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Liberal Party (Belgium)

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Liberal Party
French: Parti libéral
Dutch: Liberale Partij
Historical presidentsAlbert Mechelynck (first)
Omer Vanaudenhove (last)
Founded1846
Dissolved1961
Succeeded byParty for Freedom and Progress
HeadquartersBrussels, Belgium
Trade Union's wingGeneral Confederation of Liberal Trade Unions of Belgium
IdeologyLiberalism
Classical liberalism
Anti-clericalism
Political positionCentre-left to left-wing[1][2]
International affiliationLiberal International
(from 1947)
Colours  Blue

The Liberal Party (Dutch: Liberale Partij, pronounced [libəˈraːlə pɑrˈtɛi]; French: Parti libéral, pronounced [paʁti libeʁal]) was a Belgian political party that existed from 1846 until 1961, when it became the Party for Freedom and Progress, Partij voor Vrijheid en Vooruitgang/Parti de la Liberté et du Progrès or PVV-PLP, under the leadership of Omer Vanaudenhove.

History

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The Liberal Party was founded in 1846 and as such was the first political party of Belgium. Walthère Frère-Orban wrote the first charter for the new party.

The Liberal Party had a clear victory in the 1848 elections, following lower tax requirements that benefited urban populations, where liberals were stronger. The Liberal Party remained in dominant position for the most part of the period from 1848 until 1884, where it lost to Catholics due to the First School War. The Liberal Party suffered even more losses in the next elections, most notable in the 1894 elections, the first ones with universal suffrage. However, they made a comeback in 1900 upon the introduction of proportional representation.

From 1887 until 1900, the Progressive Party (French: Parti Progressiste, Dutch: Progressieve Partij) existed as a separate progressive Liberal party.

For much of the party’s history, Belgian Liberals advocated progressive measures[3] such as health and safety provisions,[4] a minimum wage,[5] cheap housing,[6] and improvements in social security.[7]

Presidents

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Notable members

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Election poster for the 1958 elections. The caption reads "Liberal Country, Happy Country".

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Images et histoires des patrimoines numérisés".
  2. ^ "À l'origine des partis (4/8) : Le parti libéral, bras armé des francs-maçons".
  3. ^ CONGRESSEN VAN DE LIBERALE PARTIJ, 1846-1961
  4. ^ TEXTE DU PROGRAMME Adopté par le CONGRÈS LIBÉRAL DE 1894
  5. ^ LIBERAAL CONGRES VAN 26-27 JULI 1919 Beslissingen gestemd door de Vergadering
  6. ^ LIBERAAL CONGRES VAN 18 EN 19 JUNI 1932 RESOLUTIES
  7. ^ CONGRES VAN DE LIBERALE PARTIJ BRUSSEL, 23-24 juni 1945 CONGRESVERKLARING, CONGRESMOTIES, RESOLUTIES, SOCIAAL HANDVEST DER LIBERALE PARTIJ, CONGRESWENSCHEN

Sources

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  • Liberal Archive
  • Th. Luykx, M. Platel, Politieke geschiedenis van België, 2 vol., Kluwer, 1985
  • E. Witte, J. Craeybeckx, A. Meynen, Politieke geschiedenis van België, Standaard, 1997


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