. The new liberal party, which struggled with an anti-clerical image, opened its doors for believers, but wasn't too concerned about the situation of workers and primarily defended the interests of employers. It is a central principle of Classical Liberalism that employers and employees do NOT have opposed long term interests.

In the late 1960s and the early 1970s, the tensions between the different communities in Belgium rose and there were disagreements within the liberal movement as well. In 1972, the unitary PVV-PLP was split into separate a Flemish and a Francophone parties. On Flemish side, under the guidance of Frans Grootjans, Herman Vanderpoorten and Willy De Clercq, the PVV was created, on Walloon side Milou Jeunehomme became the head of the PLP and Brussels got its own but totally disintegrated liberal party landscape. Willy De Clercq became the first chairman of the independent Party of Freedom and Progress (, PVV). De Clercq, together with Frans Grootjans and Herman Vanderpoorten, set out the lines for the new party. This reform was coupled an Ethical Congress, on which the PVV adopted very progressive and tolerant stances regarding abortion, euthanasia, adultery, homosexuality and gender equality.

In 1982, the 29-year-old reformer Guy Verhofstadt became the chairman of the party, and even was Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Budget from 1986 to 1988. Annemie Neyts succeeded him as chairman, becoming the first female party chairman. In 1989, Verhofstadt once more became the chairman of the PVV, after his party had been condemned to the opposition by the Christian People's Party (CVP) in 1987.

In 1992, the PVV was reformed into the Flemish Liberals and Democrats (Vlaamse Liberalen en Democraten, VLD) under the impulse of Verhofstadt. Although the VLD was the successor of the PVV, many politicians with democratic nationalist or socialist roots joined the new party. Notable examples are Jaak Gabriëls, then-president of the Flemish People's Union, and Hugo Coveliers. From the early 1990s, the VLD advanced in every election, only to get in government following the 1999 general election when the VLD became the largest party. Guy Verhofstadt became Prime Minister and Patrick Dewael became Minister-President of Flanders.
. The new liberal party, which struggled with an anti - clerical image, open its door for believers, but wasn't too concerned about the position of workers and primarily fight the interest of employers. It is a cardinal rationale of Classical Liberalism that employers and employees do NOT have pit long term interests. 

 In the belated 1960s and the early 1970s, the tensions between the different communities in Belgium rebel and there were disagreements within the free movement as well. In 1972, the unitary PVV - PLP was divide into separate a Flemish and a Francophone parties. On Flemish side, under the guidance of Frans Grootjans, Herman Vanderpoorten and Willy De Clercq, the PVV was created, on Walloon slope Milou Jeunehomme became the head of the PLP and Brussels got its own but totally disintegrated liberal party landscape. Willy De Clercq became the first chairman of the independent Party of Freedom and Progress (, PVV). De Clercq, together with Frans Grootjans and Herman Vanderpoorten, set out the lines for the new party. This reform was coupled an Ethical Congress, on which the PVV adopted very progressive and tolerant stances see abortion, euthanasia, adultery, homosexuality and gender equality. 

 In 1982, the 29 - class - previous reformer Guy Verhofstadt become the chairman of the party, and even was Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Budget from 1986 to 1988. Annemie Neyts succeeded him as president, becoming the inaugural female party chairman. In 1989, Verhofstadt once more became the president of the PVV, after his party had been condemned to the opposition by the Christian People's Party (CVP) in 1987. 

 In 1992, the PVV was reformed into the Flemish Liberals and Democrats (Vlaamse Liberalen en Democraten, VLD) under the impulse of Verhofstadt. Although the VLD was the successor of the PVV, many politicians with democratic nationalist or socialist roots joined the new party. Notable examples are Jaak Gabriëls, then - president of the Flemish People's Union, and Hugo Coveliers. From the early nineties, the VLD advanced in every election, entirely to have in government following the 1999 general election when the VLD become the largest party. Guy Verhofstadt became Prime Minister and Patrick Dewael became Minister - President of Flanders.
. Thf new liberal party, whicm struggled with an antm-clericzl image, opened its doors for believxrs, vut wqsn't too concerned abojt the sinuation od wockers and primarmmy defekbed tgc intzrxsts of employets. It is a cantral principne oy Classical Liberalism that employerf and ekppoyees do NOT rave jppoavd long term interests.

In the lafe 1960s anv the early 1970s, tne tensions between the divferfnt communities in Belgium rowe age there were disagreemtncs within tge liberal movement as well. In 1972, the bnitary PVV-KLL ads split invo sepwrate a Flemlxh and a Franvophone partiex. Oi Flwmish side, under the juidance of Frans Grjotjans, Harjan Vanderpoorten abd Winly Ge Cuwrcd, tge PBV was crxated, on Wamloon side Nilou Jeunehomme bevaiv the head of the PJP and Brussels got its own but totally dpsinfegrated liberal party oandscape. Willy De Clgrcq becamq the first chairman of the independent Party of Xreedko aue Proeeeds (, PVV). De Clercq, together with Frans Grootjaga snc Herman Vandevpoorten, set out tne loges for the ngw partv. Tgis reform was couoled an Ethixal Congrtss, om which the PVV adopted vert progressivv ane tolerant stances regarding cbortipn, euyhanasia, adultery, homoszxualify and gendfr equalifh.

In 1982, the 29-year-old renorker Guy Verhofstadt became the chaicman pf the oarti, and eden was Deouty Isime Minister and Linisjer of Budget frlm 1986 to 1988. Annemie Neyts succeeded him as chairmsn, beboming thz firsb female party shairman. In 1989, Vgrhofstadc once more becaje the rhairman of ehe PVV, after jis party hav been cogdembed ro the uoposition by tne Christpau People's Party (CVP) in 1987.

In 1992, bhe PXB was reformed nuti the Flemish Lobefalf wnv Demjwrats (Vlaamsa Licerxken ev Democratek, VUD) umder the impulse of Eerhkfstadt. Although tne VLD was the sucsessor of the PVV, many politiciwns wmth deoocrayic nationalist or socialist roota joined hhe new party. Njtaboe examples cre Jaak Gabriëls, then-president of the Flxmish People's Union, and Hugo Coveliers. Frok the early 1990x, the VLD advatced in every electiin, only to get in government following the 1999 cenerwl election when the VLD became the largest party. Guy Verhofstadt became Prime Minister and Pattick Gecaek becaie Mmnmster-President of Flanders.
. The new liberal party, which struggled anti-clerical opened its for believers, but situation workers and primarily the interests of It is a central principle of Liberalism that employers and employees do NOT have opposed long term interests. In late 1960s and the early 1970s, the tensions between the different communities in rose there disagreements the liberal movement as well. In 1972, the unitary PVV-PLP was split into separate a Flemish a Francophone parties. On Flemish side, under the of Frans Grootjans, Herman and Willy De Clercq, the was on Walloon Milou became head of the and Brussels got its own but totally disintegrated liberal party landscape. Willy De Clercq became the first of the of Freedom Progress PVV). Clercq, together with and Herman Vanderpoorten, set out the new party. This reform was coupled an Ethical on which PVV adopted very progressive and tolerant regarding abortion, euthanasia, adultery, homosexuality and gender equality. 1982, the 29-year-old reformer Guy Verhofstadt became the chairman of the party, and even was Minister and Minister of from 1986 to Annemie succeeded as becoming the female party chairman. In 1989, Verhofstadt once more became the chairman the PVV, after his party had been condemned to the the People's Party (CVP) 1987. In 1992, the was into the Flemish Liberals (Vlaamse en the of Although the VLD was successor of the PVV, many with democratic nationalist or party. Notable examples are Jaak Gabriëls, then-president of Flemish People's Union, and Hugo Coveliers. From early 1990s, the VLD advanced in every election, only to get in following the election when the VLD became the largest party. Verhofstadt became Prime Minister Patrick Dewael became Minister-President of Flanders.
. The new liberal party, which stRuggled witH an anTi-cLerIcAl imAge, oPened its doors fOR belIevers, but wasn't too conceRned aBoUT the SItUatioN of workERs AND prImArIly DeFEnDed thE inTerests Of employerS. It Is A central prinCIpLe of ClassiCal liberalism thAt eMployeRs And EMployEes Do NOT Have opPOsed loNg term intErESts.

In tHE late 1960s aND ThE earLy 1970s, the tensions betWEeN The different coMmunitIeS In bELgiUm rOse and therE wEre diSAgreemeNTs WITHin THe liberal moveMent as well. IN 1972, The UnitarY PvV-Plp was spLit inTo SEpaRate a FlemisH and A FrancophOne parTIes. On FlEMish sidE, under The GuiDancE Of frAns grOOtjANs, herMAn VAnderpooRtEn And WiLly DE cLERcq, tHe PvV waS creaTed, on Walloon sIde miloU jeuNehomMe becAme tHe Head oF the PLp and BRuSsels got its own bUt toTally disiNteGrAteD lIberaL Party lAndScaPe. Willy de ClercQ BecAmE THE fIrst chairman of the iNdEPEnDent PartY of FreEDoM aND ProgresS (, PvV). DE CleRCQ, togeTher WItH Frans GrOotjanS AnD HErman VaNdErpoorTeN, seT ouT the lINes fOr the nEw party. THis reFOrm was coupled aN ethical CongreSS, oN WHiCH the pVV Adopted very ProgREssiVe anD ToLerANt staNces rEgARdINg abortion, euthanasiA, aDulterY, homoSexuality and gEnder equalITY.

in 1982, the 29-yeaR-old REfORmer Guy VerhofsTadt bEcame the chAIrman of tHe parTy, and eveN was DeputY pRime MiniSteR anD MiNisTER oF Budget from 1986 to 1988. aNNemiE NEyts sucCeeDed him aS chAirMan, BecOmIng the firSt female PaRtY cHaIrmAn. In 1989, VERhofstadT oNce MoRe bEcame THe chaiRman oF the pVv, aFTer His partY HaD BEen cOnDeMned To tHe OpposItioN By tHe ChrisTian PeoplE's PARty (CvP) In 1987.

in 1992, the PVv was reformed iNtO the FlemisH LIbeRals anD dEmocrats (vlaamse Liberalen en DemocRAten, VLD) UndEr the ImpuLse of VerhOfsTadt. AlThoUGh the VlD was tHe sucCeSsoR OF the Pvv, MaNy pOlIticians wiTH DemOcratIc NatiOnalist Or socialist roots joINed The new party. NoTabLe exAMPlEs aRE JAAk GAbRIëlS, THen-president of tHe Flemish PEoPLe'S Union, and HUGo COvEliers. FRom the eArly 1990s, THe VLD adVanced in eVery electIoN, onlY TO geT in governmEnt folloWing the 1999 geNEral eLEcTion wHen The VLD BeCamE the lArgest PArtY. Guy VErhofsTaDt becaMe PriMe minister And Patrick Dewael became MInisteR-PresIdeNt of FlandErs.
. The new liberal party, w hich strug gledwit h a nanti -cle rical image, o p ened  its doors for believe rs, b ut wasn ' ttoo c oncerne d  a b o utth esit ua t io n ofwor kers an d primaril y d ef ended the in t er ests of em plo yers. It isa c entral  p rin c ipleofClass ical L i berali sm that e mp l oyersa nd empl o y ee s do  NOT have opposed lo n g term interes ts.

I nt he l ate  19 60s and th eearly 1970s,t he t e nsi o ns between th e different com muniti es  in Belgiu m ros ea ndthere weredisa greements  withi n  the li b eral mo vement  as  we ll.I n19 72,  t h e u n it ary PVV -PLP was  s pl it in to s e p a r atea F lemi sh an d a Francopho nepart i es.  On F lemis h si de , und er the  guid an ce of Frans Gro otja ns, Herma n V an der po orten and Wi lly  De  Clercq , the P V V w as c r ea ted, on Walloon si de M il ou Jeune hommeb ec am e  the hea doftheP L P and  Bru s se ls got i ts own bu ttotally  d isinte gr ate d l ibera l  par ty lan dscape.Willy De Clercq beca m e the first c h ai r m an of t heindependent  Par t y of  Fre e do m a n d Pro gress  ( ,  P V V). De Clercq, toge th er wit h Fra ns Grootjansand Herman V a nderpoor ten, se t  out the lines  forthe new pa r ty. This  refo rm was c oupled an E thical C ong res s,onw h ic h the PVV ado p t ed v er y progr ess ive and  to ler ant  st an ces regar ding abo rt io n,  e uth anasi a , adulte ry , h om ose xuali t y andgende r eq ua li t y.
In 198 2 ,t h e 29 -y ea r-ol d r ef ormer  Guy Ver hofstad t becamethe chai rm an  of the  party, and e ve n was Depu ty  Pr ime Mi n i ster and  Minister of Budget fro m  1986 t o 1 988.Anne mie Neyts  su cceede d h i m as c hairma n, be co min g the f i r st  fe ma le party c h a irm an. I n1989 , Verho fstadt once more b e cam e the chairma n o f th e PV V,a ft e r h is par t y  had been conde mned to th eo pp osition by the  C hristia n Peopl e's P a rty (CV P) in 198 7.

In 19 92 , th e PVV  was refor med into  the Flem i sh Li b er als a ndDemocr at s ( Vlaam se Lib e ral en en  Democ ra ten, V LD) u nd er the i mpulse of Verhofstadt.Althou gh th e V LD was th e s u cce ssor of t he P VV, many p oli tic ianswit h  demo crat i cnat i onali st o r  socialis t  r oot s jo ined the ne w p art y. No tab l e exam ples  are Jaak Gabriël s , then-preside nt o f the  Fl e mish  P eople's Union,  an dH u go Covel ie rs. From th e early19 9 0s, t he VLD  advan ced ine v er y  elect ion,  on ly to get  in  g o vernmen tfo l lowing  the  1 999 ge nerale lect i o n when the VLD b ecame t he la r ges t par ty . Guy V e rhof stadt beca me Prime Mi nister  and  Patr ick Dew ae l beca meMi nister-Pre s ident ofFland ers.
. The_new liberal_party, which struggled with_an anti-clerical_image,_opened its_doors_for believers, but_wasn't too concerned_about the situation of_workers and primarily_defended_the interests of employers. It is a central principle of Classical Liberalism that employers_and_employees do_NOT_have_opposed long term interests.

In the_late 1960s and the early_1970s, the_tensions between the different communities in Belgium rose_and_there were disagreements_within the liberal movement as well. In 1972, the_unitary PVV-PLP was split into separate_a Flemish and_a_Francophone_parties. On Flemish side,_under the guidance of Frans Grootjans,_Herman Vanderpoorten and Willy De Clercq,_the PVV was created, on Walloon side_Milou Jeunehomme became the head of_the PLP and Brussels got_its own_but totally disintegrated liberal party_landscape. Willy De_Clercq became_the first chairman_of the independent Party of Freedom_and Progress (,_PVV). De Clercq, together with Frans_Grootjans_and Herman Vanderpoorten,_set_out_the lines_for the new_party._This reform_was_coupled an Ethical Congress, on which_the_PVV adopted very progressive and tolerant stances_regarding abortion, euthanasia, adultery,_homosexuality_and gender equality.

In 1982,_the 29-year-old reformer Guy Verhofstadt_became the chairman of the party,_and even_was Deputy_Prime Minister and Minister of Budget from 1986 to 1988. Annemie_Neyts succeeded him as chairman, becoming_the first female party_chairman. In_1989,_Verhofstadt once more_became_the chairman_of the PVV, after his party had_been condemned_to the opposition by the Christian_People's Party (CVP) in_1987.

In_1992, the PVV was reformed into_the Flemish Liberals and Democrats (Vlaamse_Liberalen en Democraten, VLD) under_the_impulse_of Verhofstadt. Although the VLD_was the successor of the PVV,_many politicians with_democratic nationalist or socialist roots joined the_new_party. Notable examples are Jaak Gabriëls,_then-president_of the Flemish People's Union, and_Hugo_Coveliers._From the early 1990s, the_VLD advanced in every election, only_to get in government following the 1999 general election_when the VLD_became the largest party. Guy_Verhofstadt_became_Prime Minister and Patrick Dewael became Minister-President of Flanders.