By an overwhelming majority, the MEP from Bulgaria’s MRF was re-elected to co-chair the European liberal parties’ formation
The top-level Council of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) Party has just overwhelmingly re-elected the MEP from Bulgaria’s Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) Ilhan Kucuk to co-chair ALDE for a second successive term. The Party carried its 42nd Congress from June 2 to June 4 in the Irish capital Dublin.
The meeting discussed the challenges the European Union is facing and Europe's priorities ahead of the next European Parliament elections. Key topics of the talks, attended by the leaders of liberal political parties, included the future of Europe, energy supplies, the War in Ukraine, and the road to peace. Policies were put together that would shape the liberal response to the challenges Europe is facing. Meanwhile, the leaders unanimously declared their wish for the parties to remain united.
In his address to the forum, Ilhan Kucuk praised the delegates from more than 60 liberal ALDE member parties and accepted their vote of confidence. He outlined the prospects for the future of liberals and their part in shaping Europe’s tomorrow.
"We are facing enormous challenges. The liberal family has a say in how to respond to these challenges, and it also has the power to act in a timely manner. We go hand in hand with the people. Starting today, we must continue demonstrating the same determination and strength that we have always shown, because now is a turning point for Europe," Kucuk said.
The freshly re-elected co-chair of ALDE pointed to several objectives the party must work hard to achieve in the coming months. Kucuk believes that the first thing is to reform ALDE to turn it into the most modern and efficient of European parties. The second priority is to increase support for national parties that are part of the liberal family, and not just back them at the level of the coming European elections. Ultimately, he stated the importance of each action in preparation for the European vote in 2024, which will bring victory to the liberals.
The ALDE Council meeting decided to welcome the party of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, “Servant of the People”, as a member of the liberal family.
The Council also considered several crucial resolutions, focusing on key issues, such as Europe's energy supplies, the safety of citizens and institutions from cyber-attacks, and supporting Georgia, Ukraine, and Moldova’s EU-candidate status. The Liberal Alliance is expected to approve its own declaration on the EU-candidate status of the three countries.
The Congress was attended by a delegation of the MRF, led by party chairman Mustafa Karadayi.
With more than 60 fellow parties and thousands of individual members, ALDE is among the major European political formations, represented at the top levels of the Council of the EU, the European Commission, the European Parliament, and other institutions.
