VVD leader Yeşilgöz personally did not want coalition with PVV, NSC, BBB

VVD party leader Dilan Yeşilgöz believes the negotiations for a new Cabinet with PVV, NSC, and BBB were "really tough." "But we succeeded. Not because I personally wanted this collaboration, that is not an issue," she said during her speech at the general membership meeting of the Liberals in Nieuwegein.

LIVE: de speech van Dilan Yesilgoz op het VVD-congres. https://t.co/Xoz4AW2KYO

— VVD (@VVD) May 25, 2024

"In recent months, we have fought for the interests of the VVD and for the interests of the Netherlands, "without squandering our liberal values." In the main lines agreement of the four parties presented last week, "the liberals are anchored."

"We have fought for the interests of the VVD and for the interests of the Netherlands in recent months, "without betraying our liberal values"." The framework agreement presented last week by the four parties "anchors the Liberals".”

The party leader emphasized that the VVD is a broad-based people's party that bridges differences. "Who we work with will never define who we are. We do that ourselves. That's the way it is and that's the way it will stay. And that also applies to the coming years. We will continue to hold the new Cabinet to our founding principles."

In her speech, Yeşilgöz named five crucial points from the agreement for the VVD and where she believes the party has made its mark. She mentioned investment in defense, strict asylum rules, tax relief for middle-income earners, and maintaining the current climate policy.

The protection of freedom was the fifth point mentioned by the VVD leader. She emphasized that the VVD would not allow "the clock to be turned back in our country". Yeşilgöz referred to the growing hatred of Jews, equal rights for women and freedom of sexual preference for all. In the parliamentary debate on the framework agreement, BBB chairwoman Caroline van der Plas made fun of this, much to Yeşilgöz's annoyance.

The VVD leader went on to say that she hoped this was the start of a "new era." A time in which politics will once again solve people's concerns instead of people having concerns about politics".

She is counting on the yet-to-be-formed Cabinet to ensure a stable national government and seemed to implicitly warn the VVD coalition partners. "The Cabinet must be able to provide strength and stability with knowledgeable people. People who know that the national interest always comes first."

Her speech earned applause, but the attempt by some VVD members to turn it into a standing ovation failed. However, she received one during her first speech as party leader.