Party for Freedom

Dutch political party

This article is about the present-day Party for Freedom. For the historic party, see Freedom Party (Netherlands).

Party for Freedom

Partij voor de Vrijheid

Abbreviation| PVV
Leader| Geert Wilders
Leader in the House of Representatives| Geert Wilders
Leader in the Senate| Alexander van Hattem
Leader in the European Parliament| Sebastiaan Stöteler
Founded| 22 February 2006; 18 years ago (2006-02-22)[1]
Split from| People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
Membership (2024)|  1 (Geert Wilders)[1]
Ideology|

* Nationalism
* Right-wing populism
* Euroscepticism

Political position| Right-wing to far-right
European affiliation| Patriots.eu
European Parliament group|

* Patriots for Europe
(since 2024)[nb 1]

Colours|  Navy blue
Silver
House of Representatives|

37 / 150

Senate|

4 / 75

Provincial councils|

34 / 570

European Parliament|

6 / 31

Benelux Parliament|

4 / 21

Website
www.pvv.nl

* Politics of the Netherlands
* Political parties
* Elections

The Party for Freedom (Dutch: Partij voor de Vrijheid [pɑrˈtɛi voːr də ˈvrɛiɦɛit], PVV) is a nationalist and right-wing populist[2][3][4] political party in the Netherlands. Geert Wilders is the founder, party leader, and sole member of the party.[5]

Founded in 2006 as the successor to Wilders' one-man group in the House of Representatives, it won nine seats in the 2006 general election. In the 2010 general election, it won 24 seats, making it the third-largest party. At that time the PVV agreed to provide confidence and supply to the minority first Rutte cabinet. PVV withdrew its support in April 2012 due to differences over budget cuts.[6] In the following 2012 general election, it lost 9 seats. Following the elections, the party returned to the opposition. Furthermore, in the 2017 general election, the Party for Freedom won 20 seats. In the 2023 general election, it became the largest party in the House of Representatives. After the election, it entered government for the first time as part of the Schoof cabinet.

PVV's main issues are migration and critique of Islam. The PVV has proposed banning the Quran and shutting down all mosques in the Netherlands.[7][8] The party is Eurosceptic[9][10] and favoured a Nexit until 2024.[11]

## History

[edit]

### Group Wilders (2004–2005)

[edit]

The party's history began with Geert Wilders' departure from the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) in September 2004. The direct cause was Wilders' rejection of a possible accession of Turkey to the European Union, but more generally had become too radicalised. He continued in parliament as the one-man group Groep Wilders (Group Wilders).[12]

Wilders was joined by Bart Jan Spruyt of the Edmund Burke Foundation. Both wanted to form a conservative party.[13] Wilders published a manifest titled Independence declaration (Dutch: Onafhankelijkheidsverklaring), mostly written by Spruyt. They had originally intended to publish it together with Pim Fortuyn List politicians Joost Eerdmans and Marco Pastors, but Wilders had backed out.[14] Spruyt would leave the party in August 2006, after concluding that Wilders was not interested in a conservative party, but mostly focused on islam and immmigration.[15]

### Growth (2006–2010)

[edit]

Geert Wilders (left) with other politicians at the final television debate before the 2006 Dutch general election

Wilders' party had for a long time polled low in polls, despite some media attention. Wilders' leading role in the campaign against the European Constitution, which was rejected by Dutch voters by 62%, led to a rise.[16] In the run-up to the 2006 general election, Wilders founded the Party for Freedom. The campaign focused on the Islam, with Wilders warning for a "tsunami of Islamization".[17] Despite low polling,[18] the party won 9 seats. The seats were taken by the "old nine": Wilders, Fleur Agema, Raymond de Roon, Hero Brinkman, Martin Bosma, Dion Graus, Barry Madlener, Teun van Dijck and Sietse Fritsma.

Geert Wilders in 2007

On 28 November 2007, Wilders announced his film, Fitna, suggesting it would include scenes of burning the Quran.[19] The Dutch government, the European Union, and other international organizations feared a repeat of the 2005 Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy, which led to a media hype.[20] Government officials and politicians attempted to dissuade Wilders from releasing the film. Following multiple delays, Fitna was released in March 2008. Although the Dutch government distanced itself from the film and it received international reactions, it offered little new, and the anticipated escalation did not materialize.[21] Fitna later became part of a hate speech trial against Geert Wilders, in which he was ultimately acquitted.

#### 2010 Municipal elections

[edit]

The PVV participated in the March 2010 municipal elections only in The Hague and Almere due to a shortage of suitable candidates. MPs Sietse Fritsma and Raymond de Roon headed the candidate lists. The PVV emerged as the largest party in Almere, winning 22% of the votes, and the second largest in The Hague with 17%. Wilders was lijstduwer in The Hague and was elected through preference votes, subsequently joining the council. However, negotiations to join the municipal executive failed in both cities, partly due to the PVV's demand to ban headscarves for civil servants.[17]

### Coalition government (2010–2012)

[edit]

Maxime Verhagen (left) and Mark Rutte (center) are presenting the coalition agreement with support of the PVV of Geert Wilders (right) in 2010

In the 9 June 2010 general election, the PVV went from nine to 24 seats.[22] During the subsequent cabinet formation, the PVV agreed to provide confidence and supply to a right-wing minority coalition of People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and Christian Democratic Appeal, despite opposition in the latter party. Providing only confidence and supply, it had no representation within the cabinet. The PVV did not have to support everything in the coalition agreement of CDA and VVD, but only which was agreed upon in a separate gedoogakkoord, which included immigration policy, security, healthcare and financial policy.[17]

On 20 March 2012, Hero Brinkman quit the party, citing a lack of democratic structure within the PVV among other things; qualifying this with a statement of continued support for the minority Rutte cabinet.[23] Two days later, three members of the States of North Holland representing the PVV followed him.[24] In July 2012, Marcial Hernandez and Wim Kortenoeven quit the PVV, both citing what they considered to be Wilders' autocratic leadership of the party.[25]

### Opposition (2012–2023)

[edit]

Geert Wilders speaking at a Lega Nord event in 2013

In the parliamentary elections of 12 September 2012, the PVV went from 24 to 15 seats (of 150), winning 10% of the vote.[26] In October 2013, the party expelled Louis Bontes, but he kept his seat in parliament.[27]

During election night of the 2014 municipal elections, Wilders asked a crowd of his followers whether they wanted more or less Morrocans, to which the crowd replied with "Less, less, less". This led to commotion, including within the party. Some municipal and provincial councilors left the party, as well as MPs Roland van Vliet and Joram van Klaveren.[17] Wilders was later found guilty of group insult [nl] in a second trial against him [nl], but received no sentence.

In the European Parliament election on 22 May 2014, the party kept its four seats in the European Parliament.[28] MEP Hans Jansen died on 5 May 2015 and was replaced by Auke Zijlstra on 1 September 2015.[29] On 16 June 2015, the Party for Freedom and other right-wing nationalist parties in the European Parliament formed the political group Europe of Nations and Freedom.[30] Marcel de Graaff of the PVV and Marine Le Pen of the National Front became the first co-presidents of this group.[31]

Geert Wilders during the campaign for the 2017 general election

The Party for Freedom rose in polls during the 2015 European migrant crisis, with the party topping polls from September 2015 through to late February 2017. However, in the relative absence of Geert Wilders during the campaign – notably refusing to participate in both RTL debates – support for the PVV collapsed, and the VVD secured a narrow lead in the final weeks before the election. The 2017 Dutch–Turkish diplomatic incident happened less than a week before the election; it was speculated that this benefited the Prime Minister's party (VVD), as Rutte's response to the incident was well received.[32]

For the 2017 general election, the PVV had an election platform of a single page.[33] The party won 20 seats (of 150) according to the preliminary results, which was five seats more than in the previous election in 2012, making it the second-largest party in parliament.[34] Despite ending second, the PVV played no role in the 2017 cabinet formation because all major parties said they would not form a government coalition with the PVV.[35]

The party performed poorly in the 2019 provincial elections and reported issues attracting suitable candidates, losing 26 seats, with the Forum for Democracy (FvD) taking many of its voters.[36] The party also saw a setback during the 2019 European Parliament election, winning zero seats, but being allocated one in post-Brexit appointments. This was taken by Marcel de Graaff until 2022, when he defected to FvD.[37]

The party finished in third place during the 2021 general election, but played no role in the subsequent formation.

### Largest party in parliament (2023–present)

[edit]

The fourth Rutte cabinet fell in July 2023, after the parties failed to agree on measures to restrict migration. The party saw a massive resurgence in support and its best result to date during the November 2023 general election in which it finished in first place.[38] Some political analysts wrote that the PVV's rise in support was thanks to Wilders' strong performances during TV debates.[citation needed] It was also noted Wilders had softened some of his statements and moderated some of the PVV's positions, and that immigration was one of the most important issues of the election which helped to boost his appeal.[39] After the election, PVV parliamentarian Martin Bosma was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives making it the first time a member of the PVV has held the position.[40]

In May 2024, after six months of negotiations, a coalition deal was struck between the PVV, NSC, BBB, and VVD. During the talks, all parties agreed that none of their leaders would serve as Prime Minister, opting instead for an independent politician. The PVV initially nominated Ronald Plasterk for the role, but his candidacy was withdrawn following accusations of fraud. The PVV then proposed Dick Schoof, a civil servant, as Prime Minister. The Schoof cabinet was sworn in on 2 July 2024, with PVV politician Fleur Agema appointed as Deputy Prime Minister.

## Ideology

[edit]

On André Krouwel's map of the Dutch political spectrum in 2012, the Party for Freedom is conservative on the socio-cultural axis, and centrist on the socio-economic axis.

The PVV is generally considered right-wing[41][42] to far-right,[43][44] More specifically, the party is considered radical right and right wing populist.[44] Dutch media and academics generally avoid the term "extreme right" (Dutch: extreemrechts), in particular because the party does not want to abolish democracy and does not advocate violence.[44][45] The PVV combines its right wing politics with leftist social positions.[1] On certain themes like healthcare, social services and elderly care the PVV can be seen as left and social, though selective.[46]

Political historian Koen Vossen identified four pillars of the PVV's ideology: islamophobia,[47] populism, nationalism and law and order.[48]

### Social issues

[edit]

#### Migration and multicultural society

[edit]

The party fielded a controversial motion in the 2007 general deliberations on the immigration budget, calling for a stop to immigration from Muslim countries. The House of Representatives at first declined to bring the motion forward for debate. Justice Minister Ernst Hirsch Ballin said it was in violation of the Dutch constitution and international law.[49] Another motion by the PVV, against police officers wearing veils, did gain a parliamentary majority.[50]

In 2012, the PVV party launched a website named Reporting Centre on Central and East Europeans to receive complaints about Central and East European immigrants in the Netherlands. 'Do you have problems with people from Central and Eastern Europe? Have you lost your job to a Pole, a Bulgarian, a Romanian or another East European? We want to know,' the website states. It displays newspaper headlines such as 'Wouldn't it be better if you went back home?' and 'East Europeans, increasingly criminal'. The European Commission has condemned the website, and EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding declared, "We call on all citizens of the Netherlands not to join in this intolerance. Citizens should instead clearly state on the PVV's website that Europe is a place of freedom."[51][52] The website caused a lot of controversy within the European Union.[53]

##### Islam

[edit]

The party campaigns on a strong counter-jihad agenda.[54] More specifically, the party has called for banning the Quran and shutting down all mosques in the Netherlands.[7][8][55]

##### Dual citizenship

[edit]

The PVV seeks to exclude Dutch citizens with dual citizenship from voting, serving in the military,[56] and holding political office.[57] The PVV argues that dual citizens may have conflicting loyalties. While in opposition, the party filed motions of no confidence against cabinet members with dual citizenship, such as Ahmed Aboutaleb and Nebahat Albayrak (both in 2007). However, while in coalition, the party refrained from filing such motions, as seen with Marlies Veldhuijzen van Zanten in 2010.[58]

#### Abortion and gay rights

[edit]

The party utilizes its liberal stances on issues such as abortion and gay rights to present itself as a "a defender of women and gay people in the face of the advance of an ‘intolerant and backward Islam".[59]

### Foreign policy

[edit]

#### European Union

[edit]

The PVV has generally taken a position of hard Euroscepticism and argues for Dutch withdrawal from the European Union (Nexit). The party states that the EU does not financially benefit the Dutch tax payer, has eroded too much domestic decision making and democracy of its member states and leaves the Netherlands unable to control its borders.[60]

For the 2024 European Parliament election, the PVV did not include support for a Nexit in its manifesto. This decision was made to accommodate its negotiation partners during the ongoing 2023-2024 cabinet formation, while also positioning the party to benefit from a potential radical right swing in the election.[61]

#### Russia

[edit]

A research paper by the European Center for Populism Studies described the PVV's prior attitude towards Putin and Russia as mixed and more complex compared to other national-populist movements, with Wilders making somewhat supportive statements of Putin in the context of portraying him as an ally against Islamic terrorism and immigration, the PVV advocating a neutral policy on the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War in 2014 and opposing Ukrainian membership of the EU. However, the paper notes Wilders and the PVV hardened their attitude towards Russia after the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 with the PVV manifesto calling for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.[62] Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the PVV voted in parliament to condemn the invasion and called for an end to Russian aggression. Despite its otherwise strict stance on immigration, the PVV said the Netherlands should temporarily accommodate Ukrainian refugees whom the party regards as legitimate refugees fleeing war.[62]

#### Israeli-Arab conflict

[edit]

The PVV supports the one-state solution and considers Jordan to be 'the only Palestinian state that will ever exist'.[63] In 2010, Wilders voiced his support for Yisrael Beiteinu and held talks with its leader Avigdor Lieberman.[64] Wilders is a frequent visitor to Israel and spent six months on a moshav in the West Bank at the age of 17.[65] The party supports recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and proposed moving the Dutch embassy there.[66]

## Organisation

[edit]

### Name and symbols

[edit]

The name 'Party for Freedom' (Dutch: Partij voor de Vrijheid) is a reference to the Freedom Party (Dutch: Partij van de Vrijheid), a Dutch political party founded in 1946, shortly after World War II. In 1948, the Freedom Party went on as the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (Dutch: Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie), which is the party Wilders split from.[67]

The party logo consists of the party name and a gull in red, white, and blue, which are the colors of the Dutch flag.[1][68] The gull symbolises freedom or liberty.[68][69] The gull had also been used as a symbol by the National Socialist Movement in the Netherlands on propaganda posters and for their youth wing, but Wilders claimed it was not inspired by Nazi usage.[69][70]

### Structure

[edit]

In order to register for elections in the Netherlands, a political party needs to be an association (Dutch: vereniging), which can be founded by two or more members.[71] The Vereniging Groep Wilders (Association Group Wilders) was founded by the natural person Geert Wilders and Stichting Groep Wilders (Foundation Group Wilders), of which Wilders is the only board member.[72][17] The association was later renamed to Partij voor de Vrijheid (Party for Freedom).[1] After the creation of the association, Wilders disabled new member registration, resulting in his remaining the sole member of the party.[1][72] The party is considered unique in Dutch politics in that it does not organise public party conferences and does not have local departments, a youth wing, or a research institute.[1][72] Instead, PVV supporters have the option of financially donating to the party or signing up as unaffiliated volunteers during elections. Candidates are mostly handpicked by Wilders who also writes the PVV's platform. Former PVV politician Hero Brinkman unsuccessfully tried to lobby for the party to adopt a conventional membership system and a youth wing. However, Wilders has defended the party's structure, stating that he does not want extremists to take over the PVV, while others have cited the example of the defunct Pim Fortuyn List party which shared many similar policies to the PVV but succumbed to factional infighting following the murder of its founder.[73][74] Commentators have also cited Wilders as one of the first party leaders to use web and social media messages to reach voters instead of traditional public campaigning such as public rallies or meet and greets.[75]

### Support

[edit]

Due to the PVV's structure, foreign political journalists have noted that members of the public do not often out themselves as PVV supporters and that it is sometimes difficult to determine who votes for the party despite its generally substantial results in elections. Some media outlets have noted that in line with other European populist parties, its voters tend to either be on the lower end of the socio-economic spectrum or those concerned about immigration and crime.[76] A 2017 study by Dutch polling company Etnobarometer found that the PVV also receives support from some ethnic minority communities and that it was the second most voted for party among Surinamese-Dutch voters after the Labour Party, with the PVV doing particularly well among voters of Indo-Surinamese and Indian heritage.[77]

### Financing

[edit]

In the Netherlands, a political party needs to have 1,000 members or more to be eligible for government funding, a requirement which the Party for Freedom does not meet with Wilders being the only member.[1]

Financially, the party has been largely relying on donations. The party has not disclosed any of its finances until 2013. According to Hero Brinkman, a former MP for the party, the PVV received most of its finances from certain foreign (American) lobby-groups.[78] According to Reuters, Daniel Pipes' Middle East Forum paid for the trials and security of Geert Wilders and David Horowitz paid Wilders "a good fee" for two speeches given in the US.[79][80]

Since 2013, Dutch political parties are required by law to disclose all donations of 4,500 euro or more.[81] The Party for Freedom disclosed no donations for 2013.[82] For 2014 to 2016, the party disclosed a total of 148,391.07 euro in donations from the California-based David Horowitz Freedom Center, a total of 18,700 euro in donations from a private donor in the Netherlands, and a donation of 6,853.70 euro from the New York-based company FOL Inc.[81][83][84][85] The 2015 donations of just over 108,244 euro from the Freedom Center was "the largest individual contribution to a Dutch political party that year."[86]

## Election results

[edit]

### House of Representatives

[edit]

See also: List of members of the House of Representatives of the Netherlands for the Party for Freedom

Election  | Lead candidate | List  | Votes  | %  | Seats  | +/–  | Government

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

2006 | Geert Wilders | List | 579,490  | 5.89  |

9 / 150

| New  | Opposition
2010 | List | 1,454,493  | 15.45  |

24 / 150

|  15  | Confidence and supply
First Rutte cabinet
2012 | List | 950,263  | 10.08  |

15 / 150

|  9  | Opposition
2017 | List | 1,372,941  | 13.06  |

20 / 150

|  5  | Opposition
2021 | List | 1,125,022  | 10.81  |

17 / 150

|  3  | Opposition
2023 | List | 2,450,878  | 23.49  |

37 / 150

|  20  | Coalition
Schoof cabinet

### Senate

[edit]

See also: List of members of the Senate of the Netherlands for the Party for Freedom

Election results for the Senate[87] Election  | Lead candidate  | List  | Votes  | %  | Seats  | +/–

|
|
|
|
|
|

2011 | Machiel de Graaf | List | 72  | 12.74  |

10 / 75

| New
2015 | Marjolein Faber | List | 66  | 11.58  |

9 / 75

|  1
2019 | List | 38  | 6.46  |

5 / 75

|  4
2023 | List | 34  | 5.52  |

4 / 75

|  1

### European Parliament

[edit]

See also: List of Party for Freedom Members of the European Parliament

Election  | List  | Votes  | %  | Seats  | +/–  | EP Group

|
|
|
|
|
|

2009 | Pre-Lisbon Treaty  | List | 772,746  | 16.97  |

4 / 25

| New  | NI
Post-Lisbon Treaty  |

5 / 26

|  1
2014 | List | 633,114  | 13.32  |

4 / 26

|  1  | ENF
2019 | Pre-Brexit  | List | 194,178  | 3.53  |

0 / 26

|  4  | ID
Post-Brexit  |

1 / 29

|  1
2024 | List | 1,057,662  | 16.97  |

6 / 31

|  5  | PfE

## See also

[edit]

* Conservatism portal
* Netherlands portal
* Politics portal

* Cultural conservatism
* Islamophobia
* Criticism of Islamism
* Criticism of multiculturalism

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ The party was formerly part of Europe of Nations and Freedom (2015–2019) and Identity and Democracy (2020–2022).

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Partij voor de Vrijheid (PVV)". Parlement.com. Archived from the original on 28 April 2018.
2. ^ Pauwels, Teun (2014). Populism in Western Europe: Comparing Belgium, Germany and The Netherlands. Routledge. pp. 117–118. ISBN 9781317653912. Archived from the original on 23 November 2023. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
3. ^ Oudenampsen, Merijn (2013). "Explaining the Swing to the Right: The Dutch Debate on the Rise of Right-Wing Populism". In Wodak, Ruth; KhosraviNik, Majid; Mral, Brigitte (eds.). Right-Wing Populism in Europe: Politics and Discourse. A&C Black. p. 191.
4. ^ Nordsieck, Wolfram (2021). "Netherlands". Parties and Elections in Europe. Archived from the original on 2 April 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
5. ^ Voerman & Vossen 2019, p. 7.
6. ^ "Dutch elections loom as budget talks collapse". Euronews. Archived from the original on 23 April 2012. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
7. ^ a b "Dutch party wants to outlaw mosques, Islamic schools, Koran". Politico. Archived from the original on 23 September 2023. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
8. ^ a b "Dutch Far-right Leader Seeks Ban on Quran, Mosques". Voice of America. Archived from the original on 1 August 2019. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
9. ^ Magone, José M. (2011). Comparative European Politics: An Introduction. Routledge. p. 17\. ISBN 9780203846391.
10. ^ Albertazzi, Daniele; McDonnell, Duncan (2008), Twenty-first century populism: The spectre of Western European democracy, Palgrave Macmillan, p. 164
11. ^ Haan, Marko de (5 April 2024). "Wilders wil tóch maar geen Nexit. Het past in een bredere trend waarin radicaalrechtse partijen de EU juist gebruiken". NRC (in Dutch).
12. ^ Vossen 2013, pp. 34–35.
13. ^ Vossen 2013, pp. 41–46.
14. ^ Vossen 2013, pp. 52–56.
15. ^ Vossen 2013, pp. 58–61.
16. ^ Vossen 2013, pp. 54–55.
17. ^ a b c d e Lucardie, Paul (16 March 2023). "Partijgeschiedenis". Documentatiecentrum Nederlandse Politieke Partijen (in Dutch).
18. ^ Vossen 2013, pp. 62–63.
19. ^ Leenders, Marij (2008). "Fitna-debat: spanning tussen verschillende elementaire rechten". Jaarboek Parlementaire Geschiedenis (PDF) (in Dutch).
20. ^ Ruigrok, Nel; Scholten, Otto; Krijt, Martijn; Schaper, Joep (2009). "Fitna in de media: een brongerichte mediahype" (PDF). Tijdschrift voor Communicatiewetenschap (in Dutch). 37 (3).
21. ^ Voerman & Vossen 2019, pp. 293–294.
22. ^ "Kiesraad – Verkiezingsuitslagen". www.verkiezingsuitslagen.nl. Archived from the original on 4 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
23. ^ "Hero Brinkman quits the PVV, opposition call for new elections". DutchNews.nl. 20 March 2012. Archived from the original on 22 April 2012. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
24. ^ "Drie Statenleden PVV Noord-Holland mee met Brinkman". wn.com (in Dutch). World News Network. Archived from the original on 11 June 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
25. ^ Chesal, Robert. "Wilders gives Dutch politics a roller-coaster ride". Radio Netherlands Worldwide. Archived from the original on 11 July 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
26. ^ "Kiesraad – Verkiezingsuitslagen". www.verkiezingsuitslagen.nl. Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
27. ^ "PVV zet Kamerlid Louis Bontes uit fractie". Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
28. ^ "Dit zijn de Nederlandse leden van het Europees parlement". RTL Nieuws (in Dutch). 26 May 2014. Archived from the original on 22 July 2017. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
29. ^ "Auke Zijlstra (PVV) bevestigt toetreding tot Europees Parlement Archived 20 March 2017 at the Wayback Machine" (in Dutch), Parlement & Politiek, 2015. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
30. ^ "France's Le Pen announces far-right bloc of anti-EU MEPs". BBC News. 2015. Archived from the original on 18 July 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
31. ^ Maurice, Eric (2015). "Le Pen becomes group leader in EU parliament". EUobserver. Archived from the original on 6 June 2017. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
32. ^ Tobias den Hartog (14 March 2017). "PVV zakt flink weg in peilingen, VVD profiteert". Algemeen Dagblad. Archived from the original on 16 March 2017. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
33. ^ "Concept-verkiezingsprogramma PVV 2017–2021 Archived 20 March 2017 at the Wayback Machine" (in Dutch), University of Groningen. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
34. ^ "VVD de grootste, zwaar verlies PvdA". De Telegraaf (in Dutch). 2017. Archived from the original on 6 June 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
35. ^ "VVD leader Mark Rutte says 'zero' chance of coalition with Geert Wilders". DutchNews.nl. 16 January 2017. Archived from the original on 18 May 2017. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
36. ^ "5 things to know about Dutch far right's new figurehead". Politico. 25 March 2019. Archived from the original on 6 September 2023. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
37. ^ "Far-right Dutch MEP ditches Geert Wilders' party over its vaccination stance". Politico. 20 January 2022. Archived from the original on 10 December 2022. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
38. ^ Corder, Mike; Casert, Raf (22 November 2023). "Netherlands looks set to replace longest-serving leader, Wilders wins landslide election". ABC News. Archived from the original on 22 November 2023. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
39. ^ O'Carroll, Lisa (23 November 2023). "Tax, healthcare, immigration: why Dutch people voted for Geert Wilders". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 25 November 2023. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
40. ^ Meijer, Bart (14 December 2023). "Wilders' Dutch nationalist party claims parliament chair for first time". Reuters. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
41. ^ Rita C-K Chin (2009). After the Nazi racial state: difference and democracy in Germany and Europe. University of Michigan Press. p. 239\. ISBN 978-0472025787.
42. ^ "Are Dutch voters really turning to populist Geert Wilders?". BBC News. 9 December 2016. Archived from the original on 18 June 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
43. ^ Multiple sources:

* Kleinpaste, Thijs (28 March 2019). "The New Face of the Dutch Far-Right". Archived from the original on 9 July 2019. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
* "Geert Wilders, 'Dutch Donald Trump', Takes Second Place In Closely Watched Election". NPR.org. Archived from the original on 11 July 2019. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
* Meeus, Tom-Jan (22 October 2018). "Mark Rutte's leaden touch". POLITICO. Archived from the original on 28 July 2019. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
* Daugherty, Owen (6 February 2019). "Far-right former Dutch lawmaker who said the Quran is 'poison' converts to Islam". TheHill. Archived from the original on 12 April 2019. Retrieved 13 August 2019.

44. ^ a b c Venema, Tjebbe (7 March 2024). "Is de PVV van Geert Wilders extreemrechts?". Medialogica (in Dutch). Retrieved 27 October 2024.
45. ^ Lucardie, Anthonie (2009). Voerman, Gerrit (ed.). "Rechtsextremisme, populisme of democratisch patriotisme? Opmerkingen over de politieke plaatsbepaling van de Partij voor de Vrijheid en Trots op Nederland" (PDF). Jaarboek 2007. Groningen.
46. ^ Pelgrim, Christiaan; Steenbergen, Enzo van (12 March 2017). "De PVV is best sociaal, maar wel selectief". NRC Handelsblad. Archived from the original on 13 March 2017.
47. ^ Besides Vossen, multiple sources call PVV anti-Muslim of anti-Islam:
* Subramanian, Samanth (9 March 2017). "Could the anti-Islam Party for Freedom come out on top in upcoming Netherlands election?". The National. Archived from the original on 18 March 2017. Retrieved 16 April 2017.
* Dancygier, Rafaela M. (2010). Immigration and Conflict in Europe. Cambridge University Press. p. 287\. ISBN 9781139490498. Archived from the original on 23 November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
* Monsma, Stephen V.; Soper, J. Christopher (2009). The challenge of pluralism: church and state in five democracies. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 68\. ISBN 9780742557406. Archived from the original on 4 October 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
* Bayat, Asef (November 2007). "When Muslims and Modernity Meet". Contemporary Sociology. 36 (6): 507–511. doi:10.1177/009430610703600602. S2CID 143793000.
* Andringa, Hans (4 December 2007). "Dutch show mixed reactions to anti-Muslim party". Radio Netherlands Worldwide. Archived from the original on 18 October 2008. Retrieved 4 April 2009.
48. ^ Vossen 2013, pp. 65–110.
49. ^ "Minister: Wilders' moslimmotie is onmogelijk" (in Dutch). Elsevier. 22 November 2007. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 5 April 2009.
50. ^ "Agente met hoofddoek absoluut onwenselijk" (in Dutch). NU.nl. 4 December 2007. Archived from the original on 15 November 2018. Retrieved 5 April 2009.
51. ^ "Problems with Poles? Report them to us, says new PVV website Archived 11 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine". DutchNews.nl. 8 February 2012.
52. ^ "Dutch allow Wilders' anti-Pole website, EU critical". Reuters. 10 February 2012.
53. ^ "Sofiaecho.com 16 February 2012". Archived 17 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine
54. ^ Pearson, Elizabeth; Winterbotham, Emily; Brown, Katherine E. (2021). Countering Violent Extremism: Making Gender Matter. Springer Nature. p. 102\. ISBN 9783030219628. Archived from the original on 25 November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
55. ^ "The Netherlands' most popular party wants to ban all mosques". The Independent. 28 August 2016. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
56. ^ "PVV tegen militair met dubbele nationaliteit". Volkskrant (in Dutch). 22 November 2010.
57. ^ Heck, Wilmer; Staal, Herman (7 July 2024). "De Hongaarse connectie van het kabinet en PVV-leider Wilders". NRC Handelsblad (in Dutch).
58. ^ "Wilders dient geen motie van wantrouwen in". Nu.nl (in Dutch). 26 October 2010.
59. ^ Hartleb, Florian (2017). Andis Kudors; Artis Pabriks (eds.). "It´s migration, stupid! Lessons from the Elections in Germany and the Netherlands in the Light of Populism" (PDF). The Rise of Populism: Lessons for the European Union and the United States of America. Riga: University of Latvia Press: 105. ISBN 978-9934-18-280-8.
60. ^ "PVV: EU-droom is nu nachtmerrie" (in Dutch). NOS. 19 May 2014. Archived from the original on 3 September 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
61. ^ Buuren, Yara van. "PVV pleit niet meer voor nexit, maar wil de EU van binnenuit veranderen". Trouw (in Dutch). Retrieved 22 October 2024.
62. ^ a b "Disagreement among populists in the Netherlands: The diverging rhetorical and policy positions of Dutch populist Radical Right parties following Russia's invasion of Ukraine". Populism Studies. 4 March 2023. Archived from the original on 21 August 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
63. ^ "Dutch anti-Islam MP: 'Israel is West's first line of defense' – Israel News | Haaretz Daily Newspaper". 25 October 2012. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
64. ^ "Wilders spreekt met Lieberman". Het Parool (in Dutch). 4 December 2010. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
65. ^ "Hoe zijn verblijf in Israël Geert Wilders gevormd heeft". NOS (in Dutch). 2 May 2018.
66. ^ Straaten, Floris van (17 May 2024). "Verhuizing Nederlandse ambassade naar Jeruzalem kan nog heel lang duren". NRC (in Dutch).
67. ^ "Groep Wilders wordt Partij voor de Vrijheid" (in Dutch). Elsevier. 23 February 2006. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 5 April 2009.
68. ^ a b Willem Visser, "Kleur en symboliek in de Nederlandse politiek Archived 5 March 2017 at the Wayback Machine" (in Dutch), Sargasso.nl, 2017. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
69. ^ a b Bas Kromhout, "Wilders gebruikt 'besmet' logo Archived 5 March 2017 at the Wayback Machine" (in Dutch), Historisch Nieuwsblad, 2008. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
70. ^ "Wilders woedend over vergelijking met NSB Archived 5 March 2017 at the Wayback Machine" (in Dutch), De Telegraaf, 2008. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
71. ^ Haisma, Merel (14 October 2024). "Moet de PVV verplicht leden krijgen? 'Waar bemoei je je mee'" (in Dutch).
72. ^ a b c Vossen, Koen (2012). "Een unieke partij. De organisatie van de PVV". Montesquieu Instituut (in Dutch). Retrieved 4 March 2017.
73. ^ "The Dutch Freedom Party: A one-man show". Archived from the original on 26 September 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
74. ^ "A history of Dutch populism, from the murder of Pim Fortuyn to the rise of Geert Wilders". 14 March 2017. Archived from the original on 20 January 2022. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
75. ^ Hecking, Claus (23 February 2017). "Geert Wilders and Donald Trump Use Same Playbook". Der Spiegel. Archived from the original on 26 January 2022. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
76. ^ "Just who votes for Wilders and Dutch Party of Freedom?". Deutsche Welle. Archived from the original on 26 January 2022. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
77. ^ "Meet the Dutch immigrants backing far-right election candidate Geert Wilders". Independent.co.uk. 12 March 2017. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
78. ^ "'Lobbykantoren VS steunen PVV' Archived 21 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine" (in Dutch), NU.nl, 2012.
79. ^ Anthony Deutsch & Mark Hosenball, "Exclusive: U.S. groups helped fund Dutch anti-Islam politician Wilders Archived 17 May 2021 at the Wayback Machine", Reuters, 2012.
80. ^ "Partners Wilders in VS verdienen aan acties tegen moslimextremisme" Archived 12 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine (in Dutch), NRC Handelsblad, 2010.
81. ^ a b Cynthia Kroet, "Geert Wilders' far-right party suffers donation downturn Archived 11 March 2017 at the Wayback Machine", Politico Europe, 2017. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
82. ^ "Financieel verslag PVV 2013 Archived 9 March 2017 at the Wayback Machine" (in Dutch), Government of the Netherlands, 2014. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
83. ^ "Financieel verslag PVV 2014 Archived 9 March 2017 at the Wayback Machine" (in Dutch), Government of the Netherlands, 2015. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
84. ^ "Financiële verslagen over 2015 van politieke partijen Archived 9 March 2017 at the Wayback Machine" (in Dutch), Government of the Netherlands, 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
85. ^ "Overzicht giften en schulden politieke partijen Tweede Kamerverkiezingen Archived 9 March 2017 at the Wayback Machine" (in Dutch), Government of the Netherlands, 2017. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
86. ^ Mohdin, Aamna. "The Dutch far right's election donors are almost exclusively American". Quartz. Archived from the original on 10 March 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
87. ^ "Verkiezingsuitslagen Eerste Kamer 1918 – heden". Kiesraad (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 9 March 2017.

### General references

[edit]

* Voerman, Gerrit; Vossen, Koen, eds. (2019). Wilders gewogen. 15 jaar reuring in de Nederlandse politiek (PDF) (in Dutch). Amsterdam: Boom. ISBN 978-90-244-3027-7.
* Vossen, Koen (2013). Rondom Wilders (in Dutch). Amsterdam: Boom. ISBN 9789461055224.

## Further reading

[edit]

* Hloušek, Vít; Kopeček, Lubomír; Vodová, Petra (2020). The Rise of Entrepreneurial Parties in European Politics. Springer Nature. ISBN 978-3-030-41916-5.

## External links

[edit]

Media related to Partij voor de Vrijheid at Wikimedia Commons

* Official website (in Dutch)

* v
* t
* e

Patriots.eu

Parliamentary group: Patriots for Europe

Parties|

| Member parties|

* FPÖ
* VB
* ANO
* EKRE
* RN
* ΦΛ
* Fidesz
* Lega
* PVV
* CHEGA!
* VOX

|

Other parliamentary group members|

* AUTO
* Přísaha
* DF
* KDNP
* LPV
* RN

Party President|

* Gerolf Annemans

European Parliament
Group President|

* Jordan Bardella
* see European Parliament

European Commissioners|

* none
* see Von der Leyen Commission

Heads of government
at the European Council|

* Viktor Orbán
* see European Council

European political foundation: Identity and Democracy Foundation

* v
* t
* e

Geert Wilders

Events|

* Fitna (international reactions)
* Hate speech trial

Organizations|

* German Freedom Party
* International Freedom Alliance
* Party for Freedom

* v
* t
* e

Political parties in the Netherlands

National parties|

| represented in the
States General and/or
European Parliament|

* 50PLUS
* Christian Democratic Appeal
* Christian Union
* Democrats 66
* Denk
* Farmer–Citizen Movement
* Forum for Democracy
* GroenLinks–PvdA
* GroenLinks
* Labour Party
* Independent Politics Netherlands
* JA21
* New Social Contract
* Party for Freedom
* Party for the Animals
* People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
* Reformed Political Party
* Socialist Party
* Volt Netherlands

|

without representation in
the States General and/or
European Parliament|

* Belang van Nederland
* BIJ1
* Code Orange
* De Nieuwe Mens
* Dutch People's Union
* Forza! Nederland
* Heart for Freedom
* Henk Krol List
* Jezus Leeft
* LEF – For the New Generation
* Liberal Democratic Party
* Libertarian Party
* More Direct Democracy
* Nederland met een Plan
* New Communist Party of the Netherlands
* NLBeter
* Otten Group
* Party for the Republic
* Party for Sports
* Pirate Party
* Political Party for Basic Income
* Splinter
* The Greens
* The Party Party
* Together for the Netherlands
* Trots op Nederland
* Ubuntu Connected Front
* United Communist Party

Local parties|

| European Netherlands|

* Connect Wageningen
* CU–SGP
* Independent Party of Alkmaar
* Livable Eindhoven
* Livable Rotterdam
* Maastricht: Open Eerlijk Democratisch
* Ouder-Amstel Anders
* Student & Starter
* Student en Stad
* Studenten Techniek In Politiek

|

Caribbean Netherlands|

* Bonaire Democratic Party
* Bonaire Patriotic Union
* Bonaire People's Movement
* Democratic Party
* Movement 21
* Progressive Labour Party
* Saba Labour Party
* Windward Islands People's Movement

Regional parties|

* Frisian National Party
* Groninger Interest
* Local Brabant
* Party for the North
* Party for Zeeland
* Strong Local Drenthe

Water board parties|

* General Water Board Party
* Water Natuurlijk

* Portal:Politics
* List of political parties by country
* Politics of the Netherlands

* v
* t
* e

Liberal political parties in the Netherlands

Social|

| Current|

* Democrats 66
* Liberal Democratic Party
* Volt Netherlands
* Henk Krol List
* Splinter

|

Defunct|

* Radical League
* Free-thinking Democratic League
* Economic League
* Democratic Party
* Party for Neighbourly Love, Freedom and Diversity

Conservative|

| Current|

* People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
* Forza! Nederland
* Party for Freedom
* Trots op Nederland
* Otten Group
* JA21
* Belang van Nederland

|

Defunct|

* Liberal Union
* League of Free Liberals
* Liberal State Party
* Liberal Party
* Fatherland League
* Freedom Party
* New Middle Party
* Pim Fortuyn List
* Party for Justice, Action and Progress
* Party for the Netherlands
* One NL
* Onafhankelijke Burger Partij
* Democratic Political Turning Point
* VoorNederland
* Entrepreneurs' Party

Libertarian|

| Current|

* Libertarian Party

|

* v
* t
* e

European Parliament, Netherlands

Delegations|

* ECSC members 1952–1958
* EP members 1958–1979

Elections|

* Netherlands constituency
* 1979
* candidates
* members
* 1984
* candidates
* members
* 1989
* candidates
* members
* 1994
* candidates
* members
* 1999
* candidates
* members
* 2004
* candidates
* members
* 2009
* candidates
* members
* 2014
* candidates
* members
* 2019
* candidates
* members
* 2024
* candidates
* members

Current parties|

* Party for Freedom
* members
* GroenLinks
* members
* Labour Party
* members
* People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
* members
* Christian Democratic Appeal
* members
* Democrats 66
* members
* Farmer–Citizen Movement
* members
* Volt Netherlands
* members
* Party for the Animals
* members
* New Social Contract
* members
* Reformed Political Party
* members

Former parties|

* Europe Transparent
* members
* Rainbow
* members
* Green Progressive Accord
* members
* SGP/RPF/GPV
* members
* Socialist Party
* members
* Forum for Democracy
* members
* 50PLUS
* members
* Christian Union – Reformed Political Party
* members
* JA21
* members

* List of political parties
* Politics of the Netherlands

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF

National|

* Germany
* United States
* France
* BnF data
* Sweden
* Poland
* Israel

Other|

* IdRef

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template