Mari Kiviniemi was elected the new leader of ELDR member party Keskusta (Centre Party) last weekend during the party’s congress in Lahti. ELDR congratulates the newly appointed leader and wholeheartedly thanks Finnish Prime Minister, Matti Vanhanen, for the dedication he has shown to European liberalism for almost a decade as both Prime Minister and party leader of Keskusta. European Liberals trust that the good cooperation with Keskusta will continue with Mrs Kiviniemi, who is due to become new Prime Minister by Friday 18 June. Fluent in several languages including German and English and equipped with extensive ministerial competence, she is well placed to continue Matti Vanhanen's successful years. To read more.  

The VVD has won the Dutch parliamentary elections on Wednesday 9 June and becomes the number one party in the Netherlands for the first time in its 62 year history, with 20.5% of the votes. The VVD took the lead with 31 seats (an increase of 9 seats) against 30 for Labour, which lost three seats. VVD Leader Mark Rutte, who is expected to become the next Prime Minister, made a victory speech in the early hours of Thursday 10 June: "During the campaign, we have tirelessly tried to convince people of our convictions how to get our country out of the crisis. This result gives our party an obligation which we can all sense. We will respect the result and the trust which the voters have given us."

The other ELDR member party, D66, also had a wonderful election night. The party led by Alexander Pechtold obtained 7% of the votes and increases from three to ten seats in the Dutch Parliament. Pechtold: “D66 is back to the centre of Dutch politics with double digits.” To know more .

The election results of last Sunday were disappointing for both Belgian liberal parties, which have been participating in the recently collapsed government. ELDR President Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck, commented: “I congratulate the winners of these elections and I hope that they will be able to cooperate to swiftly find a rational and sustainable solution.”

It is expected that the formation of a new government will take quite some time. However, it is not expected that this will affect the upcoming EU Presidency. The European affairs state secretary Olivier Chastel (MR) has prepared well the EU Presidency which will start on 1 July 2010. For more details click here.

Thursday 17^th June 2010: 12:30 to 15:00

LOCATION: Concert Noble, rue d’Arlon 82, 1040 Brussels, Belgium

The ELDR Party will host a conference on the situation in the euro zone, in view of the developments in Greece and other member states. This conference will discuss the current state of play in the euro zone and the European liberal democrat approach for the future stability and prosperity of Europe's economy. 

SPEAKERS: Siim Kallas, European Commission Vice President and Commissioner for Transport (Estonia); Robert Priester, Head of Department - Wholesale and Regulatory Policy, European Banking Federation; and Olle Schmidt MEP, ALDE Coordinator of the European Parliament's committee on the economic and financial crisis.

High level golfer, skier and tennis player, former mayor of Luxembourg City, MEP, secretary general of the Luxembourg Olympic Committee, and not least, President of the European Liberal Democratic Party in the 1980’s, Colette Flesch is one of our most distinguished liberal personalities.
On top of this, she has become honorary mayor of Luxembourg. Appointed on Monday, Colette Flesch expressed her gratitude in the presence of Luxembourg City representatives and remembers “It was coincidence that I joined politics. Parties wanted to include more women in politics in the run up to the 50th anniversary of the right to vote for women, in 1969. I did not get elected to the parliament that year. However, I did get elected mayor of the capital in the local elections of that same year.”

ELDR congratulates Colette Flesch along with the tireless fervour lavished on her work, her active spirit and strong commitment to liberalism.