Liberal Parties

:''This article discusses liberalism as a major political current in specific regions and countries. For the main entry on liberalism, see Liberalism .

This article gives information on liberalism in diverse countries around the world. It is an overview of parties that adhere more or less (explicitly) to the ideas of Political Liberalism and is therefore a '''list of liberal parties''' around the world.

INTRODUCTION

One can argue what a liberal party is. In the list below, a Liberal party is defined as a Political Party that adheres to the basic principles of (political) Liberalism . This is a broad political current, that includes both Right Of Center (or Free Market ) liberals and Left Of Center liberals. All liberal parties emphasize Individual Rights , but they differ in their opinion on an active role for the state.

After liberals have gained power and realized their first Reforms , one often sees a divergence within their ranks:

Some are satisfied and rest apart with these reforms, developing into Liberal Conservatives or simply becoming conservatives, mostly still adhering to free market policies. An example is the Liberal Democratic Party (Japan) . These parties are not included in the overview.

The mainstream of liberalism continues on the path of gradual reforms, embraces electoral Democracy as a basic liberal position and organizes itself in the form of the traditional liberal parties. These parties are included in the overview .

---Part of this mainstream emphasizes Classical Liberal issues and concentrates on Economic Liberalism . This is, for example, the origin of Libertarianism . Many people consider this a separate political theory/current. Others argue that these parties are still liberal parties. Therefore they are included in the overview.

---Another part of the mainstream is more left-wing. It embraces and emphasizes democratic reforms and often strives for Social Reforms . These parties sometimes prefer to name themselves Radical or ''progressive liberal'' and are generally quite positive about the role of the state in the economy, by advocating Keynesianism for example, while continuing to support a Market Economy . United States Liberalism developed out of this tradition. Progressive liberals tend to use labels such as Radical , Progressive , Free-minded or simply Democratic instead of Liberal. These parties are included in the overview.

--For some liberals this doesn’t go far enough: they joined Social Democratic parties. They are not included in the list.

Next to these development one sees the rise of new Centrist or Pragmatic parties that share liberal values and develop into liberal or similar parties. These parties are included in the overview too.

Finally one sees liberals joining parties with a broader political range. This happens especially in countries where the Electoral System favors a Two-party System .

Note: In some cases the liberal current has steered into a Populist direction (e.g. the Freedom Party Of Austria ), while in other cases populist parties have adopted the word "liberal" in their names (e.g. the Liberal Democratic Party (Russia) and the Liberal Democratic Party (Lithuania) . These parties have only a tenuous connection - if any - to liberalism.

Liberal International

European Liberal Democrat And Reform Party

Council Of Asian Liberals And Democrats

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS OF PARTIES

Liberal International

ELDR ( ALDE )

AAED

CALD

Africa Liberal Network

Liberal Network For Latin America

PARLIAMENTARY PARTIES AND OTHER PARTIES WITH SUBSTANTIAL SUPPORT

This list includes also parties which were represented in the last previous legislature and still exists as well as some banned or exiles parties (Burma, Cuba). Liberals might be active in other parties, but that is no reason to include a party.

See the remarks Above about the criteria. Minor parties are listed Below

AFRICA

There are very few liberal political parties in Algeria . Ahd 54 and the Algerian Natural Law Party may be considered liberal. The main Berber party, the Rally For Culture And Democracy (Rassemblement pour la Culture et la Démocratie) could be considered to embrace some liberal values.

In Angola , the liberal Liberal Democratic Party (Partido Liberal Democratico, member LI ) is a small liberal party.

In Benin , the Rebirth Party Of Benin (Parti de la renaissance du Bénin), might be considered a liberal party, but it exact profile is not available.

In Burkina Faso , the Alliance For Democracy And Federation (Alliance pour la Démocratie et la Fédération), might be considered a liberal party, but it exact profile is not available.

In Cape Verde , the Movement For Democracy (Movimento para a Democracia), might be considered a liberal party, but its exact profile is not available.

In Côte D'Ivoire , the Rally Of The Republicans (Rassemblement des Republicains, member LI ) is the liberal, main opposition party.

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In Equatorial Guinea , the National Democratic Union Of Equatorial Guinea (Unión Democratica Nacional de Guinea Ecuatorial, member LI ) claims to be a liberal party.

In Gambia , the United Democratic Party , might be considered a liberal party, but it exact profile is not available.

In Ghana , the New Patriotic Party is a right of center liberal party that is unclear about its international affiliations.

In Kenya , the Liberal Democratic Party might be considered a liberal party.

In Malawi , the liberal character of the United Democratic Front is despite its membership of the LI disputable. The Democratic Progressive Party was formed in 2005 by President Bingu Wa Mutharika after a dispute with the UDF. There were allegations that members of the former governing UDF did not adequately tackle corruption. It is unclear if the party will be ideological or personalist in style.

In Morocco , two center-right parties, the Constitutional Union (Union Constitutionnelle) and the Popular Movement (Mouvement Populaire) are both member of the LI .

In Mozambique , the Liberal Democratic Party Of Mozambique (Partido Liberal e Democrático de Moçambique) and the Social Liberal And Democratic Party (Partido Social-Liberal e Democrático) claim to be liberal parties, but both lost parliamentary representation.

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In Seychelles , the Seychelles National Party (observer LI ) is a liberal party.

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In Tanzania , the Civic United Front (Chama Cha Wananchi), member LI ) and the United Democratic Party , observer LI ) are liberal parties.

In Tunisia , the Social Liberal Party (Parti Social Libéral, observer LI ) is a more or less liberal party.

In Zambia , the main opposition party, the United Party For National Development (observer LI ) takes a liberal position in the political spectrum.

In Zimbabwe , liberalism is not organized, but the left-leaning opposition Movement For Democratic Change includes liberals and social democrats opposed to President Robert Mugabe .

AMERICA

United Provinces Of Central America

Gran Colombia

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In Aruba , the character of the Aruban Liberal Organization (Organisacion Liberal Arubiano) is not clear. The party lost parliamentary representation in the 2005 election.

In Bahamas , the dominant party is the left of center liberal Progressive Liberal Party .

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In Costa Rica , the Libertarian Movement Party (Partido Movimiento Libertario, observer LI ) is a classical liberal party.

In Cuba , non-communist parties are banned. This makes the three liberal parties Liberal Democratic Party (Partido Liberal Democratico, observer LI ), Democratic Solidarity Party (Partido Solidaridad Democratica, observer LI ) and the Cuban Liberal Movement (Movimiento Liberal Cubano) illegal. In exile the Cuban Liberal Union (Unión Liberal Cubana, member LI ) is active.

In Dominican Republic , the originally left-wing Dominican Liberation Party (Partido de la Liberacíon Dominicana) developed into a center liberal party.

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In Greenland , the Feeling Of Community Party (Atássut) is a right of center liberal party, as are the Democrats .

In Grenada , the National Democratic Congress is a center liberal party.

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In Puerto Rico , the Popular Democratic Party (Partido Popular Democrático) is a left of center liberal party.

In Suriname , the Democratic Alternative '91 (Democratisch Alternatief '91) is a center liberal party.

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ASIA

Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Georgia, Russia, and Turkey are listed under Europe.

In Burma , the National Council Of The Union Of Burma , member CALD , is active in exile.

In Cambodia , the Pak Sam Rainsy (Sam Rainsy Party, member CALD , claims to be a more or less liberal party, though some dispute this and consider it a xenophobic party.

In Hong Kong , the Democratic Party is a liberal party, strongly emphasizing the need of democratic reforms. The Civic Party is also a liberal party. The Liberal Party is often considered to be the business party, not open for democratic reforms.

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In Israel , Shinui (שינוי, in English Change, member LI ) is a strongly anti-clerical, market liberal party.

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In Lebanon , the National Liberal Party (Hizb al-Ahrar al-Watani) is a liberal pro-independence (from Syria) party.

In Malaysia , the Malaysian People's Movement Party (Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia, member CALD ) seems to be a more or less liberal party.

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In Singapore , due to the electoral system the liberal Singapore Democratic Party (member CALD ) is not represented in parliament. The less intransigent liberal Singapore People's Party is represented in parliament.

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EUROPE

liberalism in Europe

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In Andorra , the Liberal Party Of Andorra (Partit Liberal d'Andorra, member LI , ELDR ) is a right of center liberal party and became the dominant political party.

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In Belarus , liberalism is under threat. One of the main opposition parties is the liberal United Civil Party Of Belarus (Abjadnanaja Hramadzianskaja Partyja Biełarusi).

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In Bosnia-Herzegovina , liberalism is weak, because of the domination by ethnic parties. A small and rather unsuccessful liberal party is the Liberal Democratic Party (Liberalno demokratska stranka, member ELDR ). The Party For Bosnia And Hercegovina (Stranka za Bosnu i Hercegovinu) can be considered a more or less liberal party.

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In Cyprus , the United Democrats (Enomeni Dimokrates, member ELDR ) are a left of center liberal party. In North Cyprus the left of center Peace And Democracy Movement (Bariş ve Demokrasi Hareketi), might be considered a liberal party, but it exact profile is not available. ''See also Liberalism In Cyprus .''

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In Faroe Islands , the Union Party (Sambandsflokkurin) and the Self-Government Party (Sjálvstýrisflokkurin) were or are aligned with the Danish liberal parties.

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In Georgia , the National Movement - Democrats (Natshhionakhuri Modraoba - Demokrathebi) has to develop a clear profile, but there are signs it will develop into a liberal party.

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In Gibraltar , the Liberal Party Of Gibraltar (member LI ) is a liberal party.

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In Ireland , the Progressive Democrats (member ELDR ) are a liberal party on social and economic issues.

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In Russia , Yabloko (Yabloko, Russian Democratic Party, Jabloko - Rossijskaja Demokratičeskaja Partija, member LI ) is a left of center liberal party, the Union Of Right Forces (Sojuz Pravych Sil, member IDU ) is a right of center liberal party. This last party can also be seen as a democratic conservative market party. The so-called Liberal Democratic Party Of Russia is not at all liberal; it is a Nationalist , right-wing populist party. ''(Main article Liberalism In Russia ''.

In the small country of San Marino , the Popular Alliance Of Sammarinese Democrats For The Republic (Alleanza Popolare dei Democratici Sammarinesi per la Repubblica) is a center liberal party.

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In United Kingdom , liberalism is now organized mainly in the centre-left Liberal Democrats (member LI , ELDR ). The Liberal Democrats in Great Britain generally support social liberalism, while taking a centrist, largely pragmatic view on economics, supporting economic freedom and market competition in principle but often advocating more state/government provision or regulation to support particular policy objectives. Generally identified with the term 'Liberal' in current UK politics, they are the third largest political party, taking 22% of the vote in the last election, but due to the First Past The Post electoral system their representation in parliament is much smaller. Generally therefore, in the contemporary UK, 'Liberal' refers to an ideology advocating broad social freedoms, but less attached to economic liberalism. The Alliance Party Of Northern Ireland (member LI , ELDR ) is their counterpart in Northern Ireland. There is a small splinter group of the Liberal Democrats, the Liberal Party , which consists of those Liberals who objected to the merger of the old Liberal Party to the centrist Social Democrats in 1988 , which is sporadically active in local government. ''(Main article Liberalism In The United Kingdom )b''

OCEANIA

Australia

New Zealand

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In the Solomon Islands , the Solomon Islands Liberal Party considers itself a liberal party.

NON-PARLIAMENTARY PARTIES

Afghanistan: Liberal Democratic Party Of Afghanistan

Armenia: Armenian Liberal Democratic Party (Ramgavar)

Armenia: Armenian Democratic Liberal Party (Ramgavar Azadagan)

Armenia: Liberal Democratic Union Of Armenia

Australia: Liberal Democratic Party Of Australia

Austria: Liberal Forum (Liberales Forum, member LI , ELDR , formerly parliamentary)

Austria: The Democrats (Die Demokraten)

Bangladesh: Liberal Party Bangladesh

Canada: Libertarian Party Of Canada

Chile: Liberal Party (Chile) (Partido Liberal)

Czech Republic: Path For Change (Cesta Zmĕny, member ELDR )

Czech Republic: Party For An Open Society (Strana pro otevrenou spolecnost)

Dominican Republic: Liberal Party Of The Dominican Republic (Partido Liberal de la República Dominicana)

Ecuador: Movement Forwards Ecuador (Moviminiento Fuerza Ecuador, observer LI )

France: Pole Of Freedoms, The French Liberal Movement (Pôle des Libertés - Le Mouvement Libéral Français)

Greece: The Liberals (Oi Fileleytheroi)

Haiti Liberal Party (Parti Libéral)

India: Swatantra Bharat Party

Italy: Federation Of Liberaldemocrats (Federazione dei Liberaldemocratici)

Italy: Federation Of Italian Liberals (Federazione dei Liberali Italiani, observer LI )

Italy: Italian Liberal Party (Partito Liberale Italiano)

Kosovo: Liberal Party Of Kosovo (Partia Liberale e Kosoves, observer LI , member ELDR )

Laos: Lao Liberal Democratic Party (SeripasathipataiLao)

Mongolia: Mongolian Liberal Democratic Party

Netherlands Antilles: Democratic Party (Democratische Partij)

Norway: Liberal People's Party (Det Liberale Folkepartiet)

Peru: Liberal Party Of Peru (Partido Liberal del Peru)

Portugal: Liberal Social Movement (Movimento Liberal Social)

Spain: Liberal Coalition (Coalición Liberal)

Spain: Mallorcan Union (Unió Mallorquina, member LI )

Sri Lanka: Liberal Party Of Sri Lanka , member LI , CALD

Turkey: Liberal Democratic Party (Liberal Demokrat Parti, member LI )

United Kingdom: Liberal Party

United States: Libertarian Party , Personal Choice Party , Independence Party Of Minnesota , Liberal Party (New York State) , US Marijuana Party

Uruguay: Liberal Party (Partido Liberal)

Venezuela: Liberal Force (Fuerza Liberal)

Venezuela: Civil Resistance (Resistencia Civil)

EXTERNAL LINKS

Liberal Manifesto of Oxford 1947

Liberal Declaration of Oxford 1967

Liberal Manifesto of Oxford 1997

Information About

Liberal Parties