MPs from D66 have put forward an amendment requiring political parties to admit members and give them a direct say in their election manifestos and candidate lists.

D66 MP Joost Sneller said the aim is to ensure that parties taking part in national or European elections operate democratically. “In a democracy, every political party should also be democratic internally,” he said. Parties would remain free to organise this as they see fit, but “the law should set a basic standard”.

Under the proposal, members of any party competing in the national or European elections must be able to vote at least once every four years on the manifesto and on candidates.  Any party that fails to meet the criteria would be barred from standing – a rule that would currently apply to the far-right PVV, whose sole member is Geert Wilders.

CDA leader Henri Bontenbal, who backs the plan, stressed it is not targeting one party in particular.

“No one is untouchable,” he said. “If I do something my party dislikes, members correct me.” He called the change a necessity and insisted the PVV will be excluding itself from elections if it refuses to comply.

Wilders called the plan “a totalitarian reflex”, saying the state should not dictate how political parties are organised. “We are here to hold the government to account, not the other way round. This would be North Korean, not Dutch,” he said.

Some 1.7 million people voted for the PVV at the last election in October, but a number of councillors representing the party at a local and provincial level have recently left, citing unhappiness with decision-making by Wilders and his inner circle.

The PVV does not hold a national conference where supporters can put forward policy ideas and vote on strategy.

The D66 proposal now goes to the Council of State for advice, broadcaster NOS reported.