The Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie (VVD), literally 'People's Party for Freedom and Democracy, is a free marketliberal party in the Netherlands. It is currently the third largest political party in the Netherlands in popular vote.
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 founded on January 24, 1948, following in the tradition of the liberal parties Liberale Staatspartij (LSP) and Partij van de Vrijheid (PvdV).
On September 2nd, 2004, VVD MP Geert Wilders left the party after a dispute with chairman Van Aartsen. He has chosen to continue as a one-man's party (in Dutch: eenmansfractie) in the Tweede Kamer. The current coalition (CDA, VVD and D66), now lead with a majority of two seats in the parliament.
The figurehead (in Dutch, lijsttrekker) is the first candidate on a party's candidate list. The figurehead is chosen by a party as its chief representative for a given election. The leaders of candidate lists for Tweede Kamer elections were as follows;
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