About: Liberals

Liberal leader Hans van Baalen dies aged 60

Hans van Baalen, ALDE Party President, passed away in the late hours of 29 April at the age of 60 after a short illness, his party central announced on Friday (30 April).

Tokarczuk’s Nobel is good news for Polish liberals ahead of Sunday’s vote

With this award, Europeans can see how strong, powerful, but most of all, resourceful, the liberal Poland is, writes Piotr Maciej Kaczyński.

EU liberals change name to appease new French members

The main centrist political group in the EU parliament changed its name on Wednesday  (12 June) after receiving an influx of new French members who shy away from the term "liberal".

Former minister seeks to shape a progressive front in Italy

Carlo Calenda, a prominent liberal democrat affiliated to centre-left Partito Democratico (PD), wants his new platform 'Siamo Europei' to help create a single pro-EU list for the upcoming elections. EURACTIV.com spoke with him on the sidelines of his platform's manifesto launch in Brussels last week (19 March).

EPP more likely to expel Fidesz if rival groups also ditch troublemakers

If mainstream political groups do not collectively expel their bad apples it could spell an end to measures by the EU to protect democracy in its member countries, write Jean Morijn and Israel Butler.

German FDP Spitzenkandidat Beer: We need a two-speed, project-related Europe

German parties are beginning to internally plan their lists of candidates for the European elections in May 2019. In an interview with EURACTIV Germany, Nicola Beer, the Spitzenkandidat for the Free Democratic Party (FDP), explains the vision she would like to enter the European Parliament with.

Key EU lawmakers committee to query Selmayr’s promotion at hearing

The European Parliament's budgetary control committee wants a senior EU Commission official to clarify the sudden promotion of its president's chief aide to the top of the EU civil service, underlining the continuing unease among lawmakers over the move.

Dan Barna: Save Romania Union similar to Macron’s En Marche

Dan Barna, President of Save Romania Union (USR), told EURACTIV in an exclusive interview that his force, which largely represents educated urban voters, could join the European political family of Emmanuel Macron’s La République En Marche! party.

Czech tycoon Babiš to be named prime minister but may struggle to find partners

Czech President Milos Zeman said yesterday (22 October) he would name Andrej Babiš prime minister, but the tycoon leader of the anti-establishment ANO party may struggle to find coalition partners despite his emphatic election win.

Verhofstadt: Brexit is ‘a very negative project’, but it helped revive EU popularity

Brexit is "a very negative project" but has nonetheless helped to revive the popularity of the EU and spur demands for change, the European Parliament's pointman on divorce proceedings said yesterday (28 September).

As Macron forms party, Brussels ponders its affiliation

Emmanuel Macron's start-up political party on Thursday (11 May) announced a list of 428 candidates for French parliamentary elections in June, a move likely to shake up French politics. In Brussels, the liberal ALDE group hopes En Marche! will join its ranks.

ALDE rebuffs Italy’s 5 Star bid to join parliamentary group

The Liberals in the European Parliament have turned down a request from the anti-establishment 5 Star Movement to join their group, putting Italy's second-largest party in an awkward position as it had already left its former partners.

Italy’s 5 Star divorces UKIP, begins relationship with ALDE

Italy's maverick 5 Star Movement should cut ties with the anti-European Union UK Independence Party (UKIP) and consider hooking up with the Liberals in the European Parliament, 5 Star founder Beppe Grillo said yesterday (8 January).

Romanian PM says election promises must not fuel populism

Romanian politicians are making unrealistic pay promises ahead of the 11 December parliamentary election that fuel populism and damage voters' understanding of the need for reform, outgoing technocrat Prime Minister Dacian Cioloș told Reuters on Tuesday.

Estonian government could collapse, faces no confidence vote

Estonia's coalition government could be threatened with collapse this week after two junior coalition partners called on the prime minister to resign yesterday (7 November) and the opposition called for a vote of no confidence.

Romania to hold parliamentary election on 11 December

Romania's government announced that the country will hold a parliamentary election on 11 December, and that it will make it easier for Romanians living abroad to vote.

MEPs concerned that amendments could ‘kill’ PNR directive

The European Parliament votes today (14 April) on whether airlines can share the names of passengers with member states to help trace returning jihadists. But lawmakers fear that some of the amendments be considered will “kill” the project.

Slovakia turns unpredictable ahead of its EU presidency

The Smer-Social Democrats (Smer-SD) party of Prime Minister Robert Fico lost its majority and will have difficulties forming a coalition government, following elections held on 5 March. The new parliament will be extremely fragmented, with neo-Nazi and protest parties present, leading to speculation about early elections.  EURACTIV Slovakia reports.

Ex-Commissioner Dacian Ciolos to be Romania’s next PM

EXCLUSIVE/ Dacian Cioloș, the former Commissioner for Agriculture in the executive led by José Manuel Barroso, will be Romania's new premier, two credible sources told EURACTIV today (5 October).

ALDE requests nuclear option over Hungary

The liberal ALDE group in the European Parliament called on Monday (21 September) for the activation of article 7 of the EU Treaty against Hungary over its handling of refugees.

French MEP cries foul at attempt to curb Moscovici’s powers

MEP Sylvie Goulard, a spokesperson for the liberal ALDE group, asked for clarification from Commission President-elect Jean-Claude Juncker following a leaked document according to which the powers of French Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs Pierre Moscovici would be curtailed.

Lack of women no longer a problem for new Commission

Commission President-elect Jean-Claude Juncker is now almost certain to get support from the European Parliament because he has secured nine women on his team - the same number than in the current Barroso Commission. Three of them will be his deputies.

Eurosceptic AfD under attack in Germany

Vandalised campaign posters, angry whistles during events, physical assaults on campaigners – the Eurosceptic Alternative for Germany (AfD) is increasingly victimised by "undemocratic attacks", says the party’s leader Bernd Lucke. EURACTIV Germany reports.

Clegg suggests coalescing with Labour in 2015

Nick Clegg, the leader of the UK Liberal Democrats, the junior partner in Prime Minister David Cameron's coalition government, has hinted at forming a future coalition government with the Labour party after the 2015 election.