Libertas Spain

Libertas Spain (Libertas España) 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[1] and Unión del Pueblo Salmantino[1] 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.

Preamble[edit]

On 15 February Ganley gave an interview to ABC in which he announced that Libertas.eu intended to field candidates in Spain.[2] Rumored Libertas.eu candidates were Santiago Abascal,[3] (but Abascal rejected[4] Libertas.eu) Alejo Vidal-Quadras,[3] José Luis Balbás[4] and José Manuel Otero Novas.[3] 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"[3] and that contacts had been made with Cadena COPE.[3]

Formation[edit]

Libertas.eu scheduled an official press conference for 17 April 2009[5] but details began to be leaked on 15 April 2009.[5] Libertas.eu's candidates in Spain would stand as individuals alongside candidates from Citizens – Party of the Citizenry (usually abbreviated to "C's") under a common list branded with the Libertas identity.[5] The name of the list was variously reported as Ciutadans en las Europeas[5] or Libertas – Ciudadanos de España[1][5][6] or Ciudadanos – Partido de la Ciudadanía y Libertas.[7]

"C"'s original plan was to place Jose Manuel Villegas at the head of the list, but this was abandoned.[1] Instead, Villegas was put at number two on the list and the head of the list was named as Miguel Durán.[8] Miguel Durán is a lawyer and businessman.[8] He was the general manager of the National Organization of the Spanish Blind,[5] from 1986 to 1993,[8] the director of Telecinco from 1990 to 1996[8] and of Onda Cero Radio from 1990 to 1993.[8] Miguel Durán was charged in 1997[8] by the judge Baltasar Garzón for alleged tax crimes committed during his time at Telecinco but was later acquitted.[8] He is not a member of Citizens – Party of the Citizenry[8] but is running as an individual member of Libertas.eu.

The official press conference took place on 17 April 2009[5] and "C" later issued a communique giving the principles under which the list would contend the election.[6] The list was registered with Spain's Central Electoral Commission under the name Libertas – Ciudadanos de España.[9]

Split[edit]

Antonio Robles Almeida, "C's" member of the Catalan Parliament, 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.[10] José Domingo also objected.[1]

"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[10] and that the election office and money were already in place.[10] That extraordinary session approved the alliance[11] and Robles immediately resigned his party membership.[11]

Candidates[edit]

Main article: List of Libertas list candidates at the 2009 European Parliament elections

Results[edit]

Main article: Libertas.eu

See also[edit]

External links[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e "La elección de Miguel Durán como candidato desata una nueva crisis en C´s", 20 April 2009 22:10, http://www.elconfidencial.com, English translation here
  2. ^ "Queremos presentar una candidatura en España y no seremos un partido marginal", 15 February 2009, http://www.abc.es, English translation here
  3. ^ a b c d e "Libertas: rival del PP en las Europeas", 19 February 2009, http://www.diarioya.es/, English translation here
  4. ^ a b "¿Quién acompañará a Durán en la lista Ciudadanos-Libertas?", 14 April 2009, http://www.libertaddigital.com/, English translation here
  5. ^ a b c d e f g "Miguel Duran, ex director de la ONCE, candidato de Ciutadans a las europeas", 15 April 2009 http://www.elmundo.es/, English translation here
  6. ^ a b "Principios rectores del Acuerdo Político de la coalición Libertas - Ciudadanos de España", 22 April, http://www.ellibrepensador.com/
  7. ^ "El ex director de la ONCE, Miguel Durán, encabezará la lista de Ciudadanos-Libertas en las europeas", 15 April 2009, http://www.abc.es/, English translation here
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h "Miguel Durán, cabeza de lista de la coalición Ciudadanos-Libertas", 15 April 2009, http://www.libertaddigital.com, English translation here
  9. ^ "Cinco coaliciones tienen ya el visto bueno para concurrir a las elecciones europeas", 27 April 2009, http://www.soitu.es/
  10. ^ a b c "Diputado de C's arremete contra la decisión del partido de ir a las europeas con Libertas y el partido de Tamayo" 19 April 2009, http://www.europapress.es/, English translation here
  11. ^ a b "Ciudadanos se rompe: Antonio Robles dejará el partido y el escaño" 23 April 2009, http://politica.e-noticies.es/


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