Forum for Democracy Forum voor Democratie | |
---|---|
Abbreviation | FvD |
Leader | Thierry Baudet |
Chairman | Thierry Baudet |
Vice Chairman | Theo Hiddema |
Secretary | Rob Rooken |
Treasurer | Henk Otten |
Leader in the House of Representatives | Thierry Baudet |
Founder | Thierry Baudet |
Founded | 22 September 2016 |
Headquarters | Herengracht 74 Amsterdam |
Youth wing | Jongerenorganisatie Forum voor Democratie (JFVD) |
Thinktank | Renaissance Instituut |
Membership (2018) | 22,884[1] |
Ideology | Dutch nationalism[2] Conservatism[3][4] National conservatism[5] Conservative liberalism[6] Euroscepticism[3][4] Direct democracy[4][7][8] E-democracy[9] |
Political position | Right-wing[10][11] |
European affiliation | None |
International affiliation | None |
European Parliament group | None |
Colours | Maroon |
Seats in the Senate | 0 / 75 |
Seats in the House of Representatives | 2 / 150 |
States-Provincial | 0 / 570 |
Seats in the European Parliament | 0 / 26 |
Website | |
forumvoordemocratie.nl (in Dutch) |
Forum for Democracy (Dutch: Forum voor Democratie, FvD) is a national-conservative, eurosceptic political party in the Netherlands, founded as a think tank by Thierry Baudet who has been the party's leader since 22 September 2016.
The party first participated in elections in the 2017 general election, winning two seats in the House of Representatives.
Forum for Democracy was established as a think tank; its main feat was campaigning for the 2016 Dutch Ukraine–European Union Association Agreement referendum.[12] In September 2016, it converted itself into a political party and announced its intention to take part in the 2017 Dutch general election. In joining the democratic system, they hope to change the system.
In the 2017 general election, the FvD ended up with 1.8% of the vote and 2 seats, entering parliament for the first time.
In March 2017 the FvD had approximately 5,000 members. The bulk of the Forum's parliamental candidates did not have prior active experience in other political parties.[13][14] In February 2018 the party suffered from internal issues with a number of prominent members leaving the party, because they felt the party had a lack of internal democracy.[15]
In the 2018 municipal election, the FvD won 3 seats at the Amsterdam city council.
The party is a proponent of the introduction of high tax free bracket for everyone, the abolition of taxes on gifts and inheritance and a radical simplification of tax brackets.[16][17] Additionally, the party is in favour of promoting environmental sustainability and innovation through tax cuts for renewable energy, the sharing economy and organic agriculture,[18] as well as investments in digital infrastructure and reduction of regulation while ensuring privacy.[19][20] The party is a proponent of drastic changes in elementary and secondary education, focusing on performance evaluations for teachers.[21] They want to expand the armed forces, expanding the National Reserve Corps and reverting defence budget cuts.[22] In addition, the party has promoted plans to privatize the Dutch public broadcasting organisation, the Nederlandse Publieke Omroep.[23]
One of the major issues the party campaigns against is the perceived existence of a "party cartel", in which the main ruling parties of the country divide power among themselves and conspire towards the same goals, despite claiming to be competitors.[12] The party promises direct democracy through binding referenda,[13] as well as directly elected mayors and a directly elected Prime Minister.[24][25] The party is also in favour of the government consisting of apolitical experts, and top civil servants having to reapply for their positions when a new cabinet is formed.[26]
The party opposes the European Union and campaigns for a referendum on Dutch E.U. membership. It also adopts a nationalist viewpoint in which the Dutch culture should be protected;[2] the party is in favor of reinstating border controls and ending what it perceives as mass immigration.[27][28] It campaigns against unchecked immigration, and says it would introduce a "Dutch Values Protection Act" and wants to ban Islamic face veils and other face coverings.[29]
Election | Votes | % | Rank | Seats | +/– | Government |
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2017 | 187,162 | 1.8 | #13 | 2 / 150
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2 | in opposition |
Election | Municipality | Votes | % | Rank | Seats | +/- |
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2018 | Amsterdam | 20,015 | 5.77 | #8 | 3 / 45
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New |
Year | Membership[30] |
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2017 | 1,863 |
2018 | 22,884 |
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