Editing Freedom Front Plus (section)

== Policies and ideology ==
FF Plus is a [[Right-wing politics|right-wing]],<ref name=ideal>{{cite web|url=https://wiredspace.wits.ac.za/jspui/bitstream/10539/15787/2/thesis%20361561_05%20SEP%202014.pdf|title=Party Ideology in South Africa|author=Letita Rohanlall|date=2014|access-date=29 July 2021|archive-date=4 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220204221707/https://wiredspace.wits.ac.za/jspui/bitstream/10539/15787/2/thesis%20361561_05%20SEP%202014.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=cfr>{{cite web |url=https://www.cfr.org/blog/right-wing-white-party-releases-election-manifesto-south-africa |title=Right-Wing White Party Releases Election Manifesto in South Africa |last=Campbell |first=John |date=28 March 2019 |website=cfr.org |publisher=[[Council on Foreign Relations]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329234613/https://www.cfr.org/blog/right-wing-white-party-releases-election-manifesto-south-africa |archive-date=29 March 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=du Plessis |first1=Carien |date=14 April 2024 |title=South Africa election: A guide to party policies |url=https://www.theafricareport.com/343411/south-africa-election-a-guide-to-party-policies/ |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240415045213/https://www.theafricareport.com/343411/south-africa-election-a-guide-to-party-policies/ |archive-date=15 April 2024 |access-date=15 April 2024 |magazine=[[The Africa Report]] |location=Johannesburg}}</ref> [[Conservatism|conservative]]<ref name="ideal" /><ref name=convo>{{cite web |url=https://theconversation.com/navigating-south-africas-loaded-political-lexicon-42791 |title=Navigating South Africa's loaded political lexicon |last=Kotze |first=Dirk |date=9 June 2015 |website=[[The Conversation (website)|The Conversation]] |publisher= |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150731121331/https://theconversation.com/navigating-south-africas-loaded-political-lexicon-42791 |archive-date=31 July 2015 }}</ref><ref name=brill>{{cite book |editor=Bertus de Villiers |editor2=Joseph Marko |editor3=Francesco Palermo |editor4=Sergiu Constantin |title=Litigating the Rights of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples in Domestic and International Courts |url= |quote= As a ''political force'' the Afrikaans community in the 2019 general election principally supported two political parties at a national level, the centrist Democratic Alliance and the conservative Freedom Front Plus (Saba 2019). |date=2021 |page=60 |publisher=[[Brill Publishers|Brill]] |isbn=978-90044-6166-6 }}</ref> political party with its beliefs and ideals largely centred around [[Afrikaners|Afrikaner]] interests'<ref name="Pumza">{{cite news |last1=Fihlani |first1=Pumza |date=11 May 2019 |title=South Africa's election: Five things we've learnt |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-48227127 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108003636/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-48227127 |archive-date=8 November 2020 |work=[[BBC]]}}</ref><ref name="ideal" /><ref name="klara2">{{cite thesis |last=Walterová |first=Klára |date=2009 |title=Afrikaners in the New South Africa: Identity Politics in a Globalised Economy |url=https://dspace.cuni.cz/bitstream/handle/20.500.11956/78024/120228505.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |publisher=[[I.B. Tauris]]}}</ref> and [[Afrikaner nationalism]]<ref name="Pumza" /><ref name=riaan>{{cite thesis |last=Visagie |first=Riaan |date=March 2018 |title=Struggle(s) for Self-determination: Afrikaner Aspirations in the Twenty-first Century |url=https://scholar.sun.ac.za/server/api/core/bitstreams/f544a1bc-3588-4b75-9cc4-a7f78fe0c05c/content |publisher=[[Stellenbosch University]] }}</ref><ref name="ideal" /> with an orientation around [[Christianity|Christian]] values.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Jeffery-Schwikkard |first1=David |date=2022 |title=Religion and Political Parties in South Africa: A Framework and Systematic Review |journal=[[Journal of Southern African Studies]] |publisher=[[Routledge]] |volume=48 |issue=6 |page=1094 |doi=10.1080/03057070.2022.2136820 |doi-access=free|bibcode=2022JSAfS..48.1077J }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=2024 |title=FF Plus Manifesto 2024 |url=https://www.vfplus.org.za/policy/ff-plus-manifesto-2024/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240405201250/https://www.vfplus.org.za/policy/ff-plus-manifesto-2024/ |archive-date=5 April 2024 |website=vfplus.org.za |publisher=}}</ref> With its origins in [[Afrikaner Volksfront]] (Afrikaner People's Front)<ref name="ideal" /><ref name="“garethvos”2">{{Cite web |title=Goodbye, Freedom Front Plus, and thanks for coming |url=https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/opinion/columnists/2013-09-03-goodbye-freedom-front-plus-and-thanks-for-coming/ |access-date=2024-01-28 |website=BusinessLIVE |language=en-ZA}}</ref> and the [[Conservative Party (South Africa)|Conservative Party]], FF Plus's position has shifted to being more moderate and populist since its beginning,<ref name="dm3" /><ref name=love>{{cite news |last1=Love |first1=Jason |date=14 February 2023 |title=As 2024 elections loom, South Africa needs laws to keep small right-wing parties from controlling coalitions |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2023-02-14-sa-needs-laws-to-keep-small-right-wing-parties-from-controlling-coalitions/ |url-status=live |work=[[Daily Maverick]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230319220221/https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2023-02-14-sa-needs-laws-to-keep-small-right-wing-parties-from-controlling-coalitions/ |archive-date=19 March 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=10 May 2019 |title=Election's biggest little winners — FF+ Freedom Front Plus |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2019-05-10-elections-biggest-little-winners-ff/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190513194340/https://mg.co.za/article/2019-05-10-elections-biggest-little-winners-ff/ |archive-date=13 May 2019 |work=Mail & Guardian |publisher=}}</ref> particularly under the leadership of [[Pieter Groenewald]], who has campaigned to alleviate issues within both Afrikaner and Coloured communities, particularly within the Cape provinces ([[Northern Cape]], [[Western Cape]], [[Eastern Cape]]).<ref>{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbenhTRNKnA |title=FF Plus promises to address issues in coloured communities of the Western Cape |date=10 April 2024 |publisher=[[CapeTalk]] |time= |archive-url= |archive-date= |format=}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Grootes |first1=Stephen |date=13 October 2021 |title=Freedom Front Plus – perhaps the most comfortable party of them all |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-10-13-freedom-front-plus-perhaps-the-most-comfortable-party-of-them-all/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211014033418/https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-10-13-freedom-front-plus-perhaps-the-most-comfortable-party-of-them-all/ |archive-date=14 October 2021 |work=Daily Maverick}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Jack |first1=Sipho |date=5 April 2024 |title=FF Plus seeks to appeal across all ethnic groups |url=https://www.iol.co.za/the-star/news/ff-plus-seeks-to-appeal-across-all-ethnic-groups-f1d65c78-76de-479d-ac0b-921eed127009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240405010920/https://www.iol.co.za/the-star/news/ff-plus-seeks-to-appeal-across-all-ethnic-groups-f1d65c78-76de-479d-ac0b-921eed127009 |archive-date=5 April 2024 |work=[[Independent Online]]}}</ref> 

Within the South African political landscape, the FF Plus is considered further to the right than many other parties, however holds significant vote share with the [[Democratic Alliance (South Africa)|Democratic Alliance]] (DA),<ref>{{cite news |last1=du Toit |first1=Pieter |date=11 May 2019 |title=ANALYSIS: How the Freedom Front Plus ate (some of) the DA's lunch |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/elections/elections-voices/how-the-freedom-front-plus-ate-some-of-the-das-lunch-20190511 |work=News24}}</ref><ref name="vox">{{cite news |last1=Kirby |first1=Jen |date=11 May 2019 |title=South Africa's ruling party ANC wins reelection |url=https://www.vox.com/world/2019/5/11/18563327/south-africa-election-anc-ramaphosa |work=[[Vox (website)|Vox]] |publisher=[[Vox Media]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=27 May 2019 |title=Really moving back to the middle is the DA's challenge – Biznews |url=https://irr.org.za/media/really-moving-back-to-the-middle-is-the-da2019s-challenge-biznews |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190527203644/https://irr.org.za/media/really-moving-back-to-the-middle-is-the-da2019s-challenge-biznews |archive-date=27 May 2019 |website=[[South African Institute of Race Relations]]}}</ref> many voters of which moved toward the FF Plus at the [[2019 South African general election|2019 election]].<ref name="vox" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Dhawraj |first1=Ronesh |date=29 February 2024 |title=OPINION: Electoral data points to FF+ doing even better in 2024 polls |url=https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/opinion-electoral-data-points-to-ff-doing-even-better-in-2024-polls/ |work=SABC News}}</ref> Both parties' voters also hold some crossover on policy matters, such as [[Cape independence]]<ref>{{cite news |date=4 September 2023 |title=The DA's crucial decision as support for Cape Independence gains momentum – Robert King |url=https://www.biznews.com/undictated/2023/09/04/das-crucial-decision-cape-independence-robert-king |work=[[Biznews]]}}</ref><ref name="dm3">{{cite news |last1=Pilling |first1=David |last2=Mark |first2=Monica |date=31 March 2024 |title=South African election turns populist as parties play anti-foreigner card |url=https://www.ft.com/content/fab05c4c-27ea-49a5-8750-7649e6b08fd9 |work=[[Financial Times]]}}</ref><ref name="cape">{{cite news |last1=Charles |first1=Marvin |date=8 April 2024 |title=Elections 2024: Tension simmers as Freedom Front Plus eyes coalition with DA in Western Cape |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/elections-2024-tension-simmers-as-freedom-front-plus-eyes-coalition-with-da-in-western-cape-20240408 |work=[[News24 (website)|News24]] |publisher=[[Media24]]}}</ref> and [[federalism]].<ref>{{cite web |date=9 March 2023 |title=The DA's principle of separation of party and state: Potentially problematic? – Biznews |url=https://irr.org.za/media/the-da2019s-principle-of-separation-of-party-and-state-potentially-problematic-biznews |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230311143450/https://irr.org.za/media/the-da2019s-principle-of-separation-of-party-and-state-potentially-problematic-biznews |archive-date=11 March 2023 |website=South African Institute of Race Relations}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=8 August 2023 |title=Cape voters' political watershed looms |url=https://www.iol.co.za/capetimes/opinion/cape-voters-political-watershed-looms-41cd4dbc-0b3c-42b3-811c-fa76c4a90b0e |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810044802/https://www.iol.co.za/capetimes/opinion/cape-voters-political-watershed-looms-41cd4dbc-0b3c-42b3-811c-fa76c4a90b0e |archive-date=10 August 2023 |work=Independent Online |publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=10 November 2021 |title=Phil Craig on the local election results being positive for Cape independence |url=https://www.biznews.com/global-citizen/2021/11/10/cape-independence-craig |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211110200049/https://www.biznews.com/global-citizen/2021/11/10/cape-independence-craig |archive-date=10 November 2021 |work=Biznews |quote=The DA is a federalist party, the Freedom Front is a federalist party, the IFP [Inkatha Freedom Party] is a federalist party.}}</ref>

As of 2021, its stated policy positions include abolishing [[affirmative action]] and replacing it with merit-based appointments,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gerber |first=Jan |title=Elections 2021: 'Stop the decay' - FF Plus at manifesto launch |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/elections-2021-stop-the-decay-ff-plus-at-manifesto-launch-20211009 |access-date=2021-11-03 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}</ref> and opposing the proposed [[Land reform in South Africa|expropriation without compensation land reform]] movement to protect the rights and interests of minorities, especially [[Afrikaners]]<ref>{{cite news |author=Setumo Stone |date=22 April 2014 |title=FF+ to target DA's Afrikaner voting base |url=https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/politics/2014-04-22-ff-to-target-das-afrikaner-voting-base/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140514104917/http://www.bdlive.co.za/national/politics/2014/04/22/ff-to-target-das-afrikaner-voting-base |archive-date=14 May 2014 |work=[[Business Day (South Africa)|Business Day]]}}</ref> and [[Afrikaans]]-speaking Coloureds.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Verwoerd |first=Melanie |title=Melanie Verwoerd {{!}} Is the Freedom Front Plus making the laager bigger? |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/columnists/melanieverwoerd/melanie-verwoerd-is-the-freedom-front-pus-making-the-laager-bigger-20211013 |access-date=2021-11-03 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}</ref> The party also supports greater self-determination for minorities throughout South Africa, and has adopted [[Cape independence]] as an official party position.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gerber |first=Jan |title=Elections 2021: FF Plus 'supports the strive towards independence for the Cape' - manifesto |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/elections-2021-ff-plus-supports-the-strive-towards-independence-for-the-cape-manifesto-20211011 |access-date=2021-11-03 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}</ref> In this regard, the party has put forward legislation in the [[Western Cape Provincial Parliament]] (known as the Western Cape People's Bill) calling for a recognition of Western Cape self-determination.<ref>{{cite web |date=3 October 2023 |title=FF Plus's bill to obtain self-determination for the Western Cape is gaining momentum |url=https://www.vfplus.org.za/media-releases/ff-pluss-bill-to-obtain-self-determination-for-the-western-cape-is-gaining-momentum/ |website=vfplus.org.za}}</ref>

=== Foreign policy ===
The party is critical of what it regards as South Africa's contradictory foreign policy under the governing [[African National Congress]] (ANC).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=National Elections Manifesto 2019 |url=https://www.vfplus.org.za/policy/national-elections-manifesto-2019/ |access-date=2023-10-25 |website=Freedom Front Plus |language=en-US}}</ref> The FF Plus supports the strengthening of relations with countries that "promote self-determination within their own borders",<ref name=":0" /> as well as countries with whom South Africa has strong existing trade ties.<ref name=":0" /> The party has called on South Africa to criticize the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]] and condemn Russia's actions.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Groenewald |first=Dr Pieter |date=2022-03-14 |title=Everyone in South Africa will feel the economic impact of the war in Ukraine |url=https://www.vfplus.org.za/media-releases/everyone-in-south-africa-will-feel-the-economic-impact-of-the-war-in-ukraine/ |access-date=2023-10-25 |website=Freedom Front Plus |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Amashabalala |first=Mawande |date=15 March 2022 |title=ANC government Russia's useful idiot, says FF+ leader Pieter Groenewald |url=https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/2022-03-15-anc-government-russias-useful-idiot-says-ff-leader-pieter-groenewald/ |access-date=2023-10-25 |website=SowetanLIVE |language=en-ZA}}</ref> During the [[Gaza war]], the party expressed support for [[Israel]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hans |first=Bongani |date=15 October 2023 |title=SA leaders lock horns over who's to blame for Israeli-Palestinian conflict |url=https://www.iol.co.za/sundayindependent/news/sa-leaders-lock-horns-over-whos-to-blame-for-israeli-palestinian-conflict-e52ec05c-227b-47e3-8cdd-a1ae68167785}}</ref>