Liberal parties by country

This article gives information on liberalism worldwide. It is an overview of parties that adhere to some form of liberalism and is therefore a list of liberal parties around the world.

This article is about liberalism as a political current in specific regions and countries. For the conceptual background, see Liberalism.
Part of a series on
Liberalism
Schools
Principles
History
Philosophers
Politicians
Organizations
Regional variants
Related topics
  • icon Liberalism portal
  • icon Politics portal

Introduction

The definition of liberal party is highly debatable. In the list below, it is defined as a political party that adheres to the basic principles of political liberalism. This is a broad political current, including left-wing, centrist and right-wing elements. All liberal parties emphasise individual rights, but they differ in their opinion on an active role for the state. This list includes parties of different character, ranging from classical liberalism to social liberalism, conservative liberalism to national liberalism.

Several conservative and/or Christian-democratic parties, such as the British Conservative Party, Germany's Christian Democratic Union and Spain's People's Party, are also considered to be neoliberal leaning or have strong liberal conservative and/or classical liberal factions, whereas some conservative parties, such as Poland's Law and Justice and Hungary's Fidesz, while favour more state intervention also support free market/free market solutions. Conversely, some social-democratic parties, such as the British Labour Party and the Italian Democratic Party, include liberal elements. Social liberalism and social conservatism are not mutually exclusive either, in fact some parties espouse socially liberal economic policies, while maintaining more socially conservative or traditionalist views on society: examples of this include Finland's Centre Party (see also Nordic agrarian parties) and Ireland's Fianna Fáil, both members of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party (ALDE Party). In the United States, the two major political forces, the Republican Party and the Democratic Party, are to some extent, liberal (see Liberalism in the United States and Modern liberalism in the United States).

Many liberal parties are members of the Liberal International and/or one of its regional partners, such as the ALDE Party in Europe, the Liberal Network for Latin America and the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats. Generally, membership in these international organizations is an indication that that party is indeed liberal. However, other international organisations, such as the International Democrat Union and the Centrist Democrat International, and regional organisations, such as the European People's Party, the Alliance of European Conservatives and Reformists, the European Democratic Party and the Christian Democrat Organization of America, also have liberal or liberal leaning parties as significant proportions of their membership.

Not all the parties using the "Liberal" or "Freedom" labels are actually liberal. Moreover, some parties, such as the Freedom Party of Austria, were originally liberal, but have since tilted toward a populist direction and abandoned most of the tenets of liberalism. Finally, some parties, such as the United States Republican Party, Australia's Liberal Party or Norway's Progress Party are liberal mainly from an economic point of view rather than a social point of view (see economic liberalism, libertarianism and right-libertarianism).

International organizations of parties

Parliamentary parties and other parties with substantial support
This list includes also parties that were represented in the last previous legislature and still exists as well as some banned or exiles parties (Cuba). Liberals might be active in other parties, but that is no reason to include a party.
See the remarks above about the criteria. Minor parties are listed below

Africa

Liberalism is a relatively new current for Africa. Traditionally it only existed more or less in Egypt, Senegal and especially South Africa.

  •  Algeria: There are very few liberal political parties. Ahd 54 and the Algerian Natural Law Party may be considered liberal. The main Berber party, the Rally for Culture and Democracy (French: Rassemblement pour la Culture et la Démocratie) could be considered to embrace some liberal values.
  •  Angola: the Liberal Democratic Party (Portuguese: Partido Liberal Democrático, member LI) is a small liberal party.
  •  Benin: the Rebirth Party of Benin (French: Parti de la renaissance du Bénin), might be considered a liberal party, but its exact profile is not available. The Cowry Forces for an Emerging Benin (French: Forces Cauris pour un Bénin émergent) are a centrist party alliance with liberal elements.
  •  Burkina Faso: the Alliance for Democracy and Federation (French: Alliance pour la Démocratie et la Fédération), might be considered a liberal party, but its exact profile is not available.
  •  Cape Verde: the Movement for Democracy (Portuguese: Movimento para a Democracia, member CDI), is a liberal and Christian-democratic party
  •  DR Congo: the Future of Congo (French: Avenir du Congo) is a liberal party of the current Prime Minister
  •  Egypt: the Free Egyptians Party (Hizb El Masriyin El Ahrar) and the New Wafd Party (Hizb al-Wafd-al-Jadid) could be considered "liberal parties". The newest liberal party in Egypt is El-Ghad Party (Tomorrow's Party) led by the opposition leader Ayman Nour . Also, the newly established Free Egyptians Party. See for more information: Liberalism in Egypt.
  •  Equatorial Guinea: the National Democratic Union of Equatorial Guinea (Spanish: Unión Democrática Nacional de Guinea Ecuatorial, member LI) claims to be a liberal party.
  •  Gambia: the United Democratic Party, might be considered a liberal party, but its exact profile is not available.
  •  Ghana: the New Patriotic Party is a right of center liberal party that is unclear about its international affiliations.
  •  Guinea: the Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea (French: Union des forces démocratiques de Guinée, member LI, ALN) and the Union of Republican Forces (French: Union des forces républicaines, member LI, ALN) are the main opposition parties.
  •  Ivory Coast: the Rally of the Republicans (French: Rassemblement des Republicains, member LI, CDI) is the liberal, main government party.
  •  Kenya: the Orange Democratic Movement (observer LI) might be considered a liberal party.
  •  Malawi: the liberal character of the United Democratic Front is despite its membership of the LI disputable. The Democratic Progressive Party was formed in 2005 by President Bingu wa Mutharika after a dispute with the UDF. There were allegations that members of the former governing UDF did not adequately tackle corruption. It is unclear if the party will be ideological or personalist in style.
  •  Morocco: two center-right parties, the Constitutional Union (French: Union Constitutionnelle) and the Popular Movement (French: Mouvement Populaire) are both member of the LI. However both are conservative in social issues, something abnormal for a true liberal party. The National Rally of Independents (observer LI, member ALN), founded in 1978 as a royalist party, is nowadays a liberal party.
  •  Mozambique: the Liberal and Democratic Party of Mozambique (Portuguese: Partido Liberal e Democrático de Moçambique) and the Social Liberal and Democratic Party (Portuguese: Partido Social-Liberal e Democrático) claim to be liberal parties, but both lost parliamentary representation.
  •  Senegal: the Senegalese Democratic Party (French: Parti Démocratique Sénégalais, member LI) is a liberal party with a strong personalist character. See for more information: Liberalism in Senegal.
  •  Seychelles: the Seychelles National Party (observer LI) is a liberal party.
  •  Sierra Leone: the People's Movement for Democratic Change (member ALN, observer DUA) can be considered as a liberal party. It is the country's third largest party but lost parliamentary representation in 2012.
  •  South Africa: the Democratic Alliance (member LI) is a liberal party. See for more information: Liberalism in South Africa.
  •  Sudan: the Liberal Party of Sudan (member ALN, AAFD) is a social-liberal party struggling for human rights and a social market economy.
  •  Tanzania: the Civic United Front (Swahili: Chama Cha Wananchi), member LI) and the United Democratic Party, observer LI are liberal parties.
  •  Tunisia: the Social Liberal Party (French: Parti social-libéral, observer LI) is a more or less liberal party.
  •  Zambia: the main opposition party, the United Party for National Development (observer LI) takes a liberal position in the political spectrum.
  •  Zimbabwe: liberalism is not organized, but the left-leaning opposition Movement for Democratic Change includes liberals and social democrats opposed to the ruling ZANU–PF party.

The Americas

In many Latin American countries, liberalism and radicalism have been associated with generally left-of-center political movements such as Colombia's Liberal Party, historically concerned mostly with effecting government decentralization and regional autonomy (liberals were influential in the total dissolution of at least two defunct countries, the United Provinces of Central America and Gran Colombia) and separation of church and state. At times, the anti-clerical and secularist stances promoted by Latin American liberals have resulted in limitations on the civil rights of clergy or others associated with the Church (as in Mexico, where law still prohibits priests from public office). Liberalism in North America has a different background.

  •  Argentina: the Radical Civic Union historically was a centrist progressive-liberal party, while nowadays it adheres to the Socialist International and its platform is a combination of liberal and social democratic ideas. The UCR's long-time rivals have been Peronism and the Peronist-inspired Justicialist Party. Recreate for Growth had been a short lived attempt to form a market liberal party and has observer status in the Liberal International. This party was in alliance with conservative-liberal Republican Proposal. Also smaller parties, such as the Union of the Democratic Centre, the Progressive Democratic Party, the Liberal Party of Corrientes and the Democratic Party of Mendoza, adhere to conservative-liberal principles. On the libertarian side, stands the Liberal Libertarian Party (dissolved) and the Libertarian Party (now) whose focus is on free markets and individual rights.
  •  Aruba: the character of the Aruban Liberal Organization (Organisacion Liberal Arubiano) is not clear. The party lost parliamentary representation in the 2005 election.
  •  Bahamas: the dominant party is the left of center liberal Progressive Liberal Party.
  •  Bolivia: the Liberal Party was dominant until 1952. (Main article: Liberalism in Bolivia).
  •  Brazil: Liberalism (in a general, international acceptance) is represented only by the recently founded New Party (Portuguese: Partido Novo). There are no mainstream parties currently holding unambiguous liberal principles nor any members of the Liberal International. While at least three parties label themselves as "liberal", the Liberal Front Party (Partido da Frente Liberal), renamed Democrats (Portuguese: Democratas) in 2007, is actually a conservative party. The Liberal Party (Portuguese: Partido Liberal), is a populist-conservative party with links to religious organizations, and the Social Liberal Party (Portuguese: Partido Social Liberal) is a conservative party. (Main article: Liberalism in Brazil).
  •  Canada: Liberal refers mainly to the policies and ideas of the Liberal Party of Canada/French: Parti Libéral du Canada (member LI), the most frequent governing party of Canada for the last century and one of the most successful liberal parties in the world. The Liberal Party of Canada has generally adhered to modern liberalism, supporting a welfare state, and is regarded as a centrist to centre-left party in the Canadian context although some provincial parties such as the Quebec Liberal Party combine liberalism with conservative ideas. (Main article: Liberalism in Canada).
  •  Chile: the Social Democrat Radical Party (Spanish: Partido Radical Social-Democráta, member SI) was originally a left-of-center liberal party, but nowadays it is a social democratic party. The Liberal Party of Chile (Spanish: Partido Liberal de Chile, member LI) is a left-of-center social liberal party. Political Evolution (Evopoli) is a center-right political party, part of the governing coalition and a member of RELIAL. (Main article: Liberalism and radicalism in Chile).
  •  Colombia: the liberal current developed into the Colombian Liberal Party (Spanish: Partido Liberal Colombiano, despite its name an active member of the SI), which is a left of center, somewhat populist party, somewhere between liberalism and social democracy. Newer parties like Partido Cambio Radical and Social National Unity Party have taken classical liberal ideas. (Main article: Liberalism in Colombia).
  •  Costa Rica: the Libertarian Movement Party (Spanish: Partido Movimiento Libertario) was originally a classical liberal (libertarian) party but has become conservative on social issues as abortion and same-sex marriage. The Liberal Progressive Party (Spanish: Partido Liberal Progresista) was founded in 2016 is an economically and socially liberal party. (Main article: Liberalism in Costa Rica).
  •  Cuba: it has been legal to form political parties since 1992, but only the Communist Party of Cuba is allowed to be the ruling party. The three liberal parties Liberal Democratic Party (Spanish: Partido Liberal Democratico, observer LI), Democratic Solidarity Party (Partido Solidaridad Democratica, observer LI), Cuban Liberal Union (Unión Liberal Cubana, member of the Liberal International) and the Cuban Liberal Movement (Movimiento Liberal Cubano) are located in Havana, but they are not allowed to participate in elections.
  •  Dominican Republic: the originally left-wing Dominican Liberation Party (Spanish: Partido de la Liberacíon Dominicana) developed into a center liberal party. The Liberal Reformist Party (Partido Reformista Liberal) is also a center liberal party.
  •  Ecuador: the Alfarista Radical Front (Frente Radical Alfarista) and the Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party (Spanish: Partido Liberal Radical Ecuatoriana) are two small remainders of the traditional liberal current. (Main article: Liberalism and radicalism in Ecuador).
  •  Greenland: Atassut is a right-of-center liberal party. The Democrats (Greenlandic: Demokraatit) and the Cooperation Party (Greenlandic: Suleqatigiissitsisut) are social liberal parties. They all oppose separation from Denmark.
  •  Grenada: the National Democratic Congress is a center liberal party.
  •  Honduras: the Liberal Party of Honduras (Partido Liberal de Honduras, member LI and RELIAL) is the traditional center liberal party. (Main article: Liberalism in Honduras).
  •  Mexico: liberalism is represented by the New Alliance Party (Spanish: Partido Nueva Alianza), member LI). (Main article: Liberalism in Mexico).
  •  Nicaragua: the liberal character of the right-wing Constitutionalist Liberal Party (Spanish: Partido Liberal Constitucionalista, former member LI) is disputable. (Main article: Liberalism in Nicaragua).
  •  Panama: the Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement (Spanish: Partido Movimiento Liberal Republicano Nacionalista) is a center-right liberal party. (Main article: Liberalism in Panama).
  •  Paraguay: the Authentic Radical Liberal Party (Spanish: Partido Liberal Radical Auténtico, member LI and RELIAL) is a center liberal party. (Main article: Liberalism and radicalism in Paraguay).
  •  Peru: classical liberal Liberty Movement and Liberal Party of Peru. In Fujimorian-occupied Peru: social liberal Justice Party.
  •  Puerto Rico: the Popular Democratic Party (Spanish: Partido Popular Democrático) is a left of center liberal party.
  •  Suriname: the Democratic Alternative '91 (Dutch: Democratisch Alternatief '91) is a center liberal party.
  •  Trinidad and Tobago: the People's National Movement is a liberal centrist to centre-left party.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]
  •  United States: the primary use of the term liberal is at some variance with European and worldwide usage. In the United States today, it is most associated with the definition of modern liberalism, which is a combination of social liberalism, public welfare and a mixed economy,[12] which is in contrast to classical liberalism. In the Third Party System, the primary liberal groups (which by that point still meant classical liberal) were the Bourbon Democrats and the Liberal Republicans, the latter of which evolved into the Mugwumps;[13] they both supported free trade and free markets, and opposed political corruption. By 1884, both groups had come to support the Democratic Party under the leadership of the liberal Bourbon Grover Cleveland. However, when William Jennings Bryan took over the Democratic Party, there was a substantial move towards populism and progressivism;[14] the last hurrah of the Bourbons was the nomination of Alton Parker in 1904. Despite this, most Democrats, including Woodrow Wilson and Franklin Roosevelt, continued to call themselves liberals, framing social liberal ideas as positive liberties, in contrast to the negative liberties that can only be avoided through a lack of government intervention.[15] Starting in the 1980s, the conservatives and modern liberals began to adopt more classically-liberal economic perspectives through fusionism and the Third Way respectively. Today, the Democratic Party is sometimes identified as the liberal party within the broader definition of liberalism thus putting it in contrast with most other parties listed here. Democrats advocate for more social freedoms, affirmative action, and a mixed economy (and therefore modern liberalism). The Republican Party experiences a somewhat fractured economic viewpoint with some members supporting strong free-market and libertarian views (and therefore economic liberalism) and others championing pro-business and economic nationalist stances, though both sectors typically mix their fiscal views with strong aspects of social conservatism. The Libertarian Party is the third largest political party in the United States, (though still only getting 1–2% of the vote in congressional elections), and particularly centers itself on free markets and individual liberty, which is more in line with classical liberalism. (Main article: Liberalism in the United States and Modern liberalism in the United States)
  •  Uruguay: liberalism organized itself in the nineteenth century in the Colorado Party (Spanish: Partido Colorado) nowadays a heterogeneous party, divided in factions ranging from conservative to social-democratic; however, its general profile is more or less liberal. (Main article: Liberalism in Uruguay).
  •  Venezuela: liberalism was a strong force in the nineteenth and beginning of the twentieth century. Nowadays there are three important classical liberal movements (still no parties): Organization for the Liberal Democracy in Venezuela (Spanish: Organización por la Democracia Liberal en Venezuela), a classical liberal, pro-capitalism think-tank; Liberal Democratic Movement (Movimiento Demócrata Liberal) and "Rumbo Propio para el Zulia" from Maracaibo, Zulia, a classical liberal autonomist movement. They are going to create together a political party in the next years. (Main article: Liberalism in Venezuela).

Asia

Liberalism has or had some tradition in some countries. Nowadays it is a growing current in East Asia, but in many of these countries liberals tend not to use the label liberal.

Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Georgia, Russia, and Turkey are listed under Europe.

Europe

At a pan-European level liberalism exists in some form within generally all members of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party (ALDE), within most members of the European Democratic Party (EDP), within many members of the European People's Party (EPP) and some members of the Alliance of European Conservatives and Reformists (AECR).

Oceania

Liberalism has a strong tradition in both Australia and New Zealand.

  •  Australia: the Liberal Party of Australia is considered to be centre-right, and largely the bastion of Liberalism in Australia. Within the Liberal Party, there is a fusion of liberal and conservative views, a tradition which began by the party's predecessors in the early 20th century. The fusion has led to the party having a big tent membership, bound by an anti-Labor position. Many would argue that this party is a classical liberal party and that the perception of what liberalism is has changed, not the Liberal Party (which promotes the free market approach). Former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, a member of the Liberal Party, said that his party is "not a conservative party". The term small-l liberal generally refers to someone who champions civil liberties and progressive causes such as reconciliation with Indigenous Australians. These views are represented strongly within the broad Liberal Party, as well as in parties such as the Australian Democrats, which began its life as a group of social-liberals disaffected with the Liberal Party. The Liberal Democratic Party is a classical liberal and libertarian party. (Main article: Liberalism in Australia).
  •  Cook Islands: the liberal Democratic Party is one of the two major parties opposing the nationalist Cook Islands Party.
  •  Fiji: the People's Alliance, FijiFirst and the Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) are all liberal parties. FijiFirst is centrist while the People's Alliance and SODELPA are centre-right.
  •  New Zealand: there is no longer a pure liberal party, as in the past the Liberal Party was the first organised political party, and the Liberal Government from 1891 to 1912 was responsible for many reforms. Similarly to Australia, this party merged with more conservative and free market forces to form the National Party of New Zealand, in order to oppose the advancement of the democratic socialist New Zealand Labour Party. Liberalism nowadays refers to a support for individual liberties and limited government. The term is generally used with a reference to a particular policy area, e.g. "market liberalism" or "social liberalism". Unqualified liberalism is less common; in its extreme form it is known by the American term libertarianism. The left of centre New Zealand Democratic Party takes a more or less progressive liberal position in the spectrum, but lost popular support. ACT New Zealand is a classical liberal or libertarian party. (Main article: Liberalism in New Zealand).
  •  Solomon Islands: the Solomon Islands Liberal Party considers itself a liberal party.

Non-parliamentary liberal parties
  • Afghanistan: Liberal Democratic Party of Afghanistan
  • Armenia: Armenian Liberal Democratic Party, Armenian Democratic Liberal Party, Liberal Democratic Union of Armenia
  • Austria: The Democrats, The Social Liberals
  • Benin: Liberal Democrats' Rally for National Reconstruction – Vivoten (Rassemblement des libéraux démocrates pour la reconstruction nationale – Vivoten)
  • Canada: Libertarian Party of Canada
  • Cyprus Liberal Democratic Party member of the Interlibertarians International
  • Ecuador: Movement Forwards Ecuador (Moviminiento Fuerza Ecuador, observer LI)
  • France: Pole of freedoms, the French liberal movement, Liberal Alternative
  • Greece: The Liberals
  • Guatemala: Reform Movement (observer LI), Liberal Party of Guatemala
  • Guinea: Parti de l'Unité et du Libéralisme Social (member ALN)
  • Haiti Liberal Party
  • India: Lok Satta Party
  • Iran: Liberal Democratic Party of Iran
  • Italy: Federation of Liberals (observer LI), Italian Liberal Party
  • Kosovo: Liberal Party of Kosovo (observer LI, member ALDE)
  • Laos: Lao Liberal Democratic Party
  • Mongolia: Mongolian Liberal Democratic Party
  • Moldova: National Liberal Party
  • Netherlands: Liberal Democratic Party, Splinter
  • Netherlands Antilles: Democratic Party
  • Norway: Liberal People's Party
  • Peru: Liberty Movement, Liberal Party of Peru, Justice Party (member LI)
  • Portugal: We, the Citizens!
  • Spain: Liberal Coalition, Mallorcan Union (member LI)
  • Sri Lanka: Liberal Party of Sri Lanka (member LI and CALD)
  • Turkey: Liberal Democratic Party (former member LI)
  • United Kingdom: Liberal Party,
  • United States: Libertarian Party, Personal Choice Party, Independence Party of Minnesota, Liberal Party, US Marijuana Party
  • Uruguay: Liberal Party
  • Venezuela: Organization for the Liberal Democracy in Venezuela, Civil Resistance, Democratic Liberal Movement, Rumbo Propio

See also

References
  1. Lowenthal, David; Comitas, Lambros, eds. (1973). The Aftermath of Sovereignty: West Indian Perspectives (PDF). Anchor Books. p. 134. ISBN 978-0385043045. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 August 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  2. Griffith, Ivelaw L. (1993). The quest for security in the Caribbean : problems and promises in subordinate states. M.E. Sharpe. ISBN 978-1-56324-089-8. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  3. "Caribbean Elections | People's National Movement". www.caribbeanelections.com. Archived from the original on 13 August 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  4. Encyclopedia of world political systems. Sharpe Reference. 15 April 2016. ISBN 978-1-317-47156-1. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  5. "Labour leader Jacinda Ardern not the only one wanting to 'do this'". NZ Herald. 4 August 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  6. "Let's do this: Everyone else who has used Labour's new slogan". Stuff. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  7. Guardian Group http://www.myguardiangroup.com/trinidad/gam_pdfs/PrivateWealthMarketBrief19-Feb-18.pdf. Retrieved 15 January 2020. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  8. "Restricted access". Archived from the original on 3 August 2020. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  9. "Economic Outline of Trinidad and Tobago - Bank of Scotland International Trade Portal". www.bankofscotlandtrade.co.uk. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  10. "Trinidad and Tobago / Wirtschaftsanalysen - Coface". www.coface.at. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  11. Skard, Torild (2015). Women of Power: Half a Century of Female Presidents and Prime Ministers Worldwide. Policy Press. p. 272. ISBN 978-1-4473-1580-3.
  12. "Liberalism in America: A Note for Europeans" by Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. (1956)from: The Politics of Hope (Boston: Riverside Press, 1962).
  13. Folsom, Burton W.; Tucker, David M. (1 June 1999). "Mugwumps: Public Moralists of the Gilded Age | Burton W. Folsom, David M. Tucker". fee.org. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  14. Beito, David T.; Beito, Linda Royster (2000). "Gold Democrats and the Decline of Classical Liberalism, 1896–1900". The Independent Review. 4 (4): 555–575. ISSN 1086-1653. JSTOR 24562582.
  15. "How Classical Liberalism Morphed Into New Deal Liberalism". Center for American Progress. 26 April 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  16. "Maharashtra Govt Formation: BJP's Return Into Ring Makes Scene Murkier".
  17. "Romanian liberals seek EPP affiliation". 26 May 2014.
  18. (in Spanish) Different points of view between Libertarian Party and other political parties in Spain
  19. (in Spanish) Libertarian Party of Spain: What we want
  20. "Current State of the Parties". UK Parliament. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.