The right-wing VVD is promising lower taxes for business owners, more financial benefits for workers and increased spending on defence, while cutting back on healthcare coverage and welfare in its election plans for the October general election.

The 81-page draft manifesto, titled Stronger out of the Storm, was published online Friday evening and will be voted on by members in September. The VVD is the first political party to unveil its election platform during the summer recess.

The VVD focuses heavily on what it describes as the “hard-working Dutch citizen”, with policies aimed at economic growth and reducing red tape for entrepreneurs. For example, small business owners would no longer be required to pay staff for a second year of sick leave.

The party has no plans to cut mortgage tax relief, despite mounting pressure from economists, and has pledged to introduce a new purchasing power law to ensure that people in work always retain a financial advantage over those who do not.

“If you work hard, you should be able to grow and build something,” the manifesto said.

The VVD wants to break the link between social security benefits and the minimum wage, except for pensions and disability allowances. It also proposes cutting benefits for people who refuse suitable work or have poor Dutch language skills.

The party also said it supports a more “efficient” healthcare system, with a smaller basic health insurance package and more personal contributions – without giving details.

Defence spending should increase to 3.5% of GDP to counter the threat from Russia, the manifesto says. If the Netherlands is unable to recruit enough voluntary soldiers, reintroducing compulsory military service should not be ruled out.

Asylum and  immigration is no longer the party’s central focus but it still supports strict limits, including cutting back on the quality of refugee accommodation, and ending priority housing for recognised refugees.

Other proposals include:

• Raising the state pension (AOW) age in line with life expectancy

• Cancelling the law expanding rent controls to more property

• Compulsory military survey for young people

• Lowering the compulsory school age to 4

• Increasing the maximum number of flights at Schiphol airport and opening Lelystad Airport

• Criminalising motorway blockades – as carried out by environmental campaign group Extinction Rebellion and militant farmers.

On the environment – a main stumbling block in the current cabinet – the party has called for a 50% reduction in nitrogen emissions by 2035, but makes no mention of compulsory buy-outs for farmers.