Liberal and Democratic Flemish Party

The Liberal and Democratic Flemish Party (VLD) is a political party in Belgium. It was formerly known as the Party for Freedom and Progress (PVV). In 1991, Guy Verhofstadt, a prominent Belgian politician, changed the party's name to the VLD in an effort to attract more centrist voters. Verhofstadt himself became the first liberal prime minister of Belgium in 61 years in 1999, serving until 2008. During his tenure, the government legalized same-sex marriage, euthanasia, and the private use of marijuana. The VLD's history is rooted in the broader liberal movement in Belgium, which gained significant political dominance in the mid-19th century, advocating for free trade and industrialization, and often clashing with the Catholic Church over social and educational policies.12