Leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy explained

Post:Leader
Body:the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
Insignia:VVD logo (2020–present).svg
Insigniacaption:Logo of the VVD
Incumbent:Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius
Incumbentsince:14 August 2023
Formation:15 May 1948
Inaugural:Pieter Oud
Department:People's Party for Freedom and Democracy

The leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy is the most senior politician within the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) in the Netherlands. The post is currently held by Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius, who succeeded Mark Rutte in 2023.[1] [2]

History

The Leaders outwardly act as the 'figurehead' and the main representative of the party. Within the party, they must ensure political consensus. At election time the leader is always the lead candidate of the party list. Outside election time the leader can serve as the opposition leader. In the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy the Leader is often the parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives. Some VVD leaders became a Minister in a cabinet.

Leaders

LeaderTerm of officeAge as leaderPosition(s) as leaderFurther position(s)Former
affiliation
Professional
function(s)
Lead candidate
Pieter Oud
(1886–1968)
15 May 1948 –
12 January 1963
[3]
61–76Mayor of Rotterdam
(1945–1952)
Member of the House
of Representatives

(1948–1963)
Parliamentary leader in the
House of Representatives
(1948–1963)
Party chairman
(1949–1963)
Member of the House
of Representatives

(1917–1933, 1937–1938)
Minister of Finance
(1933–1937)
Leader of the Free-thinking
Democratic League

(1935–1938)
Parliamentary leader in the
House of Representatives
(1937–1938)
Mayor of Rotterdam
(1938–1941)
Free-thinking
Democratic League

Committee-Oud
Labour Party
Jurist
civil servant
Historian
Author
professor
1948
1952
1956
1959
Edzo Toxopeus
(1918–2009)
12 January 1963 –
1 October 1969
44–51Minister of the Interior
(1959–1965)
Member of the House
of Representatives

(1963, 1965–1969)
Parliamentary leader in the
House of Representatives
(1963, 1966–1969)
Member of the House
of Representatives

(1956–1959)
President of the
Liberal International
(1966–1970)
Queen's Commissioner
of Groningen
(1970–1980)
Member of the
Council of State

(1980–1988)
Freedom PartyJurist
Lawyer
Businessperson
Diplomat
1963
1967
Molly
Geertsema

(1918–1991)
1 October 1969 –
20 July 1971
50–52Member of the House
of Representatives

(1959–1971)
Mayor of Wassenaar
(1961–1971)
Parliamentary leader in the
House of Representatives
(1969–1971)
Mayor of Warffum
(1953–1957)
Parliamentary leader in the
House of Representatives
(1963–1966)
Minister of the Interior
Deputy Prime Minister
(1971–1973)
Minister for Suriname and
Netherlands Antilles Affairs

(1973)
Member of the House
of Representatives

(1973, 1973)
Queen's Commissioner
of Gelderland
(1973–1983)
Member of the Senate
(1983–1987)
Freedom PartyJurist
Civil servant
Teacher
1971
Hans Wiegel
(born 1941)
20 July 1971 –
20 April 1982
30–40Member of the House
of Representatives

(1967–1977, 1981–1982)
Parliamentary leader in the
House of Representatives
(1971–1977, 1981–1982)
Minister of the Interior
Deputy Prime Minister
(1977–1981)
Queen's Commissioner
of Friesland
(1982–1994)
Member of the Social
and Economic Council

(1994–2012)
Member of the Senate
(1995–2000)
Businessperson
Trade association
executive

Political pundit
Author
1972
1977
1981
Ed Nijpels
(born 1950)
20 April 1982 –
27 June 1986
32–36Member of the House
of Representatives

(1977–1986)
Parliamentary leader in the
House of Representatives
(1982–1986)
Minister of Housing,
Spatial Planning and
the Environment
(1986–1989)
Member of the House
of Representatives

(1989–1990)
Mayor of Breda
(1990–1995)
Queen's Commissioner
of Friesland
(1999–2008)
Member of the Social
and Economic Council

(since 2014)
Jurist
Civil servant
Businessperson
Nonprofit director
Trade association
executive
Teacher
Activist
1982
1986
Dr.
Rudolf de Korte
(1936–2020)
27 June 1986 –
15 December 1986
49–50Minister of the Interior
(1986)
Member of the House
of Representatives

(1986)
Minister of Economic Affairs
Deputy Prime Minister
(1986–1989)
Member of the House
of Representatives

(1977–1986, 1989–1995)
Vice President
of the European
Investment Bank

(1986–1989)
Businessperson
Banker
Dr.
Joris Voorhoeve
(born 1945)
15 December 1986 –
30 April 1990
40–44Member of the House
of Representatives

(1982–1991)
Parliamentary leader in the
House of Representatives
(1986–1990)
Minister for Suriname and
Netherlands Antilles Affairs

(1994–1998)
Minister of Defence
(1994–1998)
Member of the House
of Representatives

(1998–1999)
Member of the
Council of State

(1999–2011)
Democrats 66Political scientist
Researcher
Civil servant
Nonprofit director
Activist
Author
Professor
1989
Frits Bolkestein
(born 1933)
30 April 1990 –
30 July 1998
57–65Member of the House
of Representatives

(1989–1999)
Parliamentary leader in the
House of Representatives
(1990–1998)
Member of the House
of Representatives

(1978–1982, 1986–1988)
State Secretary for
Economic Affairs
(1982–1986)
Minister of Defence
(1988–1989)
President of the
Liberal International
(1996–2000)
European Commissioner
(1999–2004)
Businessperson
Economist
Author
Historian
Professor
1994
1998
Hans Dijkstal
(1943–2010)
30 July 1998 –
16 May 2002
55–59Minister of the Interior
Deputy Prime Minister
(1994–1998)
Member of the House
of Representatives

(1998–2002)
Parliamentary leader in the
House of Representatives
(1998–2002)
Municipal councillor
of Wassenaar
(1974–1986)
Alderman of Wassenaar
(1978–1983)
Member of the House
of Representatives

(1982–1986, 1986–1994)
Financial adviser
Management
consultant

Nonprofit director
Teacher Lobbyist
2002
Gerrit Zalm
(born 1952)
16 May 2002 –
27 November 2004
50–52Member of the House
of Representatives

(2002–2003)
Parliamentary leader in the
House of Representatives
(2002–2003)
Minister of Finance
Deputy Prime Minister
(2003–2007)
Director of the
Bureau for Economic
Policy Analysis

(1989–1994)
Minister of Finance
(1994–1996, 1996–2002)
Member of the House
of Representatives

(1998)
Minister of Economic Affairs
(2006)
Labour PartyEconomist
Civil servant
Businessperson
Banker
Professor
2003
Jozias van
Aartsen

(born 1947)
27 November 2004 –
8 March 2006
56–58Member of the House
of Representatives

(2002–2006)
Parliamentary leader in the
House of Representatives
(2003–2006)
Secretary-General of the
Ministry of the Interior
(1985–1994)
Minister of Agriculture,
Nature and Fisheries

(1994–1998)
Member of the House
of Representatives

(1998)
Minister of Foreign Affairs
(1998–2002)
Mayor of The Hague
(2008–2017)
King's Commissioner
of Drenthe
(2017)
Mayor of Amsterdam
(2017–2018)
Political
consultant

Civil servant
Nonprofit director
Vacant
(8 March 2006 – 31 May 2006)
Mark Rutte
(born 1967)
31 May 2006 –
14 August 2023
39–56State Secretary for
Education, Culture
and Science
(2004–2006)
Member of the House
of Representatives

(2006–2010, 2012,
2017, since 2021)

Parliamentary leader in the
House of Representatives
(2006–2010, 2012, 2017)
Prime Minister
(since 2010)
State Secretary for
Social Affairs and
Employment
(2002–2004)
Member of the House
of Representatives

(2003)
Businessperson
Historian
Teacher
2006
2010
2012
2017
2021
Dilan
Yeşilgöz-
Zegerius

(born 1977)
14 August 2023 –
Incumbent
46–Minister of
Justice and Security

(since 2022)
Municipal councillor
of Amsterdam
(2014–2017)
Member of the House
of Representatives

(2017–2021)
State Secretary for
Economic Affairs and
Climate Policy

(2021–2022)
Management
consultant
2023

External links

Official

Notes and References

  1. News: Politiek leider van een partij. 2012-11-03. Parlement&Politiek.
  2. Kabinet-Rutte is een feit, NOS, 14 October 2010
  3. News: Partijleiders. 2023-08-19. Rijksuniversiteit Groningen.