Editing Freedom Front Plus

{{short description|Political party in South Africa}}
{{Use South African English|date=October 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox political party
| name             = Freedom Front Plus
| native_name      = Vryheidsfront Plus
| logo             = Freedom Front Plus.svg
| logo_size        = 125
| colorcode        = {{party color|Freedom Front Plus}}
| abbreviation     = VF Plus<br>VF+
| leader1_title    = [[#Party leader|Leader]]
| leader1_name     = [[Corné Mulder]]
| leader2_title    = Chairperson
| leader2_name     = [[Wouter Wessels]]
| leader3_title    = Spokesperson
| leader3_name     = Pieter Swart
| leader4_title    = Chief whip
| leader4_name     = [[Wouter Wessels]]
| leader5_title    = 
| leader5_name     = 
| founder          = [[Constand Viljoen]]
| founded          = {{start date and age|1 March 1994|df=y}}
| registered       = 4 March 1994
| dissolved        = 
| merger           = {{ubl|class = nowrap
 | '''2003:'''
 | [[Conservative Party (South Africa)|Conservative Party]]
 | [[Afrikaner Eenheidsbeweging]]
 | '''2006:'''
 | [[Federal Alliance (South Africa)|Federal Alliance]]
}}
| split            = [[Afrikaner Volksfront]]
| headquarters     = Charles de Gaulle Crescent, [[Centurion, Gauteng|Centurion]], [[Gauteng]]
| newspaper        = 
| youth_wing       = Vryheidsfront Plus-Jeug
| wing1_title      = 
| wing1            = 
| membership_year  = 2008
| membership       = 25–30,000<ref name=Neil>{{cite journal |last1=Southern |first1=Neil |date=2008 |title=The Freedom Front Plus: an analysis of Afrikaner politics and ethnic identity in the new South Africa |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13569770802519383 |journal=[[Contemporary Politics]] |publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]] |volume=14 |issue=4 |pages=463–478 |doi=10.1080/13569770802519383 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>
| ideology         = {{ubl|class = nowrap
 | [[Afrikaner nationalism]]
 | [[Conservatism]]
 | [[Self-determination]]
 | [[Anti-communism]]
 | [[Anti-socialism]]
 | [[Christian nationalism]]
}}
| position         = [[Right-wing politics|Right-wing]]
| religion         = 
| affiliation1_title = Provincial Affiliation
| affiliation1     = CapeXit Election Accord<ref>{{cite web |title=The Referendum Party signs CapeXit election accord |url=https://www.referendumparty.org/news/the-referendum-party-signs-the-capexit-election-accord |website=Referendum Party (News) |access-date=20 May 2024}}</ref>
| national         = {{ubl|class=nowrap|
 |'''Since 2023:'''
 |[[Multi-Party Charter]] (MPC)
 |'''2003–2006:'''
 |[[Conservative Party (South Africa)|KP]]–[[Afrikaner Eenheidsbeweging|AEB]]–[[Federal Alliance (South Africa)|FA]]
}}
| international    = [[Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization|UNPO]]
| colours          = {{colorbox|{{party color|Freedom Front Plus}}|border=silver}} [[Orange (colour)|Orange]] {{colorbox|#008000|border=silver}} [[Green]]
| slogan           = ''Slaan Terug'' (Fight Back)<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 |work=[[Mail & Guardian]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190710131252/https://mg.co.za/article/2019-05-10-elections-biggest-little-winners-ff/ |archive-date=10 July 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Haffajee
 |first1=Ferial |date=14 May 2019 |title=White anxiety and the rise of the Freedom Front Plus |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2019-05-14-white-anxiety-and-the-rise-of-the-freedom-front-plus/ |url-status=live |work=Daily Maverick |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724024157/https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2019-05-14-white-anxiety-and-the-rise-of-the-freedom-front-plus/ |archive-date=24 July 2019 }}</ref>
| anthem           = 
| seats1_title     = [[National Assembly (South Africa)|National Assembly]]
| seats1           = {{Composition bar|6|400|hex={{party color|Freedom Front Plus}}}}
| seats2_title     = [[National Council of Provinces]]
| seats2           = {{Composition bar|2|90|hex={{party color|Freedom Front Plus}}}}
| seats3_title     = [[Provincial legislature (South Africa)|Provincial Legislatures]]
| seats3           = {{Composition bar|9|487|hex={{party color|Freedom Front Plus}}}}
| seats4_title     = [[City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality|City of Tshwane]]
| seats4           = {{Composition bar|17|214|hex={{party color|Freedom Front Plus}}}}
| seats5_title     = [[City of Cape Town|Cape Town City Council]]
| seats5           = {{Composition bar|4|231|hex={{party colour|Freedom Front Plus}}}}
| website          = {{Official URL}}
| country          = South Africa
}}

The '''Freedom Front Plus''' ('''FF Plus''' or '''FF+'''; {{langx|af|Vryheidsfront Plus}}, ''VF Plus'') is a [[right-wing]] political party in [[South Africa]] that was formed (as the Freedom Front) in 1994. It is led by [[Corné Mulder]]. Since 2024, it is a part of the current South African [[Third Cabinet of Cyril Ramaphosa|government of national unity]] together with the [[African National Congress]] (ANC), the [[Democratic Alliance (South Africa)|Democratic Alliance]] and other parties.

==History==
===Origins as the Freedom Front (1994{{ndash}}2003)===
The Freedom Front was founded on 1 March 1994 by members of the [[Afrikaners|Afrikaner community]] under [[Constand Viljoen]], after he had left the [[Afrikaner Volksfront]] amidst disagreements. Seeking to achieve his goals through electoral means, Viljoen registered the Freedom Front with the [[Independent Electoral Commission (South Africa)|Independent Electoral Commission]] (IEC) on 4 March 1994 to take part in the April [[South African general election, 1994|1994 general elections]] (This date has also been given as 7 March).{{citation needed|date=September 2023}} On 12 March 1994 Viljoen handed in a list of candidates for the FF to the IEC, confirming that his party would take part in the elections.

In the election, under the leadership of Viljoen, the Freedom Front received 2.2% of the national vote (with 424,555 votes cast), earning nine seats in the [[National Assembly of South Africa|National Assembly]], and 3.3% (with 639,643 votes cast) of the combined vote to the nine provincial legislatures. This suggested that many Afrikaners had split their vote. The party performed the best in the rural areas of the former [[Transvaal Province|Transvaal]] and [[Orange Free State Province|Orange Free State]], and was noted by the new deputy president [[Thabo Mbeki]] as representing possibly as much as half the Afrikaner voting population in these areas, with the strongest support among farmers and the working class.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.politicsweb.co.za/news-and-analysis/unmandated-reflections--thabo-mbeki|title=Unmandated reflections - Thabo Mbeki - NEWS & ANALYSIS - Politicsweb|website=www.politicsweb.co.za|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160918070650/http://www.politicsweb.co.za/news-and-analysis/unmandated-reflections--thabo-mbeki|archive-date=18 September 2016}}</ref>

Freedom Front support gradually eroded in the coming years, as the party was strung along in ultimately fruitless negotiations with the [[African National Congress]] (ANC) to create a [[Volkstaat]] making the party lose its importance. It would also receive increased competition from new parties such as the [[Afrikaner Eenheidsbeweging]]. In the [[South African general election, 1999|1999 election]] their support dropped to 0.8% (127,217 votes cast) with three seats in the National Assembly and between 1 and 2% in its stronghold provinces. This represented a respectable portion of the Afrikaner vote, but nowhere near earlier levels. The party's support remained relatively stable in all national elections held during the next twenty years.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dhawraj |first=Ronesh |date=2024-02-29 |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 |access-date=2024-08-23 |website=Voice of the Cape |language=en-GB}}</ref>

In 2001, Viljoen retired and [[Pieter Mulder]] was elected as leader.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cape |first=Voice of the |date=2016-11-14 |title=Stepping down as FF Plus leader was imperative: Mulder |url=https://www.vocfm.co.za/stepping-down-as-ff-plus-leader-was-imperative-mulder/ |access-date=2024-08-23 |website=Voice of the Cape |language=en-GB}}</ref>

===Formation of the FF+ and early years (2003{{ndash}}2016)===
{{More citations needed section|date=November 2021}}
[[File:Freedom Front old logo.svg|left|150px|thumb|Freedom Front logo between 1994 and 2003]]
In 2003, shortly before the [[2004 South African general election|2004 general election]], the [[Conservative Party (South Africa)|Conservative Party]], the [[Afrikaner Eenheidsbeweging]] and the Freedom Front decided to contest the election as a single entity under the name Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus or FF+), led by Mulder. Later, the [[Federal Alliance (South Africa)|Federal Alliance]] also joined the VF+/FF+.

Under Mulder's leadership the party's support remained relatively stable.

In the [[2004 South African general election|2004 general election]], support for the Freedom Front Plus rose slightly to 0.89% (139,465 votes cast). The party won one seat in most of the provincial legislatures, and four seats in the National Assembly.

In the [[2006 South African municipal election|2006 municipal elections]], the FF Plus received 1% of the popular vote (252,253 votes cast).

In the [[2009 South African general election|2009 general election]], the party received 0.83% (146,796 votes cast) and retained its four seats in the National Assembly but lost its seats in the provincial legislatures of North West, Mpumalanga and Northern Cape. After the elections, the FF Plus's leader Pieter Mulder was appointed as Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries by the new President [[Jacob Zuma]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Statement by President Jacob Zuma on the appointment of the new Cabinet {{!}} South African Government |url=https://www.gov.za/news/speeches/statement-president-jacob-zuma-appointment-new-cabinet-10-may-2009 |website=www.gov.za}}</ref>

In the [[2014 South African general election|2014 general election]], the FF Plus increased its vote slightly to 0.9%. It retained its 4 MPs, and also regained a seat in the North West.<ref>{{cite news |title=2014 Elections: Seats in Parliament |url=https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/2014-elections-seats-parliament |access-date=26 January 2020 |newspaper=sanews.gov.za |date=10 May 2014 |location=Pretoria}}</ref>

The party also enjoyed consistent landslide victories in the Afrikaner enclave [[Orania, Northern Cape|Orania]].<ref>{{cite web|date=23 April 2009|title=Orania votes for FF Plus|url=http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=3086&art_id=nw20090423062148232C569880|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100218073313/http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=3086&art_id=nw20090423062148232C569880|archive-date=18 February 2010|publisher=IOL}}</ref>{{efn|[[2024 South African general election|2004]] 84.95%, [[2009 South African general election|2009]] 86.73%, [[2014 South African general election|2014]] 76.89%, [[2019 South African general election|2019]] 79.40%, [[2024 South African general election|2024]] 65.62%}}

Along with other parties, the FF Plus entered into coalition with the [[Democratic Alliance (South Africa)|Democratic Alliance]] (DA) after the 2016 municipal elections to govern [[City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality|Johannesburg]], [[City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality|Tshwane]] and several other municipalities.

===Groenewald leadership and resurgence (2016{{ndash}}present)===
In 2016, [[Pieter Groenewald]] took over leadership of the FF Plus. He oversaw a pivot of the party away from being an exclusive abode for Afrikaners to that of one for all minorities, with a special focus on Afrikaans-speaking minorities.<ref>{{Cite web|title=FF+ to focus on interests of minority {{!}} eNCA|url=https://www.enca.com/news/ff-focus-interests-minority|access-date=2021-11-03|website=www.enca.com|language=en}}</ref> This was highlighted when the FF Plus and the Bruin Bemagtiging Beweging (Brown Movement) {{ndash}} an interest group focused on Coloureds led by [[Peter Marais]], the former premier of the Western Cape<ref>{{Cite web|date=2013|title=Brown Movement not a Political Party|url=https://www.news24.com/News24/Brown-Movement-not-a-political-party-20130618|website=News24}}</ref> {{ndash}} formed an official alliance.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Grant Marais of FF+ follows in his well-known father's political footsteps|url=https://www.iol.co.za/capeargus/news/grant-marais-of-ff-follows-in-his-well-known-fathers-political-footsteps-ddd341a2-1bfc-4bef-9c6e-66b73d8017f9|access-date=2021-11-03|website=www.iol.co.za|language=en}}</ref> This ultimately led to Marais being elected as the party's candidate for premier of the Western Cape for the 2019 elections.<ref>{{Cite web|title=ANALYSIS: The who, why and what of the Freedom Front Plus|url=https://www.news24.com/news24/elections/voices/analysis-the-who-why-and-what-of-the-freedom-front-plus-20190513|access-date=2021-12-02|website=News24|language=en-US}}</ref>

==== 2019 national and provincial elections ====
FF Plus voter support increased substantially in the [[2019 South African general election|2019 general election]], with the party growing its vote total by 250,000, to 2.38% of the national vote, earning ten seats in the National Assembly. This was more than the nine seats that the old Freedom Front had received in 1994. Additionally, it gained eight seats in the provincial legislatures, for a total of eleven. In the 2014 general election, the FF Plus won seats in three provincial legislatures, in 2019, it won seats in eight out of the nine provincial legislatures. Its new supporters were largely Afrikaners and [[Coloureds|Coloured]] voters from the [[Western Cape]] who had previously supported the DA.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Brandt|first1=Kevin|date=10 May 2019|title=Targeting minorities helped grow our support - FF Plus|newspaper=EWN|url=https://ewn.co.za/2019/05/10/ff-plus-believes-it-gained-support-in-nc-by-targeting-minorities|access-date=26 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Mailovich|first1=Claudi|date=9 May 2019|title=FF Plus defies expectations|newspaper=BusinessLIVE|url=https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/national/2019-05-09-ff-plus-on-track-to-being-biggest-success-story-of-election-2019/|access-date=26 January 2020}}</ref>

Following the [[2019 South African general election|2019 general election]], the FF Plus won three wards from the [[Democratic Alliance (South Africa)|Democratic Alliance]] (DA) in municipal by-elections in the [[North West (South African province)|North West]] Province and continued to show growth in various other municipal by-elections in [[Gauteng]], [[Limpopo]] and [[Mpumalanga]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sussman |first1=Wayne |title=FF+ makes loud statement in Stilfontein |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2019-07-11-ff-makes-loud-statement-in-stilfontein/ |access-date=26 January 2020 |newspaper=The Daily Maverick |date=11 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Joubert |first1=Jan-Jan |title=Recent municipal ward by-elections result in losses for the DA |url=https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/municipal-ward-by-elections-losses-for-the-da/ |access-date=26 January 2020 |newspaper=The Daily Maverick |date=19 September 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Mamusa by-election: Good news for EFF, but DA slide against FF+ continues |url=https://citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/elections/2229204/mamusa-by-election-good-news-for-eff-but-da-slide-against-ff-continues/ |access-date=26 January 2020 |newspaper=The Citizen |date=16 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Head |first1=Tom |title=Schweizer-Reneke: DA disaster, as they lose third ward in six months to FF Plus |url=https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/schweizer-reneke-by-election-results-da-ff-plus-support/ |access-date=26 January 2020 |newspaper=The South African |date=16 January 2020}}</ref>

==== 2021 municipal elections and aftermath ====
In the run up to the [[2021 South African municipal elections|2021 local government elections]], the FF Plus adopted [[Cape Independence]] as an official party position. They and CapeXit had a joint election campaign in the Western Cape to highlight the party's stance on Cape Independence. Over 60% of the FF Plus's ward councillors standing in the Western Cape were Coloureds, with [[Lennit Max]] being the party's candidate for mayor of Cape Town.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Gerber|first=Jan|title=FF Plus formally joins secessionist CapeXit in awareness campaign|url=https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/ff-plus-formally-joins-secessionist-capexit-in-awareness-campaign-20211025|access-date=2021-11-03|website=News24|language=en-US}}</ref> The party claims that their candidates are selected purely on merit in contrast to the DA.<ref>{{Cite web|title=I was a project for the DA, says Cape Town FF Plus mayor hopeful Lennit Max|url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/i-was-a-project-for-the-da-says-cape-town-ff-plus-mayor-hopeful-lennit-max-72a0e14c-052f-4564-a15b-6cf2dfe15f0e|access-date=2021-11-03|website=www.iol.co.za|language=en}}</ref>

The FF Plus continued their gains in the Western Cape as a result, being in the [[kingmaker]] position in over 6 districts.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Gerber|first=Jan|title=While the ANC and DA are on the wane, the FF Plus and PA gain|url=https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/while-the-anc-and-da-are-on-the-wane-the-ff-plus-and-pa-gain-20211102|access-date=2021-11-03|website=News24|language=en-US}}</ref> In 2022, FF Plus member Manicks Mpunwana became a city councilor in [[Bela-Bela]], becoming the first black South African to serve as a councilor from the FF Plus.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Boonzaaier |first=Dawie |date=2022-11-20 |title=FF Plus gets first black council rep |url=https://www.news24.com/citypress/politics/ff-plus-gets-first-black-council-rep-20221120 |access-date=2024-07-01 |website=City Press |language=en-US}}</ref>

==== 2024 election and Government of National Unity ====

In the [[2024 South African general election|2024 general election]], the FF Plus gave up many of the gains it had previously made against the DA, winning only six seats in Parliament (National Assembly) with 1.36% of the vote.<ref>{{cite web |title=Election Results and Allocation of Seats in Parliament (National Assembly) and Provincial Legislatures: 2024 |url=https://pmg.org.za/blog/Election%20Results%20and%20Allocation%20of%20Seats%20in%20Parliament%20National%20Assembly%20and%20Provincial%20Legislatures%202024 |access-date=2 August 2024 |website=pmg.org.za}}</ref>  In June 2024, Freedom Front Plus agreed to join the ANC-led [[Government of National Unity (South Africa)|government of national unity]] (GNU) also known as the [[Third Cabinet of Cyril Ramaphosa]]. The leader of the FF Plus, Pieter Groenewald, became [[Minister of Correctional Services (South Africa)|Minister of Correctional Services]] in the new Cabinet.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Groenewald |first1=Dr Pieter |title=Cabinet position in GNU offers FF Plus opportunity to actively contribute to restoring and rebuilding South Africa |url=https://www.vfplus.org.za/latest-news/cabinet-position-in-gnu-offers-ff-plus-opportunity-to-actively-contribute-to-restoring-and-rebuilding-south-africa/ |website=Freedom Front Plus |date=30 June 2024}}</ref> Following Groenewald's appointment, leadership changes occurred in the party's parliamentary caucus which saw [[Corné Mulder]] succeed Groenewald as parliamentary leader and [[Wouter Wessels]] succeed Mulder as chief whip.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wessels |first=Wouter |date=2024-07-22 |title=Minister’s post for FF Plus leader necessitates minor changes to party’s parliamentary leadership |url=https://www.vfplus.org.za/media-releases/ministers-post-for-ff-plus-leader-necessitates-minor-changes-to-partys-parliamentary-leadership/ |access-date=2025-02-22 |website=Freedom Front Plus |language=en-US}}</ref>

On 22 February 2025, Mulder was elected unopposed to succeed Groenewald as party leader after the latter chose not to seek re-election.<ref>{{Cite news |date=22 February 2025 |title=Dr. Corné Mulder takes over the helm at FF Plus |url=https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/1015872-2/ |access-date=22 February 2025 |work=SABC News}}</ref> However, Groenewald remained in his ministerial position.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pieter Groenewald steps down as FF Plus leader to focus on ministerial duties |url=https://plainsman.co.za/news/politics/2025-03-04-pieter-groenewald-steps-down-as-ff-plus-leader-to-focus-on-ministerial-duties/ |work=Plainsman |language=en}}</ref>

== 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>

==Leaders==
===Party leader===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan=2| No.
! Leader<br /><small>(birth–death)</small>
! Portrait
! From
! Took office
! |Left office
! Duration of tenure
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Freedom Front Plus}}|
! 1
| [[Constand Viljoen]]<br /><small>(1933–2020)</small>
| [[File:Constand Viljoen c. 1985.png|85px]]
| National list
| 1 March 1994
| 26 June 2001
! style="font-size:90%; font-weight:normal"| {{age in years and days|1 March 1994|26 June 2001|sep=and|duration=on}}
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Freedom Front Plus}}|
! 2
| [[Pieter Mulder]]<br /><small>(b. 1951)</small>
| [[File:SA Deputy Minister of Agriculture Pieter Mulder.jpg|85px]]
| National list
| 26 June 2001
| 12 November 2016
! style="font-size:90%; font-weight:normal"| {{age in years and days|26 June 2001|12 November 2016|sep=and|duration=on}}
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Freedom Front Plus}}|
! 3
| [[Pieter Groenewald]]<br /><small>(b. 1955)</small>
| [[File:PJ Groenewald (cropped).jpg|85px]]
| National list
| 12 November 2016
| 22 February 2025
! style="font-size:90%; font-weight:normal"| {{age in years and days|12 November 2016|22 February 2025|sep=and|duration=no}}
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Freedom Front Plus}}|
! 4
| [[Corné Mulder]]<br /><small>(b. 1958)</small>
| [[File:Corne Mulder.jpg|85px]]
| Western Cape list
| 22 February 2025
| ''[[Incumbent]]''
! style="font-size:90%; font-weight:normal"| {{age in years and days|22 February 2025|sep=and}}
|}

== Election results ==
[[File:South Africa national election 2019 winner by VD.svg|thumb|270px|right|Results of the [[2019 South African general election]] by voting district. Those which the FF Plus won are in orange]]
These tables show the electoral performance for the FF Plus since the advent of democracy in 1994:
[[File:RSA 1994 VF.png|left|thumb|Results for the Freedom Front in the 1994 Election]]

===National Assembly elections===

{{election table}}
|-
! Election
! Total votes
! Share of vote
! Seats 
! +/-
! Government
|-
! [[South African general election, 1994|1994]]
| 424,555
| 2.17%
| {{Composition bar|9|400|hex={{party color|Freedom Front Plus}}}}
| –
| {{no2|in opposition<br/>largest opposition party (1994–1996)}}
|-
! [[South African general election, 1999|1999]]
| 127,217
| 0.80%
| {{Composition bar|3|400|hex={{party color|Freedom Front Plus}}}}
| {{decrease}} 6
| {{no2|in opposition}}
|-
! [[South African general election, 2004|2004]]
| 139,465
| 0.89%
| {{Composition bar|4|400|hex={{party color|Freedom Front Plus}}}}
| {{increase}} 1
| {{no2|in opposition}}
|-
! [[South African general election, 2009|2009]]
| 146,796
| 0.83%
| {{Composition bar|4|400|hex={{party color|Freedom Front Plus}}}}
| {{steady}} ±0
| {{no2|in opposition <br/>delivered one deputy minister}}
|-
! [[South African general election, 2014|2014]]
| 165,715
| 0.90%
| {{Composition bar|4|400|hex={{party color|Freedom Front Plus}}}}
| {{steady}} ±0
| {{no2|in opposition}}
|-
! [[South African general election, 2019|2019]]
| 414,864
| 2.38%
| {{Composition bar|10|400|hex={{party color|Freedom Front Plus}}}}
| {{Increase}} 6
| {{no2|in opposition}}
|-
![[2024 South African general election|2024]]
|218,850
|1.36%{{efn|From 2024, seats in the National Assembly are determined by a combination of the national ballot, and the nine regional ballots. Only the national ballot figures are shown here.}}
|{{Composition bar|6|400|hex={{party color|Freedom Front Plus}}}}
|{{decrease}} 4
|{{yes2|[[African National Congress|ANC]]–[[Democratic Alliance (South Africa)|DA]]–[[Inkatha Freedom Party|IFP]]–[[Patriotic Alliance|PA]]–[[Good (political party)|GOOD]]–[[Pan Africanist Congress of Azania|PAC]]–VF+–[[United Democratic Movement|UDM]]–[[Rise Mzansi|RISE]]-[[Al Jama-ah|ALJ]] coalition government}}
|}
{{Notelist}}

===Provincial elections===
{{election table}}
! rowspan=2 | Election<ref name="dash">{{Cite web |url=https://www.elections.org.za/NPEDashboard/app/dashboard.html |title=Results Dashboard| website=www.elections.org.za |access-date=2019-05-11}}</ref>
! colspan=2 | [[Eastern Cape]]
! colspan=2 | [[Free State (South African province)|Free State]]
! colspan=2 | [[Gauteng]]
! colspan=2 | [[KwaZulu-Natal|Kwazulu-Natal]]
! colspan=2 | [[Limpopo]]
! colspan=2 | [[Mpumalanga]]
! colspan=2 | [[North West (South African province)|North-West]]
! colspan=2 | [[Northern Cape]]
! colspan=2 | [[Western Cape]]
|-
! % !! Seats
! % !! Seats
! % !! Seats
! % !! Seats
! % !! Seats
! % !! Seats
! % !! Seats
! % !! Seats
! % !! Seats
|-
! [[South African general election, 1994|1994]]
| 0.8% || 0/56
| 6.0% || 2/30
| 6.2% || 5/86
| 0.5% || 0/81
| 2.2% || 1/40
| 5.7% || 2/30
| 4.6% || 1/30
| 6.0% || 2/30
| 2.1% || 1/42
|-
! [[South African general election, 1999|1999]]
| 0.3% || 0/63
| 2.1% || 1/30
| 1.3% || 1/73
| 0.2% || 0/80
| 0.7% || 0/49
| 1.7% || 1/30
| 1.4% || 1/33
| 1.7% || 1/30
| 0.4% || 0/42
|-
! [[South African general election, 2004|2004]]
| 0.3% || 0/63
| 2.5% || 1/30
| 1.3% || 1/73
| 0.3% || 0/80
| 0.6% || 0/49
| 1.2% || 1/30
| 1.3% || 1/33
| 1.6% || 1/30
| 0.6% || 0/42
|-
! [[South African general election, 2009|2009]]
| 0.2% || 0/63
| 2.0% || 1/30
| 1.6% || 1/73
| 0.8% || 0/80
| 0.6% || 0/49
| 0.9% || 0/30
| 1.8% || 0/33
| 1.2% || 0/30
| 0.4% || 0/42
|-
! [[South African general election, 2014|2014]]
| 0.3% || 0/63
| 2.1% || 1/30
| 1.2% || 1/73
| 0.2% || 0/80
| 0.7% || 0/49
| 0.8% || 0/30
| 1.7% || 1/33
| 1.1% || 0/30
| 0.6% || 0/42
|-
! [[South African general election, 2019|2019]]
| 0.6% || 1/63
| 4.0% || 1/30
| 3.6% || 3/73
| 0.3% || 0/80
| 1.4% || 1/49
| 2.4% || 1/30
| 4.3% || 2/33
| 2.7% || 1/30
| 1.6% || 1/42
|-
! [[South African general election, 2024|2024]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=NPE Results Dashboard 2024 |url=https://results.elections.org.za/dashboards/npe/ |access-date=2024-06-11 |website=results.elections.org.za}}</ref>
| 0.5% || 1/73
| 3.0% || 1/30
| 2.3% || 2/80
| 0.2% || 0/80
| 1.1% || 1/64
| 1.5% || 1/51
| 2.6% || 1/38
| 1.8% || 1/30
| 1.5% || 1/42
|}

===Municipal elections===
{{election table}}
|-
! Election
! Ward + PR votes
! Share of vote
|-
! [[South African municipal election, 1995–1996|1995–96]]
| 230 845
| 2.7%
|-
! [[South African municipal election, 2000|2000]]
| {{n/a|''Not released''}}
| 0.1%
|-
! [[South African municipal election, 2006|2006]]
| 185 960
| 0.9%
|-
! [[South African municipal election, 2011|2011]]
| 120,519
| 0.5%
|-
! [[South African municipal election, 2016|2016]]
| 229,281
| 0.8%
|-
! [[2021 South African municipal elections|2021]]
| 549,349
| 2.3%
|-
|}

==See also==
{{Portal|South Africa|Politics}}
* [[Afrikaner]]
* [[Cape independence]]
* [[Coloureds]]
* [[Multi-Party Charter]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}
==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==External links==
*{{commons category-inline}}
*{{official|http://www.vfplus.org.za/ }}
*[http://www.satalent.co.za/ SA Talent]
*[http://www.unpo.org/ Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation]
{{Freedom Front Plus}}
{{South Africa political parties}}
{{Politics of South Africa navbox}}
{{Political history of South Africa}}
{{South Africa topics}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Articles containing Afrikaans-language text]]
[[Category:1994 establishments in South Africa]]
[[Category:Afrikaner organizations]]
[[Category:Anti-communist organisations in South Africa]]
[[Category:Anti-communist parties]]
[[Category:Boer nationalism]]
[[Category:Christian democratic parties in Africa]]
[[Category:Christian nationalism]]
[[Category:Members of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 1994]]
[[Category:Political parties of minorities in South Africa]]
[[Category:Separatism in South Africa]]
[[Category:Protestant political parties]]
[[Category:Conservative parties in South Africa]]
[[Category:Social conservative parties]]
[[Category:National conservative parties]]
[[Category:Right-wing populist parties]]
[[Category:White nationalist parties in South Africa]]
[[Category:White separatism]]