Strengthen liberalism in Southern Europe
Vice President Marc Guerrero
At the last ELDR party congress, held in Barcelona (Catalonia), I remarked in my candidacy speech that we, liberals, could not allow having a red belt in south Europe. It is right to consider that for historical reasons the south of Europe has been not an easy place for liberalism.
If we have a look at the current situation we can clearly check that even though we have important liberals parties that are or have been in government -as Partit Liberal d’Andorra, Convergència Democràtica de Catalunya or Unió Mallorquina-, it is also true that we have a great lack of strong liberal political forces in, for example, Greece, Portugal or Malta. The positive side is that in all these countries we can find a variety of think tanks, national political foundations, institutes and leading liberal personalities that promote liberal and democrat ideals and values.
At the same time in countries such as Italy or France, even though we have important liberal parties, the current governments are not in their hands and usually the government tries to consider themselves “liberal”, when obviously they are not. At this point, I would like to mention that few days ago I represented ELDR Bureau at the National Congress of Italia Dei Valori - Lista Di Pietro and I had extremely great feelings. They are building a really alternative to the government!
We are in an important moment for the future of Europe. After the aproval of the Lisbon Treaty it is time not for arguing on the institutional framework of the Union, but on its future as a political project. The world needs Europe, and we have to give our voice. At this very moment, when we focus a great challenge on the Mediterranean north-south relations, it is an excellent moment for liberals to have more muscle in the region. It is not just a personal will, it is a political “must” to increase our political strengthen in the South in order to give the right answers to our European society and also to our neighbours.
From the ELDR Party, as I promised at the congress, we will work hard for getting as much as possible of this moment. For getting a stronger liberal position in the South all the efforts will be of great value. With a stronger liberal south we will have a stronger Europe!
Dr. Marc Guerrero i Tarragó
ELDR Party Vice-president
Convergència Democràtica de Catalunya (CDC)
Tags: democracy, freedom, liberalism, Southern Europe