Freedom Party (Netherlands)

The Freedom Party (PvdV) (Dutch: Party van de Vrijheid) was a short lived Dutch liberal political party. The PvdV was a predecessor of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy.

Party History

The PvdV was founded on March 23 1946 by a group around the young liberal Korthals and the director of Heineken. After the foundation they were joined by the rest of the top of the pre-War Liberal State Party. The party was supposed to be less conservative and more modern that its predecessor. In 1948 it merged with social-liberal dissidents from the PvdA, led by Pieter Oud, to become the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy. In the 1946 elections it received six seats and it was confined to a minor position in opposition.

Ideology & Issues

The PvdV was classical liberal party with progressive leanings, committed to individual freedom and free market economics.

Representation

Leadership

Chairman of the Lower House parliamentary party:1946-1948 Bierema

Lijsttrekker:1946 Bierema, Fortanier-de Wit, Hacke, Korthals, Vonk, Zegering

Members of the Lower House of Parliament

Development of the number of seats in the Lower House, of the 100 available::1946 - 6

Members of the Upper House of Parliament

Development of the number of seats in the Upper House, of the 50 available::1946 - 3

Electorate

The PvdV mainly received support from atheists or latitudinarian protestants from higher classes: businessmen, civil servants, wealthy farmers, and voters with free professions (lawyers, doctors etc.). The party performed particularly well in the major trading cities Amsterdam and Rotterdam, the rich municipalities around Hilversum and the Hague and in northern rural provinces, like Groningen and Drenthe.

Pillarisation

The PvdV lacked a real system of pillarized organisations around it. 'Neutral' organisations, which were not linked to a pillar, often had friendly relations with the PvdV. This included the general broadcasting association AVRO (Algemene Verenigde Radio Omroep, General United Radio Broadcasting Organisation), the general union ANWV (Algemene Nederlandse Werkelieden Vereniging, the General Dutch Workers' Association), furthermore the neutral employers' organisation VNO and the financial paper Het Handelsblad had good relations with the party.

Freedom Party (Netherlands): Encyclopedia BETA