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. Kabinet-Rutte is een feit, NOS, 14 October 2010
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 VVD 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. If the VVD is part of the government, the leader usually becomes a senior minister in the cabinet.
Leaders Leader Term of office Positions Lead candidate Pieter Oud 15 May 1948 – 12 January 1963 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 1948 1952 1956 1959 Edzo Toxopeus 12 January 1963 – 1 October 1969 Member of the House of Representatives Minister of the Interior Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives Queen's Commissioner of Groningen Member of the Council of State 1963 1967 Molly Geertsema 1 October 1969 – 20 July 1971 Member of the House of Representatives Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives Minister of the Interior Deputy Prime Minister Minister for Suriname and Netherlands Antilles Affairs Queen's Commissioner of Gelderland Member of the Senate 1971 Hans Wiegel 20 July 1971 – 20 April 1982 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 Senate 1972 1977 1981 Ed Nijpels 20 April 1982 – 27 June 1986 Member of the House of Representatives Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives Minister of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment Queen's Commissioner of Friesland 1982 1986 Rudolf de Korte 27 June 1986 – 15 December 1986 Member of the House of Representatives Member of the House of Representatives Minister of Economic Affairs Deputy Prime Minister None Joris Voorhoeve 15 December 1986 – 30 April 1990 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 Council of State 1989 Frits Bolkestein 30 April 1990 – 30 July 1998 Member of the House of Representatives Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives State Secretary of Economic Affairs Minister of Defence European Commissioner 1994 1998 Hans Dijkstal 30 July 1998 – 16 May 2002 Member of the House of Representatives Minister of the Interior Deputy Prime Minister Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives 2002 Gerrit Zalm 16 May 2002 – 27 November 2004 Member of the House of Representatives Minister of Finance Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives Minister of Finance Deputy Prime Minister Minister of Economic Affairs 2003 Jozias van Aartsen 27 November 2004 – 8 March 2006 Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Fisheries Member of the House of Representatives Minister of Foreign Affairs Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives King's Commissioner of Drenthe None Vacant Mark Rutte 31 May 2006 – 14 August 2023 State Secretary of Social Affairs and Employment Member of the House of Representatives State Secretary for Education, Culture and Science Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives Prime Minister Secretary General of NATO 2006 2010 2012 2017 2021 Dilan Yeşilgöz 14 August 2023 – Incumbent Member of the House of Representatives State Secretary of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy Minister of Justice and Security Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence 2023 2025
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External links Official