Manila 2011
Liberal International congratulates ELDR, its member parties, and the ALDE group in the European Parliament for the continuous growth of their political importance and for the increased citizen-oriented European policies. The role of the liberals in the European Parliament and the European Commission provides assurance for development of high quality European policies and for protection of the rights and freedoms of the European citizens. LI emphasizes the importance of the ELDR Congresses, which at the last one organized in Helsinki in October 2010 gathered leading European politicians and over 700 delegates. Liberal International supports the ALDE and ELDR in their efforts to restore the EU to economic prosperity, and joint European efforts to restore the economies of financially mismanaged countries such as Greece, Ireland and Portugal.
Liberal International welcomes the continuous interest and support expressed by European liberals for developments throughout the world and free trade, which emphasises the importance of good coordination among ALDE, ELDR and Liberal International.
Liberal International applauds the electoral victories and results of the liberals in Europe, as well as the increased involvement of liberal parties in governments throughout the continent.
Liberal International strongly congratulates the Dutch elections of Spring 2010 in which LI members VVD and D66 made impressive gains, and in which VVD became the largest party in the Netherlands. LI congratulates Mark Rutte, the first liberal Prime Minister in the Netherlands in a century, in particular his party’s goal to stabilize the Dutch economy.
Liberal International congratulates the Liberal Democrats (UK) for their May 2010 electoral success, which brought a liberal party into power for the first time since the Second World War. LI supports the liberal aspects of the austerity program introduced in the UK, aimed to curb previous excessive spending of Labour government. LI regrets the losses by the LibDems in the UK local elections and parliamentary elections in Scotland and Wales on 6th May 2011.
Liberal International expresses its congratulations to the Estonian Reform Party, for winning the parliamentary elections and continuing the liberal government. Liberal International applauds the government of Andrus Ansip for the way it managed the economic crisis, and for returning the country on the path to economic growth and financial stability that enabled Estonia to join the Eurozone recently. Estonia remains as an example to many.
Liberal International congratulates the Centre Party and Folkpartiet Liberalerna for the election result in October 2010. The election resulted in retaining the coalition government in Sweden, and thus enabling changing Sweden into a more liberal, prosperous and environmentally friendly country.
Liberal International expresses its support for the victory of the liberal forces at the Catalan elections in November 2010. The election of Artur Mas as President of Catalonia sends a message of confidence that liberalism has support and future in the wider area of Southern Europe. LI expresses hope for an increased structural cooperation between Liberal International and Convergencia Democratica de Catalunya.
Liberal International congratulates the election success of the Andorran liberals at the early elections in April 2011. The return to governance after being only 1.5 years in opposition demonstrates that the people of Andorra recognized that the previous liberal government of 12 years ensured prosperity and development of the country. LI expresses its support to the new, governing coalition of Andorra in which LI member PLA will take a primary role.
Liberal International follows the political situation in Bulgaria and expresses its full support for the two liberal parties – Movement for rights and Freedoms and NMSS – for the decisive local and presidential elections, which will take place on the 23rd of October 2011. The presidential elections should set the new course in Bulgarian politics based on a strategic vision for the development of the country in light of the EU membership and Europa 2020 programme. Bulgarian civil society and politicians should continue to consolidate the basis of political and social rights and empower Bulgarian citizens to exercise those rights vis-a-vis the fully-fledged membership of the European Union. Liberal International congratulates MRF and NMSS for the liberal policies they promote as well as for their firm stance against populism.
Liberal International calls for continuation of the EU enlargement policy towards the candidate and the potential candidate countries. The inclusion of Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Iceland, Serbia, BosniaHerzegovina, Kosovo, as well as Turkey, should remain EU priority. In that respect, the implementation of the Copenhagen criteria for membership is essential. Hence, LI calls for doubling of the efforts in all the mentioned states towards their goal of joining the European Union. Liberal International deplores the abuse of the bilateral problems by EU member states to block the adhesion of certain countries to the Union. In that sense, while emphasizing the need to find a mutually-acceptable solution to the Macedonia-Greece name dispute, LI again expresses support to the Macedonian ethnic, linguistic and cultural identity. The “name issue” should not block the eventual EU membership of Macedonia.
Recalling a 2010 Liberal delegation to Turkey, Liberal International calls for continued exploration into the Turkish accession to the EU. As a country that bridges both Asia and Europe, Turkey remains an essential friend and ally in the cause of Islamic de-radicalization, as it truly is a country that encompasses the “East”• and “West”. As the European Parliament stated earlier this year, Turkey should immediately end its military occupation of the northern part of Cyprus. Furthermore LI strongly urges the two communities in Cyprus to work intensively, in accordance with the UN Secretary-General’s request, to capitalise on progress already made in negotiations in order to reach a sustainable solution.
Liberal International welcomes the work done by various liberal partners in Europe, especially their work in developing common and comprehensive policies in the area of EU’s “Eastern Partnership”. LI asserts that a strong, grassroots liberal presence will help entrench key liberal values such as democracy, individual and human rights, the rule of law, as well as a free market.
Liberal International also calls to attention the general, continued plight of LGBT individuals around the world and welcomes the statement of ALDE that LGBT rights must not stop at the EU borders. In that line, LI seeks clarification on certain issues of freedom of assembly in both Moldova and Lithuania, specifically with regards to the right to march on particular issues such as LGBT rights. Russia has experienced similar attitude with cases of political and physical harassment. The new Hungarian constitution raises concern on that matter. Under the broader umbrella of individual liberties, a cornerstone of LI’s founding document the Oxford Manifesto, Liberal International asks the Bureau to continue paying attention to these countries and to report back to the statutory bodies.
Liberal International welcomes the gains for the liberal parties at the parliamentary elections in the Republic of Kosovo in 2010, but regrets the necessity of repeating the elections in several municipalities due to election fraud and other irregularities, which have to be judicially treated. Furthermore, Liberal International observes that the procedure to elect a President is still not transparent. Liberal International calls upon the Serbian community north of the Ibar to participate in the political process in Kosovo, and on both the Republic of Kosovo and the Republic of Serbia to strengthen their current dialog.
Liberal International calls for continued pressure on the Belarusian regime to release all political prisoners being held in the country. LI recalls resolutions passed at about the 54th and 55th Congress of LI calling for basic tenets of democracy and human rights to be observed in the country. Liberal International fully reasserts its support for democratic supporters in the country, including, but not limited to, 2007 LI Prize for Freedom laureate Aliaksandr Milinkevich.
Liberal International fully supports statements made by LI member parties throughout the world regarding the proposed mass expulsion of Roma from France and the negative treatment of the Roma population in different European countries.
Liberal International expresses extreme concern over recent legislation in Hungary that proposes to curtain basic media freedoms. LI recalls that freedom of the press remains a core value of liberalism.
Liberal International also expresses concern by the curtailing of certain freedoms by the new Hungarian Constitution.
Liberal International expresses its condolences to the Russian people following the Moscow Airport bombings in January 2011. Ahead of Russian Parliamentary elections in December 2011, and Presidential Elections in April 2012, LI expresses its full support for LI Full Member Yabloko, especially in light of raising government crack downs against Yabloko’s leaders and regional branches as well as some other opposition public figures, marking a worrying return to a previous era in which repressive politics characterized the Russian political landscape. Liberal International expresses extreme concern over the lack of necessary preconditions for free and fair election in Russia, namely independent media, judiciary, and fundraising as well as the legislation preventing political parties which have no grouping in the national Parliament, from equal opportunities to participate in the election and to have an access to the media.
Liberal International regrets the lack of democratic progress in the southern Caucasian states of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. The release of political prisoners in Azerbaijan and Armenia remains to be a priority. LI calls for greater implementation of the criteria and obligations that those countries signed when joining the Council of Europe.
