Jump to content

Libertas.eu: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Line 51: Line 51:
|publisher=Referendum Returning Officer, referendum.ie
|publisher=Referendum Returning Officer, referendum.ie
}}</ref>
}}</ref>
It is now widespread public knowledge (is it?) that the Libertas party and its sister entities used lies in their advertising campaign in their effort to convince the electorate to vote against The Lisbon Treaty. The most noticeable example of this was when they pretended that the EU would force Irish citizens to be conscripted into a European army which is never mentioned in the Treaty. <ref>[http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/0618/1213735259934.html "Second referendum cannot be held, says O'Rourke"] Irish Times, Wed, Jun 18, 2008</ref>



Libertas held a post-referendum celebration in the Burlington hotel in Dublin on the night of Friday, 13 June 2008.<ref name="STarticle4139706">[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/article4139706.ece "Europe caught in our offside trap"], Sunday Times June 15, 2008</ref> Attending that celebration was Danish Eurosceptic<ref name="CN354566">[http://www.ceskenoviny.cz/news/index_view.php?id=354566 "Lisbon treaty to bring more power to officials-critics in Prague"], 13 January 2009, ČeskéNoviny.cz</ref> and former President of the [[EUDemocrats]]<ref name="EUD109">[http://eudemocrats.org/eud/news.php?uid=109 "Bonde calls for Referendum in 2009"], EUDemocrats press release, July 22, 2008</ref> and recently retired<ref name="EUD80">[http://eudemocrats.org/eud/news.php?uid=80 "Bonde's last speech in the Parliament"]</ref> MEP [[Jens-Peter Bonde]],<ref name="STarticle4139706"/> who had been a "no" campaigner during the referendum.<ref name="STarticle4139706"/> Bonde was later cited as one of the main architects of the upgrading of Libertas to a [[political party at European level]].<ref name="EurActivarticle-179099">[http://www.euractiv.com/en/eu-elections/anti-lisbon-party-obtains-eu-recognition-funding/article-179099 "Anti-Lisbon party obtains EU recognition and funding"], EurActive.com, Tuesday 3 February 2009</ref><ref name="ie2209">[http://www.irishexaminer.com/irishexaminer/pages/story.aspx-qqqg=sport-qqqm=sport-qqqa=sport-qqqid=83402-qqqx=1.asp "Libertas set to emerge as political party as candidates unveiled"], Monday, February 02, 2009</ref>
Libertas held a post-referendum celebration in the Burlington hotel in Dublin on the night of Friday, 13 June 2008.<ref name="STarticle4139706">[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/article4139706.ece "Europe caught in our offside trap"], Sunday Times June 15, 2008</ref> Attending that celebration was Danish Eurosceptic<ref name="CN354566">[http://www.ceskenoviny.cz/news/index_view.php?id=354566 "Lisbon treaty to bring more power to officials-critics in Prague"], 13 January 2009, ČeskéNoviny.cz</ref> and former President of the [[EUDemocrats]]<ref name="EUD109">[http://eudemocrats.org/eud/news.php?uid=109 "Bonde calls for Referendum in 2009"], EUDemocrats press release, July 22, 2008</ref> and recently retired<ref name="EUD80">[http://eudemocrats.org/eud/news.php?uid=80 "Bonde's last speech in the Parliament"]</ref> MEP [[Jens-Peter Bonde]],<ref name="STarticle4139706"/> who had been a "no" campaigner during the referendum.<ref name="STarticle4139706"/> Bonde was later cited as one of the main architects of the upgrading of Libertas to a [[political party at European level]].<ref name="EurActivarticle-179099">[http://www.euractiv.com/en/eu-elections/anti-lisbon-party-obtains-eu-recognition-funding/article-179099 "Anti-Lisbon party obtains EU recognition and funding"], EurActive.com, Tuesday 3 February 2009</ref><ref name="ie2209">[http://www.irishexaminer.com/irishexaminer/pages/story.aspx-qqqg=sport-qqqm=sport-qqqa=sport-qqqid=83402-qqqx=1.asp "Libertas set to emerge as political party as candidates unveiled"], Monday, February 02, 2009</ref>

Revision as of 19:53, 26 April 2009

This article covers the pan-European political party founded by Declan Ganley in 2008. For the lobby group involved in the 2008 Lisbon Treaty referendum, see the Libertas Institute.

Libertas is a political party founded by Declan Ganley that intends to take part in the European Parliament election, 2009 in each member state of the European Union.

Libertas
PresidentDeclan Ganley
Founded30 October 2008[1][nb 1]
HeadquartersRegistered at Moyne Park, Tuam, County Galway, Ireland[nb 1][1][2]
European offices on 7th Floor, Avenue de Cortenbergh 71, Brussels 1000, Belgium.[3]
Ideologyanti-Lisbon Treaty[4][5][6][7][8]
Pro-European[9]
ColoursBlue, Gold
Website
www.libertas.eu

Creation

See also: Origins of Libertas; Libertas Institute Limited; and Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland Bill, 2008

In 2008, the Libertas Institute Limited, a lobby group founded by Declan Ganley and others, advocated a "no" vote in Lisbon I, the 2008 referendum in Ireland on the Treaty of Lisbon. Lisbon I failed. The referendum was held on 12 June 2008[10] and defeated by 53.4% to 46.6%, with a turnout of 53.1%.[11]

Libertas held a post-referendum celebration in the Burlington hotel in Dublin on the night of Friday, 13 June 2008.[12] Attending that celebration was Danish Eurosceptic[13] and former President of the EUDemocrats[14] and recently retired[15] MEP Jens-Peter Bonde,[12] who had been a "no" campaigner during the referendum.[12] Bonde was later cited as one of the main architects of the upgrading of Libertas to a political party at European level.[16][17]

On 15 July 2008, RTÉ News on Two covered Ganley's comments at The Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C., where he stated that Libertas intended running as a political party at European level. The next day Ganley confirmed that Libertas was fundraising in order to run candidates throughout Europe in the 2009 European Parliament elections.[18]

On September 20 2008, the Irish Times reported[19] that Bonde and Czech president Václav Klaus pledged to help Ganley to launch Libertas. The two were later amongst the guests at a dinner hosted by Ganley at the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin on Tuesday November 11 2008.[20]

On 30 October 2008 Ganley registered a company based in Moyne Park, Tuam, County Galway[nb 1][1][2] called the Libertas Party Limited.[21][nb 1][1][2] The Irish Times reported that the new party was intended to "carry on the business of a European political party".[21] The party was publicly announced in December 2008[22] with ambitions to field up to 400[22] candidates and win seats in all 27[22] EU member states.

Position

Ganley stated that following a group conference in Rome[4] in March 2009,[4][5] (later postponed to 1 May 2009[23]) Libertas would publish a policy document[4][5] or party manifesto[5] covering areas such as democracy,[5] the economy,[5] small businesses,[4] the recession,[4] and EU institution accountability.[4]

In an interview published on Wednesday 11 February 2009 by EurActiv, the interviewer characterized the majority of politicians that signed Libertas's pan-European party status application as strongly Eurosceptic:[5] Ganley characterized the forthcoming Libertas election candidates as broad-based and moderate.[5]

Staff

For the local Libertas staff, see the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden or UK articles.
Name Position Notes
Joe Trippi[24] Electoral consultant American Democratic campaign consultant.[24]
Worked on the presidential campaigns of Edward Kennedy, Walter Mondale, Gary Hart, Dick Gephardt, and John Edwards.
Lynton Crosby[25] Electoral consultant Australian campaign consultant.[25]
Worked on the election campaigns of John Howard, Michael Howard, and Boris Johnson.
Anita Kelly[26][27][28] Spokesperson
John McGuirk[29] Spokesperson Was named as a Libertas spokesperson in Slovakia in February 2009.[29]

Structure

Libertas's intended structure has evolved with time. It was originally intended to be an alliance of national parties,[4] but it was later envisaged as a single pan-European party with candidates running as individual members of Libertas.[4] By March 2009, the approach had become one where candidates would remain members of national parties, (either pre-existing and/or new national parties), but the lists (the lists of candidates presented to voters in an European election) would adopt the Libertas brand, as exemplified by the French approach.[30][31] New national parties established by Libertas have names in the "Libertas X" format (e.g. "Libertas Sweden"[32]), and pre-existing national parties have been asked to change their names to include the word "Libertas" in the title,[33][34][35] although the latter approach has not met with unalloyed success.[34][35]

Austria

On 19 February 2009,[27] Libertas spokeswoman Anita Kelly said that Libertas would field a candidate in Austria and would select its Austrian candidate within two or three weeks.[27] The National Conservative party Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ) would not commit to an alliance with Libertas before the elections,[27] but would consider its alliance options afterwards.[27] Hans-Peter Martin ruled out running under a Libertas list.[36] Libertas were still in discussion with candidates at 7 April 2009 and had until 1 May 2009 to get the signatures of 2600 Austrian voters (or 3 national MPs or 1 MEP) to register a party/list.[37]

Czech Republic

Main article: Libertas Czechia
See also: European Parliament election, 2009 (Czech Republic)
Libertas Czechia Details Notes
Local branch/party established? No
Local branch/party registered for 2009 elections? No
Local branch/party staff See article
Affiliated national parties (rumored)
Affiliated national parties (actual) See article
Candidates (rumored)
Candidates (actual) See article
Constituencies Czech Republic
Number of MEPs elected TBD
Group chosen by MEPs TBD

France

Main article: Libertas France
See also: European Parliament election, 2009 (France)
Libertas France Details Notes
Local branch/party established? No
Local branch/party registered for 2009 elections? No
Local branch/party staff See article
Affiliated national parties (rumored) MPF[39]
Affiliated national parties (actual) MPF[30][31] and CPNT[30][31]
Candidates (rumored)
Candidates (actual) See article
Constituencies See article
Number of MEPs elected TBD
Group chosen by MEPs TBD

Germany

Main article: Libertas Germany
See also: European Parliament election, 2009 (Germany)
Libertas Germany Details Notes
Local branch/party established? Yes
Local branch/party registered for 2009 elections? No
Local branch/party staff see article
Affiliated national parties (rumored) none
Affiliated national parties (actual) none
Candidates (rumored)
Candidates (actual) none
Constituencies Germany
Number of MEPs elected none
Group chosen by MEPs none

Ireland

Main article: Libertas Ireland
See also: European Parliament election, 2009 (Ireland)
Libertas Ireland Details Notes
Local branch/party established? Yes
Local branch/party registered for 2009 elections? Yes?
Local branch/party staff see article
Affiliated national parties (rumored) self
Affiliated national parties (actual) self
Candidates (rumored)
Candidates (actual) TBD
Constituencies see article
Number of MEPs elected TBD
Group chosen by MEPs TBD

Latvia

Main article: Libertas Latvia
See also: European Parliament election, 2009 (Latvia)
Libertas Latvia Details Notes
Local branch/party established? No
Local branch/party registered for 2009 elections? No
Local branch/party staff See article
Affiliated national parties (rumored) n/a
Affiliated national parties (actual)
Candidates (rumored) n/a
Candidates (actual) See article
Constituencies Latvia
Number of MEPs elected TBD
Group chosen by MEPs TBD

Lithuania

Main article: Libertas Lithuania
See also: European Parliament election, 2009 (Lithuania)
Libertas Lithuania Details Notes
Local branch/party established? No
Local branch/party registered for 2009 elections? No
Local branch/party staff See article
Affiliated national parties (rumored) Tautos prisikėlimo partija[44][45]
Affiliated national parties (actual) See article
Candidates (rumored) See article
Candidates (actual)
Constituencies Lithuania
Number of MEPs elected TBD
Group chosen by MEPs TBD

Malta

Main article: Libertas Malta
See also: European Parliament election, 2009 (Malta)
Libertas Malta Details Notes
Local branch/party established? Yes
Local branch/party registered for 2009 elections? Yes?
Local branch/party staff see article
Affiliated national parties (rumored)
Affiliated national parties (actual) none
Candidates (rumored)
Candidates (actual) TBD
Constituencies Malta
Number of MEPs elected TBD
Group chosen by MEPs TBD

Netherlands

Main article: Libertas Netherlands
See also: European Parliament election, 2009 (Netherlands)
Libertas Netherlands Details Notes
Local branch/party established? Yes
Local branch/party registered for 2009 elections? Yes[49]
Local branch/party staff see article
Affiliated national parties (rumored) see article
Affiliated national parties (actual) see article
Candidates (rumored)
Candidates (actual) Eline van den Broek[51]
Constituencies Netherlands
Number of MEPs elected TBD
Group chosen by MEPs TBD

Poland

Main article: Libertas Poland
See also: European Parliament election, 2009 (Poland)
Libertas Poland Details Notes
Local branch/party established? Yes
Local branch/party registered for 2009 elections? Yes
Local branch/party staff see article
Affiliated national parties (rumored)
Affiliated national parties (actual) see article
Candidates (rumored)
Candidates (actual) TBD
Constituencies TBD
Number of MEPs elected TBD
Group chosen by MEPs TBD

Slovakia

Main article: Libertas Slovakia
See also: European Parliament election, 2009 (Slovakia)
Libertas Slovakia Details Notes
Local branch/party established? No
Local branch/party registered for 2009 elections? No
Local branch/party staff see article
Affiliated national parties (rumored)
Affiliated national parties (actual) TBD
Candidates (rumored)
Candidates (actual) TBD
Constituencies Slovakia
Number of MEPs elected TBD
Group chosen by MEPs TBD

Spain

Main article: Libertas Spain
See also: European Parliament election, 2009 (Spain)
Libertas Spain Details Notes
Local branch/party established? No
Local branch/party registered for 2009 elections? No
Local branch/party staff see article
Affiliated national parties (rumored) see article
Affiliated national parties (actual)
Candidates (rumored) see article
Candidates (actual)
Constituencies Spain
Number of MEPs elected TBD
Group chosen by MEPs TBD

Sweden

Main article: Libertas Sweden
See also: European Parliament election, 2009 (Sweden)
Libertas Sweden Details Notes
Local branch/party established? Yes
Local branch/party registered for 2009 elections? Yes
Local branch/party staff see article
Affiliated national parties (rumored) none
Affiliated national parties (actual) none
Candidates (rumored)
Candidates (actual) TBD
Constituencies Sweden
Number of MEPs elected TBD
Group chosen by MEPs TBD

United Kingdom

Main article: Libertas United Kingdom
See also: European Parliament election, 2009 (United Kingdom)

The British Libertas party was launched on 10 March 2009 under the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel Robin Matthews[59]

New Dawn For Europe:Libertas.eu/Libertas NI Details Notes
Local branch/party established? Yes
Local branch/party registered for 2009 elections? Yes
Local branch/party staff see article
Affiliated national parties (rumored) none
Affiliated national parties (actual) none
Candidates (rumored)
Candidates (actual) TBD
Constituencies TBD
Number of MEPs elected TBD
Group chosen by MEPs TBD

Political party at European level

Main article: 2009 Libertas European Parliament recognition application
See also: political party at European level

In early 2009 Libertas applied to be recognised by the European Parliament as a political party at European level. The application was briefly successful but then suspended amidst controversy. As of April 2009, the matter remains unresolved and Libertas remains unrecognized.

Commonality with other organizations

Main article: List of Declan Ganley organizations

Libertas Party is registered at Moyne Park, Tuam, County Galway. The similarity in location and personnel between Libertas and other Declan Ganley organizations has been noted.[62][63][64][65][66][67] A list of Declan Ganley organizations is given here.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d The CRO entry for the Libertas Party gives these details:
    • Type: Company,
    • Number: 463758
    • Name: The Libertas Party Limited,
    • Address: Moyne Park, Tuam, County Galway, Ireland
    • Registered: 30 October 2008

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Entry for the Libertas Party Limited", at www.ukdata.com
  2. ^ a b c "Entry for the Libertas Party Limited", at www.solocheck.ie
  3. ^ "Contact Libertas" on the www.libertas.eu
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Ganley: EU parliament trying to 'stymie' Libertas party bid", theParliament.com, 19 February 2009
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h "Ganley: Germany has 'enormous potential' for Libertas", EurActiv.com, Wednesday 11 February 2009
  6. ^ "Libertas told to return to 'political hinterland'", theParliament.com, 11 February 2009
  7. ^ "Anti-Lisbon treaty party to get EU funds", Focus News Agency, 2 February 2009
  8. ^ "Hjälp Libertas bli ett registrerat parti" Libertas website, Thursday, 26 February 2009, English translation here
  9. ^ [1]Libertas website
  10. ^ "12 June pencilled in as date for Lisbon Treaty vote". BreakingNews.ie. 2 April 2008. Retrieved 2 April 2008.
  11. ^ "Results received at the Central Count Centre for the Referendum on The Lisbon Treaty". Referendum Returning Officer, referendum.ie. 13 June 2008. Retrieved 13 June 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dateformat= ignored (help)
  12. ^ a b c "Europe caught in our offside trap", Sunday Times June 15, 2008
  13. ^ "Lisbon treaty to bring more power to officials-critics in Prague", 13 January 2009, ČeskéNoviny.cz
  14. ^ "Bonde calls for Referendum in 2009", EUDemocrats press release, July 22, 2008
  15. ^ "Bonde's last speech in the Parliament"
  16. ^ "Anti-Lisbon party obtains EU recognition and funding", EurActive.com, Tuesday 3 February 2009
  17. ^ "Libertas set to emerge as political party as candidates unveiled", Monday, February 02, 2009
  18. ^ "Libertas may contest European elections" Irish Times, Wed, Jul 16, 2008
  19. ^ "Eurosceptics to help Ganley if he is MEP candidate", Irish Times, Saturday, September 20, 2008
  20. ^ "Ganley's dinner party was a meeting of minds" Irish Times, Thursday, November 13, 2008
  21. ^ a b "Ganley registers Libertas as a European political party" from the Irish Times, Saturday 1 November 2008
  22. ^ a b c "Libertas to seek a Euro majority", The Sunday Times, December 13, 2008
  23. ^ a b "Nowa partia nie będzie mieć polskiego prezesa", ONET.pl, 20 March 2009, English translation here
  24. ^ a b "Libertas hires top US election campaigner", Irish Times, Tuesday, March 3, 2009
  25. ^ a b "Howard's man in Europe challenge", The Australian, Sunday March 23 2009
  26. ^ "Libertas w Warszawie" Nasz Dziennik, February 3 2009
  27. ^ a b c d e "Irish anti-EU party make Austrian bid", Wiener Zeitung, 20 February 2009
  28. ^ a b c "Czech Libertas recruit has conviction for evading duty" Irish Times, Thursday, January 22, 2009
  29. ^ a b "Slováci si možná budou vybírat europoslance ze strany Libertas" 23 February 2009, iDNES.cz, English translation here
  30. ^ a b c "Européennes : Frédéric Nihous et Philippe de Villiers feront campagne commune", La Tribune, March 4 2009, English translation here
  31. ^ a b c "Villiers et Nihous pour un «protectionnisme européen»", Le Figaro, 9 March 2009
  32. ^ a b "Hjälp Libertas bli ett registrerat parti" Thursday, 26 February 2009 from the Libertas website
  33. ^ "Party agitating against Lisbon Treaty seeks candidates for European Parliament elections in Lithuania", 4 March 2009, from www.euro.lt
  34. ^ a b c d e "Irlandzki milioner tworzy w Polsce antyeuropejski ruch", 7 January 2009, from www.tvp.info, English translation here
  35. ^ a b "Nytt nejparti ställer upp i EU-valet", 3 March 2009, from dn.se, English translation here
  36. ^ "MEP Martin rules out to run for Libertas" Wiener Zeitung, 6 March 2009
  37. ^ "Libertas hat offenbar Probleme bei Kandidatensuche: Gespräche in Österreich angeblich im Laufen - Aber keine Namen - Bisher lediglich Listen in sieben EU-Ländern", 7 April 2009, derstandard.at/, English translation here
  38. ^ a b "Czech Eurosceptics Launch Party Before European Poll - Report" Dowjones Business News, Monday January 12nd, 2009
  39. ^ "Battle for right-wing power base" European Voice, 12 February 2009
  40. ^ a b c d "Personen" undated, Libertas Partei Deutschland website, English translation here
  41. ^ a b c "Ganley launches European election bid", Sunday, March 15, 2009
  42. ^ http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0315/breaking19.html
  43. ^ a b c "Bijušais ‘tēvzemietis’ Krasts kritizē varas partijas", 28 March 2009 14:24, from delfi.lv, English translation here
  44. ^ "Paneuropinės partijos „Libertas“ EP rinkimų sąraše – Bielinis (papildyta)", 2009-03-31 14:35, alfa.lt, English translation here
  45. ^ a b c Libertas announces election plans for Lithuania. From Libertas.eu, March 31, 2009. Retrieved 31 March 2009.
  46. ^ "AN ponders contesting EP elections under Libertas banner", Malta Today, 31 December 2008
  47. ^ "Updated: New political group launched", Times of Malta, Saturday March 21 2009
  48. ^ "Former AN official to contest for Libertas MEP", Malta Today on Sunday, 8 February 2009
  49. ^ "Het register van aanduidingen ten behoeve van de verkiezing van de leden van het Europees Parlement", Register politieke partijen, Kiesraad.nl, English translation here
  50. ^ "Ieren azen op Nederlandse kiezer", 19 March 2009, De Telegraaf, English translation here
  51. ^ [2]
  52. ^ "LPR coraz bliżej podjęcia decyzji, z kim do eurowyborów" 9 March 2009 from www.gazetaprawna.pl, English translation here
  53. ^ a b "Polska może być inspiracją dla innych – Declan Ganley w Warszawie", Libertas article dated Thursday, 19 February 2009, English translation here
  54. ^ a b "Konferencja Libertas na temat szczytu Unii Europejskiej", 11 February 2009, Referendum Committee website, English translation here
  55. ^ a b "Priatelia, spolupracovníci, príbuzní, rodáci, spoluobčania!" Declaration of Libertas Slovensko, Bratislava, January 2009, English translation here
  56. ^ "Slovenský kandidát Libertas má video na YouTube" 28 February 2009, http://www.euractiv.sk, English translation here
  57. ^ "Ganley: Európska únia je skoro ako Chávez", 23 February 2009, http://www.sme.sk, English translation here
  58. ^ a b "Miguel Durán, cabeza de lista de la coalición Ciudadanos-Libertas", 15 April 2009, http://www.libertaddigital.com, English translation here
  59. ^ Ganley launches British arm of Libertas. Irish Times, 11 March 2009.
  60. ^ "Electoral Commission->Register of political parties->New Dawn For Europe:Libertas.eu"
  61. ^ [http://www.libertas.eu/en/news/news-uk/196-the-launch-of-libertas-candidates-standing-in-london Libertas.eu - The launch of Libertas candidates standing in London
  62. ^ "Self Serving US Military Agenda of Messrs Ganley and McEvaddy" FineGael.ie Press Release, 25 Apr 2008
  63. ^ "Man who says no" Irish Independent, Saturday 7 June 2008
  64. ^ "Opening of September II plenary session: Minute of silence for victim of ETA bombing / Funding of the No campaign in Ireland", European Parliament press release, 22 September 2008
  65. ^ "MEPs seeking source of Libertas funding", Jamie Smyth, Irish Times, 23 September 2008
  66. ^ "Ireland Takes the EU Spotlight" Washington Post, 12 June 2008
  67. ^ "On the mysterious trail of 'Mr No'", Irish Times, May 31, 2008
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Libertas.eu&oldid=286287536"