Liberal International

Liberal International (LI) is a worldwide organization of liberal political parties. The political international was founded in Oxford in 1947 and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties aiming to strengthen liberalism around the world. Its headquarters are at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD, within the National Liberal Club. The Oxford Manifesto describes the basic political principles of the Liberal International, which is currently made up of 111 parties and organizations.

Liberal International
AbbreviationLibintern
FormationApril 1947, constituted with the Oxford Manifesto
TypePolitical international
PurposeWorld federation of liberal political parties and organisations
HeadquartersNational Liberal Club
Location
Region served
Worldwide
Membership
90 political parties and 21 international organizations (as of May 2022)
President
Hakima El Haite
Main organ
Congress of Liberal International
Websiteliberal-international.org

Aims

The Liberal International Constitution (2005) gives its purposes as:

to win general acceptance of Liberal principles which are international in their nature throughout the world, and to foster the growth of a free society based on personal liberty, personal responsibility and social justice, and to provide the means of co-operation and interchange of information between the member organisations, and between men and women of all countries who accept these principles.

The principles that unite member parties from Africa, America, Asia and Europe are respect for human rights, free and fair elections and multi-party democracy, social justice, tolerance, market economy, free trade, environmental sustainability and a strong sense of international solidarity.

The aims of Liberal International are also set out in a series of seven manifestos, written between 1946 and 1997, and are furthered by a variety of bodies including a near-yearly conference for liberal parties and individuals from around the world.[1]

Bureau

The bureau of Liberal International is elected every 18 months by the delegates of the congress.[2]

The 14th president of Liberal International is Hakima el Haite of the Mouvement Populaire (Morocco), is a former Minister of Environment, UN climate champion, and climate scientist. Madam El Haite succeeded Dr Juli Minoves, formerly Andorra's foreign minister and representative to the United Nations.

Former Presidents include Hans Van Baalen MEP, John, Lord Alderdice, Dutch politician and former European Commissioner Frits Bolkestein, German politician Otto Graf Lambsdorff, and Spain's first democratically elected prime minister after Francoist Spain, Adolfo Suárez.

The secretary-general of Liberal International is Gordon Mackay, a former Member of the National Assembly of South Africa. Other members of the bureau include Deputy President Prof. Karl-Heinz Paque; and Vice Presidents Cellou Dalein Diallo (Guinea), Kitty Monterrey (Nicaragua), Abir al-Sahlani (Sweden), Kiat Sittheamorn (Thailand) and Robert Woodthorpe Browne (United Kingdom). There are two elected treasurers, Judith Pallares MP (Andorra) and Minister Omar Youm (Senegal).

Awards

Liberal International awards prizes to individuals in the areas of human rights and liberalism.

Prize for Freedom:

The Liberal International Prize for Freedom is LI's most prestigious human rights award. Conveyed annually since 1984 to an individual of liberal conviction who has made outstanding efforts for the defence of freedom and human rights, recipients include Maria Corina Machado of Venezuela, Senator Leila de Lima of the Philippines, Raif Badawi of Saudi Arabia, Waris Dirie of Somalia and Vaclav Havel of Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic.

Medal of Liberalism:

The Liberal International Medal of Liberalism is awarded to individuals who have worked to advance liberal values on a local, national and international level. Recipients include President Alassane Ouattara of Ivory Coast, Prime Minister Xavier Bettel of Luxembourg, President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan and Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe leader Sir Graham Watson of the United Kingdom.

Publications

The LI Human Rights Bulletin is published three times per year and consists of opinion articles, video interviews and digest of the work of the LI human rights committee.

Thematic publications are published online and in print on an ad hoc basis. Recent texts have offered a liberal perspective on issues ranging from freedom of belief to the responsibility to protect. ʒ

History

Before establishment

Because inter-war International Entente of Radical and Similar Democratic Parties ceased to operate in the beginning of the World War II, on 16 June 1946 representatives of the Liberal Party of Belgium, British Liberal Party, French Republican, Radical and Radical-Socialist Party, Danish Social Liberal Party, Freedom Party of the Netherlands, Free Democratic Party of Switzerland, People's Party of Sweden, Italian Liberal Party and the representatives of Spanish Liberals in exile assembled in Brussels and adopted the Declaration of Brussels, which called for creation of world liberal organization.

Oxford Manifesto

The Oxford Manifesto, drawn up in April 1947 at Wadham College in Oxford by representatives from 19 liberal political parties from South Africa, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Spain, Estonia, United Kingdom, United States, Finland, France, Hungary, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Czechoslovakia and Turkey is a document describing the basic political principles of the Liberal International. Creation of its main principles were led by Salvador de Madariaga.[3]

The Oxford Manifesto was inspired by the ideas of William Beveridge and is regarded as one of the defining political documents of the 20 century.

Fifty years on, in 1997, Liberal International returned to Oxford and issued a supplement to the original manifesto, The Liberal Agenda for the 21st century, describing Liberal policies in greater detail. The second Oxford Manifesto was adopted by the 48th Congress of Liberal International, which was held on 27–30 November 1997 in the Oxford Town Hall.[4] In 2017, the global federation marked its 70th anniversary with the adoption of the Andorra Liberal Manifesto for the twenty-first century (ALM). A three-year project across numerous continents initiated by then president Juli Minoves, the ALM embodied the widest consultation of views undertaken by Liberal International in order to compile a policy document.[5]

Organisation

Presidents

Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Country Presidency Membership
1 Salvador de Madariaga
(1886–1978)
 United Kingdom
 Spain (exiled)
20 April 1948 18 April 1952 Association
Mont Pelerin Society
2 Roger Motz
(1904–1964)
 Belgium 18 April 1952 20 April 1958 Liberal Party
3 Giovanni Malagodi
(1904–1991)
 Italy 20 April 1958 15 April 1966 Italian Liberal Party
4 Edzo Toxopeus
(1918–2009)
 Netherlands 15 April 1966 25 April 1970 People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
5 Gaston Thorn
(1928–2007)
 Luxembourg 25 April 1970 18 April 1982 Democratic Party
(3) Giovanni Malagodi
(1904–1991)
 Italy 18 April 1982 26 April 1989 Italian Liberal Party
6 Adolfo Suárez
(1932–2014)
 Spain 26 April 1989 22 April 1992 Democratic and Social Centre
7 Otto Graf Lambsdorff
(1926–2009)
 Germany 22 April 1992 25 April 1994 Free Democratic Party
8 David Steel
(1938–)
 United Kingdom 25 April 1994 15 April 1996 Liberal Democrats
9 Frits Bolkestein
(1933–)
 Netherlands 15 April 1996 18 April 2000 People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
10 Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck
(1944–)
 Belgium 18 April 2000 25 April 2005 Open Vlaamse Liberalen en Democraten
11 John Alderdice
(1955–)
 United Kingdom 25 April 2005 20 April 2009 Liberal Democrats
and
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
12 Hans van Baalen
(1960–2021)
 Netherlands 20 April 2009 26 April 2014 People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
13 Juli Minoves
(1969–)
 Andorra 26 April 2014 30 November 2018 Liberal Party of Andorra
14 Hakima El Haite
(1963–)
 Morocco 30 November 2018 Incumbent Popular Movement

Members

Incumbent heads of state and government

Full members

LI has 90 political parties.

Country/Region Name Government Joined
 Andorra Liberal Party of Andorra[6]Junior party in government coalition1994
 Belgium Reform Movement[6]In government coalition2002
Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats[6]In government coalition1992
 Bulgaria Movement for Rights and FreedomsIn opposition2003
 Burkina Faso Alliance for Democracy and Federation – African Democratic RallyIn opposition2006
 Burundi Alliance démocratique pour le renouveauIn opposition2009
 Cambodia Cambodia National Rescue MovementExtraparliamentary opposition2006
 Canada Liberal Party of Canada[7][8] In government1947
 Chile Evópoli[9]In opposition2023
Liberal Party of ChileIn government2014
 Democratic Republic of the Congo Alliance pour le renouveau au CongoIn opposition
 Côte d'Ivoire Rally of the RepublicansIn government
 Croatia Istrian Democratic AssemblyIn opposition2014
 Cuba Cuban Liberal UnionIn exile1992
Democratic Solidarity PartyIn opposition
National Liberal PartyIn opposition
 Denmark Danish Social Liberal PartySupport party to government1948
Liberal PartyIn opposition1947
 Estonia Estonian Reform PartySenior party in government coalition1994
 EU ALDE Group
ALDE Party
 Finland Centre PartyIn opposition1983
Swedish People's PartyJunior party in government coalition1983
 Georgia Republican Party of GeorgiaIn opposition2006
 Germany German Group of the LI1947
Free Democratic PartyJunior party in government coalition1947
 Gibraltar Liberal Party[6]Junior party in government coalition1997
 Guinea Union of Democratic Forces of GuineaIn opposition2012
Union of Republican ForcesIn opposition2012
 Honduras Liberal PartyIn opposition1986
 Iceland Progressive PartyJunior party in government coalition1983
 Ireland Fianna Fáil[6]Senior party in government coalition2014
 Israel Yesh Atid[10]In opposition2021
 Kenya Orange Democratic MovementIn opposition
 Kosovo Independent Liberal PartyIn opposition
 Kosovo Democratic Party of KosovoIn opposition2023
 Lebanon Future MovementExtraparliamentary opposition2012
 Luxembourg Democratic PartySenior party in government coalition
 Madagascar Movement for the Progress of MadagascarIn opposition1994
 Mexico New Alliance PartyIn opposition2006
 Mongolia Civil Will-Green PartyExtraparliamentary opposition
 Montenegro Liberal Party of MontenegroJunior party in government coalition2014
 Morocco Constitutional UnionIn opposition2003
Popular MovementIn opposition2003
Moroccan Liberal PartyIn opposition2021
 Netherlands Democrats 66Junior party in government coalition1986
Dutch Group of LI
People's Party for Freedom and Democracy[11]Senior party in government coalition1960
 Nicaragua Ciudadanos por la LibertadIn opposition
 North Macedonia Liberal Democratic PartyJunior party in government coalition1994
 Norway Liberal PartyIn opposition1947
 Paraguay Authentic Radical Liberal PartyIn opposition2001
 Philippines Liberal PartyIn opposition1989
 Portugal Iniciativa LiberalIn opposition
 Russia YablokoExtraparliamentary opposition2002
 Senegal Alliance pour la RépubliqueIn government2018
RewmiJunior party in government coalition
Senegalese Democratic PartyIn opposition1980
 Slovenia ConcretelyExtraparliamentary opposition
 Somalia CAHDI PartyIn opposition
 South Africa Democratic AllianceIn opposition1984
 Spain Fundació Llibertat i Democràcia
 Sweden LiberalsIn government coalition1947
Centre PartyIn opposition2006
 Serbia Movement of Free CitizensIn opposition2022
  Switzerland FDP.The LiberalsIn government coalition2009
 Taiwan Democratic Progressive PartyIn government1994
 Tanzania Civic United FrontIn opposition / in coalition in autonomous region of Zanzibar
 Thailand Democrat PartyIn government coalition
 Tunisia Afek TounesIn opposition2021
 United Kingdom Alliance Party of Northern IrelandIn coalition government in Northern Irish Assembly, in opposition at national level1991
Liberal International British Group
Liberal DemocratsIn opposition1989
Worldwide International Federation of Liberal Youth
International Network of Liberal Women

Observer parties

Country/Region Name Government
 Austria NEOS – The New Austria and Liberal ForumIn opposition
 Brazil New PartyIn opposition
 Burkina Faso Union pour le Progrès et le ChangementIn opposition
 Comoros Alliance Nationale pour les ComoresExtraparliamentary opposition
 Democratic Republic of the Congo Union pour la reconstruction du CongoIn opposition
 Republic of the Congo Union des Democrates Humanistes (UDH-YUKI)
 Cyprus United DemocratsExtraparliamentary opposition
 Ghana Progressive People's PartyIn opposition
 Hungary Momentum MovementIn opposition
 Lebanon National Liberal PartyIn government
 Italy Italian Group of Liberal International
 Madagascar Arche de la NationIn opposition
 Malaysia Parti Gerakan Rakyat MalaysiaIn opposition
People's Justice PartyIn government
 Mali Citizens' Party for the Renewal of MaliExtraparliamentary opposition
Union pour la République et la Démocratie (URD)
 Mauritania Rally for MauritaniaIn opposition
 Moldova Liberal Reformist PartyExtraparliamentary opposition
 Singapore Singapore Democratic PartyExtraparliamentary opposition
 Ukraine HolosIn opposition

Individual member

Country Name Government
 Hong Kong Mr Martin Lee – founding chairman of Democratic PartyExtraparliamentary opposition

Cooperating organizations

Cooperating and regional organisations are groups with a recognised status in the constitution of Liberal International as bodies that share the values and objectives of LI but do not operate as a political party. Co-operating organisations have the right of representation but in no case the right to vote at statutory events. LI has 12 cooperating organizations.

Organization Region
Africa Liberal Network Africa
Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats Asia
Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (ALDE-PACE) Europe
Friedrich Naumann Stiftung
Fondazione Libro Aperto
Fondazione Luigi Einaudi
Neue Zürcher Zeitung
Swedish International Liberal Centre
Red Liberal de América Latina Latin America
Arab Liberal Federation MENA
National Democratic Institute North America

Liberal think tanks and foundations

The International is also in a loose association with the following 10 organisations:

Organization Country
Centre Jean Gol Belgium
Fondazione Luigi Einaudi Italy
Fondazione Critica Liberale
Liberal Institute Germany
Teldersstichting Netherlands
The Bertil Ohlin Institute Sweden
Education Policy Institute United Kingdom
European Liberal Forum Europe
Livres (movement)[12] Brazil
Paddy Ashdown Forum[13] United Kingdom

See also

References

  1. "Constitution – Politics – Liberalism". Liberal-international.org. Archived from the original on 25 November 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
  2. "Bureau Members". Liberal International. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
  3. "Oxford Manifesto 1947 – Manifesto – Politics – Liberalism". Liberal-international.org. Archived from the original on 11 February 2011. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
  4. "Oxford Manifesto 1997 – Manifesto – Politics – Liberalism". Liberal-international.org. 30 November 1997. Archived from the original on 7 February 2011. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
  5. "Andorra Liberal Manifesto - 2017". Liberal International. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  6. "Europe - Liberal International". Liberal International. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  7. "Liberal Party of Canada Welcomes Liberal International to 2009 Convention". Liberal Party of Canada. 6 March 2009. Archived from the original on 5 August 2012. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
  8. "North America - Liberal International". Liberal International. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  9. Web, Editor (4 May 2023). "Evolución Política se incorpora como miembro pleno de la Internacional Liberal". Evópoli (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 May 2023. {{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  10. Hoffman, Gil (3 October 2021). "Yesh Atid joins Liberal International". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  11. "VVD is a member of LI". Archived from the original on 28 September 2011.
  12. "Livres se torna única organização brasileira na Liberal Internacional • LIVRES".
  13. "63rd Liberal International Congress (75th Anniversary) in Sofia, Bulgaria 2022". Liberal International. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.