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When Mark Rutte took office as party leader, the VVD stood firm for liberal hobbyhorses such as a small government and low taxes, a party that stands up for entrepreneurs, homeowners and motorists. The then PvdA finance minister Wouter Bos was depicted in a campaign film as someone with a hole in his hand. If things went wrong, government spending should be reduced, not burdening citizens with tax increases, according to the VVD.