|  ELDR
congress convening in Palermo, Italy, on November 23-25, elected
Sir Graham Watson, one of the leaders of British liberal
democrats, new President of the European Liberal Democrats
and Reformers party. Sir Graham has been member of the European
Parliament since 1994. In 2002-2009 he headed the liberal
faction in the European Parliament and during Russian elections
in 2003 visited Russia as guest of the YABLOKO party. "It
is our job as Liberals to explain how we offer a real, principled
and economically responsible alternative to the behemoths
of conservatism and socialism, said Sir Graham.
The key topic of the congress was discussion of the EU budget
priorities for 2011-2012.
The congress adopted a number of statements on urgent problems,
including the statement Elections in Russia in 2011-2012.
The statement by the European liberals stresses that YABLOKO
[is] - the only Russian democratic liberal party registered
as a participant in the Russian parliamentary elections
[has to campaign under] the administrative pressure on party
activists and multiple obstacles put in the way of YABLOKOs
campaigning by the authorities and expressed support to YABLOKOs
fight for liberal democratic values and development of civil
society.
Over 500 delegates (including MEPs, Prime Ministers and Ministers
of the EU member states) from over 55 European liberal parties
were convened at the congress of the ELDR party. The Russian
United Democratic Party YABLOKO has been ELDR member since
2006.
See also:
Elections
to the State Duma 2011
YABLOKO
Sister Parties
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