Liberal International

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Liberal International
AbbreviationLI
Formation21 November 1946; 79 years ago (1946-11-21)
(In April 1947, it was constituted with the Oxford Manifesto)
TypeInternational non-governmental organisation
Legal statusPolitical international
PurposeWorld federation of liberal political parties and organisations
HeadquartersNational Liberal Club
LocationTemplate:Pluralize from textPage Template:Plainlist/styles.css has no content.
Region served
Worldwide
Members90 political parties and 21 international organisations (as of May 2022)
President
Karl-Heinz Paque
Vice-Presidents
Henrik Bach Mortensen
Sidi Touré
Dr. Phil Bennion (fmr. MEP)
Secretary General
Elin Håland
Main organ
Congress of Liberal International
Publication
LI Human Rights Bulletin
Websiteliberal-international.org

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Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Sidebar/configuration' not found. Liberal International (LI) is a worldwide organisation of liberal political parties. The political international was formed in November 1946, and constituted with the Oxford Manifesto in April 1947. It has become the pre-eminent network for liberal and progressive democratic parties aiming to strengthen liberalism and democratic values around the world. Its headquarters are within the National Liberal Club, in London. The Oxford Manifesto describes the basic political principles of the Liberal International, which is currently made up of 111 parties and organisations.

Aims

The Liberal International Constitution (2005) gives its purposes as: Page Template:Blockquote/styles.css has no content.

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

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

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

Bureau

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

Former Presidents include Hans Van Baalen MEP, John, Lord Alderdice, Dutch politician and former European Commissioner Frits Bolkestein, German politician Otto Graf Lambsdorff, and Spain's first democratically elected prime minister after Francoist Spain, Adolfo Suárez. The 14th president of Liberal International was Hakima el Haite of the Mouvement Populaire (Morocco), who is a former Minister of Environment, UN climate champion, and climate scientist. Madam El Haite succeeded Dr Juli Minoves, formerly Andorra's foreign minister and representative to the United Nations.

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

Awards

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

Prize for Freedom:

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

Medal of Liberalism:

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

Publications

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

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

History

Before establishment

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

Oxford Manifesto

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

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

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

Organisation

Presidents

Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Country Presidency Membership
1 File:Salvador de Madariaga.JPG Salvador de Madariaga
(1886–1978)
United Kingdom
Spain (exiled)
20 April 1948 18 April 1952 Association
Mont Pelerin Society
2 Roger Motz
(1904–1964)
Belgium 18 April 1952 20 April 1958 Liberal Party
3 File:Giovanni Malagodi.jpg Giovanni Malagodi
(1904–1991)
Italy 20 April 1958 15 April 1966 Italian Liberal Party
4 File:Toxopeus, E.H. - SFA008007403.jpg Edzo Toxopeus
(1918–2009)
Netherlands 15 April 1966 25 April 1970 People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
5 File:Gaston Thorn (1984).jpg Gaston Thorn
(1928–2007)
Luxembourg 25 April 1970 18 April 1982 Democratic Party
(3) File:Giovanni Malagodi.jpg Giovanni Malagodi
(1904–1991)
Italy 18 April 1982 26 April 1989 Italian Liberal Party
6 File:Adolfo Suárez 1979 (cropped).jpg Adolfo Suárez
(1932–2014)
Spain 26 April 1989 22 April 1992 Democratic and Social Centre
7 File:Otto Graf Lambsdorff (1990).jpg Otto Graf Lambsdorff
(1926–2009)
Germany 22 April 1992 25 April 1994 Free Democratic Party
8 File:DavidSteel1987 cropped.jpg David Steel
(1938–)
United Kingdom 25 April 1994 15 April 1996 Liberal Democrats
9 File:Frits Bolkestein 1999.jpg Frits Bolkestein
(1933–2025)
Netherlands 15 April 1996 18 April 2000 People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
10 File:Annemie Neyts bij het VVD seminar democratisering (5212184305) cropped.jpg Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck
(1944–)
Belgium 18 April 2000 25 April 2005 Open Vlaamse Liberalen en Democraten
11 File:Lord Alderdice.jpg John Alderdice
(1955–)
United Kingdom 25 April 2005 20 April 2009 Liberal Democrats
and
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
12 File:Johannes Cornelis van Baalen MEP 1 - Diliff.jpg Hans van Baalen
(1960–2021)
Netherlands 20 April 2009 26 April 2014 People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
13 File:HA33.jpg Juli Minoves
(1969–)
Andorra 26 April 2014 30 November 2018 Liberal Party of Andorra
14 File:Hakima El Haite (cropped).jpg Hakima El Haite
(1963–)
Morocco 30 November 2018 2 December 2024 Popular Movement
15 File:Karl-Heinz Paqué, 2016 (cropped).jpg Karl-Heinz Paqué
(1956–)
Germany 2 December 2024 Incumbent Free Democratic Party

Members

Incumbent heads of state and government

Full members

Country/Region Name Government Legislature Joined
File:Flag of Andorra.svg Andorra [6] Liberals of Andorra Extra-parliamentary
0 / 28
File:Flag of Austria.svg Austria[6] NEOS Government
18 / 183
2025
File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium[6] Reform Movement Government
20 / 150
2002
Anders Opposition
8 / 150
1992
File:Flag of Burkina Faso.svg Burkina Faso[7] Alliance for Democracy and Federation – African Democratic Rally Extra-parliamentary
0 / 127
2006
Le Faso Autrement Opposition
1 / 127
File:Flag of Cambodia.svg Cambodia[8] Cambodia National Rescue Movement Extra-parliamentary 2006
File:Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Liberal Party of Canada [9] Government
174 / 343
1947
File:Flag of Chile.svg Chile[10] Evópoli Government
2 / 155
2023
Liberal Party of Chile Opposition
3 / 155
2014
File:Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg Democratic Republic of the Congo[7] Together for the Republic Opposition
18 / 500
2008
File:Flag of Côte d'Ivoire.svg Côte d'Ivoire[7] Rally of Houphouëtists for Democracy and Peace Government
197 / 255
2003
File:Flag of Croatia.svg Croatia[6] Istrian Democratic Assembly Opposition
2 / 151
2014
File:Flag of Cuba.svg Cuba[10] Cuban Liberal Union Extra-parliamentary 1992
Cuban Liberal Solidarity Party Extra-parliamentary 2014
Democratic Solidarity Party Extra-parliamentary
File:Flag of Egypt.svg Egypt [11] Justice Party Opposition
11 / 596
File:Flag of The Gambia.svg Gambia Citizens' Alliance
File:Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark[6] Danish Social Liberal Party Opposition
7 / 179
1948
Venstre, Denmark's Liberal Party Government
23 / 179
1947
Moderates
16 / 179
File:Flag of Estonia.svg Estonia[6] Estonian Reform Party Government
37 / 101
1994
File:Flag of Europe.svg EU Renew Europe Template:Screen reader-only
Template:MEPcount / 720
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ALDE Party Template:Screen reader-only
File:Flag of Finland.svg Finland[6] Centre Party Opposition
23 / 200
1983
Swedish People's Party Government
9 / 200
1983
Template:Country data Georgia[6] Republican Party of Georgia Extra-parliamentary 2006
File:Flag of Germany.svg Germany[6] German Group of the LI Template:Screen reader-only 1947
Free Democratic Party Extra-parliamentary 1947
File:Flag of Gibraltar.svg Gibraltar[6] Liberal Party Government
2 / 17
1997
File:Flag of Guinea.svg Guinea[7] Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea Extra-parliamentary 2012
Union of Republican Forces Opposition
10 / 114
2012
File:Flag of Honduras (1949–2022, 2026–present).svg Honduras[10] Liberal Party Opposition
41 / 128
1986
File:Flag of Iceland.svg Iceland[6] Progressive Party Opposition
5 / 63
1983
File:Flag of Ireland.svg Ireland[6] Fianna Fáil Government
48 / 174
2014
File:Flag of Israel.svg Israel[11] Israeli Liberal Group Opposition
File:Flag of Kenya.svg Kenya[7] Orange Democratic Movement Opposition
85 / 349
2015
File:Flag of Kosovo.svg Kosovo[6] Independent Liberal Party Extra-parliamentary 2009
Democratic Party of Kosovo Opposition
22 / 120
2023
File:Flag of Lebanon.svg Lebanon[11] Future Movement Extra-parliamentary 2012
File:Flag of Luxembourg.svg Luxembourg[6] Democratic Party Government
14 / 60
File:Flag of Madagascar.svg Madagascar[7] Movement for the Progress of Madagascar Extra-parliamentary 1994
Arche de la Nation Extra-parliamentary 2017
File:Flag of Mexico.svg Mexico[6] New Alliance Party Opposition 2006
File:Flag of Mongolia.svg Mongolia[8] Civil Will-Green Party Opposition
4 / 126
2009
File:Flag of Montenegro.svg Montenegro[6] Liberal Party of Montenegro Extra-parliamentary 2014
File:Flag of Morocco.svg Morocco[11] Constitutional Union Government
18 / 395
2003
Authenticity and Modernity Party Government
87 / 395
Popular Movement Opposition
28 / 395
File:Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands[6] Democrats 66 Government
26 / 150
1986
People's Party for Freedom and Democracy[12] Government
22 / 150
1960
File:Flag of Nicaragua.svg Nicaragua[10] Ciudadanos por la Libertad Opposition
Template:Country data North Macedonia[6] Liberal Democratic Party Opposition
1 / 120
1994
File:Flag of Norway.svg Norway[6] Liberal Party Opposition
3 / 169
1947
File:Flag of Paraguay.svg Paraguay[10] Authentic Radical Liberal Party Opposition
23 / 80
2001
File:Flag of the Philippines.svg Philippines[8] Liberal Party Opposition
12 / 317
1989
File:Flag of Portugal (official).svg Portugal[6] Iniciativa Liberal Opposition
9 / 230
File:Flag of Romania.svg Romania[6] National Liberal Party[13] Government
49 / 331
1994
File:Flag of Senegal.svg Senegal[7] Alliance pour la République Opposition
16 / 165
2018
Rewmi Extra-parliamentary 2015
Senegalese Democratic Party Extra-parliamentary 1980
File:Flag of Slovenia.svg Slovenia[6] Concretely Extra-parliamentary
File:Flag of Somalia.svg Somalia[7] CAHDI Party Opposition 2017
File:Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa[7] Democratic Alliance Government
87 / 400
1984
File:Flag of Spain.svg Spain[6] Fundació Llibertat i Democràcia Template:Screen reader-only
File:Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden[6] Liberals Government
16 / 349
1947
Centre Party Opposition
24 / 349
2006
File:Flag of Serbia.svg Serbia[6] Movement of Free Citizens Opposition
3 / 250
2022
File:Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland[6] FDP.The Liberals Government
28 / 200
2009
File:Flag of Syria (2025-).svg Syria[11] Syrian Liberal Party - Ahrar Opposition
File:Flag of the Republic of China.svg Taiwan[8] Democratic Progressive Party Government
51 / 113
1994
File:Flag of Thailand.svg Thailand[8] Democrat Party Opposition
21 / 500
File:Flag of the United Kingdom (1-2).svg United Kingdom[6] Alliance Party of Northern Ireland In coalition government in Northern Irish Assembly, in opposition at national level 1991
Liberal International British Group Template:Screen reader-only
Liberal Democrats Opposition
72 / 650
1989
Worldwide International Federation of Liberal Youth Template:Screen reader-only
International Network of Liberal Women Template:Screen reader-only

Observer parties

Country/Region Name Government
File:Flag of Andorra.svg Andorra [6] Action for Andorra Opposition
File:Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil[10] New Part Opposition
File:Flag of Burkina Faso.svg Burkina Faso[7] Union pour le Progrès et le Changement Opposition
File:Flag of the Comoros.svg Comoros[7] Alliance Nationale pour les Comores Extra-parliamentary
File:Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg Democratic Republic of the Congo[7] Template:Interlanguage link multi Opposition
File:Flag of the Republic of the Congo.svg Republic of the Congo[7] Union des Democrates Humanistes (UDH-YUKI) Template:Screen reader-only
Mouvement républicain Opposition
File:Flag of Costa Rica.svg Costa Rica Progressive Liberal Party Opposition
File:Flag of Cyprus.svg Cyprus[6] United Democrats Extra-parliamentary
Template:Country data Georgia[6] Girchi – More Freedom Extra-parliamentary
File:Flag of Ghana.svg Ghana[7] Progressive People's Party Opposition
File:Flag of Hungary.svg Hungary[6] Momentum Movement Opposition
File:Flag of Israel.svg Israel[11] Yesh Atid Opposition
File:Flag of Malaysia.svg Malaysia[8] Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia In opposition
File:Flag of Mali.svg Mali[7] Citizens' Party for the Renewal of Mali Extra-parliamentary
Union pour la République et la Démocratie (URD) Template:Screen reader-only
File:Flag of Mauritania.svg Mauritania[7] Rally for Mauritania Opposition
File:Flag of Moldova.svg Moldova[6] Coalition for Unity and Welfare Extra-parliamentary
File:Flag of Morocco.svg Morocco[11] Moroccan Liberal Party Extra-parliamentary
File:Flag of Nicaragua.svg Nicaragua[10] Ruta del Cambio Extra-parliamentary
File:Flag of Singapore.svg Singapore[8] Singapore Democratic Party Extra-parliamentary
File:Flag of Suriname.svg Suriname[10] Democratic Alternative '91 Extra-parliamentary
File:Flag of Tunisia.svg Tunisia[11] Afek Tounes Extra-parliamentary
File:Flag of Ukraine.svg Ukraine[6] Holos Opposition
File:Flag of Venezuela.svg Venezuela[10] Vente Venezuela Extra-parliamentary
File:Flag of Zambia.svg Zambia[7] United Party for National Development Government

Individual member

Country Name Government
File:Flag of Hong Kong.svg Hong Kong Mr Martin Lee – founding chairman of Democratic Party Extra-parliamentary

Cooperating organisations

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

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

Liberal think tanks and foundations

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

Organisation Country
Centre Jean Gol Belgium
Fondazione Luigi Einaudi Italy
Fondazione Critica Liberale
Liberal Institute Germany
Teldersstichting Netherlands
The Bertil Ohlin Institute Sweden
Education Policy Institute United Kingdom
European Liberal Forum Europe
Livres (movement)[14] Brazil
Paddy Ashdown Forum[15] United Kingdom

See also

References

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  1. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Constitution – Politics – Liberalism". Liberal-international.org. Archived from the original on 25 November 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
  2. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Bureau Members". Liberal International. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
  3. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Oxford Manifesto 1947 – Manifesto – Politics – Liberalism". Liberal-international.org. Archived from the original on 11 February 2011. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
  4. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Oxford Manifesto 1997 – Manifesto – Politics – Liberalism". Liberal-international.org. 30 November 1997. Archived from the original on 7 February 2011. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
  5. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Andorra Liberal Manifesto - 2017". Liberal International. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Europe". Liberal International. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Africa". Liberal International. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Asia". Liberal International. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  9. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."North America - Liberal International". Liberal International. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Latin America - Liberal International". Liberal International. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Middle East and North Africa". Liberal International. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  12. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."VVD is a member of LI". Archived from the original on 28 September 2011.
  13. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Europe - Liberal International". Liberal International. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  14. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Livres se torna única organização brasileira na Liberal Internacional • LIVRES".
  15. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."63rd Liberal International Congress (75th Anniversary) in Sofia, Bulgaria 2022". Liberal International. Retrieved 25 January 2023.

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