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Yabloko Sister - Parties
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| Press
Releases and Publications |
| Bulgarian
election 'a dark day for democracy' - European Liberal
President
Press Release, the ALDE party,
May 13, 2013
Reacting to the results of the snap
parliamentary elections in Bulgaria held on Sunday
12 May, ALDE Party President Sir Graham Watson MEP
today said: “with the lowest turnout in the
history of parliamentary elections in Bulgaria, yesterday
was a dark day for democracy and a repudiation of
the EPP-aligned government led by Boyko Borisov. The
conduct of the election also gives cause for concern.”
“It is worrying that the election
was marred by several reports of irregularities, vote-buying
and controlled voting. The discovery by police of
350,000 ballot papers printed by a company belonging
to a GERB councillor raises important questions. The
next government must undertake serious efforts to
defeat fraud and regain the voters’ trust in
democracy.”
“European Liberal Democrats
congratulate ALDE member party Movement for Rights
and Freedoms (MRF) on their performance in the election
and their efforts during the campaign. Negotiations
for a government coalition must take their result
into account.”
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| The
Future of EU-Russia Relations - The Liberal Viewpoint
Press Release, the ALDE party,
May 1, 2013
The Future of EU-Russian Relations
- The Liberal Viewpoint" seminar was held in
Helsinki, Finland on the 29th of April and gathered
over 200 people in the audience. The hosts of the
seminar were the Swedish People’s Party in Finland
(SFP) and the Swedish International Liberal Center
(SILC) and it was arranged in cooperation with Russian
ALDE member party Yabloko and Svenska Bildningsförbundet.
The seminar was divided into three
parts, starting with introductory remarks from Carl
Haglund, Minister of Defence and SFP Party Chair,
Martin Ängeby, Secretary General of SILC and
Astrid Thors MP, ALDE Party Vice President, followed
by key note addresses from Yabloko founder, Dr. Grigory
Yavlinsky and MEP Kristiina Ojuland. The seminar continued
with panel discussions on human rights as well as
trade and economic relations in the afternoon.
Carl Haglund commenced by pointing
out that a well-functioning relationship between Russia
and the EU is beneficial for both parties, which was
echoed in later discussions. Also the fact that the
EU is Russia’s biggest and Russia EU’s
third biggest trading partner was repeated during
the day. Peace through trade is a fundament for the
EU and something to continue working on. It took 18
years of bargaining before Russia joined the WTO in
August 2012 and there still remain obstacles in the
trading policy.
EU-Russia cooperation must be based
on mutual respect. The importance of the EU putting
pressure on Russia to respect freedom of speech and
human rights was underlined during the seminar. The
”foreign agent”-law, the Sergei Magnitsky
case and other anti-democratic laws are alarming.
Russia is not interested in being led by the hand
towards democracy – the country must do the
work itself when it comes to democracy and human rights.
Some of the people working for these values are in
jail, but many were at the seminar – including
the founder of the Yabloko party.
In his key note speech Dr. Girgory
Yavlinsky stated: “The important question is
not how long Putin is going to stay in power –
the important question is what is going to be instead
of him? All other questions are secondary. Then we
will be able to speak about elections et cetera.”
MEP Kristiina Ojuland reminded that
the Russian Parliamentary elections in 2011 were the
real starting point of the lack of trust. They were
clearly not free and fair and that has also changed
the European Parliament’s view on Russia. Corruption
and VISA freedom for Russian citizens were also addressed
during the seminar which, thanks to simultaneous translation
into Russian and English, attracted a vast number
of participants. The seminar has been recorded and
can be viewed on www.sfp.fi/russia. |
| Liberals
concerned about rise in human trafficking
Press Release, the ALDE party,
April 17, 2013
The President of the ALDE Gender Equality
Network Flo Clucas and liberal European Commissioner
for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmström have expressed
their profound concern and disappointment after a
report revealed that human trafficking in the EU has
increased in recent years and 80% of the victims are
women and young girls. They also strongly criticised
21 EU member states for the delays in implementing
into national law the EU directive on human trafficking,
adopted in March 2011. The European
Commission report presented on Monday, the first compilation
of data from more than 25 European nations of its
kind, showed human trafficking increased by 18% between
2008 and 2010 and that during the same time the number
of convictions for the crime fell by 13%.
As EU member states identified human
trafficking as one of the priority areas in the fight
against organised crime, the ALDE Gender Equality
Network is very disappointed and worried that, despite
the alarming trends, only a few countries have implemented
the anti-trafficking legislation. Flo Clucas, President
of the ALDE Gender Equality Network, said: “Even
though EU governments have had two years to implement
tougher standardised anti-trafficking legislation,
only six out of 27 states have done this. Large EU-states,
such as Germany, France and Great Britain have not
implemented tougher measures in their national legislatures,
this is not acceptable...” |
| Wiretapping
scandal in Bulgaria is a matter of European concern
Press Release, the ALDE Group,
European Parliament, April 16, 2013
Commenting on the investigation by
the Bulgarian Prosecutor General's Office into the
allegations of illegal wiretapping of scores of political
opposition leaders in Bulgaria, Guy Verhofstadt, President
of the ALDE Group has made the following statement:
"Sanctioning of illegal wiretapping of opposition
politicians in Bulgaria by state authorities undermines
democracy and the fairness of the electoral process.
The European Union monitoring mechanism covers adherence
to the rule of law matters and therefore the ongoing
scandal should be seriously analysed by the European
Commission. With less than one month before elections
in Bulgaria, citizens need to be reassured that their
fundamental rights are protected"...
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| ALDE
welcomes Commission's new consultations on media freedom
and pluralism
Press Release, the ALDE Group,
European Parliament, March 22, 2013
The ALDE Group welcomes today's launch
by the European Commission of two consultations on
media freedom and pluralism and audiovisual media
regulator independence.
The first consultation asks specifically to comment
on the EU's competences to act in protection of media
freedom and on the roles of national regulatory authorities,
as well as if current laws need to be changed.
EP rapporteur on an "EU Charter: Standard settings
for Media Freedom across the EU", Renate Weber
(PNL, Romania) said: "We hope this consultation
will pave the way to the establishment of a regular
mechanism of monitoring and reporting over the full
respect of media freedom and pluralism, as a democratic
exercise that all EU Member States should do"...
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| ALDE
and YABLOKO to conduct a conference on migration problems
Press Release, March 20, 2013
International conference on migration
problems will take place in Moscow on April 6. The
organizers are the ALDE Party (Alliance of Liberals
and Democrats for Europe) and YABLOKO’s Political
Committee.
The conference will discuss the following
topics:
- migration dynamics and its political,
economic and cultural consequences;
- integration of migrants of the first and further
generations: positive and negative experience;
- restraining and regulatory mechanisms: different
countries’ experiences and international cooperation;
- regulation of migration: the tasks of the state
and the society... |
| Letter
of Anne Breasseur, President of ALDE, CE, to Sergei
Mitrokhin on the attack against YABLOKO
March 19, 2013
The ALDE Group of the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe is deeply concerned
with the news we are receiving from Russia. The attacks
perpetrated against the Yabloko party in Moscow are
yet another manifestation of growing intolerance in
the Russian society.
The ALDE condemns the perpetrators
of these attacks which are not simply an act of vandalism,
but also an offence against the freedom of expression.
We sincerely hope that the legal proceedings that
you have launched will receive appropriate attention
both from the judiciary and the political authorities
of Russia. Such acts cannot be tolerated.
I would like to assure you that the
Monitoring Committee will be duly informed about these
deplorable developments... |
| Violence
against women is a persistent stain on our society
Press Release, the ALDE Group,
European Parliament, March 7, 2013
Ahead of International Women's Day,
Liberals and Democrats in the European Parliament
(ALDE) call for united international action to combat
violence against women. In Europe, 45 % of women will
experience some type of violence at least once in
her lifetime. Every day one in five women in Europe
is a victim of violence. Antonyia Parvanova (NMSP,
Bulgaria), ALDE spokesperson on Women's Rights and
Gender Equality, participated in the UN summit meeting
on 'The elimination and prevention of all forms of
violence against women', being held from 4 to 15 March
in New York. The Bulgarian liberal presented the activities
of the European Parliament to eridicate violence against
women while highlighting the challenges faced in the
EU.
Mrs Parvanova commented "We have to continue
to take concrete steps to defend women's and girls'
fundamental right to live free from violence. But
we won't achieve concrete results if acting alone
. The EU has an excellent opportunity to deliver on
its commitments by pressing for coordinated international
action at the UN Conference"...
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| "Smart
borders package": A better management of EU external
borders
Press Release, the ALDE Group,
European Parliament, February 28, 2013
Today the Commission presented its
"Smart borders" package. ALDE welcomes this
legislative initiative as it will simplify the life
of "bona fide" foreigners frequently travelling
to the EU, whose number is expected to increase in
the future.
ALDE spokesperson of the dossier Nils Torvalds (Swedish
Peoples Party, Finland): "It is in the interest
of the EU to make it as easy as possible for tourists,
business travellers and students to come to Europe.
At the same time an easier access to the EU should
go hand in hand with preventing irregular migration.
The "smart borders" initiative should also
help Member states better control their external borders,
an important issue for some of them which have to
manage a very long portion of the EU external borders"...
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| European
Liberal Democrats welcome Borissov resignation
Press Release, the ALDE party,
February 20, 2013
Reacting to the resignation this morning
of Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and his
government, ALDE Party President Sir Graham Watson
said: “European Liberal Democrats welcome today’s
announcement. We have become increasingly concerned
about freedom and the rule of law under Prime Minister
Boyko Borissov since he took office in 2009.”
“Together with the likes of
Berlusconi and Basescu – Europe’s B team
– Borissov has played fast and loose with the
rule of law. I hope this B team will not be revived
in elections this year”... |
| 2014
European Parliament seat distribution
Press Release, ALDE, February
19, 2012
The vote of the Constitutional Affairs
Committee of the European Parliament supported efforts
by ALDE MEPs aimed at correcting the worst anomaly
in the original proposal of the two rapporteurs (Trzaskowski-Gualtieri)
on the apportionment of seats at the next elections
in 2014. The Liberals and Democrats argued that to
have a two seat gap between Hungary and Sweden on
the basis of a difference of population of 475,000
was unjust.
Andrew Duff's proposal that at the next constitutional
Convention, likely in 2015, the EU should agree on
a fair, durable and transparent arithmetical formula
for the distribution of seats was also accepted...
|
| Liberals
upset with renewed Human Rights set-back in Azerbaijan
Press Release, the ALDE party,
February 11, 2013
European Liberals strongly condemn
the recent clampdown on liberal activists in Azerbaijan.
Among others Tofig Yagublu, deputy chairman of ALDE
member party Musavat was arrested and charged with
“violation of public order”.
Liberals welcome the statement by
European top officials and encourage the European
Commission to strongly defend fundamental human rights
in their bilateral discussions with the Azeri authorities... |
| German
Liberal MP is the new president of GLOBE Europe
Press Release, the ALDE party,
February 8, 2013
Michael Kauch, an FDP MP, is the new
president of GLOBE Europe, the European Chapter of
the Global Legislators Organisation for a Balanced
Environment. He was elected at the recent General
Assembly to succeed the Danish Green Steen Gade, who
didn't run for another term. Vice Presidents are Petra
BAYER (Austria), Linas BALSYS (Lithuania), Barry GARDINER
(UK), Jens HOLM (Sweden) and Arnaud LEROY (France).
GLOBE is a cross-party and trans-national
network of MPs, who are committed to the environment
and to sustainability. At present, MPs from 88 countries
around the world represent their countries in the
network. Major activities are global parliamentary
dialogues on climate policy, forest protection and
sustainable development... |
| New
wave of reprisals against Yabloko activists
Press Release, the ALDE party,
February 6, 2013
ALDE Party President Sir Graham Watson
MEP has expressed the collective concern of European
Liberal Democrats to news of a fresh wave of reprisals
against members of the Russian United Democratic party
(Yabloko).
Sergei Mitrokhin, the leader of ALDE
member party Yabloko, has condemned the Federal Security
Bureau in the Sverdlovsk region which has interpreted
a recent Russian law ‘on the counteraction to
the extremist activity’ to obtain a court order
permitting Maxim Petlin, Chair of Yabloko’s
Sverdlovsk Region branch to be placed under surveillance
and for all his all telephone conversations to be
monitored. A complaint filed to the Supreme Court
was also dismissed.
ALDE Party President Sir Graham Watson
MEP said: “European Liberal Democrats are increasingly
concerned at the instances of persecution facing members
of open and fully legal political parties. During
its years of existence the Yabloko party has not provided
an occasion for it to be equated to extremist organisations.
It seems the government regards the words ‘opposition’
and ‘extremism’ as synonyms.”
“European Liberal Democrats
and Yabloko call on the European Union to put pressure
on Russia and for the Russian government to immediately
stop such reprisals and to bring those responsible
to justice”... |
| Attempted
assassination of Bulgarian liberal leader Ahmed Dogan
Press Release, the ALDE party,
January 19, 2013
Sir Graham Watson MEP, President of
the ALDE Party expressed the shock of all European
Liberals on Saturday at the attempted shooting of
Bulgarian liberal leader Ahmed Dogan at the MRF Party
Congress in Sofia which Sir Graham was attending.
He expressed his relief that the pistol had not gone
off as intended.
"Liberals have become increasingly
concerned about freedom and the rule of law under
Prime Minister Boyko Borisov. The European Union may
need to mobilise to put the country back on track."
"I hope the government will move
quickly to establish the forces behind this attempted
murder and to bring them to justice." Sir Graham
Watson said... |
| Liberal
Democrats delivering in government: 95% of Coalition
Agreement on course
Press Release, the ALDE party,
January 15, 2013
On 12 May 2010, the leader of the
Liberal Democrats (UK) Nick Clegg stood together with
the leader of the Conservative party David Cameron
in the Rose Garden of 10 Downing Street and outlined
the joint programme for coalition, the first full
coalition government in the United Kingdom since 1945.
Two and a half years later and
the coalition have this week published a Mid Term
Review with Liberal Democrat party analysis showing
that “about 95%” of objectives and policies
outlined in the Coalition Agreement are on course...
...Amongst the Top 10 achievements
of the Liberal Democrats in government include: reducing
the national deficit by 25%, the scrapping of ID cards,
the creation of 1 million jobs and 1 million apprenticeships,
the delivery of a £600 tax cut for 24 million
working people by raising the income tax threshold
to £9,440, the cutting of crime by 10% and the
creation of a Green Investment Bank to unlock billions
of pounds of private investment in renewable energy
and create thousands more green jobs... |
| Changes
to Khodorkovsky's jail sentence must not deflect EU
from asking tough questions of Russia at today's summit
Press Release, ALDE, December
21, 2012
ALDE spokeswoman on Russia Kristiina
Ojuland MEP today expressed satisfaction at news of
the two-year reduction in the prison sentence of businessman
Mikhail Khodorkovsky but warned EU leaders at today's
EU-Russia summit not to be misled...
"This welcome news on the Khodorkovsky
case should not be allowed to obscure the profound
deterioration in the rule of law in Russia"...
|
| ODM
nominates Odinga for Kenya's presidency
LI News Bulletin, Issue 313,
December 19, 2012
Orange Democratic Movement, LI partner
and Africa Liberal Network member, has formally nominated
Prime Minister Raila Odinga to contest Kenya's presidency
at the elections next year. Speaking after the nomination,
PM Odinga said ODM represents the interests of 40
million Kenyans and that he wanted to sign an agreement
with Kenyans about the services he hopes to deliver
when he wins the poll. Odinga reiterated that creation
of jobs would go hand in hand with investment in infrastructure
and in education: 'We will ensure that every child
gets quality education regardless of the economic
status of their parents'. ODM unveiled a new six-point
manifesto focused on rule of law and an end to impunity,
genuine devolution of power and resources, wealth
and job creation, equal protection and social protection
for all, one united Kenyan nation and land reforms.
In the World Today Resolution adopted at the Abidjan
Congress, 'LI expresses solidarity with liberal forces
in [Kenya], including ALN member the ODM of PM Odinga…[and]
calls for an election campaign free of violence, intimidation
or ethnic hatred.'
|
| Liberals
- the engine of European integration of Moldova
Press Release, the ALDE party,
December 19, 2012
On Saturday 15 December, Mihai Ghimpu
MP, President of the Liberal Party of Moldova, Corina
Fusu MP, Deputy President of the Liberal Party and
Elena Prus, President of the Institute for Liberal
Studies opened the conference "Liberals - the
engine of European integration of Moldova" .
Sir Graham Watson MEP, President of the ALDE Party
addressed conference participants in a video message.
He encouraged Moldova's European integration aim and
appreciated the efforts of the MPs and ministers of
adjusting the national framework to European standards
and values...
Yabloko Party representative in the
Russian Federation, Galina Michaleva, spoke about
the relationship between Russia and the EU and about
the problems of the post-Soviet countries in the process
of EU integration. The Expert of the Foreign Policy
Association, Eugen Revenco spoke about the role of
civil society in Moldova's European integration... |
| Romania:
‘I now foresee a period of difficult cohabitation’
Press Release, the ALDE party,
December 12, 2012
On Monday morning, ALDE Party President
Sir Graham Watson MEP hosted a breakfast for members
of the press and presented a liberal view on the latest
headlines around Europe before answering questions.
He first welcomed the result of the
elections in Romania, remarking: “despite the
low turnout, early indications are the ruling USL
social-liberal alliance in Romania has won a large
majority of the popular vote which could rise to as
much as 70%. I now foresee a period of difficult cohabitation
in the country.”
“I see a lot of parallels with
the situations in Romania and in Italy,” he
continued. “I regret the pulling of support
by Silvio Berlusconi's People of Liberty party for
the government of Mario Monti and I fear that in the
aftermath of this election, the pressure for economic
discipline could slip. The last thing we need at this
time are crises in those two economies which are bigger
than Greece’s.”
Sir Graham also answered questions
on the UN Climate Summit in Doha, Qatar, that concluded
on Sunday and which he attended... |
| If
EU leaders are not prepared to agree on how to end
the crisis, they should stay at home
Press Release, ALDE, December
12, 2012
"Tomorrow's EU summit in Brussels
lacks ambition", according to ALDE group leader,
Guy Verhofstadt, addressing the European Parliament
in Strasbourg today.
"Last June, the European Council decided that
by the end of the year 'a time bound road map for
the achievement of a genuine economic and monetary
union' would be agreed, yet expectations of any agreement
at this week's summit are so low that EU leaders might
as well stay home."
"Meanwhile the crisis is not over, spreads remain
above 400 base points for Spain and the mere prospect
of a return of Berlusconi to politics in Italy sends
shock waves through the markets"...
Sharon Bowles (UK, Lib Dem), chairwoman of Parliament's
economic and monetary affairs committee, underlined
the cost of delay: "Delay may be politically
convenient but it has a high cost - not just in financial
terms, but in the human cost and the blight of uncertainty
that lies over the plans of individuals and businesses
across Europe"...
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| European
Liberals warn against attempts to limit internet freedom
Press Release, the ALDE party,
December 5, 2012
"The internet is borderless and
it is its decentralised organisation that has created
so much value for billions of people worldwide",
said ALDE Party President Sir Graham Watson
as the delegates of the world conference of the International
Telecommunication Union (ITU) gathered for the opening
in Dubai discussing a revision of a global treaty
governing the internet.
Many states and corporations seek
a tight grip on the internet to suppress people or
pursue vested business interests but the internet
must remain free to allow people to freely create
and innovate, organise and influence economic progress
and societal development.
For many centuries "European
Liberals have always been the guardians of individual
liberties offline. We will continue doing so also
online as well ", added the President of European
Liberal Democrats referring to a strong resolution
on the preservation of global digital freedom adopted
by the ALDE Party at its recent Congress in Dublin... |
| Convergencia
remains largest force in Catalan elections
Press Release, the ALDE party,
November 26, 2012
Convèrgencia i Unió (CiU)
continues to be the leading political force in the
Catalan parliament with 50 seats after last Sunday's
elections. While Party leader Artur Mas will have
to form a coalition agreement in order to hold a parliamentarian
majority, he does “not regret his decision to
call for new elections, since it was necessary to
find out where the majorities were,” according
to Mas. With a strong economic programme to propel
Catalonia out the financial crisis and a pledge to
call for a referendum on the future status of Catalonia,
CiU is expected to lead the future coalition government... |
| Women
on Boards: Liberals and Democrats back EU gender quota
plan
Press Release, ALDE, November
14, 2012
Liberals and Democrats in the European
Parliament (ALDE) firmly support Commissioner Reding
with regard to her EU-wide gender quota plan to increase
the number of women in leadership roles presented
today. In March 2012 ALDE called for such binding
measures to reverse the insufficient progress made
towards better gender-balance in corporate management
boards. The liberals acknowledge that quotas are a
very blunt instrument but a necessary evil at the
same time because voluntary measures have proven unsuccessful
in addressing the equality gap. The legislation put
forward today includes clear quotas to increase female
representation in companies' boards to 40% by 2020... |
| A
Russian Deja-Vu. The Political Development and the
Objectives of the YABLOKO party
Sergei Mitorkhin's
lecture in the British Parliment. London,
November 12, 2012
...Soon it will turn a year since
the beginning of mass protest rallies in Russia. For
many people these rallies meant hopes for rapid democratic
changes. Frankly speaking, I have never shared such
an optimistic point of view.
For me, it was clear that Vladimir
Putin would consider the awakening of the society
as disorders and side-affects of the "liberalization"
carried out by ex President Dmitry Medvedev. And this
meant that Putin’s only possible response to the mass
protests could be "tightening the screws"
or, in other words, increase of reprisals.
This is how Vladimir Putin’s regime
tries to avoid the fate of his Middle Eastern counterparts.
Obviously, Putin has been very concerned of the fates
of his colleagues from the Arab world, and this makes
him take up preventive measures against the Arab Spring
scenario in Russia... |
| Sergei
Mitrokhin and Liberals in Russia
Politicus, November
12, 2012
Being a Liberal in Russia
is a risky vocation, as putting one’s head above
the parapet politically is an invitation to harrassment,
arrest, criminal proceedings and heafty fines or imprisonment.
High profile anti-establishment activists such as
Pussy Riot get lots of foreign media attention and
noises of sympathy from the outside world, of course,
but even in their case that did not stop two of their
number being sentenced to two years detention each
in different gulags. Alas, as the leader of Russia’s
Liberal Party Yabloko, Sergei Mitrokhin, detailed
in a speech at Westminster this lunchtime, the long
arm of President Putin’s law is getting firmer.
He highlighted three aspects of particular concern
regarding the current political situation in Russia
and the crackdown against Liberal forces... |
| On
YABLOKO’s initiative the Congress of European
liberals condemned reprisals against Russian opposition
Press Release, November 10,
2012.
The Congress of the Alliance of Liberals
and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) adopted an urgency
resolution “On reprisals against YABLOKO activists
and dissenters in Russia”.
The resolution was submitted by YABLOKO
leader Sergei Mitrokhin who was delegate of the Congress.
ALDE (the earlier name ELDR) joins
together all the European liberal and democratic parties.
The Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO has been
full member of ALDE since 2006. The ALDE Congress
is held in Dublin, Ireland, on November 8-10, 2012.
The resolution marks a new wave of reprisals in Russia
against opposition activists and all dissenters against
the present government’s policies against the
backdrop of the curb on human rights and freedoms;
suppression of the freedom of speech; use of the law
enforcement and the judiciary as a tool for reprisals”.
The ALDE Congress called on the ALDE groups to raise
the issue in the European Parliament and the Council
of Europe and draw the attention of the Russian government
to the inadmissibility of persecutions for criticism...
|
| On
reprisals against YABLOKO activists and dissenters
in Russia
Urgency Resolution submitted
by the YABLOKO party and adopted by ALDE Congress
on November 9, 2012
ALDE
Noting
- a new wave of reprisals in Russia
against opposition activists and all dissenters against
the present government’s policies against the
backdrop of the curb on human rights and freedoms;
suppression of the freedom of speech; use of the law
enforcement and the judiciary as a tool for reprisals;
- persecution against YABLOKO activists
and candidates to the regional parliament Suren Gazaryan
and Yenegy Vitishko, who have been charged with a
criminal offence that could lead to their imprisonment
for criticising Krasnodar Region Governor Alexander
Tkachev for his unlawful seizure of public lands and
their fight for human rights and environmental safety
in the region
Calls
- On the ALDE groups to raise the
issue in the European Parliament and the Council of
Europe and draw the attention of the Russian government
to the inadmissibility of persecutions for criticism,
in violation of Russia’s obligations relating
to its membership of the Council of Europe and in
direct contrast with the statements of the Russian
authorities on adherence to democratic values;
- On the Russian government to stop
the reprisals against Gazaryan and Vitishko and revoke
the unlawful court decisions against them and punish
those guilty of giving false evidence and prosecutions.
|
| Antrag
der Fraktionen der CDU/CSU und FDP
Durch Zusammenarbeit Zivilgesellschaft und Rechtsstaatlichkeit
in Russland starken
Deutscher Bundestag Drucksache
17/11327
17. Wahlperiode 06. 11. 2012
Der Bundestag wolle beschliessen:
I. Der Deutsche Bundestag stellt fest:
Russland ist ein zentraler Partner fur Deutschland
und Europa. Als standiges Mitglied des Sicherheitsrates
der Vereinten Nationen, als Mitglied der G8 sowie
des Europarates und der Europaischen Menschenrechtskonvention,
strategischer Partner Deutschlands und wichtigster
Energielieferant Europas
ist Russland von besonderer Bedeutung; regionale und
globale Herausforderungen konnen nur mit und
nicht gegen Russland bewaltigt werden. Russland ist
unabdingbar fur eine gesamteuropaische Friedensordnung...
|
| Open
Vld leader becomes Belgian Deputy PM
ELDR News, October 22, 2012.
Open Vld Leader Alexander De Croo
replaces Vincent Van Quickenborne as the new Pensions
Minister and Deputy Prime Minister in the Belgian
federal government. He was sworn in by King Albert
II on Monday. The appointment of Alexander De Croo
will allow him to take part in the difficult discussions
on next year's budget.
Van Quickenborne will become the new
Mayor of the city of Kortrijk, where he ended 150
years of Christian democrat rule...
|
| Liberals
and Democrats in Lithuania score a convincing victory
Press Release, ALDE, October 15, 2012
Following announcement of the preliminary
results of the Parliamentary elections in Lithuania,
Guy Verhofstadt made the following statement:
"I am very pleased to acknowledge that Liberal
and Democrats in Lithuania have scored a convincing
victory in the Parliamentary elections. I would like
to congratulate Viktor Uspaskich (ALDE MEP) and his
Labour Party (Darbo partija) that has doubled its
support and with 20% of the vote, as the largest political
party is poised to form the incoming government. This
is an excellent result for the Labour Party that in
the opposition party has worked vigorously and consistently
in support of its electorate."
"The Liberal Movement (Lietuvos Respublikos liberalu
sajudis) has got the highest evaluation for the work
it has done in the outgoing government. After 4 years
in the government, taking the lead on difficult and
sometimes controversial areas of public life, the
Liberal Movement has further increased its support.
That is both a recognition and an encouragement to
continue promoting liberal agenda in Lithuania."
|
| "Peace
Prize is well deserved but we cannot rest on our laurels"
Press Release, ALDE, October 12, 2012
Reacting to the Nobel peace prize
being awarded to the European Union, Guy Verhofstadt,
ALDE group leader in the European Parliament said:
"We strongly welcome the recognition by the Nobel
Peace committee of the contribution that the European
Union has made over the last 70 years to turn a previously
war ridden continent into a peace project...
|
| Liberals
in the driving seat in peaceful transition of power
in Georgia
Press Release, ALDE, October 2, 2012
Guy Verhofstadt, ALDE Leader welcomed
the results of the parliamentary elections in Georgia
which saw liberals greatly reinforce their position
in the Georgian Parliament... |
| Dutch
parliament elects new President
ELDR News, September 26, 2012.
On Tuesday, Dutch liberal MP Anouchka
van Miltenburg was elected as the new President of
the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of the Dutch Parliament.
Before, Van Miltenburg was Deputy leader of the VVD
parliamentary group. Two other candidates stood in
the election, Khadija Arib (Social Democrats) and
Gerard Schouw (ELDR member D66).
VVD Group Leader Stef Blok welcomed
her election: "We're proud Anouchka won the election.
The Parliament will have a tough, fair and cheerful
chairwoman. I wish her all the best."
|
| ALDE
congratulates both Dutch liberal parties on election
results
Press Release, ALDE, September 13, 2012
Guy VERHOFSTADT, leader of the Alliance
of Liberals and Democrats in the European Parliament,
congratulates VVD-leader Mark Rutte, who again won
the Dutch elections last night and D66-leader Alexander
Pechtold, after an election campaign in which Europe
played a leading role. "I warmly congratulate
Mark Rutte on achieving the best ever results for
the VVD and Alexander Pechtold on increasing the number
of seats for D66 for the fifth time in a row.
I am looking forward to continue working with them
in the months and years ahead"...
|
| YABLOKO
leader meets the leader of Alleanza Liberali, Malta
Press Release, August 31,
2012.
On August 28, 2012, YABLOKO leader
Sergei Mitrokhin met with John Zammit, leader and
founder of Alleanza Liberali, Malta. The meeting was
also attended by Galina Mikhalyova, Deputy Chair of
the Moscow branch of YABLOKO and the Executive Secretary
of the Political Committee and Olga Radayeva, YABLOKO
International Secretary.
John Zammit spoke about the current
political situation in Malta and the activities of
Alleanza Liberali. The party was founded in 2006.
Today Alleanza Liberali has an observer status in
the ELDR and is going to become a full member of the
ELDR this year. Alleanza Liberali focuses on fight
against corruption, protection of civil rights and
freedoms, including fight against restrictions imposed
on the citizens of Malta by the Catholic Church (e.g.
bans on divorce and abortions). The party has been
also active in education and environmental protection... |
|
Mass
demonstrations in Moscow are first shoots of a Russian
political Spring
Press Release, ALDE, June 12, 2012
In reaction to the protests in Russia
today which saw one hundred thousand people take to
the streets to demand reforms, Guy Verhofstadt, ALDE
Leader says the Russian authorities should take immediate
concrete steps to implement reform...
Kristiina Ojuland, ALDE Spokesperson
on Russia said: "The recent decision by the State
Duma to drastically increase persecution of peaceful
protesters is not in line with European standards
and international practice as authorities claim. There
is nothing democratic about the 200 fold increase
in fines for those willing to express their views
freely and peacefully. This boils down to yet another
effort by the authorities to tighten their grip on
power and suppress further fundamental rights of Russian
citizens."
|
|
ALDE
position paper on the Eurozone
Press Release, ALDE, May 30, 2012
Four steps to exit the crisis
"We are facing the prospects
of a lost decade of growth and employmentand an absence
of decisive leadership on how to tackle it.
Politicalelites are sharply divided
between the need for increasing spending tocreate
growth and the pursuit of further budgetary consolidation.
Neither of these two solutions alone can work - more
austerity willdrive the EU into a prolonged recession
whilst uncontrolled spendingwill increase public debt
to unsustainable levels."
|
| Eurovision:
out of sight, not out of mind
ELDR Press Release, May 29, 2012.
The singing is over in Azerbaijan
after the Eurovision final. Nonetheless it’s still
time for democracy! Given the last minute arrests
and clamp downs, as reported by the international
and European Liberal Youth present in Baku, Liberals
will remain vigilant! We are greatly concerned if
the government will follow up on their threats to
retaliate further on the opposition after Eurovision.
The European Parliament during its plenary session
on Thursday 24 May, strongly condemned Azerbaijan’s
human rights abuses, the basic breaches and violations
of the principles of democracy, freedom of speech,
rule of law, and in some domains the total lack of
values, specifically calling on the leadership of
the Union to raise these issues when in Baku, or negotiating
energy matters with the country...
|
| Orlando
elected mayor of Palermo
ELDR News, May 23, 2012.
The results of the second round of
mayoral elections in Italy last weekend were an outstanding
success for ELDR Vice-President Leoluca Orlando MP.
Obtaining about 73% of votes in the city of Palermo
election, Orlando becomes Mayor of Palermo, an office
he will be holding for the fourth time in his life.
“My election is a response to the wave of anti-politics
in Italy”, said Orlando commenting on his result.
“Backed by my electoral support I will be asking Prime
Minister Monti about his intentions regarding the
current dreadful social question in Italy and particularly
in Palermo”.
More
Eurovision's
dirtysecrets
Time
to call a Convention on the Eurozone 22
Liberals in Brussels put EU citizenship in practice
Liberals
condemn socialists for accepting hate crime |
| Liberals
re-elected to parliament in Slovakia
ELDR Press Release, March 14, 2012.
On Saturday, snap parliamentary elections
were held in Slovakia. Thanks to a great campaign,
ELDR’s Slovak member Sloboda a Solidarita (SaS, Freedom
and Solidarity) gained some 6 % of the votes and returned
11 MPs to the 150-strong Slovak Parliament. SaS were
particularly strong in the larger cities, scoring
around 15 % in the country’s capital Bratislava.
“In a difficult political landscape,
it is delighting to see SaS Leader Richard Sulík and
his party being able to build on young structures
and get re-elected”, commented ELDR President Sir
Graham Watson MEP, and continued “I will visit Bratislava
shortly to discuss projects of mutual interest between
SaS and ELDR – as well as to obviously convey my personal
words of congratulations to the SaS leadership”...
More:
Through the guidance of Dutch Liberal
Sophie In ‘t Veld, Parliament adopted its annual report
on equality between women and men in the EU. See
European
Parliament resolution on equality between women and
men in the European Union
Liberal
Democrats spring conference in Gateshead
Folkpartiet
holds annual Congress in Västerås
|
| New
ELDR President elected
Press Release, November 29,
2011
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...
|
|
Former
ALDE Group Leader elected ELDR President
Press Release, ALDE, November 25, 2011
Today Sir Graham Watson MEP (UK LibDem)
was elected unopposed President of the party of European
Liberal Democrats (ELDR) at their Congress in Palermo
along with five vice-presidents (Marc Guerrero, Lousewies
van der Laan, Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, Leoluca Orlando,
Astrid Thors). Graham takes over from Annemie Neyts
(Open VLD, Belgium) who has led the Party since 2005.
Taking over the reins of the party
in the middle of one of the most serious crises of
Europe's history giving rise to increased euro scepticism
and threatening the very foundation of the EU itself
will present a major challenge for the Party which
believes strongly in European integration and solidarity.
Commenting on his election, Watson
said:
"What Europe is lacking most of all at present
is a clear vision for the future. Neither the party
of the European Socialists nor the Christian Democrats
offer a solution. The former is stuck with an out
of date ideology and the latter is ridden by internal
contradictions. As Europeans we stand or fall together.
We must not give in to the rising tide of populism"... |
| Sir
Graham Watson new ELDR President!
ELDR Press Release, November 22, 2011.
Gathered in Palermo, Italy, the ELDR
Party today elected Sir Graham Watson (Liberal Democrats,
UK) to its new President for the coming two years!
In his speech, drawing on great liberal
thinkers from Adam Smith to Johan Norberg, Sir Graham
made a strong case for the need of liberal thought
in today’s Europe, and the central place for the ELDR
Party in this process. He promised to make ELDR stronger,
smarter and the supranational force in Europe.
The ELDR Party also elected five Vice
Presidents. While Marc Guerrero (CDC, Catalonia),
Lousewies van der Laan (D 66, The Netherlands) and
Leoluca Orlando (IDV, Italy) were re-elected for another
term; Alexander Graf Lambsdorff (FDP, Germany) and
Astrid Thors (SFP, Finland) are new additions to the
ELDR Party Bureau.
All candidates were warmly welcomed
by some 500 European Liberals gathered in Palermo.
The ELDR Party would like to extend its congratulations
to all elected! |
| Time
to Think, and Not to Lean on Russia. By Grigory Yavlinsky
and Alexander Shishlov
The New York Times, November
8, 2011
...Yabloko has been active in Russian
politics for almost 20 years. Fully aware of our responsibility
to Russian citizens, who aspire to liberty and justice,
our party has managed to survive and retain its potential
against continuous and severe administrative pressure.
Our work has been not only difficult, it has been
dangerous, and in some cases fatal. Larisa Yudina,
leader of the Yabloko branch in Kalmykia and a journalist,
was killed; so were Farid Babayev, leader of Yabloko
in Dagestan, and Yuri Shchekochikhin, a Duma deputy
and investigative journalist who was investigating
corruption in the secret services.
It is true that elections in Russia
today are not free and fair. But this is due not only
to the fact that Kasyanov’s party was denied registration
and thus cannot take part in the elections. Russian
elections ceased being free and fair after the presidential
elections in 1996. Unfortunately, back then European
liberals did not protest as loudly as they are doing
now. (In fact, the electoral system was similarly
defective in 2003 when Kasyanov was prime minister
under President Vladimir Putin).
Today, however, this is how Russian
elections are held and there are no other means for
a peaceful, nonviolent change in political course
and change of government. Liberals at Yabloko proceed
from the premise that an outright rejection of all
opportunities for peaceful change and the adoption
of actions based on the principle that “it has to
get worse before it gets better” is irresponsible
and leads to a dead-end...
The
original publication by the New York Times
|
| Danish
government negotiations concluded – Radikale
Venstre gets six Ministers!
ELDR Press Release, October 4, 2011.
Following two weeks of intense negotiations
after the Parliamentary elections on 15 September
2011, a new government was announced on Monday in
Denmark, to be led by Social Democrat Party Leader
Helle Thorning-Schmidt, who thereby becomes the country’s
first ever female Prime Minister. Also the overall
government held a good gender balance. Out of a total
of 23 Ministers, 9 are female and 14 male. The
new Danish coalition government features three parties,
including ELDR Member Det Radikale Venstre (Radikale),
who goes into the coalition as the second force and
will receive six Ministerial portfolios, the heaviest
obviously being Party Leader Magrethe Vestager's beefed
up, combined portfolio of Minister for Economy and
Home Affairs, which will give Radikale a first-hand
opportunity to steer the Danish migration policy into
a new direction, following years of influence from
the nationalist, anti-immigrant Danish People's Party
on this area.
In addition to Vestager's portfolio,
Radikale gains the following Ministers:
- Minister for Climate and Energy:
Mr. Martin Lidegaard;
- Minister for Culture: Mr. Uffe Elbæk;
- Minister for Development: Mr. Christian
Friis Bach;
- Minister for Ecclesiastical Affairs,
Equality and Nordic Cooperation: Mr. Manu Sareen;
- Minister for Research and Innovation:
Mr. Morten Østergaard;
The ELDR Party would like to take
this occasion to wish Det Radikale Venstre all the
best for its upcoming challenges in Danish politics
and the new government! |
| Prospects
for European Liberals in this decade. By
Sir Graham Watson, MEP. September 2011
“I hope still to contribute to
the task of building Liberal strength across the continent
of Europe and beyond. I believe there is much to play
for.
The European People’s Party is an inherently
unstable coalition, the European Socialists a party
in terminal decline. The opportunity for a stronger
centre is immense.”
With these words I concluded my book
‘Building a Liberal Europe - the ALDE Project’
published late last year. The book tells the story
of the Liberal contribution to the building of the
EU from the first direct elections to the European
Parliament in 1979 to the elections of June 2009.
But the story of liberalism did not end there.
Since then the Lisbon Treaty has entered
into force, giving the EU institutions new competences;
substantial moves have been made towards common economic
government for the countries sharing a common currency,
in conjunction with moves to control the greed of
the financial community; the EU has been challenged
to turn its fine words into action in the fight against
climate change; and the foundations have been laid
for a common foreign and security policy. Liberal
thought has contributed to these. But where do we
go from here? How can we contribute to the EU's 'work
in progress'?... |
| Successful
liberal results
ELDR Press Release, September 16, 2011.
The stakes were high when yesterday’s
Danish Parliamentary elections got underway. Following
intense and good campaigning by all parties, spearheaded
by leading government party and ELDR Member Party
Venstre, polls close to election day showed the two
blocs on almost equal figures. The stage was therefore
set for a real nail-biter on election night. As the
vote count got underway, it quickly became clear that
this would be a good night for Danish liberals.
Not only did Venstre stand their ground
very well, clearly maintaining their position as Denmark’s
largest party, ELDR’s other Danish member party
Det Radikale Venstre were also speeding off the blocks
to substantially increase their 5,1 % share of the
electorate in the last elections in 2007... |
| Italia
dei Valori wins!
ELDR Press Release, June 6, 2011.
In key run-off local elections held
in Italy last weekend, ELDR member Italia dei Valori
and the coalition it is part of won over Prime Minister’s
Berlusconi’s conservative coalition.
In Naples, ELDR MEP Luigi de Magistris
won 65% of the vote in a landslide victory over Mr
Berlusconi's candidate, Gianni Lettieri. Other such
key cities include Milan, Mr Berlusconi and Lega Nord’s
power base, run by these parties for the last 18 years,
as well as Turin, Bologna, Trieste, Cagliari. |
| European
liberals supported Oleg Orlov, head of the Memorial
human rights centre
Press Release,
May 24, 2011.
The European Liberal
Democrat and Reform Party Council, convening in Dresden,
Germany, unanimously voted for the draft resolution
submitted by the YABLOKO party in support of Oleg
Orlov, head of the Memorial human rights centre and
winner of the European Parliament's Sakharov Prize
“For the Freedom of Thought”.
European liberals expressed their
deep concern with the trials and harassments against
Oleg Orlov initiated by leader of Chechnya Ramzan
Kadyrov for the criticism of the Chechen authorities
in view of investigation of the murder in Chechnya
of renowned human rights activist Natalya Estemirova.
The resolution of ELDR Council stressed that persecution
of Oleg Orlov was “clearly politically motivated,
raised serious questions on the functioning of the
Russian judicial system, and demonstrated the desire
of the Chechen authorities to prevent Orlov voicing
his opinion”.
ELDR called the Russian authorities
to “stop trials and harassments against Oleg
Orlov and other human rights defenders”, “properly
investigate the murder of Natalya Estemirova and bring
the perpetrators to justice”... |
| Stop
Persecution of Russian Human Rights Activist
Urgency Resolution adopted by ELDR Dresden
Council
May 20, 2011, submitted by YABLOKO.
The European Liberal Democrat and
Reform Party Council, convening in Dresden, Germany
on 20 May 2011:
Notes with deep concern:
- Reports on political reprisals against
Oleg Orlov, Russian human rights activist, winner
of the European Parliament's Sakharov Prize and Chair
of the "Memorial" Human Rights Centre, for
voicing criticism of Chechen authorities about the
investigation into the murder of human rights activist
Natalya Estemirova in 2009;
- That trials initiated by Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov,
the latest of which is set to resume in June, are
clearly politically motivated, raise serious questions
on the functioning of the Russian judicial system,
and demonstrate the desire of the Chechen authorities
to prevent Orlov voicing his opinion.
Calls upon Russian authorities to:
- Stop trials and harassments against
Oleg Orlov and other human rights defenders and properly
investigate such attacks and trials;
- Properly investigate the murder of Natalya Estemirova
and bring the perpetrators to justice.
States that
ELDR will continue to closely monitor
events in Russia.
|
| Algorithms
for Opposing Gender Discrimination
By Marianne Spangenberg-Carlier,
Vice-President of D66 Women/Men/Human Rights thematic
chapter
D66 News Letter, May 10, 2011.
YABLOKO is the oldest
democratic party in Russia. One important issue at
hand during the conference concerned worries that
because of the low birthrate of Russian women, abortion
might become illegal (now allowed within 12 weeks)
or not covered by the health insurance. Another issue
brought to attention by Yabloko, is the concern of
so-called soldier-mothers about the situation of young
conscripts (one year army duty is obliged) improvement
is urgent.
Turkish MP Nursuna Memecan (AKP) mentioned
recent changes made to improve the position of women... |
| Norwegian
liberals greeted proposals by YABLOKO’s leader
on closer cooperation of Russian and Europe with a
storm of applause
Press Release, April 4, 2011.
YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin
made a speech at a congress of Norwegian liberal party
Venstre on April 3, 2011. His speech was devoted to
the issues of European integration, Russia’s
role in this process, as well as problems Russia encounter
in its development as a democratic state. Over 500
people were present at the congress: delegates of
the Venstre party and leaders of foreign sister parties.
In his speech Sergei Mitrokhin told
to his foreign colleagues about the history and the
structure of the YABLOKO party, as well as the liberal
and democratic values YABLOKO have been advocating
for almost 20 years already.
Sergei Mitrokhin also said that the
approach of the Western leaders based on Realpolitik
had failed. YABLOKO’s leader called the EU to
develop a single strategy in its relations with Russia:
“The lack of firm approach to Russia when liberal
values or human rights are concerned was regarded
as a kind of carte blanche by our elites. And now
we all have what we have”...
|
| European
Liberal Democrats call for bold action on North Africa
ELDR Press Release,
March 21, 2011.
The EU should use a three-way approach:
peace, trade and aid Meeting in Madrid, Spain, the
Leadership of the ELDR Party has discussed the situation
in the Arab World and calls for three main points
in Euro-Arab relations following the UN Security Council's
meeting yesterday (17 March 2011)...
|
| Verhofstadt
on Libya: "The weak position of the EU makes
me sick"
Press Release,
ALDE, March 16, 2011
The fall-out from the Japanese tsunami
has inevitably dominated media reports and blurred
international attention to the rout of the Libyan
opposition, left to fend off Gaddafi and his mercenaries
by themselves. Today at a meeting
in Parliament to assess the results of last week's
European Council, Guy Verhofstadt denounced the inability
of the EU to take decisive action on the Libyan crisis.
"This makes me sick," he declared...
|
| Three
lessons from North Africa by Graham Watson MEP
March 10, 2011.
Three lessons can be learned from
the popular democratic uprisings which should inform
our policy from now on.
The first is that it is no good preaching
the values of democracy if we arm its enemies. Having
armed Gadhafi and other autocrats there is a logical
case to be made for arming the protesters, particularly
if we fail to live up to the ‘duty to protect’
laid down in the UN Charter: but this policy should
be pursued only in extremis. Most important, however,
is to stop arms sales to autocratic regimes wherever
they are: democracy’s appeal is not limited
to north Africa, nor the temptation to beleaguered
autocrats to use arms against their own people... |
| EU
must recognise legitimacy of Libyan Interim Council
Press Release,
ALDE, March 10, 2010
The ALDE Group arranged for two senior
members of the National Interim Council of Libya to
come to Strasbourg this week to hear directly from
them what should be done to support those fighting
for freedom and democracy in Libya. Dr. Ali A. S .
Al-Issawi and Dr. Mahmoud Gebril Elwarfally were appointed
Ministers of the National Interim Council last weekend.
Dr Al-Issawi was Libya's Ambassador to India until
his resignation in February in protest of the attacks
by Gaddafi on the Libyan protesters... |
| ELDR
– believing in a gender equal society
ELDR News, March 8,
2011
Over the years, ELDR has adopted many
resolutions that aim to a fairer society which notices
many of the structural indifferences leading to different
opportunities for the different sexes. For today's
Centenary of the International Women's Day, here are
ELDR's adopted positions on gender issues. European
Liberal Democrats believe in equal rights and opportunities
for both women and men with the active support of
society, as the whole of society benefits when women
and men can contribute on equal terms... |
| Election
success for Estonian Liberals
ELDR News, March 7,
2011
ELDR's Estonian member parties; Reform
Party and Centre Party both achieved very good results
in Sunday's general election with a combined score
of over 50% of the public vote.
Reform Party polled 28.6% of the votes
which is enough to see the party win 33 seats in the
101 seat parliament and retain their position as the
leading party in government. Reform Party is set to
return to coalition with the conservatives, as was
the case in the last parliament, with Andrus Ansip,
leader of Reform Party, remaining as prime minister.
This would mean that the Centre Party,
which scored an impressive 23.3% and returns with
26 MPs, would be the strongest opposition party... |
| ELDR
congratulates new Liberal President of Kosovo
ELDR
News, February 23, 2011
Yesterday, on Tuesday 22 February
2011, ELDR Member Party Alliance for a New Kosovo
(AKR) Party Leader Behgjet Pacolli was elected President
of the Republic of Kosovo by the newly assembled Kosovo
Parliament, following the decision by AKR to join
the coalition government led by Prime Minister Hashim
Thaci’s Democratic Party PDK. In this coalition,
AKR will also gain the posts of Deputy Prime Minister
and three Ministries: Mimoza Kusari Lila will become
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry,
Ferid Agani Minister of Health and Agim Ceku Minister
of Defence... |
| General
election in Ireland: "the most important in a
generation"
ELDR News, February
22, 2011
This Friday (25 February) Irish citizens
will go to the polls to elect a new parliament and
government. Ahead of the election, Micheál
Martin, leader of ELDR member Fianna Fáil,
has written an article for the ELDR Party about the
current political landscape in Ireland and what Fianna
Fail's priorities are for the next parliamentary term...
Also: Estonian
elections.
The Estonian Parliamentary elections will be held
on 6 March, and ELDR Member Parties Reformierakond
(Reform Party) and Keskerakond (Centre Party) will
be playing central roles... |
| Russia
can never modernise without a liberal society based
on the rule of law - Verhofstadt
Press Release, ALDE, February
9, 2010
...Opening the
seminar, ALDE leader Guy Verhofstadt
said:
"Russia will always be an important neighbour
and strategic partner for the EU. But we shall not
be silent when violations of human rights and the
rule of law are common place. Our commitment is to
the Russian people, who deserve better.
"Council of Europe, OSCE or WTO membership entails
obligations. For a serious international player that
Russia aspires to be, meeting international commitments
is paramount.
"Russian authorities would be well advised to
pursue a more liberal agenda. This means introducing
true competition, guaranteeing political freedoms,
distinguishing between oligarchs and politicians,
and most importantly adhering to the rule of law.
"Modernisation of Russia will only be successful
if this liberal agenda is first put into practice.
Building on the current flawed economic and political
system will lead to nothing."
Kriistina Ojuland MEP
(ALDE, Estonian Reform Party), former Foreign Minister
of Estonia and ALDE spokesperson on EU Russian relations,
said:
"We believe that a modernisation of Russia should
not only entail economic and market reforms but also
calls for greater democracy, political freedoms, and
respect for human rights and the rule of law.
"I welcome the European Parliament's initiative
to establish an early monitoring group in order to
observe the preparations of the forthcoming parliamentary
and presidential elections.
"I would very much welcome a prompt resolution
by the European parliament on the situation regarding
the rule of law in Russia." |
| The
time has come to act on Belarus
Press Release, ALDE, January
21, 2010
Commenting on the European Parliament's
strong condemnation of the brutal oppression of opposition
and civil society in Belarus in the aftermath of the
presidential elections in December, ALDE MEP Kristiina
Ojuland (Estonian Reform Party, Estonia) said: "Today
the European Parliament is sending a strong message
of support to the people of Belarus, demanding the
immediate and unconditional release of all political
detainees and an immediate stop to all forms of harassment
and threats against members of the protesting public...
|
| Verhofstadt
welcomes prompt Commission action on media law
Press Release, ALDE, January
18, 2010
"When EU core values, like freedom
of media, are at stake there is no time to lose before
taking action. We have asked the Commission to act
promptly to ensure freedom of media in Hungary, under
threat by the newly adopted Media law and the Commission
has given us today a first assurance," said ALDE
Leader Guy Verhofstadt, welcoming Barroso's declared
intention, during today's question time with the President
of the Commission, to send a letter to the Hungarian
government this week indicating the crucial points
of the Media Law that Hungary should change...
|
| Joint
Statement by ALDE, ALDE-PACE, ELDR and Liberal International
on sitution after elections in Belarus
January 13, 2011
Liberals in Europe and worldwide have
closed ranks to make a strong call upon the Belarusian
government to release all journalists, opposition
candidates and civil society representatives who face
continued detention.
For liberal parties and their representatives in the
European and national parliaments the brutal repression
of the peaceful demonstrations following the presidential
elections on 19 December 2010 is completely unacceptable...
|
| Clear
Visa Rules for Neighbourhood Policy
Press Release, ALDE, December
14, 2010
...On a related matter, questioning
the Commission concerning recent evidence showing
that the EU-Russia visa facilitation agreement, in
force since June 2007, is still not fully implemented
in a completely reciprocal way, ALDE spokesperson
on Russia Kristina Ojuland (Reform Party, Estonia)
said "we fully support the visa waiver agreement
as a measure to enable Russian citizens to travel
to the EU with minimum formalities, but we would expect
the Russian side to apply the same standard to our
citizens. We must ensure that the current requirement
for EU citizens to register within three days with
the authorities if staying in a private home in Russia
is abolished."
|
| Liberals
gain great victory in Catalonia
Press Release,
ELDR, November 29, 2010
ELDR member party Convergencia Democratica
de Catalunya (CDC) overwhelmingly won the elections
for the regional Parliament of Catalonia, the economically
strongest region in Spain. ELDR Party President Annemie
Neyts-Uyttebroeck wholeheartedly congratulates CDC's
leader Artur Mas who led the party alliance Convergencia
i Unió (CiU) during the election campaign and
is now due to become Catalonia's next Prime Minister.
"With 38,5% of the votes and
twice as strong as the previously ruling Socialists,
Artur Mas and his party will have solid support to
push for necessary decisions regarding Catalonia's
future and make it once again belong to the economically
healthy regions in Europe", commented the ELDR
Party President. "With
a great victory the new catalan government will push
for necessary decisions regarding Catalonia's future
and to make a greater Catalonia, fully commited with
the european future", commented Marc Guerrero,
ELDR Party Vice President...
|
| Verhofstadt
congratulates Catalan party on election victory
Press Release, ALDE, November 29, 2010
Guy Verhofstadt, President of the
Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in the European
Parliament today wrote to Convergencia i Unió
Party leader, Artur Mas, to congratulate him on a
stunning electoral victory last night in the Catalan
national polls in which CiU took 38.5% of the vote
which translates into 62 of the 135 seats in the parliamentary
chamber. Although not an absolute majority, the result
secures CiU as by far the largest party in Catalonia
and will deliver the presidency of the Catalan Government
to Artur Mas. "This is
truly a convincing victory for CiU, a member party
of the European Liberal family. I congratulate Artur
Mas and his colleagues on the tremendous result in
obtaining the support of almost 1.2 million voters
in Catalonia."
|
| LI
Vice President urges China to release Noble Peace
Prize winner
Liberal International News
Bulletin. Issue 205. October 14, 2010
In response to the awarding of the
Nobel Peace Prize to Chinese democracy advocate Liu
Xiaobo, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), LI
full member has expressed its support for democratic
activism in China. LI Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao
(DPP) commented: “The Nobel award to Liu Xiaobo
is an important recognition of the ongoing efforts
of Chinese democracy activists, who have risked their
lives and personal freedom, to fight for human rights
and civil liberties in China (...) The international
community must continue to support their efforts by
demanding the immediate and unconditional release
of Liu and other prisoners of conscience in China.”
The Nobel Committee announced that Liu was awarded
the prize due to his “long and non-violent struggle
for fundamental human rights in China...” MORE
|
| Liberals
succeed in Swedish elections
Press Release, ELDR, September
20, 2010
European Liberals wholeheartedly congratulate
their Swedish member parties Folkpartiet Liberalerna
and Centerpartiet to their results in yesterday's
Swedish parliamentary elections even if their electoral
alliance is short of 3 seats for an absolute majority.
"Both parties showed an impressive campaign finishing",
commented ELDR Party President Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck.
Only a few weeks ago, polls still
suggested a comfortable majority for the alliance
of the left. However, reality proved to be different...
MORE
See also:YABLOKO's
Sister-Parties
|
| Sweden:two
liberal parties key players in Sunday’s election
E-Newsletter, ELDR, September
15, 2010
Parliamentary elections will be held
in Sweden on 19 September. For the first time in history
two coalition blocks, i.e. government alternatives,
have been formed before the elections giving the voter
the opportunity to choose which administration it
wants for the following four years, resulting in a
fierce campaign for undecided voters. The liberal
influence of ELDR parties Centerpartiet and Folkpartiet
could be key in determining the shape of the new government.
MORE
See also:YABLOKO's
Sister-Parties
|
| Bundestag
members visited YABLOKO’s office
Press Release, September 6,
2010.
On September 6 YABLOKO received the
delegation of the German Free Democratic Party (Freie
Demokratische Partei, FDP) in YABLOKO’s Moscow
office. The FDP delegation included Bundestag members
Dr.Reiner Stinner, Marina Schuster, Dr. Bijan Djir-Sarai
and Patrick Kurth, staff members of the FDP parliamentary
faction, Director of the Moscow Bureau of the Friedrich
Naumann Foundation Sasha Tamm and staff members of
the German Embassy. FDP together with the Christian
Democrats forms a coalition German federal government.
FDP leader Guido Westerwelle is currently German Foreign
Minister... |
|
“Clegg
announces welcome political reforms – Hughes”
LI News Issue 191, July 8,
2010
With the decision made by the Liberal
Democrat-Conservative government in the UK to hold
a referendum on adopting “Alternative Vote” , the
UK moves one step closer to adopting a form of proportional
representation. According to recently elected Deputy
Leader of the Lib Dems, Simon Hughes MP: ““The coalition
Government has decided in one move to give all voters
a much greater say in who is chosen to represent them
and to give Parliament a much greater say in the business
of Government…With an easier and more up to date electoral
register in the future, the whole of Britain will
have a much more representative democracy. We will
also end the scandal where votes have been of unequal
value and in many places of no value at all — and
where many people have scandalously not even been
allowed to vote.” The Liberal Democrats currently
serve as a coalition partner in the United Kingdom,
with leader Nick Clegg serving as Deputy Prime Minister.
Recently he met with leader of the Liberal Party of
Canada, Michael Ignatieff .
More
news |
| Verhofstadt:
Five challenges of the Belgian Presidency
Press Release, ALDE, July
7, 2010
Addressing the Belgium Prime Minister,
Yves Leterme, in a parliamentary debate in Strasbourg
today, Guy Verhofstadt, leader of the Liberal and
Democrat group in the European Parliament, underlined
that the success of the Belgian Presidency would be
judged on its ability to steer through the measures
to address the financial and economic crisis.
"There is one over-riding concern
on the minds of Europe's citizens and that is how
we can quickly and efficiently emerge from the current
crisis and era of austerity and lay the foundations
for future growth and prosperity. Belgium now faces
its own stress test whether it can live up to expectations
and deliver genuine Community responses to a crisis
that transcends all frontiers..."
|
| European
Parliament members meet with YABLOKO’s leaders
Press Release, July 26, 2010.
On June 26 YABLOKO held a meeting
with the delegation of the European Liberals, Democrats
and Reformers party (ELDR) – Mrs. Annemie Neyts,
ELDR President, Mrs.Kristiina Ojuland, MEP, Mr. Michael
Jensen, member of Danish parliament and Mr.Robert
Plummer, ELDR Political Advisor.
Opening the meeting YABLOKO’s
leader Sergei Mitrokhin proposed to discuss the prospects
of further cooperation between ELDR and ELDR full
member the YABLOKO party.
Member of YABLOKO’s Political
Committee Grigory Yavlinsky said that the EU has not
yet developed a single strategy for cooperation with
Russia, therefore development of such a strategy can
become a task of ELDR and its faction in the European
Parliament. And YABLOKO can help in development of
such a strategy. "The absence of a well-developed
European strategy as regards integration with Russia
is one of the key obstacles in development of relations
between Russia and Europe. YABLOKO’s proposals
and some provisions of our party programme could form
the basis for such a strategy," Yavlinsky said.
YABLOKO’s leaders also dwelled
upon some aspects of such a strategy. Thus, Sergei
Mitrokhin proposed to European liberals to more actively
support YABLOKO’s initiative on abolishing visas
between the EU and Russia. He called the visa regime
“a rudiment of the Iron Curtain preventing assimilation
of the European standards by the Russian citizens”...
|
| Belgium's
EU Presidency well prepared despite election results
Press Release, ELDR, June
10, 2010
On Sunday 13 June, more than seven
million Belgians were invited to cast their ballot
in elections for both the House of Representatives
and 40 seats in the Senate. These early elections
were made necessary after the Belgian federal government,
led by the Christian Democrat Prime Minister Yves
Leterme, collapsed in April of this year over deadlock
on economic questions as well as the lingering question
of the electoral district of Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde
- the last remaining in Belgium where it is possible
to vote for either Dutch or French speaking political
parties...
|
| European
Liberals congratulate their two Dutch member parties
with their fantastic election results
Press Release, ELDR, June
10, 2010
The VVD has won the Dutch parliamentary
elections on Wednesday 9 June, becoming the number
one party in the Netherlands for the first time in
its 62 year history, with 20.4% of the votes. The
election night started with exit polls showing the
Liberals and Labour running neck-and-neck, but when
90% of the votes were counted the VVD took the lead
with 31 seats (an increase of 9 seats) against 30
for Labour, which lost three seats.
VVD Leader Mark Rutte, who is expected
to become the next Prime Minister, made a victory
speech in the early hours of Thursday 10 June: "During
the campaign, we have tirelessly tried to convince
people of our convictions how to get our country out
of the crisis. This result gives our party an obligation
which we can all sense. We will respect the result
and the trust which the voters have given us."
The VVD campaigned with the slogan "putting affairs
in order," calling for a stop to reckless public
spending and a rigorous budget cut to ensure sustainable
state finances.
The Dutch voters, however, have given
a difficult task to Mark Rutte as the political landscape
remains fragmented and any government coalition will
have to consist of at least three parties.
The other ELDR member party, the social
liberal D66 obtained 7% of the votes and more than
tripled its number of seats, from 3 to 10. D66 achieved
the highest result in Wageningen, the hometown of
its Political leader Alexander Pechtold; 15%.
ELDR President Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck
MEP: "I am thrilled to see that both our Dutch
member parties have achieved such good results. It
confirms our conviction that citizens expect leadership
in these times of crisis and support parties which
are not afraid to implement liberal reforms and tough
measures to achieve again a sustainable budget."
|
| Verhofstadt
congratulates Dutch Liberal parties on election success
Press Release, ALDE, June
10, 2010
Guy VERHOFSTADT, President of the
Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in the European
Parliament, today sent his congratulations to both
Liberal parties on their outstanding election results
in the Netherlands.
"The victory of VVD in topping
the polls will bring another Prime Minister to the
Liberal table in Europe and marks an historic achievement
for the Party. The 31 seats that Mr Rutte's party
gained in the national parliament will provide a strong
base for taking the necessary, if tough, measures
on the economy to create growth and job opportunities
in the longer term."
"Alexander Pechtold's D66 also
did exceptionally well in more than tripling their
score of parliamentarians. I look forward to working
with both parties in the months and years ahead."
|
| The
United Kingdom Elections 2010
By Robert Woodthorpe Browne.
Special for YABLOKO's web-site. May 26, 2010
...Now the UK has a coalition Government,
in which Nick Clegg is Deputy Prime Minister, with
5 LibDems in the Cabinet and a further 15 as junior
ministers. The legislative programme, read out by
Queen Elizabeth II yesterday, contains very many policies
from the LibDem manifesto, and the two parties are
committed to a 5 year government to enable them to
carry out their reforms and eliminate the deficit.
The real lesson to be learned from
a Russian point of view is that the UK suffered from
limited access to the media for minor parties. If
a platform is given to others – as in the prime
ministerial debates – the people are able to
make an informed choice and will be excited by a political
process that they will not think to have been “fixed”
by those already in power. |
| Forward
looking approach essential for reform in Russia
ELDR Press Release. February
5, 2010
Russia can only move forward in developing
a truly fair, free and democratic society if it puts
to bed once and for all the ghosts of its past. This
was the conclusion from a seminar organised by the
European Liberal Democrat's parliamentary group about
"how the Kremlin thinks and what this means for
Europe" that took place last Wednesday.
Panelists, including ELDR's Russian
party leaders, Sergey Mitrokhin, Yaboloko, and Mikhail
Kasyanov, People's Democratic Union, agreed that the
specter of Stalin's Russia is still hanging over modern
day society and is preventing the country from initiating
the reforms that are needed to facilitate its development,
including strengthening its ties with the European
Union.
Sergey Mitrokhin spoke about telling
Russian President Medvedev the importance of publically
acknowledging that Stalinism is in the past. Mitrokhin
referred to what he called a "hankering for former
times" that is pervading the thoughts of Russian
citizens as the present government fails to deliver
the reforms that are necessary for the country to
proposer in the 21st century.
READ
MORE |
|  ELDR
Congress 2009
19th-20th November, Barcelona, Catalonia
ELDR organised its 30th annual Congress
on Thursday 19th and Friday 20th November 2009 in
Barcelona, Catalonia. ELDR member party Convergencia
Democratica, were our kind hosts.
The Congress was attended by in the
region of 500 delegates and guests from ELDR member
parties as well as people from the wider European
liberal network, including party leaders, European
Commissioners and national and European parliamentarians.
Participants debated key policy areas and overwhelmingly
adopted the Congress theme resolution “Liberal answers
for a new prosperity”.
Annemie Neyts MEP, was re-elected
as President of the ELDR Party to serve her third
mandate. 4 out of 7 vice presidents were also elected.
Incumbent Vice President Markus Loning, FDP, Germany
was re-elected. Leoluca Orlando MP, Italia dei Valori,
Italy was newly elected as were Lousewies Van Der
Laan D66, The Netherlands; and Marc Guerrero, CDC,
Catalonia. Treasurer David Griffiths from the British
Liberal Democrats was also re-appointed for a second
term.
READ
ALL CONGRESS RESOLUTIONS |
| Liberals
to play a major role in new Commission
ALDE, Press release, November
28, 2009
Guy Verhofstadt, Liberal and Democrat
group leader in the European Parliament, responded
positively to the announcement today by President
Barroso that Liberal commissioners will be assigned
a number of key portfolios in the new Commission.
As the Commission is the engine of the European Union,
the Liberal group will play a key role in the policy
of the Union in the next five years. This is what
the ALDE Group and its leader Guy Verhofstadt aimed
for.
READ
MORE |
| Liberals
with high leverage in the new European Commission
ELDR, Press release, November
27, 2009
Following the presentation of the
new college of Commissioners by European Commission
President Jose Manuel Barroso on Friday, 27 November
2009, ELDR Party President Annemie Neyts warmly welcomed
the portfolios assigned to liberals. "Eight of
the Commissioners represent European Liberal Democrat
values, which will ensure a liberal footprint on the
agenda for change set out by Commission President
Barroso in the political guidelines for the new Commission
for the coming five years."
READ
MORE |
| International
Federation of Liberal Youth condemned elections fraud
in Russia
Special for YABLOKO’s web-site
by Ksenia Vakhrusheva, November 17, 2009
Alexander Gudimov, President of the
St.Petersburg branch of the Youth YABLOKO and Ksenia
Vakhrusheva, International Officer of the St.Petersburg
branch of the Youth YABLOKO, took part in the annual
General Assembly of the International Federation of
Liberal Youth, held on 12-15 November in the Hague,
the Netherlands. The GA joined together over130 young
liberals from 35 countries, who are ready to stand
for liberal values in there home countries and in
the world, who shared their experience
The key points of the agenda were elections of the
new executive board, voting for amendments to the
Manifesto and resolutions... On the initiative of
Youth Yabloko the General Assembly developed and adopted
a resolution on condemning elections fraud in Russia.
The resolution was approved by a majority. |
|
Liberal
International accused the Russian authorities in election
fraud on October 11, 2009
Press release, November 1,
2009
The 56th congress of the Liberal International,
international organisation of liberals and liberal
parties, finished its work yesterday night.
The congress adopted basic resolution
World Today reflecting liberal assessment of situation
in different countries and regions of the world.
Assessing the situation in Russia the congress noted
that “the legislation which has extended the
term of the Russian Presidency from four to six years,
going against the basic democratic rule of governmental
change and leading to the growth of bureaucratic supremacy
and corruption in Russia”.
On the initiative of Sergei Mitrokhin,
YABLOKO’s delegate at the congress, the resolution
also expressed concern about the ongoing trend towards
abolishing of honest and fair elections, as well as
curbing of human rights in Russia”. |
| Publications |
| Liberals
victorious in Dutch elections: difficult coalition
talks ahead
Press Release, Liberal International,
Issue 188, June 17, 2010
The Dutch elections saw victories
for both LI Full Members VVD and D66. VVD became the
largest Dutch party for the first time since its foundation.
VVD secured 20.5% of the popular vote, an increase
of nearly 6%, while D66 more than doubled their support
from 3% to 7%. VVD Leader Mark Rutte now faces difficult
coalition talks due to the fragmented Dutch political
landscape. The right-wing Freedom Party became third
biggest and was regarded winner of the elections next
to the VVD. Due to the big electoral gains of VVD
and the Freedom Party, Rutte expressed his wish to
start talks with the right-wing party and the Christian
Democrats: “After all, the VVD and PVV won a
total of 23 additional [seats] in the parliamentary
elections. A coalition with them will be difficult,
but not impossible”. Meanwhile, D66-leader Alexander
Pechtold expressed his wish for a socialist-liberal
coalition to “reform The Netherlands in a responsible
manner. It will be a balanced and stabile coalition:
something we need in times of economic troubles”...
More
Liberals
victorious in Dutch elections: difficult coalition
talks ahead
Past LI President Lord Alderdice new Convener in House
of Lords
Keskusta elects new leader, Finland will have new
female liberal PM
Westerwelle meets Clegg in Berlin: expresses concern
about Kyrgyzstan
Democrat Party victorious in Bangkok local elections
Belgian liberals vow to rebuild liberal brand for
Belgium
Ansip expresses Estonian ambitions at Reform Party
General Assembly
Swedish People’s Party in Finland holds Congress
ADR Burundi leader arrested, and released ahead of
mega-election year (Online only)
LI Human Rights Committee Convenes (Online only)
|
| The
56th Congress of the Liberal International. Urgency
resolution submitted by YABLOKO
The 56th Congress of the LIberal Internatioanl
convening in Cairo...
Calls on:
The Russian authorities to:
- conduct a full inspection of the complaints of the
actions (or negligence) of election commissions in
all the Russian Federation subjects, all the evidence
of fraud published by the mass media and punish all
those guilty of election fraud, as well as take urgent
remedy measures, if needed, declaring the elections
void;
- observe Russia’s obligations under its membership
in the OSCE and in the Council of
Europe on ensuring free and fair elections in the
country;
- form new electoral commissions ensuring that representatives
from all of Russia's political parties should have
equal participation to cast a vote;
- ensure free and equal conditions for all the political
parties and candidates, as well as maximum public
control over elections and voting.
read
more
|
| Liberals
discussed the world
Sergei Mitrokhin’s blog
at the Echo Moskvi web-site, November 3, 2009
The 56th Congress of the Liberal International
(LI) where I took part, finished its work on Saturday
night in Cairo.
The congress adopted basic resolution
World Today, which, in my view is a very interesting
document. It provides liberal assessment of the situation
in different countries and regions of the world.
In terms of examples:
The congress approved election of
Barack Obama noting that he had won under the slogans
of “active civil position, tolerance, dialogue,
rights of individuals, freedom and democracy”.
[The congress also noted that] Honduras
had been “going through a period of serious
disturbances provoked by the violation of its Constitution
by the President of the Republic”.
|
| Sergei
Mitrokhin: Success of the FDP represents a major break-through
of the liberal movement
By Olga Demidova
www.dw-world.de, September 28, 2009
In his interview to the Deutsche Welle
the leader of the Russian opposition party YABLOKO
Sergei Mitrokhin congratulated a “sister liberal
party” – the German FDP party - with their
success at the parliamentary election on September
27. “I think this represents a major break-through
of the liberal movement not only in Germany, but also
worldwide,” he said.
|
| 
Open Letter, January 16, 2003
Most
respected Mr. President,
We are concerned about developments in the Republic
of Belarus concerning Russian media. Broadcasts of
Mayak (Ed. "Beacon"), Yunost (Ed. "Youth"),
and Golos Rossii (Ed. "Voice of Russia")
that have for many years constituted a key source
of information for the citizens of Belarus, have been
closed.
Abramova
sympathizes with Yavlinsky
"Vecherny Minsk", Janaury
24, 1997(Archive)
"One land. One nation. One life
to succeed in assisting people." She decided
to establish in Belarus the public union "Yabloko"—an
autonomous political movement, similar in principles,
goals and objectives to the Russian association "Yabloko".
|
|
|
