| Young Democrats Jonge Democraten |
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|---|---|
| Chairperson | Nikie van Thiel |
| Treasurer | unoccupied |
| Founded | 1984 |
| Headquarters | The Hague |
| Ideology | Social liberalism |
| Mother party | Democrats 66 |
| International affiliation | International Federation of Liberal Youth (IFLRY) |
| European affiliation | European Liberal Youth (LYMEC) |
| Website | www.jongedemocraten.nl |
The Young Democrats (Dutch: Jonge Democraten, JD) is the social-liberal youth organisation of the Netherlands, founded in 1984. With over 5000 members it's the largest non-Christian political youth organisation of the Netherlands.[1] Although independent, the Young Democrats are affiliated with the Dutch social-liberal party Democrats 66 (D66).
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According to the Declaration of Principles, the Young Democrats are a liberal-democratic youth organisation. The main objective of the Young Democrats is to contribute to the individual development of every person. Core values of the Young Democrats are liberty, equality, solidarity, sustainability and pragmatism. Also, the Young Democrats are in favour of radical democratisation of society.
Within the Young Democrats power lies with the members. The Congress is the sovereign body of the Young Democrats and meets twice a year in spring and autumn. During the Congress members of the National Board are elected individually and JD policy is decided through resolutions, amendments and motions. All members have equal say through the one man, one vote system.
The day-to-day management of the Young Democrats is in the hands of the National Board, the members of which are:
Currently the Young Democrats have thirteen local branches. Most branches are based in university cities, such as Amsterdam, Utrecht and Rotterdam. Every branch has a local board and organises regular general meetings where local board members are elected and policy is decided. Every local member has the right to vote at the local general meetings.
The Young Democrats are part of a worldwide family of social-liberal youth organisations. Some examples are the Danish Social Liberal Youth, the Liberal Youth of Sweden, the Young Liberals of Norway, the Flemish L², the British Liberal Youth and the Young Liberals of Canada. The Young Democrats often work closely with their international sister organisations.
The Young Democrats of the Netherlands, together with the Youth Organisation Freedom and Democracy (JOVD), are members of both the European Liberal Youth (LYMEC) and the International Federation of Liberal Youth (IFLRY). Young Democrat Bart Woord was the president of the IFLRY Bureau from November 2009 to November 2010. Currently, from November 2010, Ivo Thijssen is the representative of the LYMEC Bureau in the IFLRY Bureau.
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