What is Democrats 66?
[[File:D66 logo (2008–2019).svg|thumb|Logo]] '''Democrats 66''', {{lang-nl|Democraten 66}}, official name: ''Politieke Partij Democraten 66'' (shortened ''D66''), is a [[political party]] in the [[Netherlands]]. They are a [[social liberal]] party. The party was formed on 14 October 1966 by a group of young academics led by [[Hans van Mierlo]]. The party had their most success in the 1994 election, where they won 24 out of 150 seats. In the [[Dutch general election, 2010|2010 elections]], they received 654,167 votes and won 10 seats. In the [[Dutch general election, 2012|2012 elections]] they received 757,091 votes and won 12 seats. In the [[Dutch general election, 2017|2017 elections]] they won 19 seats (+7), in the [[2021 Dutch general election|2021 election]] 24 (+5), and in the [[2023 Dutch general election|2023 elections]] 9 (-15). D66 is very supportive of the [[European Union]].<ref>https://d66.nl/standpunten/kiezen-voor-europa/ (Dutch)</ref> They historically supported the legalization of [[gay marriage]], [[prostitution]], and [[euthanasia]]. The party supports [[environmentalism]]<ref>https://d66.nl/standpunten/klimaat-natuur-milieu/ (Dutch)</ref> and wants a [[mixed economy]]. D66 wants tax-cuts for the [[Working class|lower]] and [[middle class|middle classes]]. They also want [[direct democracy]]. == Political leaders == * [[Hans van Mierlo]] - 1966–1973 * [[Jan Terlouw]] - 1973–1982 * [[Laurens Jan Brinkhorst]] - 1982 * [[Maarten Engwirda]] - 1982–1986 * Hans van Mierlo - 1986–1998 * [[Els Borst]] - 1998 * [[Thom de Graaf]] - 1998–2003 * [[Boris Dittrich]] - 2003–2006 * [[Alexander Pechtold]] - 2006–2018 * [[Rob Jetten]] - 2018–2020 (actually only parliamentary leader) * [[Sigrid Kaag]] - 2020–2023 * [[Rob Jetten]] - 2023–present == References == {{reflist}} == Other websites == * [https://d66.nl/ Website of Democrats 66] * [https://internationaal.d66.nl/ Website of Democrats 66 International] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210408122829/https://internationaal.d66.nl/ |date=202