Forum for Democracy (Netherlands)

Forum for Democracy
Forum voor Democratie
Abbreviation FvD
Leader Thierry Baudet
Chairman Paul Frentrop
Vice Chairman Theo Hiddema
Secretary Rob Rooken
Treasurer Henk Otten
Leader in the House of Representatives Thierry Baudet
Founder Thierry Baudet
Founded 22 September 2016
Headquarters Herengracht 74
Amsterdam
Youth wing Jongerenorganisatie Forum voor Democratie (JFVD)
Membership (2017) 12,000 [1]
Ideology National conservatism
Fiscal conservatism
Souverainism
Hard Euroscepticism
Direct democracy
E-governance
E-democracy[2]
Political position Right-wing[3]
European affiliation None
International affiliation None
European Parliament group None
Colours      Maroon
Seats in the Senate
0 / 75
Seats in the House of Representatives
2 / 150
States-Provincial
0 / 570
Seats in the European Parliament
0 / 26
Website
(in Dutch) forumvoordemocratie.nl

Forum for Democracy (Dutch: Forum voor Democratie, FvD) is a national-conservative, populist political party in the Netherlands. Founded as a think tank by Thierry Baudet who has been the party's leader since 22 September 2016.

The party first participated in elections during the Dutch general election of 2017. During these elections the party obtained 2 seats in the House of Representatives.

History

Forum for Democracy was established as a think tank; its main feat was campaigning for the 2016 Dutch Ukraine–European Union Association Agreement referendum.[4] In September 2016, it converted itself into a political party and announced its intention to take part in the 2017 Dutch general election. In joining the democratic system, they hope to change the system.

On 14 March 2017, Forum for Democracy was projected to win between 0 and 2 seats, or approximately 1% of votes, in an average between major polls.[5] The party targeted and attracted voters who used to vote for the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD).[6] The FvD ended up with 1.8% of the vote and 2 seats, entering parliament for the first time.

Thierry Baudet, Founder and Leader since 2016.

In March 2017 the FvD had approximately 5,000 members. The bulk of the Forum's parliamental candidates do not have prior active experience in other political parties. The list of candidates includes medical specialists, financial experts and a member of the armed forces.[7][8]

Ideology

One the major issues the party campaigns against is the perceived existence of a "party cartel", in which the main ruling parties of the country divide power among themselves and conspire towards the same goals, despite claiming to be competitors.[4] The party promises direct democracy through binding referenda,[7] as well as directly elected mayors and a directly elected Prime Minister.[9][10] The party is also in favour of the government consisting of apolitical experts, and top civil servants having to reapply for their positions when a new cabinet is formed.[11]

The party opposes the European Union and campaigns for a referendum on Dutch EU membership. It also adopts a nationalist viewpoint in which the Dutch culture should be protected;[6] the party is in favour of reinstating border controls and ending what it perceives as mass immigration,[12][13] as well as investing in a defensible and able armed forces, expanding the National Reserve Corps and reverting defence budget cuts.[14] In addition, the party has promoted plans to review and restructure the Dutch public broadcasting organisation, the Nederlandse Publieke Omroep.[15]

On economics, the party is a proponent of the introduction of high tax free bracket for everyone, the abolition of taxes on gifts and inheritance and a radical simplification of tax brackets.[16][17] Additionally, the party is in favour of promoting environmental sustainability and innovation through tax cuts for renewable energy, the sharing economy and organic agriculture,[18] as well as bold investments in digital infrastructure and reduction of regulation while ensuring privacy.[19][20] The party is a proponent of drastic improvements of elementary and secondary education, focusing on the quality of teaching personnel and rewards for quality.[21]

On culture Forum voor Democracy considers Western culture superior above other cultures. FvD has a strong opinion on arts, the topic of Baudets book Oikofobie, and considers non-Western art and Western post 1900 modernism in visual arts inferior to Western Realism, encourages education and programmation of tonal music opposed to atonal music and dislikes modern post 1950 architecture. The party is against further assimilation of Islamic culture in the Dutch society.

Election results

Election Votes % Seats +/– Government
2017 187,162 1.8 (#13)
2 / 150
 Increase 2 TBA

Organization

Leadership

Party Board

Paul Cliteur, Chairman of the Advisory Board since 2016.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.dagelijksestandaard.nl/2017/06/boem-fvd-nu-op-6-zetels-in-peiling/
  2. ↑ (in Dutch) "Standpunten". Forum voor Democratie. 15 November 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  3. ↑ Splintering of Dutch politics makes election hard to predict. Financial Times. Published 16 February 2017. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  4. 1 2 Joshua Chaffin (14 March 2017). "Populists seize the moment as Dutch fall out of love with EU". Financial Times.
  5. ↑ "Peilingwijzer". Archived from the original on 14 March 2017. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  6. 1 2 Leonid Bershidsky (22 February 2017). "The Dutch Election Is About More Than Nationalism".
  7. 1 2 Douglas Murray (28 January 2017). "Geert Wilders doesn’t threaten Dutch liberalism: he’s defending it".
  8. ↑ "Forum voor Democratie". Forumvoordemocratie.nl. Retrieved 2017-05-10.
  9. ↑ "Directe Democratie". Forum voor Democratie. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  10. ↑ "Kartelbestrijding". Forum voor Democratie. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  11. ↑ "Gekozen minister-president". Forum voor Democratie. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  12. ↑ "Wet Bescherming Nederlandse Waarden". Forum voor Democratie. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  13. ↑ "Immigratie & Remigratie". Forum voor Democratie. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  14. ↑ "Defensie". Forum voor Democratie. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  15. ↑ "Sanering Publieke Omroep". Forum voor Democratie. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  16. ↑ "Economie". Forum voor Democratie. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  17. ↑ "Belastingen". Forum voor Democratie. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  18. ↑ "Duurzaamheid & innovatie". Forum voor Democratie. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  19. ↑ "Internet". Forum voor Democratie. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  20. ↑ "Privacy". Forum voor Democratie. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  21. ↑ "Onderwijs". Forum voor Democratie. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
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