Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party
Liberal European political party
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party (ALDE Party) is a liberal European political party composed of national parties from across Europe, mainly active in the European Union. The ALDE Party is affiliated with Liberal International and a recognised European political party, incorporated as a non-profit association under Belgian law.[12]
Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party | |
|---|---|
| |
| Abbreviation | ALDE Party |
| President | Svenja Hahn (DE)[1] |
| Secretary-General | Didrik de Schaetzen (BE) |
| Founded | 26 March 1976 |
| Headquarters | Rue d'Idalie 11 - box 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium |
| Think tank | European Liberal Forum |
| Youth wing | European Liberal Youth |
| Membership (22 December 2025) | 3 |
| Ideology | Liberalism[2] Pro-Europeanism |
| Political position | Centre[6] to centre-right[11] |
| European Parliament group |
|
| International affiliation | Liberal International |
| Colours | Blue Magenta Yellow (customary) |
| European Parliament | 55 / 720 |
| European Commission | 5 / 27 |
| European Council | 4 / 27 |
| European Lower Houses | 480 / 6,229 |
| European Upper Houses | 114 / 1,458 |
| Website | |
| aldeparty.eu | |
It was founded on 26 March 1976 in Stuttgart as a confederation of national political parties under the name "Federation of Liberal and Democrat Parties in Europe" and renamed "European Liberals and Democrats" (ELD) in 1977 and "European Liberal Democrats and Reformists" (ELDR) in 1986. On 30 April 2004, the ELDR was reformed as an official European party, the "European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party" (ELDR Party).[13]
On 10 November 2012, under the leadership of Sir Graham Watson MEP, the party chose its current name ALDE Party, taken from its then-European Parliament group, the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), which had been formed on 20 July 2004 in conjunction with the European Democratic Party (EDP). Prior to the 2004 European election, the European party had been represented through its own group, the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party Group (ELDR) Group. In June 2019, the ALDE group was succeeded by Renew Europe.
As of 2024[update], ALDE Party is represented in European Union institutions, with 51 MEPs and five members of the European Commission. Of the 27 EU member states, there are two with ALDE-affiliated Prime Ministers: Kristen Michal (Estonian Reform Party) in Estonia and Alexander De Croo (Open VLD) in Belgium. ALDE Party members are also in governments in ten other EU member states: Cyprus, France, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Ireland, Luxembourg, Lithuania, Germany and the Netherlands. Charles Michel, former Belgian prime minister, was the president of the European Council until December 2024.
ALDE's think tank is the European Liberal Forum, led by Jan-Christoph Oetjen MEP, and gathers 46 member organisations. The youth wing of ALDE is the European Liberal Youth (LYMEC), which is predominantly based upon youth and student liberal organisations but contains also a small number of individual members. LYMEC is led by Ines Holzegger.
In 2011, ALDE Party became the first pan-European party to create the status of individual membership. Since then, between 1000 and close to 3000 members (the numbers fluctuate annually) maintained direct membership in the ALDE Party from several EU countries. Over 40 coordinators mobilised liberal ideas, initiatives and expertise across the continent under the leadership of the steering committee, which was first chaired by Julie Cantalou. The ALDE Party took a step further in the direction of becoming a truly pan-European party when granting voting rights to individual members’ delegates at the Party Congress. Individual membership was eventually discontinued in 2023.
In 2025, the Alliance was declared an undesirable organization in Russia.[14]
Structure
Bureau
The day-to-day management of the ALDE Party is handled by the Bureau, the members of which are:[15]
| Office | Name | State member | Party member |
|---|---|---|---|
| President | Svenja Hahn MEP |  Germany |
FDP |
| Vice-presidents | |||
| Yoko Alender |  Estonia |
Reform | |
| Malik Azmani MEP |  Netherlands |
VVD | |
| Dan Barna MEP |  Romania |
USR | |
| Baroness Sal Brinton |  United Kingdom |
LibDem | |
| Rik Daems |  Belgium |
Open VLD | |
| Eva Kjer Hansen |  Denmark |
Venstre | |
| Yevheniia Kravchuk MP |  Ukraine |
Servant of the People | |
| Jouni Ovaska MP |  Finland |
Keskusta | |
| Lucia Plaváková MP |  Slovakia |
Progressive Slovakia | |
| Treasurer | David Burke |  Ireland |
FF |
| Office | Name | State member | Party member |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALDE Party Secretary-General | Didrik de Schaetzen | Belgium |
MR- Open VLD - DP |
| President of Liberal International | Karl-Heinz Paqué | Germany |
FDP |
| ALDE Group Chair in the PACE | Iulian Bulai | Romania |
USR |
| President of the Renew Europe Group in the European Parliament | Valérie Hayer MEP |  France |
Renaissance |
| Leader of the Renew Europe Group in the European Committee of the Regions | François Decoster | France |
Renaissance |
| President of the European Liberal Forum | Jan-Christoph Oetjen | Germany |
FDP |
| President of the European Liberal Youth | Ines Holzegger |  Austria |
NEOS |
Presidents
- 1978–1981:
Gaston Thorn - 1981–1985:
Willy De Clercq - 1985–1990: Colette Flesch
- 1990–1995: Willy De Clercq
- 1995–2000:
Uffe Ellemann-Jensen - 2000–2005:
Werner Hoyer - 2005–2011: Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck
- 2011–2015:
Graham Watson - 2015–2021:
Hans van Baalen - 2021–2024:
Timmy Dooley 
Ilhan Kyuchyuk co-presidents - 2024–present: Svenja Hahn
History of pan-European liberalism
Pan-European liberalism has a long history dating back to the foundation of Liberal International in April 1947. On 26 March 1976, the Federation of Liberal and Democrat Parties in Europe was established in Stuttgart. The founding parties of the federation were the Free Democratic Party of Germany, Radical Party of France, Venstre of Denmark, Italian Liberal Party, Dutch People's Party for Freedom and Democracy and Democratic Party of Luxembourg.[16] Observer members joining later in 1976 were the Danish Social Liberal Party, French Radical Party of the Left and Independent Republicans, British Liberal Party, and Italian Republican Party.[16] In 1977, the federation was renamed European Liberals and Democrats, in 1986, European Liberal Democrats and Reformists.
It evolved into the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party (ELDR Party) in 2004, when it was founded as an official European party under that name and incorporated under Belgian law at an extraordinary Congress in Brussels, held on 30 April 2004 the day before the enlargement of the European Union. At the same time the matching group in the European Parliament, the European Liberal Democrats and Reformists Group allied with the members of the newly elected European Democratic Party, forming the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) with a matching ALDE Group in the European Parliament.
On 10 November 2012, the ELDR Party adopted the name of the alliance between the two parties, to match the parliamentary group and the alliance.
On 12 June 2019, the ALDE group was succeeded by a new enlarged group, Renew Europe, which primarily consists of ALDE and EDP member parties and France's La République En Marche! (LREM).[17]
Funding
As a registered European political party, ALDE is entitled to European public funding, which it has received continuously since 2004.[18]
Below is the evolution of European public funding received by ALDE.
In line with the Regulation on European political parties and European political foundations, ALDE also raises private funds to co-finance its activities. As of 2025, European parties must raise at least 10% of their reimbursable expenditure from private sources, while the rest can be covered using European public funding.[a]
Below is the evolution of contributions and donations received by the ALDE.[19][20]
European Commissioners
Members from ALDE Party political family contribute five out of the 27 members of the European Commission:
| State | Commissioner | Portfolio | Political party | Portrait |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estonia |
Kaja Kallas | High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,
Vice President |
ER | .jpg) |
| Ireland |
Michael McGrath | Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection
Commissioner |
FF | .jpg) |
 Slovenia |
Marta Kos | Enlargement,
Commissioner |
Ind.[b] | .jpg) |
| Belgium |
Hadja Lahbib | Equality,Preparedness and Crisis Management
Commissioner |
MR | .jpg) |
Elected representatives of member parties
European institutions
| Organisation | Institution | Number of seats |
|---|---|---|
 European Union | European Parliament | 55 / 720 (8%) [21] |
| European Commission | 5 / 27 (19%) [22] | |
| European Council (Heads of Government) | 4 / 27 (15%) [23] | |
| Council of the European Union (Participation in Government) | ||
| Committee of the Regions | 44 / 329 (13%) [24] | |
| Council of Europe (as part of ALDE) | Parliamentary Assembly | 88 / 612 (14%) [25] |
European Council
| Member State | Title | Representative | Political party | Member of the Council since | Portrait |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estonia |
Prime Minister | Kristen Michal | Estonian Reform Party | 23 July 2024 | .jpg) |
| Ireland |
Taoiseach | Micheál Martin | Fianna Fáil | 23 January 2025 | .jpg) |
| Slovenia |
Prime Minister | Robert Golob | Freedom Movement | 1 June 2022 | .jpg) |
In third countries
Through its associate and observer parties ALDE has two heads of state or government in non-EU countries:
| State | Title | Representative | Political party | In power since | Portrait |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Switzerland |
President | Karin Keller-Sutter | FDP.The Liberals | 1 January 2025 | .jpg) |
| Federal Councillor | Ignazio Cassis | 1 November 2017 | .jpg) |
National parliaments of European Union member states
| Country | Institution | Number of seats | Member parties | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | National Council Lower house | 18 / 183 | NEOS | Government | |
| Federal Council Upper house |
1 / 61 |
NEOS | Government | ||
| Belgium | Chamber of Representatives Lower house | 27 / 150 | MR | 19 / 27 |
Government |
| Open Vld | 8 / 27 |
Opposition | |||
| Senate Upper house | 12 / 60 | MR | 9 / 12 |
Government | |
| Open Vld | 3 / 12 |
Opposition | |||
 Bulgaria | National Assembly | 17 / 240 |
PP | Opposition | |
 Croatia | Sabor | 8 / 151 | HNS | 1 / 8 |
Confidence and supply |
| HSLS | 2 / 8 |
Confidence and supply | |||
| Glas | 1 / 8 |
Opposition | |||
| IDS-DDI | 2 / 8 |
Opposition | |||
| Centre | 2 / 8 |
Opposition | |||
| Focus | 0 / 8 |
Extra-parliamentary | |||
 Cyprus | House of Representatives | 9 / 56 |
Democratic Alignment | Government | |
| Denmark |
Folketing | 30 / 175 |
RV | 6 / 29 |
Opposition |
| V | 23 / 29 |
Government | |||
| Estonia | Riigikogu | 39 / 101 | Reform | Government | |
| Finland | Parliament | 41 / 200 | Kesk | 22 / 32 |
Opposition |
| SFP | 10 / 32 |
Government | |||
| France | National Assembly Lower house | 8 / 577 | UDI | 7 / 8 |
Government |
| PR | 1 / 8 |
Government | |||
| Senate Upper house | 41 / 348 | UDI | 36 / 41 |
Government | |
| PR | 5 / 41 |
Government | |||
| Germany | Bundestag | 0 / 630 | FDP | Extra-parliamentary | |
 Hungary | Országgyűlés | 10 / 199 | Momentum | Opposition | |
| Ireland | Dáil Lower house | 48 / 174 | FF | Government | |
| Seanad Upper house | 19 / 60 | FF | Government | ||
 Italy | Chamber of Deputies Lower house | 12 / 400 | A | 10 / 12 |
Opposition |
| RI, +E | 2 / 12 |
Opposition | |||
| Senate of the Republic Upper house | 2 / 205 | A | Opposition | ||
 Lithuania | Seimas | 12 / 141 | LRLS | 12 / 12 |
Opposition |
| LP | 0 / 12 |
Extra-parliamentary | |||
 Latvia | Saeima | 0 / 100 | A/Par! | Extra-parliamentary | |
 Luxembourg | Chamber of Deputies | 14 / 60 | DP | Government | |
| Netherlands | House of Representatives Lower house | 48 / 150 | D66 | 26 / 48 |
Government |
| VVD | 22 / 48 |
Government | |||
| Senate Upper house | 16 / 75 | D66 | 7 / 16 |
Government | |
| VVD | 9 / 16 |
Government | |||
 Poland | Sejm Lower house | 30 / 460 | PL2050 | 15 / 30 |
Government |
| Centre | 15 / 30 |
Government | |||
| Senate Upper house | 5 / 100 | PL2050 | 2 / 5 |
Government | |
| Centre | 3 / 5 |
Government | |||
 Portugal | Assembly of the Republic | 9 / 230 | IL | Opposition | |
| Romania | Chamber of Deputies Lower house | 40 / 330 | USR | Government | |
| Senate Upper house | 19 / 136 | USR | Government | ||
| Slovakia | National Council | 33 / 150 | PS | Opposition | |
| Slovenia | National Assembly | 39 / 90 | Freedom Movement | Government | |
 Spain | Congress of Deputies Lower house | 0 / 350 | Cs | Extra-parliamentary | |
| Senate Upper house | 0 / 266 | Cs | |||
 Sweden | Riksdag | 40 / 349 | C | 24 / 40 |
Opposition |
| L | 16 / 40 |
Government | |||
National parliaments outside the European Union
| Country | Institution | Number of seats | Member parties |
|---|---|---|---|
 Andorra | General Council | 14 / 28 | DA, LA |
 Armenia | National Assembly | 0 / 107 | ANC, Bright Armenia |
 Azerbaijan | National Assembly | 0 / 125 | Musavat |
 Bosnia and Herzegovina | House of Representatives | 2 / 42 | Our Party |
 Georgia | Parliament | 0 / 150 | Lelo, SA, Republicans, Girchi MF, FD |
 Iceland | Althing | 11 / 63 | Viðreisn |
 Moldova | Parliament | 0 / 101 | PL |
 Montenegro | Assembly | 0 / 81 | LPCG |
 Norway | Storting | 8 / 169 | Venstre |
 Serbia | National Assembly | 3 / 250 | PSG |
| Switzerland | National Council Lower house | 38 / 200 | FDP, GLP |
| Council of States Upper house | 11 / 46 | FDP | |
| Ukraine | Verkhovna Rada | 251 / 450 | Servant of the People, Voice |
| United Kingdom | House of Commons Lower house | 73 / 650 | Liberal Democrats, Alliance |
| House of Lords Upper house | 77 / 775 | Liberal Democrats | |
| Gibraltar Parliament unicameral | 2 / 17 | Libs |
Membership
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As of January 2026 ALDE party had 55 full member and ten affiliated parties from EU and non-EU countries. Only delegates from full members of the ALDE Party and its youth wing LYMEC, together with the delegates of the ALDE Party Supporters and ALDE Party Bureau members, are permitted to vote at the ALDE Congress and Council. Affiliated member parties have non-voting delegates.[26]
Full members
| Country or Region | Party | MEPs[c] |
|---|---|---|
| Andorra | Action for Andorra Acció per Andorra | Not in EU |
| Liberals of Andorra Liberals d'Andorra | ||
| Austria | NEOS – The New Austria and Liberal Forum NEOS – Das Neue Österreich und Liberales Forum | 2 / 20 |
| Belgium | Reformist Movement Mouvement Réformateur | 3 / 8 |
| Different Anders | 1 / 13 | |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Our Party Naša stranka | Not in EU |
| Bulgaria | We Continue the Change Продължаваме промяната Produlzhavame promyanata | 2 / 17 |
| Croatia | Centre Centar | 0 / 12 |
| Focus Fokus | 0 / 12 | |
| Istrian Democratic Assembly Istarski demokratski sabor Dieta democratica istriana | 0 / 12 | |
| Cyprus | Democratic Alignment Δημοκρατική Παράταξη Dimokratiki Parataxi | 0 / 6 |
| Denmark | Social Liberal Party Radikale Venstre | 1 / 15 |
| Venstre Venstre | 2 / 15 | |
| Moderates Moderaterne | 1 / 15 | |
| Estonia | Estonian Reform Party Eesti Reformierakond | 1 / 7 |
| Finland | Centre Party Suomen Keskusta | 2 / 15 |
| Swedish People's Party of Finland Svenska folkpartiet i Finland Suomen ruotsalainen kansanpuolue | 1 / 15 | |
| France | Radical Party Parti radical | 0 / 81 |
| Union of Democrats and Independents Union des démocrates et indépendants | 1 / 81 | |
| Georgia | Lelo for Georgia ლელო საქართველოსთვის lelo sakartvelostvis | Not in EU |
| Strategy Aghmashenebeli სტრატეგია აღმაშენებელი st'rat'egia aghmashenebeli | ||
| Girchi — More Freedom გირჩი — მეტი თავისუფლება girchi — met'i tavisupleba | ||
| Germany | Free Democratic Party Freie Demokratische Partei | 5 / 96 |
| Hungary | Momentum Movement Momentum Mozgalom | 0 / 21 |
| Iceland | Viðreisn | Not in EU |
| Ireland | Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party Fianna Fáil – An Páirtí Poblachtánach | 4 / 14 |
| Italy | Action Azione | 1 / 76 |
| European Liberal Democrats Liberali Democratici Europei | 0 / 76 | |
| Italian Radicals Radicali Italiani | 0 / 76 | |
| More Europe Più Europa | 0 / 76 | |
 Kosovo | Democratic Party of Kosovo Partia Demokratike e Kosovës | Not in EU |
| Latvia | For Latvia's Development Latvijas attīstībai | 1 / 9 |
| Movement For! Kustība Par! | 0 / 9 | |
| Lithuania | Freedom Party Laisvės partija | 1 / 11 |
| Liberals' Movement Liberalų sąjūdis | 1 / 11 | |
| Luxembourg | Democratic Party Demokratesch Partei Parti Démocratique Demokratische Partei | 1 / 6 |
| Montenegro | Liberal Party of Montenegro Либерална партија Црне Горе Liberalna partija Crne Gore | Not in EU |
 North Macedonia | Liberal Democratic Party Либерално-демократска партија Liberalno-demokratska partija | Not in EU |
| Netherlands | Democrats 66 Democraten 66 | 3 / 31 |
| People's Party for Freedom and Democracy Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie | 4 / 31 | |
| Norway | Liberal Party Venstre | Not in EU |
| Portugal | Liberal Initiative Iniciativa Liberal | 2 / 21 |
| Romania | Save Romania Union Uniunea Salvați România | 2 / 33 |
| Serbia | Movement of Free Citizens Покрет слободних грађана Pokret slobodnih građana | Not in EU |
| Slovakia | Progressive Slovakia Progresívne Slovensko | 6 / 15 |
| Slovenia | Freedom Movement Gibanje Svoboda | 2 / 9 |
| Spain | Citizens Ciudadanos | 0 / 61 |
| Sweden | Centre Party Centerpartiet | 2 / 21 |
| Liberals Liberalerna | 1 / 21 | |
| Switzerland | FDP.The Liberals FDP. Die Liberalen PLR. Les Libéraux-Radicaux PLR. I Liberali Radicali PLD. Ils Liberals | Not in EU |
| Green Liberal Party of Switzerland Grünliberale Partei der Schweiz Parti vert'libéral Partito verde liberale Partida verda-liberala | ||
| Ukraine | Servant of the People Слуга народу Sluha narodu | Not in EU |
| Voice Голос Holos | ||
| European Party of Ukraine Європейська партія України Yevropeis'ka partiya Ukrayiny | ||
| United Kingdom | Liberal Democrats | Not in EU |
Affiliated members
Former members
Armenian National Congress (2016-2025)- Bright Armenia (2019-2025)
Musavat (2007-2025)
Party of Freedom and Progress (2013-2024)- National Movement for Stability and Progress
- Movement for Rights and Freedoms (2001–2024)
ANO 2011 (2014–2024)
Liberal Party- Party of Liberal Democrats
United Democrats (1996-2025)
Estonian Centre Party (2004–2024)
Free Democrats (2012-2025)
Drassi (2013–2014)
Alliance of Free Democrats (2004–2009)- Hungarian Liberal Party (2013-2025)
Bright Future- Progressive Democrats
Italian Liberal Party (1976–1994)- Italian Republican Party (1976–2010)
- Italy of Values
New Kosovo Alliance (2009-2025)
Labour Party (2004–2021)- Liberal and Centre Union
Coalition for Unity and Welfare (2023-2025)- Liberal Party (2010-2025)
Democratic Party (2017–2020)
Social Democratic Party (until 1996)- Earth Party
National Liberal Party (2007–2014)- Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (2015–2019)
Yabloko (2004–2025)- People's Freedom Party
Party of Alenka Bratušek (2014–2022)- List of Marjan Šarec (2018–2022)
- Modern Centre Party (2014–2021)
- Zares
- Liberal Democracy of Slovenia
Catalan European Democratic Party (until 2018)
Individual members
ALDE also includes a number of individual members. For many years, ALDE had the largest number of individual members of all European parties; however, this membership was discontinued with only one individual member remaining as of 2024. As most other European parties, it has not sought to develop mass individual membership.[27]
Below is the evolution of individual membership of ALDE since 2019.[28]
Election results
European Parliament
| Year | Lead Candidate | % Seats | Seats | Status | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann | 7.2 (#4) | 52 / 720 |
Coalition | [29][30] | |
See also
Notes
- For the purpose of European party funding, "contributions" refer to financial or in-kind support provided by party members, while "donations" refer to the same but provided by non-members.
- Independent on the national level but affiliated with ALDE at the EU level
- The number of MEPs listed below may not match the total number of MEPs of the European party, as it does not include MEPs who join as individual members.
