Libertas Spain
Encyclopedia
Libertas Spain is the name given to the activities of Declan Ganley
's Libertas.eu in Spain
. Unlike Libertas in other countries, Libertas Spain was not a political party in its own right. Instead, candidates with no national party affiliation and candidates from Citizens – Party of the Citizenry
, Partido Social Demócrata
and Unión del Pueblo Salmantino contended the 2009 European Parliament elections in Spain
under a common list branded with the Libertas identity. The candidates retained their membership of their national parties and the national parties retained their legal identity.
.
(usually abbreviated to "C's") under a common list branded with the Libertas identity. The name of the list was variously reported as Ciutadans en las Europeas or Libertas – Ciudadanos de España or Ciudadanos – Partido de la Ciudadanía y Libertas.
"C"'s original plan was to place Jose Manuel Villegas at the head of the list, but this was abandoned. Instead, Villegas was put at number two on the list and the head of the list was named as Miguel Durán. Miguel Durán is a lawyer and businessman. He was the general manager of the National Organization of the Spanish Blind
, from 1986 to 1993, the director of Telecinco
from 1990 to 1996 and of Onda Cero Radio from 1990 to 1993. Miguel Durán was charged in 1997 by the judge Baltasar Garzón
for alleged tax crimes committed during his time at Telecinco
but was later acquitted. He is not a member of Citizens – Party of the Citizenry
but is running as an individual member of Libertas.eu.
The official press conference took place on 17 April 2009 and "C" later issued a communique giving the principles under which the list would contend the election. The list was registered with Spain's Central Electoral Commission under the name Libertas – Ciudadanos de España.
, promptly objected, stating that he could not justify an alliance with a party that was diametrically opposed to "C's" position on xenophobia and social liberal
issues such as freedom of sexual orientation, abortion
, contraception
, assisted suicide
and stem cell research
. José Domingo also objected.
"C's" alliance with Libertas was subject to approval by an April extraordinary session of "C's" General Council, although Robles stated that party chairman, Albert Rivera
had already approved it and that the election office and money were already in place. That extraordinary session approved the alliance and Robles immediately resigned his party membership.
Declan Ganley
Declan James Ganley is a British-born Irish citizen, entrepreneur, businessman and political activist. He is founder and chairman of a political party, Libertas with pan-European ambitions...
's Libertas.eu in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. Unlike Libertas in other countries, Libertas Spain was not a political party in its own right. Instead, candidates with no national party affiliation and candidates from Citizens – Party of the Citizenry
Citizens – Party of the Citizenry
The Citizens – Party of the Citizenry is a Spanish political party which describes itself as centre-left and non-nationalist...
, Partido Social Demócrata
Partido Social Demócrata
Partido Social Demócrata may refer to:* Social Democratic Party * Social Democratic Party * Social Democratic Party * Social Democratic Party...
and Unión del Pueblo Salmantino contended the 2009 European Parliament elections in Spain
European Parliament election, 2009 (Spain)
The European Parliament election of 2009 in Spain was the election of the delegation from Spain to the European Parliament in 2009.- Opinion polls :-Results:-References:...
under a common list branded with the Libertas identity. The candidates retained their membership of their national parties and the national parties retained their legal identity.
Preamble
On 15 February Ganley gave an interview to ABC in which he announced that Libertas.eu intended to field candidates in Spain. Rumored Libertas.eu candidates were Santiago Abascal, (but Abascal rejected Libertas.eu) Alejo Vidal-Quadras, José Luis Balbás and José Manuel Otero Novas. It was also rumored that Libertas.eu candidates in Spain would stand in alliance with Alternativa Española under a list entitled "Plataforma Principios No Negociables" and that contacts had been made with Cadena COPECadena COPE
COPE, an acronym for Cadena de Ondas Populares Españolas is a private, right wing, commercial, Spanish radio network owned by a series of institutions within the Spanish Catholic Church...
.
Formation
Libertas.eu scheduled an official press conference for 17 April 2009 but details began to be leaked on 15 April 2009. Libertas.eu's candidates in Spain would stand as individuals alongside candidates from Citizens – Party of the CitizenryCitizens – Party of the Citizenry
The Citizens – Party of the Citizenry is a Spanish political party which describes itself as centre-left and non-nationalist...
(usually abbreviated to "C's") under a common list branded with the Libertas identity. The name of the list was variously reported as Ciutadans en las Europeas or Libertas – Ciudadanos de España or Ciudadanos – Partido de la Ciudadanía y Libertas.
"C"'s original plan was to place Jose Manuel Villegas at the head of the list, but this was abandoned. Instead, Villegas was put at number two on the list and the head of the list was named as Miguel Durán. Miguel Durán is a lawyer and businessman. He was the general manager of the National Organization of the Spanish Blind
ONCE
ONCE , or Organización Nacional de Ciegos Españoles , is a Spanish foundation founded on December 13, 1938 to raise funds to provide services for the blind and people with serious visual impairment....
, from 1986 to 1993, the director of Telecinco
Telecinco
Telecinco is a Spanish commercial television channel operated by Mediaset España. Launched in 1990 as Tele 5, it was the fifth of the national terrestrial television channels. In 1997, Tele 5 was rebranded as Telecinco, dropping the flower logo seen in other Mediaset channel...
from 1990 to 1996 and of Onda Cero Radio from 1990 to 1993. Miguel Durán was charged in 1997 by the judge Baltasar Garzón
Baltasar Garzón
Baltasar Garzón Real is a Spanish jurist who served on Spain's central criminal court, the Audiencia Nacional. He was the examining magistrate of the Juzgado Central de Instrucción No...
for alleged tax crimes committed during his time at Telecinco
Telecinco
Telecinco is a Spanish commercial television channel operated by Mediaset España. Launched in 1990 as Tele 5, it was the fifth of the national terrestrial television channels. In 1997, Tele 5 was rebranded as Telecinco, dropping the flower logo seen in other Mediaset channel...
but was later acquitted. He is not a member of Citizens – Party of the Citizenry
Citizens – Party of the Citizenry
The Citizens – Party of the Citizenry is a Spanish political party which describes itself as centre-left and non-nationalist...
but is running as an individual member of Libertas.eu.
The official press conference took place on 17 April 2009 and "C" later issued a communique giving the principles under which the list would contend the election. The list was registered with Spain's Central Electoral Commission under the name Libertas – Ciudadanos de España.
Split
Antonio Robles, "C's" member of the Catalan ParliamentParliament of Catalonia
The Parliament of Catalonia is the unicameral legislature of Catalonia. It is formed by 135 members , who are elected every four years in ordinary period, or extraordinarily upon dissolution and call of elections by the President of Catalonia, by universal suffrage in proportional lists with four...
, promptly objected, stating that he could not justify an alliance with a party that was diametrically opposed to "C's" position on xenophobia and social liberal
Social liberalism
Social liberalism is the belief that liberalism should include social justice. It differs from classical liberalism in that it believes the legitimate role of the state includes addressing economic and social issues such as unemployment, health care, and education while simultaneously expanding...
issues such as freedom of sexual orientation, abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
, contraception
Contraception
Contraception is the prevention of the fusion of gametes during or after sexual activity. The term contraception is a contraction of contra, which means against, and the word conception, meaning fertilization...
, assisted suicide
Assisted suicide
Assisted suicide is the common term for actions by which an individual helps another person voluntarily bring about his or her own death. "Assistance" may mean providing one with the means to end one's own life, but may extend to other actions. It differs to euthanasia where another person ends...
and stem cell research
Stem cell controversy
The stem cell controversy is the ethical debate primarily concerning the creation, treatment, and destruction of human embryos incident to research involving embryonic stem cells. Not all stem cell research involves the creation, use, or destruction of human embryos...
. José Domingo also objected.
"C's" alliance with Libertas was subject to approval by an April extraordinary session of "C's" General Council, although Robles stated that party chairman, Albert Rivera
Albert Rivera
Albert Rivera Díaz is a Spanish lawyer and politician of Catalan and Andalusian ancestry. He is currently the leader of the Citizens' Party., after having been a member of the conservative People's Party from 2002 to 2006. Albert Rivera quit PP just three months before running for elections with...
had already approved it and that the election office and money were already in place. That extraordinary session approved the alliance and Robles immediately resigned his party membership.
See also
- Jens-Peter BondeJens-Peter BondeJens-Peter Rossen Bonde is a former Member of the European Parliament with the June Movement. He resigned as an MEP in May 2008. Bonde was elected to the European Parliament in the first election in 1979 with the People's Movement against the EU. He has been re-elected 6 times consecutively...
- Declan GanleyDeclan GanleyDeclan James Ganley is a British-born Irish citizen, entrepreneur, businessman and political activist. He is founder and chairman of a political party, Libertas with pan-European ambitions...
- European Parliament election, 2009European Parliament election, 2009Elections to the European Parliament were held in the 27 member states of the European Union between 4 and 7 June 2009. A total of 736 Members of the European Parliament were elected to represent some 500 million Europeans, making these the biggest trans-national elections in history...
- Treaty of LisbonTreaty of LisbonThe Treaty of Lisbon of 1668 was a peace treaty between Portugal and Spain, concluded at Lisbon on 13 February 1668, through the mediation of England, in which Spain recognized the sovereignty of Portugal's new ruling dynasty, the House of Braganza....