Brussels, 24/11/2014 (Agence Europe) - The European liberals and democrats from ALDE met up in Lisbon on 20-22 November to examine the party's strategy, a few months after the European elections that saw their number of seats fall at the European Parliament.
During a debate with party members, Sophie in 't Veld said they “will not always be able to keep the group by inviting new parties on board”. During the Congress, ALDE welcomed a number of parties on board such as Ano 2011 (Czech Republic), Stranka Mira Cerarja (Slovenia), Partido da Terra (Portugal), Alliance for Alenka Bratusek (Slovenia) and Liberalna Partija Crne Gore (Montenegro). According to the MEP, the group has lost ground at the EP and will have to close ranks. She said that they would have to, “be more disciplined and cohesive” and added that those that repeatedly voted against the group line had to ask themselves a number of appropriate questions.
In 't Veld said that they had to distinguish themselves from other groups, as well as promote change, assume their responsibilities, defend their principles and refuse to betray themselves, as the S&D had done with opposing the Hungarian candidate for the Commission and was happy to “shut up”. ALDE, together with the EPP and S&D, provide a comfortable pro-European majority but said that no majority came on a silver platter. She also said that she was against political manoeuvrings and said that they would only be “credible if we are consistent, need to have courage to say message unpopular”. At the opening of the Congress, the president of the group at the EP, Guy Verhofstadt from Belgium said that, “I dare to say we are better positioned than ever. The past years, we have planted the seeds that will soon enable us to harvest”. The president of the party, Sir Graham Watson, welcomed the fact that liberals were heading governments in Estonia, Slovenia Belgium and Luxembourg.
During the Congress, Angelika Mlinar from Austria and Hans van Baalen from the Netherlands were elected vice presidents of the group. (EL)