The youth wing of the right wing Liberal party VVD has voted Alexander Pechtold, leader of the rival Liberal democratic party D66 as Liberal of the Year.

‘Pechtold stood out last year with his plea for tax cuts and protests about the delays caused by striving for consensus. Unfortunately the cabinet has done little with this Liberal gesture,’ JOVD chairman Christiaan Kwint is quoted as saying.

The young VVD members also appreciate Pechtold’s call for better privacy protection, he said. The VVD is part of the current coalition government and Pechtold’s D66 are in opposition.