Finland's Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen and his Centre Party won the parliamentary elections with 23.1 percent of votes on Sunday 18 March, followed by the right-wing Conservative National Coalition Party and the Social Democrats. The European Liberal Democrat and Reform (ELDR) party congratulates its Finnish member for its performance of remaining the most popular party after being in office four years. “The results of Finland’s parliamentary elections confirm the trend that Northern Europe is fully embracing liberalism and has made it a recipe for success. The Centre Party’s electoral victory is well deserved and will ensure Finland remains among the most competitive countries of the EU. Matti Vanhanen is an excellent leader at national and European level. In Finland, he has courageously and successfully pushed through measures to ensure the sustainability of the welfare state and to reap the benefits of globalisation. Under his leadership at European level, he secured the adoption of the Reach and Services directives, two major European pieces of legislation that equip Europe for the future,” commented Annemie Neyts, ELDR Party President, after the election results.  Read more ...

 At the Liberal Democrat summit held on 8 March, ELDR Party President Annemie Neyts, Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip, Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Romanian Prime Minister Calin Popescu, Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt, ALDE Group Leader Graham Watson, and European Commission Vice President Siim Kallas endorsed the ambitious and binding energy targets proposed by the German presidency of the EU.In her opening statement, ELDR Party President Annemie Neyts stated that “the Liberal Democrat Leaders are committed to a high growth economy combined with measures combating climate change and promoting energy efficiency”. Read more ...

 The European Liberal Women Network (ELWN) and the European Liberal Democrat and Reform (ELDR) Party are committed to taking the lead in setting free the victims of trafficking and ending the trafficking of human beings.“Human trafficking is one of the most serious violations of human rights. We need to step up the fight against this horrendous crime. We cannot sit in apathy. On the occasion of the International Women’s Day, I asked all Liberal Democrat Prime Ministers and Deputy Prime Ministers to show the example and sign up to the European and International conventions and put in place the necessary framework to stop trafficking and assist the victims,” commented Croatian MP Vesna Pusic, ELWN Chair and ELDR Party Vice-President, Leader of HNS - Croatia People's party - Liberal Democrats. Read more ...

 The two members of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform (ELDR) Party in Estonia, Reform Party and Centre party, won a landslide in elections held on 4th March. Liberal Democrat Prime Minister Andrus Ansip's Reform Party won 27.8 percent of the votes and the Centre Party led by Edgar Savisaar had 26.1 percent.“The election victory of Reform Party and Centre Party is recognition of good work and of many years of dedication, belief and vision. Lowering taxes while at the same time developing a wide package of social reforms is unfortunately not a policy that is currently seen in many other EU member states,” commented ELDR Party President Annemie Neyts. Read more ...