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

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

Leader			Term of office	Age as leader	Position(s) as leader	Further position(s)	Former affiliation	Professional function(s)	Lead candidate
		Pieter Oud	15 May 1948 – 12 January 1963 [3]	61–76	Mayor of Rotterdam Member of the House of Representatives Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives Party chairman	Member of the House of Representatives Minister of Finance Leader of the Free-thinking Democratic League Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives Mayor of Rotterdam	Free-thinking Democratic League Committee-Oud Labour Party	Jurist Civil servant Historian Author professor	1948 1952 1956 1959
		Edzo Toxopeus	12 January 1963 – 1 October 1969	44–51	Minister of the Interior Member of the House of Representatives Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives	Member of the House of Representatives President of the Liberal International Queen's Commissioner of Groningen Member of the Council of State	Freedom Party	Jurist Lawyer Businessperson Diplomat	1963 1967
		Molly Geertsema	1 October 1969 – 20 July 1971	50–52	Member of the House of Representatives Mayor of Wassenaar Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives	Mayor of Warffum Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives Minister of the Interior Deputy Prime Minister Minister for Suriname and Netherlands Antilles Affairs Member of the House of Representatives Queen's Commissioner of Gelderland Member of the Senate	Freedom Party	Jurist Civil servant Teacher	1971
		Hans Wiegel	20 July 1971 – 20 April 1982	30–40	Member of the House of Representatives Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives Minister of the Interior Deputy Prime Minister	Queen's Commissioner of Friesland Member of the Social and Economic Council Member of the Senate		Businessperson Trade association executive Political pundit Author	1972 1977 1981
		Ed Nijpels	20 April 1982 – 27 June 1986	32–36	Member of the House of Representatives Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives	Minister of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment Member of the House of Representatives Mayor of Breda Queen's Commissioner of Friesland Member of the Social and Economic Council		Jurist Civil servant Businessperson Nonprofit director Trade association executive Teacher Activist	1982 1986
		Rudolf de Korte	27 June 1986 – 15 December 1986	49–50	Minister of the Interior Member of the House of Representatives Minister of Economic Affairs Deputy Prime Minister	Member of the House of Representatives Vice President of the European Investment Bank		Businessperson Banker
		Joris Voorhoeve	15 December 1986 – 30 April 1990	40–44	Member of the House of Representatives Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives	Minister for Suriname and Netherlands Antilles Affairs Minister of Defence Member of the House of Representatives Member of the Council of State	Democrats 66	Political scientist Researcher Civil servant Nonprofit director Activist Author Professor	1989
		Frits Bolkestein	30 April 1990 – 30 July 1998	57–65	Member of the House of Representatives Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives	Member of the House of Representatives State Secretary for Economic Affairs Minister of Defence President of the Liberal International European Commissioner		Businessperson Economist Author Historian Professor	1994 1998
		Hans Dijkstal	30 July 1998 – 16 May 2002	55–59	Minister of the Interior Deputy Prime Minister Member of the House of Representatives Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives	Municipal councillor of Wassenaar Alderman of Wassenaar Member of the House of Representatives		Financial adviser Management consultant Nonprofit director Teacher Lobbyist	2002
		Gerrit Zalm	16 May 2002 – 27 November 2004	50–52	Member of the House of Representatives Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives Minister of Finance Deputy Prime Minister	Director of the Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis Minister of Finance Member of the House of Representatives Minister of Economic Affairs	Labour Party	Economist Civil servant Businessperson Banker Professor	2003
		Jozias van Aartsen	27 November 2004 – 8 March 2006	56–58	Member of the House of Representatives Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives	Secretary-General of the Ministry of the Interior Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Fisheries Member of the House of Representatives Minister of Foreign Affairs Mayor of The Hague King's Commissioner of Drenthe Mayor of Amsterdam		Political consultant Civil servant Nonprofit director
Vacant
		Mark Rutte	31 May 2006 – 14 August 2023	39–56	State Secretary for Education, Culture and Science Member of the House of Representatives Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives Prime Minister	State Secretary for Social Affairs and Employment Member of the House of Representatives Secretary General of NATO		Businessperson Historian Teacher	2006 2010 2012 2017 2021
		Dilan Yeşilgöz	14 August 2023 – Incumbent	46–	Minister of Justice and Security Member of the House of Representatives	Municipal councillor of Amsterdam Member of the House of Representatives State Secretary for Economic Affairs and Climate Policy		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.