The Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie (VVD), literally peoples party for freedom and democracy, is a liberal political party in the Netherlands.
The party was the only member of the "purple cabinets" led by Wim Kok to
remain in power in Balkenende's cabinet in 2002, despite a large reduction in its representation in the Tweede Kamer (lower house of parliament). The party was formed on January 24, 1948, following in the tradition of the liberal parties
Liberale Staatspartij (LSP) and Partij van de Vrijheid (PvdV).
Development of the number of seats in the Tweede Kamer, of the 150 total:
- 1948 - 8
- 1952 - 9
- 1956 - 13
- 1959 - 19 (represented in cabinet of Jan de Quay)
- 1963 - 16 (represented in cabinet of Victor Marijnen)
- 1967 - 17 (represented in cabinet of Piet de Jong)
- 1971 - 16 (represented in first and second Biesheuvel cabinet)
- 1972 - 22
- 1977 - 28 (represented in first cabinet of Andreas van Agt)
- 1981 - 26
- 1982 - 36 (represented in first cabinet of Ruud Lubbers)
- 1986 - 27 (represented in second cabinet of Ruud Lubbers)
- 1989 - 22
- 1994 - 31 (represented in first cabinet of Wim Kok)
- 1998 - 38 (represented in second cabinet of Wim Kok)
- 2002 - 24 (represented in first Balkenende cabinet)
- 2003 - 28 (represented in second Balkenende cabinet)
Lijsttrekkers
Head of the candidate list for Tweede Kamer elections held in specified year:
See also: Politics of the Netherlands, Political parties of the Netherlands
External links
VVD website -- http://www.vvd.nl
