VVD Youth criticize party leader Yeşilgöz’s personal attacks on political rivals

The youth organization of the Dutch center-right VVD has urged party leader Dilan Yeşilgöz to tone down her personal attacks on political opponents and focus instead on substantive policy differences.

Mauk Bresser, chair of the Youth Organization for Freedom and Democracy (Jongerenorganisatie Vrijheid en Democratie, or JOVD), the VVD’s youth wing, criticized Yeşilgöz’s recent remarks targeting GroenLinks–PvdA and its leader Frans Timmermans. Yeşilgöz called GroenLinks–PvdA an “elitist” party of “people who look away” from asylum issues and previously labeled Timmermans “arrogant.”

“We believe she should address other parties based on real policy differences and present those differences honestly,” Bresser told Dutch media. While acknowledging significant disagreements with GroenLinks–PvdA, he said cooperation remains possible. “We can govern with GroenLinks–PvdA — as long as they’re also willing to compromise,” he added.

Separately, the VVD announced Monday it will no longer allow broadcasters to recruit members during party congresses. The decision came after broadcaster WNL was permitted to hand out flyers and chocolate to attendees at Saturday’s congress in Nieuwegein, NU.nl reported.

Party chairman Eric Wetzels said the party will not repeat the arrangement with WNL, which had reportedly received prior approval. “That is not something we will do again,” Wetzels said following reports by RTL4 talk show Renze op Zondag.

VVD political leader Yeşilgöz said she was not informed about the membership recruitment by WNL. “Apparently, this was agreed upon some time ago with the party bureau. I did not know about it. I don’t think it’s a good idea and will no longer allow broadcasters to recruit members at our congresses,” she said.

Video footage shared on BlueSky by journalist Roel Maalderink showed WNL staff wearing “Press” badges while handing out flyers and chocolate. WNL later stated the recruitment activities were separate from its journalistic work.

The Dutch Association of Journalists (NVJ) criticized the recruitment. NVJ chairman Thomas Bruning wrote on X, “Can this stop? Recruiting members at a political congress? I defend the importance of a strong, editorially independent public broadcaster. This is completely contrary to that.”

WNL is allegedly known for its ties to the VVD. Its supervisory board is chaired by former VVD minister Loek Hermans. Until three weeks ago, WNL editor-in-chief Kees Berghuis served as a communications advisor for the VVD in the Tweede Kamer.