The ELDR Party has launched its Focus Year on demographic change and the accompanying website: www.eldrfocus.eu. Around the theme of demographic change, the Focus Year aims to highlight the main talking points, what’s at stake and what our liberal democrat positions are on issues, such as; the type of social security systems and pension provisions that we need and how to achieve them; migration and immigration policies that are to the benefit of individuals and member states; and labour market policies that allow employers and employees alike to fulfill their potential.
If you have an opinion on demographic change we want to hear it! Comment on the articles posted on our website and contribute to the discussions on the ELDR Facebook Fan Page with your opinions on the implications of demographic change.

 In a first reaction to the meeting of Finance Ministers of the Euro zone, ELDR Party President Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck welcomed the agreement on a three-year lending package of € 110 Billion for heavily indebted Greece. President Neyts commented: „I deplore that EU member states needed so long to take decisive actions, thereby worsening the situation. Now we must quickly look forward and draw the right conclusions for the future stability and success of the common European currency". Click here to read more.

Politically active since 1995, 9 years in the Landtag,  3 years on the Executive Board of the FDP, current member of the Deutscher Bundestag and now also Secretary General of the German Liberals. This is the political rise of the 31 year old Christian Lindner, elected on 24th April 2010 as the new Secretary General of ELDR member party FDP.
The ELDR Party congratulates Mr Lindner on his appointment and wishes him the same bright career as his party colleague, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Guido Westerwelle.

On Saturday 1st May, ELDR’s youth organization, LYMEC, elected Alexander Plahr, member of the German young liberals, as the new president during its annual congress held in the Romanian ski resort, Sinaia. A new Bureau was also elected. “The European Union can no longer be considered political secondary space – Alexander Plahr said at his election speech. Instead, we see many of the important political decisions now being taken on European level, affecting the everyday lives of our generation. LYMEC will make sure the voice of young liberals is there to participate in the debate!”

ELDR was represented by ELDR President Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck and ELDR full member party PNL was represented by their president Crin Antonescu MP. Both personalities spoke on the urgent need for EU action in the Greek financial crisis. Greeting the brilliant work of Aloys Rigaut (Jeunes MR, Belgium) who stepped down as president, the 130 delegates from across Europe also debated urgent topics such as the Euro currency stability, internet censorship and the possible accession of Iceland to the European Union.

The actor Colin Firth (in the picture), the human rights advocate Bianca Jagger, the musician Brian Eno, the presenter Floella Benjamin, the scientist Richard Dawkins, the actor Daniel Radcliffe, the producer John Lloyd. What do these people have in common?
They all support the Liberal Democrats at the next national elections taking place this Thursday.
Parliamentary democracy depends on both a Government and an Opposition - an arrangement intended to subject policies and legislation to critical scrutiny. For many years now, there hasn’t been a real Opposition: the two old parties have agreed on almost all significant issues, and run headlong together into disaster – said Brian Eno, member of the U2 band.
"We need a new voice, somebody to think differently, and the Lib Dems can offer that.”
After the success of Nick Clegg during the TV debates and the good score in the official polls, ELDR wishes good luck in the final stages of the campaign to its British member.
Read also ELDR’s liberal bulletin with more insight on the British election and the Liberal Democrats