Belarusian Liberal Party of Freedom and Progress

Belarusian Liberal Party of Freedom and Progress
Партыя свабоды і прагрэсу
Leader Vladimir Novisiad
Founded 22 November 2003 (2003-11-22)
Split from United Civil Party of Belarus
Headquarters Minsk, Belarus
Youth wing Civil Forum
Ideology Liberalism
Pro-Europeanism
Political position Centre
European affiliation Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party (Observer)
International affiliation None
Colours Blue
Website
liberaly.org

Belarusian Liberal Party of Freedom and Progress (PFP) (Belarusian: Партыя свабоды і прагрэсу (ПСП), Russian: Партия свободы и прогресса (ПСП)) is a liberal political party in Belarus. Since 2003 it keeps trying to get official registration.

Three constituent congresses took place on November 22, 2003, May 29, 2004, May 29, 2005. The decisions to create PFP, to approve its Charter , Program and Manifesto were taken by PFP founders at the congresses. The Ministry of Justice of Belarus refused to register a new political party under formal grounds in all three cases. When registered by the Ministry of Justice it is going to be the first liberal party in Belarus.

History of PFP

Historical background of PFP creation dates back to the middle of the 90s when small group of people organized an initiative “Civil Alliance”. In 1996 the initiative was transformed into the youth wing of the liberal-conservative “United Civil Party of Belarus” called “Civil Forum”.

In 2000 United Civil Party of Belarus decided not to participate in parliamentary elections. However, members of Civil Forum disagreed with such a decision and took part in the campaign. As a result, Civil Forum’s chairman Vladimir Novosiad became a MP. But at the same time links with the United Civil Party of Belarus were broken. Civil Forum started to elaborate its own strategy based on liberal values. As members of youth organization were getting older the necessity to create a liberal party on the basis of youth organization became more evident.

Thus, Belarusian Liberal Party of Freedom and Progress (PFP) is a result of evolutionary development of Liberal Youth Organization “Civil Forum”.

PFP status

The basis of PFP is the activists of the registered youth NGO “Civil forum”, and also the youth that have not participated in political parties earlier. The emphasis in the activities is made on creation of own political brands, active participation in local and parliamentary elections.

The greatest number of supporters (founders) PFP has in Homel, Mahilyow and Hrodna regions of Belarus.

The Party of Freedom and Progress will make efforts to fill a niche in a political spectrum of the country – it shall become the first liberal party in Belarus (United Civil Party of Belarus already existing in Belarus is based on conservative ideas and calls itself "liberal-conservative"). PFP intends to articulate and promote liberal ideas in Belarus, the country with dominating social-democratic and national-democratic ideas. European integration of Belarus is one of the basic theses the PFP political platform.

PFP activities and electoral campaigns

Electoral campaigns Nomination signatures collected (approx.) PFP and its youth wing elections nominees
Local elections 2003 1400 15
Parliament elections and national referendum 2004 15000 4
President elections 2006 14000 - [1]
Local elections 2007 8800 20
Parliament elections 2008 15000 7

According to the official results of the elections to the local Councils of Deputies of the Republic of Belarus (2014), no candidate from the party was not able to become a deputy.

Notes

  1. ↑ PFP supported joint candidate from democratic opposition Alexander Milinkevich
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