Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats

Political party from Flanders, Belgium

"VLD" redirects here. For other uses, see VLD (disambiguation).

Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats

Dutch: Open Vlaamse Liberalen en Democraten

Abbreviation| Open Vld
President| Eva De Bleeker
Alexander De Croo (vice-president)
Founded| 1992; 33 years ago (1992) (VLD)
2007; 18 years ago (2007) (Open Vld)
Merger of| VLD, LA, Vivant (Open Vld)
Preceded by| Party for Freedom and Progress
Headquarters| Melsensstraat 34 Brussels
Membership (2018)|  60,000[1]
Ideology|

* Liberalism (Belgian)
* Pro-Europeanism

Political position| Centre-right
Regional affiliation| Liberal Group
European affiliation| Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
European Parliament group| Renew Europe
International affiliation| Liberal International
Francophone counterpart| Reformist Movement
Germanophone counterpart| Party for Freedom and Progress
Colours|   Blue
Chamber of Representatives|

7 / 87 (8%)

(Flemish seats)
Senate|

5 / 35 (14%)

(Flemish seats)
Flemish Parliament|

9 / 124

Brussels Parliament|

2 / 17

(Flemish seats)
European Parliament|

1 / 22 (5%)

(Flemish seats)
Flemish Provincial Councils|

13 / 175

Benelux Parliament|

2 / 21

Website
openvld.be

* Politics of Belgium
* Political parties
* Elections

The Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats[2][3][4] (Dutch: Open Vlaamse Liberalen en Democraten, [ˈoːpə(ɱ) ˈvlaːmsə libəˈraːlən ɛn deːmoːˈkraːtə(n), -lə ʔɛn -] ⓘ, Open Vld) is a Flemish liberal[5][6][7][8] political party in Belgium. The party has been described as centre-right[9] and has smaller factions within the party that have conservative liberal[7][8][10] and social liberal views.[citation needed] The party is a member of the Liberal Group,[11] Renew Europe, and Liberal International.

The party was created in 1992 from the former bilingual Party for Freedom and Progress (PVV) and politicians from other parties after Belgium was reconstituted as a federal state based on language, with the French-speaking faction forming the Reformist Movement (MR) in Wallonia. The party led the government for three cabinets under Guy Verhofstadt from 1999 until March 2008. Open Vld then formed the Federal Government (the so-called "Swedish government") with N-VA, CD&V and Mouvement Réformateur.

In the Flemish Parliament, the VLD formed a coalition government with sp.a-Spirit and Christian Democratic and Flemish (CD&V) from after the 2004 regional election until the 2009 regional election. Open Vld has been a member of the Leterme I Government formed on 22 March 2008, the Van Rompuy I Government formed on 2 January 2009, the Leterme II Government formed on 24 November 2009 and the Di Rupo Government formed on 6 December 2011.

Ideologically, Open Vld started as an economically liberal[12] and somewhat libertarian Thatcherite party under its founder, Guy Verhofstadt, which mirrored some of the original ideology of the PVV. The VLD rapidly became more centrist and gave up much of its free market approach, partly under the influence of Verhofstadt's political scientist brother Dirk Verhofstadt. However, the VLD continued to contain conservative-libertarian and classical liberal wings with ties to think-tanks like Nova Civitas. Party chairman Bart Somers called in November 2006 for a "revolution" within the party, saying that "a liberal party", like the VLD, "can be only progressive and social".[13]

From 2000 to 2004, during the second period of its participation in the Belgian federal government and under Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt, the VLD allegedly lost most of its ideological appeal. Several of its thinkers such as (former member) Boudewijn Bouckaert, president of Nova Civitas, heavily criticized the party. Many others, particularly from the party's conservative and Flemish autonomist wing, resented the priority it placed on the 'Belgian compromise', which enabled the French Community's Socialist Party to gain a dominant position in the formulation of Belgian federal government policy.

In 2004, the VLD teamed up with the minority social-liberal party Vivant for both the Flemish and European elections. VLD-Vivant lost the elections to arch rivals CD&V and the Flemish Bloc. The VLD fell from second to third place among the Flemish political parties, slipping narrowly behind the sp.a-Spirit cartel. Internal feuds, the support for electoral rights for immigrants and an unsuccessful economic policy were seen as the main reasons for its election defeat. From 2007, the party kept having electoral difficulties, first due to competition from split-off List Dedecker and after 2010 from the liberal-conservative Flemish-nationalist party N-VA.

## History

[edit]

The VLD has its origins in the Party for Freedom and Progress (which in turn was a successor to the Liberal Party), a bilingual party which stood in both the Flemish and Walloon regions of Belgium. As such the liberal party is the oldest political party of Belgium. In 1846, Walthère Frère-Orban succeeded in creating a political program which could unite several liberal groups into one party. Before 1960, the Liberal Party of Belgium was barely organised. The school pact of 1958, as a result of which the most important argument for the traditional anti-clericalism was removed, gave the necessary impetus for a thorough renewal. During the liberal party congress of 1961, the Liberal Party was reformed into the bilingual Party for Freedom and Progress (PVV-PLP), and Omer Vanaudenhove became the chairman of the new party. The new liberal party, which struggled with an anti-clerical image, opened its doors for believers, but wasn't too concerned about the situation of workers and primarily defended the interests of employers. It is a central principle of Classical Liberalism that employers and employees do NOT have opposed long term interests.

In the late 1960s and the early 1970s, the tensions between the different communities in Belgium rose and there were disagreements within the liberal movement as well. In 1972, the unitary PVV-PLP was split into separate a Flemish and a Francophone parties. On Flemish side, under the guidance of Frans Grootjans, Herman Vanderpoorten and Willy De Clercq, the PVV was created, on Walloon side Milou Jeunehomme became the head of the PLP and Brussels got its own but totally disintegrated liberal party landscape. Willy De Clercq became the first chairman of the independent Party of Freedom and Progress (Dutch: Partij voor Vrijheid en Vooruitgang, PVV). De Clercq, together with Frans Grootjans and Herman Vanderpoorten, set out the lines for the new party. This reform was coupled an Ethical Congress, on which the PVV adopted very progressive and tolerant stances regarding abortion, euthanasia, adultery, homosexuality and gender equality.

In 1982, the 29-year-old reformer Guy Verhofstadt became the chairman of the party, and even was Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Budget from 1986 to 1988. Annemie Neyts succeeded him as chairman, becoming the first female party chairman. In 1989, Verhofstadt once more became the chairman of the PVV, after his party had been condemned to the opposition by the Christian People's Party (CVP) in 1987.

In 1992, the PVV was reformed into the Flemish Liberals and Democrats (Vlaamse Liberalen en Democraten, VLD) under the impulse of Verhofstadt. Although the VLD was the successor of the PVV, many politicians with democratic nationalist or socialist roots joined the new party. Notable examples are Jaak Gabriëls, then-president of the Flemish People's Union, and Hugo Coveliers. From the early 1990s, the VLD advanced in every election, only to get in government following the 1999 general election when the VLD became the largest party. Guy Verhofstadt became Prime Minister and Patrick Dewael became Minister-President of Flanders. They were both at the head of a coalition of liberals, social democrats and greens.

### 2007 elections

[edit]

Before the 2007 general election, the VLD participated in a cartel with Vivant and Liberal Appeal. In February 2007, it decided to cease the cartel and start operating under the name Open VLD. On the 10 June 2007 general elections, Open VLD won 18 out of 150 seats in the Chamber of Representatives and five out of 40 seats in the Senate.

### 2010 elections

[edit]

In the 2010 general election, Open VLD won 13 out of 150 seats in the Chamber of Representatives. After the long government formation process, on 6 December 2011 the Di Rupo Government was formed, with Open VLD one of the six constituent parties.

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At its inception, the Open VLD was a classical liberal and somewhat right-libertarian party with support for free-markets and deregulation. Former party leader Guy Verhofstadt was compared to Margaret Thatcher in his beliefs during his time as party chairman. In the 1990s, the party switched from a libertarian to a more socially liberal position under Bart Somers. Some of the party's ideological influences have been Karl Popper, John Stuart Mill, Thomas Paine, Amartya Sen and Martha Nussbaum. The party also contained members from both social democratic and Flemish nationalist liberal-conservative backgrounds who have influenced the VLD's course, such as former Volksunie leader Jaak Gabriëls and Hugo Coveliers falling into the latter camp. Others had ties to the conservative-libertarian organization Nova Civitas, and were open to working with the Vlaams Blok and later Vlaams Belang party, although this was strongly opposed by the party leadership as a whole. Presently, the Open VLD retains an economically liberal position by supporting lower taxes and private property ownership while also closing tax loopholes. It supports a Canadian model of migration and for a more inclusive society towards immigrants, but claims not to endorse open borders and wants quicker deportation of illegal immigrants. It also retains a socially liberal stance on matters such as same-sex marriage, LGBT rights and introducing a third gender option on official documents, but also believes the government shouldn't interfere with matters related to sexuality.[14] For a period, the party was considered the main centre-right rival to the Christian Democratic CD&V in the Flemish region and saw its highest period of support in the late 1990s and early 2000s. However, the emergence of the Flemish nationalist N-VA party and the LDD drew some of the party's conservative leaning voters away and contributed to a decline in votes. Ideological disputes also caused some of the party's more conservative and traditionalist libertarian wing such as Boudewijn Bouckaert, Jean-Marie Dedecker and Hugo Coveliers to leave the party. Dedecker later founded the LDD and Coveliers VLOTT while others joined the N-VA.[12]

In 2024, Open VLD (along with MR) blocked Belgium from recognizing the State of Palestine.[15]

## Representation in EU institutions

[edit]

The party is fairly pro-European,[16] and sits in the Renew Europe group with two MEPs.[17][18]

Then-Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt (VLD) was rejected as a candidate for the presidency of the European Commission in June 2004.

In the European Committee of the Regions, Open VLD sits in the Renew Europe CoR group, with two alternate members for the 2020-2025 mandate.[19][20] Jean-Luc Vanraes is Coordinator in the CIVEX Commission.[21]

## Members holding notable public offices

[edit]

### European politics

[edit]

European Parliament

Name  | Committees
Guy Verhofstadt | Constitutional Affairs [22]
Hilde Vautmans | Foreign Affairs
Women's Rights and Gender Equality [23]

### Federal politics

[edit]

Chamber of Representatives

Name | Notes | Name | Notes
Maggie De Block | Faction leader  |  Goedele Liekens |
Tim Vandenput  | Mayor of Hoeilaart |  Patrick Dewael | Mayor of Tongeren
Christian Leysen |  |  Marianne Verhaert  |
Egbert Lachaert | Party President  |  Tania De Jonge  |
Katja Gabriëls | Mayor of Berlare |  Robby De Caluwé | Mayor of Moerbeke
Jasper Pillen |  |  Kathleen Verhelst  |

Senate

Type | Name | Notes
Co-opted Senator  |  Rik Daems | Faction leader
Community Senator  |  Els Ampe [nl] |
Community Senator  |  Tom Ongena |
Community Senator  |  Steven Coenegrachts
Community Senator  |  Stephanie D'Hose | President of the Senate

Belgian Federal De Croo Government

Public Office  | Name  | Function
Prime Minister | Alexander De Croo |
Deputy Prime Minister  | Vincent Van Quickenborne | Justice and the North Sea
Secretary of State  | Eva de Bleeker [nl] | Budget and Consumer Protection

### Regional politics

[edit]

Flemish Parliament

Name | Notes | Name | Notes
Willem-Frederik Schiltz | Fraction Leader  |  Tom Ongena | Community Senator
Gwendolyn Rutten | Former Party President
mayor of Aarschot |  Gwenny De Vroe  |
Maurits Vande Reyde [nl] |  |  Els Ampe  | Community Senator
Steven Coenegrachts | Community Senator  |  Marino Keulen | Mayor of Lanaken
Stephanie D'Hose | President of the Senate |  Jean-Jacques De Gucht | Son of Karel De Gucht
Freya Saeys  |  |  Bart Van Hulle  |
Bart Tommelein | Former Flemish minister
mayor of Ostend |  Emmily Talpe  | Mayor of Ypres
Flemish Government Jambon

Public Office  | Name  | Function
Vice Minister-President | Bart Somers | Internal Affairs, Administrative Affairs, Integration, and Equal Opportunities
Minister  | Lydia Peeters  | Mobility and Public Works
Parliament of the Brussels-Capital Region

Name | Notes
Carla Dejonghe  | Faction Leader
Guy Vanhengel | Former federal minister
Khadija Zamouri  |
Brussels Regional Government Vervoort II

Public Office  | Name  | Function
Minister  | Sven Gatz | Finance, Budget, Civil Service, Promotion of Multilingualism, Tourism, Statistics, Urbanism, Heritage, the image of Brussels and bicultural issues of regional importance

### Provincial politics

[edit]

Provincial Council

Province  | Percentage  | Seats
Antwerp | 4.7%  |

0 / 36

Limburg | 12.7%  |

3 / 31

East Flanders | 11.3%  |

4 / 36

Flemish Brabant | 10.7%  |

4 / 36

West Flanders | 8%  |

2 / 36

## Election results

[edit]

### Chamber of Representatives

[edit]

The main six Flemish political parties and their results for the Chamber of Representatives. From 1978 to 2014, in percentages for the complete 'Kingdom'. Election  | Votes  | %  | Seats  | +/-  | Government

|
|
|
|
|

1971 | 392,130  | 7.4  |

19 / 212

|  | Opposition (1971-1973)
Coalition (1973-1974)
1974[a] | 798,818  | 15.2  |

21 / 212

|  2  | Coalition
1977 | 475,917  | 8.5  |

17 / 212

|  4  | Opposition
1978 | 573,387  | 10.4  |

22 / 212

|  5  | Opposition (1978-1980)
Coalition (1980)
Opposition (1980-1981)
1981 | 776,871  | 12.9  |

28 / 212

|  6  | Coalition
1985 | 651,806  | 10.7  |

22 / 212

|  6  | Coalition
1987 | 709,758  | 11.5  |

25 / 212

|  3  | Opposition
1991 | 738,016  | 12.0  |

26 / 212

|  1  | Opposition
1995 | 798,363  | 13.1  |

21 / 150

|  5  | Opposition
1999 | 888,973  | 14.3  |

23 / 150

|  2  | Coalition
2003 | 1,009,223  | 15.4  |

25 / 150

|  2  | Coalition
2007 | 789,445  | 11.8  |

18 / 150

|  7  | Coalition
2010 | 563,873  | 8.6  |

13 / 150

|  5  | Coalition
2014 | 659,582  | 9.8  |

14 / 150

|  1  | Coalition
2019 | 579,334  | 8.5  |

12 / 150

|  2  | Coalition
2024 | 380,659  | 5.5  |

8 / 150

|  4  | Opposition

### Senate

[edit]

Election  | Votes  | %  | Seats  | +/-

|
|
|
|

1971[a] | 776,514  | 14.9  |

6 / 106

1974[a] | 755,694  | 14.6  |

10 / 106

|  4
1977 | 472,645  | 8.5  |

9 / 106

|  1
1978 | 572,535  | 10.4  |

11 / 106

|  2
1981 | 781,137  | 13.1  |

14 / 106

|  3
1985 | 637,776  | 10.5  |

11 / 106

|  3
1987 | 686,440  | 11.3  |

11 / 106

|  0
1991 | 713,542  | 11.7  |

13 / 106

|  2
1995 | 796,154  | 13.3  |

6 / 40

|  7
1999 | 952,116  | 15.4  |

6 / 40

|  0
2003 | 1,007,868  | 15.4  |

7 / 40

|  1
2007 | 821,980  | 12.4  |

5 / 40

|  2
2010 | 533,124  | 8.24  |

4 / 40

|  1
2014  | N/A  | N/A  |

5 / 60

|  1

### Regional

[edit]

#### Brussels Parliament

[edit]

Election  | Votes  | %  | Seats  | +/-  | Government

|
|
|
|
|

D.E.C. | Overall
1989 | 12,143  |  | 2.8 (#8)  |

2 / 75

|  | Opposition
1995 | 11,034  |  | 2.7 (#8)  |

2 / 75

|  0  | Opposition
1999[b] | 13,729  | 22.7 (#3)  | 3.2 (#7)  |

2 / 75

|  0  | Coalition
2004[c] | 12,433  | 19.9 (#2)  | 2.7 (#7)  |

4 / 89

|  2  | Coalition
2009 | 11,957  | 23.1 (#1)  | 2.6 (#5)  |

4 / 89

|  0  | Coalition
2014 | 14,296  | 26.7 (#1)  | 3.1 (#7)  |

5 / 89

|  1  | Coalition
2019 | 11,051  | 15.8 (#3)  | 2.4 (#9)  |

3 / 89

|  2  | Coalition
2024 | 8,537  | 10.6 (#4)  | 1.7 (#10)  |

2 / 89

|  1  | TBA

#### Flemish Parliament

[edit]

Election  | Votes  | %  | Seats  | +/-  | Government

|
|
|
|
|

1995 | 761,262  | 20.2 (#2)  |

26 / 124

|  | Opposition
1999 | 855,867  | 21.7 (#2)  |

27 / 124

|  1  | Coalition
2004[c] | 804,578  | 19.8 (#3)  |

25 / 124

|  2  | Coalition
2009 | 616,610  | 15.0 (#4)  |

21 / 124

|  4  | Opposition
2014 | 594,469  | 14.2 (#3)  |

19 / 124

|  2  | Coalition
2019 | 556,630  | 13.1 (#4)  |

16 / 124

|  3  | Coalition
2024 | 364,609  | 8.3 (#5)  |

9 / 124

|  7  | Opposition

### Provincial councils

[edit]

Election  | Votes  | %  | Councilors  | +/-

|
|
|
|

1994 | 708,769  |  |

84 / 401

2000 | 909,428  |  |

106 / 411

|  22
2006 | 745,952  | 18.9  |

80 / 411

|  26
2012 | 595,932  | 14.6  |

54 / 351

|  26
2018 | 570,601  | 13.7  |

23 / 175

|  31

### European Parliament

[edit]

Election  | List leader  | Votes  | %  | Seats  | +/-  | EP Group

|
|
|
|
|
|

D.E.C. | Overall
1994 | Willy De Clercq | 678,421  | 18.36 (#2)  | 11.37  |

3 / 25

| New  | ELDR
1999 | Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck | 847,099  | 21.88 (#2)  | 13.61  |

3 / 25

|  0
2004[c] | Guy Verhofstadt | 880,279  | 21.91 (#2)  | 13.56  |

3 / 24

|  0  | ALDE
2009 | 837,834  | 20.56 (#2)  | 12.75  |

3 / 22

|  0
2014 | 858,872  | 20.40 (#2)  | 12.84  |

3 / 21

|  0
2019 | 678,051  | 15.95 (#3)  | 10.07  |

2 / 21

|  1  | RE
2024 | Hilde Vautmans | 410,743  | 9.11 (#4)  | 5.76  |

1 / 22

|  1

1. ^ a b c In coalition with Liberal Reformist Party
2. ^ In coalition with VU
3. ^ a b c In coalition with Vivant

## International

[edit]

The party is a member of the Liberal International, which was co-chaired by Annemie Neyts, member of Open VLD.

## Presidents

[edit]

* 1992–1995 Guy Verhofstadt
* 1995–1997 Herman De Croo
* 1997–1999 Guy Verhofstadt
* 1999–2004 Karel De Gucht
* 2004 Dirk Sterckx
* 2004–2009 Bart Somers
* 2009 Guy Verhofstadt
* 2009–2012 Alexander De Croo
* 2012 Vincent Van Quickenborne
* 2012–2020 Gwendolyn Rutten
* 2020–2023 Egbert Lachaert
* 2023–2024 Tom Ongena
* 2024– Eva De Bleeker

## Notable members

[edit]

* Maggie De Block, Minister of Social Affairs and Health
* Fons Borginon, former VLD floor leader in the Belgian Chamber of Representatives
* Patricia Ceysens [nl], former Flemish Minister of the Economy and former VLD floor leader in the Flemish Parliament
* Karel De Gucht, former party leader and former Minister of Foreign Affairs
* Patrick Dewael, former minister-president of Flanders and former Minister of Internal Affairs
* Margriet Hermans, former member of the Flemish Parliament and senator
* Marino Keulen, former Flemish Minister of Integration
* Goedele Liekens, sexologist and TV presenter
* Fientje Moerman, former vice-minister-president of Flanders
* Annemie Neyts, former party leader, former chairwoman of the Liberal International and former party leader of the ELDR Party.
* Karel Poma, former minister and member of parliament
* Bart Somers, former minister-president of Flanders and former party leader
* Bart Tommelein, Flemish Deputy Minister-President and Flemish Minister of Budget, Finance and Energy
* Jef Valkeniers, doctor and politician
* Dirk Van Mechelen, former Flemish Minister of Finance and Budget and Town and Country Planning
* Vincent Van Quickenborne, former minister of economy, also responsible for the simplification of the administration
* Guy Vanhengel, Brussels Minister of Finance and Budget
* Guy Verhofstadt, former party leader and former prime minister
* Marc Verwilghen, former minister of the Economy, Trade, Science and Energy

## Notable former members

[edit]

* Boudewijn Bouckaert, a former VLD board member who left the party subsequently to Dedecker's exclusion, believing the party turned "left-liberal". He and Dedecker are founders of a new political party, List Dedecker, later renamed Libertarian, Direct, Democratic.
* Hugo Coveliers, left the VLD to found his own political party VLOTT.
* Jean-Marie Dedecker, was excluded from the VLD after several conflicts with the top of the party. He asked for an economic policy more in favour of free markets and limited government and believed that the party was too closely aligned with the Socialists. He founded the List Dedecker party, later Libertarian, Direct, Democratic.
* Leo Govaerts [nl], left the VLD to found his own political party Veilig Blauw (Safe Blue).
* Ward Beysen, left the VLD to found his own political party Liberal Appeal.
* Sihame El Kaouakibi, left the VLD after claims of embezzlement.

## See also

[edit]

* Contributions to liberal theory
* Liberaal Vlaams Verbond (LVV)
* Liberal Flemish Students' Union
* Liberal Archive
* Liberal democracy
* Liberales
* Liberalism
* Liberalism in Belgium
* Liberalism worldwide
* List of liberal parties

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Open VLD heeft de meeste leden en steekt CD&V voorbij". deredactie.be. 30 October 2014.
2. ^ Gijs, Camille; Moens, Barbara (30 September 2020). "Flemish liberal Alexander De Croo to be appointed Belgium's prime minister". Politico. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
3. ^ Bock, Pauline (7 October 2020). "Why did it take so long to form Belgium's new 'Vivaldi' coalition?". Euronews. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
4. ^ Barbiroglio, Emanuela (8 May 2020). "Masks Will Be Next Challenge For Belgium In COVID-19 Second Phase". Forbes. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
5. ^ Terry, Chris (6 February 2014). "Flemish Liberals and Democrats". The Democratic Society. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
6. ^ Nordsieck, Wolfram (2019). "Flanders/Belgium". Parties and Elections in Europe. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
7. ^ a b Hans Slomp (2011). Europe, A Political Profile: An American Companion to European Politics. ABC-CLIO. p. 465\. ISBN 978-0-313-39182-8.
8. ^ a b Peter Starke; Alexandra Kaasch; Franca Van Hooren (2013). The Welfare State as Crisis Manager: Explaining the Diversity of Policy Responses to Economic Crisis. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 192\. ISBN 978-1-137-31484-0.
9. ^ Josep M. Colomer (2008). Comparative European Politics. Taylor & Francis. p. 220\. ISBN 978-0-203-12362-1.
10. ^ Niels Spierings; Marcel Lubbers; Andrej Zaslove (2019). "Sexually modern nativist voters: do they exist, and do they vote for the populist radical right?". In Cynthia Miller-Idriss; Hilary Pilkington (eds.). Gender and the Radical and Extreme Right: Mechanisms of Transmission and the Role of Educational Interventions. Routledge. p. 100\. ISBN 9780429812699.
11. ^ "Politieke fracties". Benelux Parliament (in Dutch). Retrieved 8 August 2023.
12. ^ a b Thomas Banchoff; Mitchell Smith (1999). Legitimacy and the European Union: The Contested Polity. Routledge. p. 123\. ISBN 978-0-415-18188-4.
13. ^ "Somers wil revolutie binnen de VLD" (in Dutch). Belga. 4 November 2006.
14. ^ "Gelijke kansen". www2.openvld.be (in Dutch).
15. ^ Times, The Brussels. "Belgium fails to reach agreement on recognising Palestinian state". www.brusselstimes.com. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
16. ^ Almeida, Dimitri (27 April 2012). The Impact of European Integration on Political Parties: Beyond the Permissive Consensus. Routledge. p. 107\. ISBN 9781136340390.
17. ^ "Home | Hilde VAUTMANS | MEPs | European Parliament". www.europarl.europa.eu. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
18. ^ "Home | Guy VERHOFSTADT | MEPs | European Parliament". www.europarl.europa.eu. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
19. ^ "Members Page CoR".
20. ^ "Members Page CoR".
21. ^ "Coordinators". Renew Europe CoR. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
22. ^ "Home | Guy VERHOFSTADT | MEPs | European Parliament".
23. ^ "Home | Hilde VAUTMANS | MEPs | European Parliament".

## External links

[edit]

Media related to Open Vlaamse Liberalen en Democraten at Wikimedia Commons

* Official website
* jongvld.be
* openvldvrouwen.be

* v
* t
* e

Member parties of international liberal organisations

Liberal International

* Andorra: LA
* Belgium: MR, VLD
* Bosnia and Herzegovina: LDS*
* Botswana: BMD*
* Bulgaria: DPS, NDSV
* Burkina Faso: ADF-RDA*
* Burma: NLD-LA*
* Burundi: ADR
* Cambodia: PSR
* Canada: Liberal Party
* Colombia: U*
* DR Congo: ANADER, ARC*, URC*
* Costa Rica: PML
* Côte d'Ivoire: RDR
* Croatia: HSLS
* Cuba: PLC, PSD, ULC
* Denmark: RV, Venstre
* Egypt: FEP, Ghad*
* Equatorial Guinea: UDENA
* Estonia: RE
* Ethiopia: EDP*
* Finland: Keskusta, SFP
* Georgia: RPG*
* Germany: FDP
* Gibraltar: Liberal Party
* Guatemala: MR*, PP
* Guinea: UFDG*, UFR*
* Honduras: PLH
* Hungary: MLP
* Iceland: FSF
* Indonesia: PD*
* Ireland: FF*
* Israel: Yesh Atid
* Italy: Rad, FdL*
* Kenya: LDP*
* Kosovo: PLK*
* Latvia: LPP/LC
* Lebanon: Future Movement*
* Lithuania: LCU
* Luxembourg: DP
* Madagascar: MFM*
* Malawi: UDF
* Malaysia: Gerakan*
* Mali: PCR*
* Mexico: NA*
* Moldova: PRL*
* Mongolia: IZN
* Montenegro: LSCG
* Morocco: AdL*, UC, MP
* Mozambique: PPDD*
* Netherlands: D66 , VVD
* Nicaragua: PLI*
* North Macedonia: LDP
* Norway: Venstre
* Paraguay: PLRA
* Philippines: LP
* Romania: PNL
* Russia: Yabloko
* Senegal: PDS
* Serbia: LDP
* Seychelles: SNP*
* Slovakia: ANO
* Slovenia: LDS
* South Africa: DA
* Spain: CDC
* Sri Lanka: LP
* Sweden: C, L
* Switzerland: FDP.The Liberals
* Taiwan: DPP
* Tanzania: CCW/CUF
* Thailand: DP
* Ukraine: UM*
* United Kingdom: APNI, Lib Dems
* Zambia: UNDP*

National groups:

* Brazilian Group*
* German Group
* Israeli Group
* Netherlands Group
* Catalan Group
* British Group

* observer

Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party

* v
* t
* e

Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party

European Parliament group: Renew Europe

Parties|

| Member parties (EU)|

* NEOS
* Open Vld
* MR
* HNS
* HSLS
* IDS/DDI
* Glas
* Centar
* Fokus
* EDI/Ε.ΔΗ.
* DiPa/ΔηΠα
* B
* V
* RE
* Kesk./C
* RKP/SFP
* PR
* UDI
* FDP
* Liberálisok
* Momentum
* FF
* A
* +E
* RI
* LDE
* TK
* LA
* Par!
* LP
* LS
* DP
* D66
* VVD
* Nowoczesna
* IL
* USR
* PS
* C's
* C
* L

|

Member parties (non-EU)|

* ACC!Ó
* PLA
* ANC/ՀԱԿ
* BA/ԼՀ
* Müsavat
* PFP/ПСП
* NS
* RP/რპ
* FD/თდ
* SA/სა
* Lelo/ლელო
* Girchi-MF/გირჩი-მთ
* Droa/დროა
* Viðreisn
* AKR
* PDK
* PL
* CUB
* LPCG
* LDP/ЛДП
* V
* RPR-PARNAS/РПР-ПАРНАС
* Yabloko/Я́блоко
* PSG
* FDP/PLR
* glp/pvl
* EPU/ЄПУ
* CP/ГП
* SL/СЛ
* SN/СН
* Holos/Голос
* Alliance
* Lib Dems
* Libs

Party Presidents|

* Gaston Thorn
* Willy De Clercq
* Colette Flesch
* Willy De Clercq
* Uffe Ellemann-Jensen
* Werner Hoyer
* Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck
* Graham Watson
* Hans van Baalen

European Parliament
Group Presidents|

* Yvon Delbos
* René Pleven
* Cornelis Berkhouwer
* Jean Durieux [fr]
* Jean-François Pintat
* Martin Bangemann
* Simone Veil
* Valery Giscard d'Estaing
* Yves Galland
* Gijs de Vries
* Pat Cox
* Graham Watson
* Guy Verhofstadt
* Dacian Cioloș
* Stéphane Séjourné
* Valérie Hayer
* see European Parliament

* * *

European Commissioners
(2024–2029)|

* Kaja Kallas (Vice-President and High Representative)
* Michael McGrath (Democracy, Justice, and the Rule of Law)
* Hadja Lahbib (Preparedness, Crisis Management, and Equality)
* see Von der Leyen Commission II

Heads of government
at the European Council|

* Alexander De Croo (Belgium)
* Kristen Michal (Estonia)
* see European Council

Affiliated organisations|

* European Liberal Youth (LYMEC)
* European Liberal Forum

* Category

Liberal South East European Network

* Bosnia and Herzegovina: LDS
* Bulgaria: DPS, NSDV
* Croatia: HNS-LD, HSLS, IDS
* Hungary: SzDSz
* Kosovo: PLK
* North Macedonia: LPM, LDP
* Romania: PNL
* Serbia: LS
* Slovenia: LDS

Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats

* Cambodia: PSR
* Hong Kong: DP (represented through two individual members)
* Indonesia: PDI-P, PKB**
* Japan: DPJ**
* Malaysia: PGRM
* Mongolia: IZN
* Myanmar: NCUB
* Pakistan: LFP*
* Philippines: LP
* Singapore: SDP
* Sri Lanka: LP
* ROC Taiwan: DPP
* Thailand: DP

*associate member **observer

Africa Liberal Network

* Angola: PLD
* Burkina Faso: ADF-RDA
* DR Congo: ANADER
* Côte d'Ivoire: RDR
* Equatorial Guinea: UDENA
* Madagascar: MFM
* Malawi: UDF
* Morocco: MP, UC
* Mozambique: PDD
* Senegal: PDS
* Seychelles: SNP
* South Africa: DA
* Tanzania: CUF, UDP
* Tunisia: PSL
* Zambia: UNDP

Liberal Network for Latin America

* Argentina: Recrear, PPG
* Costa Rica: PML
* Guatemala: MR
* Mexico: NA
* Peru: JN

Arab Liberal Federation

* Comoros: NAC
* Egypt: DFP, FEP, GTP
* Lebanon: NLP, FM
* Morocco: MP, UC
* Sudan: LDP
* Tunisia: PR

* v
* t
* e

Political parties in Belgium

Flemish parties|

| Major|

* New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) (25)
* Flemish Interest (VB) (18)
* Christian Democratic and Flemish (CD&V) (12)
* Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats (Open Vld) (12)
* Vooruit (Forward) (9)
* Green (Groen) (8)

|

Minor|

* Libertarian, Direct, Democratic (LDD)

Francophone parties|

| Major|

* Socialist Party (PS) (20)
* Reformist Movement (MR) (14)
* Ecolo (13)
* Les Engagés (5)
* DéFI (2)

|

Minor|

* Communist Party
* Free and Responsible
* Liberal Democrats
* Libertarian Party
* Nation
* Rally Wallonia France
* Chez nous
* Citizen Collective

Unitary|

| Major|

* Workers' Party (PVDA/PTB) (12)

|

Minor|

* Agora
* Belgian Union (BUB)
* DierAnimal
* ISLAM
* Left Socialist Party (LSP/PSL)
* Pirate Party
* Pro Bruxsel
* Vivant
* Volt Belgium
* L'Unie

German-speaking|

* Christian Social Party (CSP)
* Party for Freedom and Progress (PFF)
* Ecolo
* Libertarian Party
* ProDG
* Socialist Party (SP)

Former notable|

* Catholic Party → Christian Social Party (CVP/PSC) (1869–1968)
*   Labour Party (BWP/POB) → Socialist Party (SP/PS) (1885–1978)
*   Liberal Party → Party for Freedom and Progress (PVV/PLP) (1846–1992)

* Front Party (1919–1933)
* Communist Party (1921/1989–2009)
* Flemish National Union (VNV) (1933–1944)
* Belgian Democratic Union (1944-1946)
* People's Union (1954–2001)
* National Front (1985–2012)
* Rexist Party (1930–1945)
* Social Liberal Party (SLP/Spirit) (2001–2009)

The numbers are seats in the Chamber of Representatives (150)

* Portal:Politics
* List of political parties
* Politics of Belgium

* v
* t
* e

Renew Europe

European Parliament group

Member parties|

| European parties|

* Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party
* European Democratic Party

|

National parties|

* NEOS
* MR
* Open Vld
* DPS/ДПС
* IDS/DDI
* V
* B
* K
* RE
* Kesk./C
* RKP/SFP
* RE
* MoDem
* PR
* FDP
* FW
* Momentum
* FF
* IV
* A
* AP!
* LS
* DP
* D66
* VVD
* PL2050
* USR
* PS
* GS
* C's
* EAJ-PNV
* C
* L

Leadership|

* President:  Stéphane Séjourné
* First Vice-President:  Malik Azmani
* Vice-Presidents:  Sylvie Brunet,  Katalin Cseh,  Jordi Cañas Pérez,  Morten Løkkegaard,  Iskra Mihaylova,  Frédérique Ries,  Dominique Riquet,  Michal Šimečka
* Secretary General:  Anders Rasmussen

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* 2
* VIAF
* 2

National|

* United States
* France
* BnF data

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[D.E.C.]: Dutch electoral college
*[TBA]: To be announced