives in the European Parliament, where they help shape laws that affect all of Europe.

Key Leaders of the VVD

Over the years, many important people have led the VVD. These leaders have helped shape the party's ideas and its role in Dutch politics.

Past Leaders

• Pieter Oud was one of the first leaders of the VVD, from 1948 to 1963.
• Hans Wiegel led the party from 1971 to 1982.
• Frits Bolkestein was the leader from 1990 to 1998.
• Gerrit Zalm led the party from 2002 to 2004.

Current Leaders

• Mark Rutte has been the party leader since 2006 and the Prime Minister since 2010.
• Annemarie Jorritsma is a leader for the VVD in the Senate, which is part of the Dutch parliament.
• Sophie Hermans is the leader for the VVD in the House of Representatives, the other part of the Dutch parliament.
• Malik Azmani leads the VVD members in the European Parliament.

Images for kids

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  Pieter Oud, a co-founder and early leader of the VVD (1948-1963).

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  Hans Wiegel, who led the VVD from 1971 to 1982.

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  Frits Bolkestein, VVD leader from 1990 to 1998.

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  Gerrit Zalm, who was the VVD leader from 2002 to 2004.

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  Mark Rutte, the current leader of the VVD and Prime Minister of the Netherlands.

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  Annemarie Jorritsma, a VVD leader in the Senate.

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  Sophie Hermans, the VVD leader in the House of Representatives.

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  Malik Azmani, the VVD leader in the European Parliament.

See also

In Spanish: Partido Popular por la Libertad y la Democracia para niños