Albert Rivera, seventh from the right with ALDE party leaders.
The Diplomat. Madrid
Albert Rivera’s party is planning to raise the decision to join the Alliance for Liberals and Democrats of Europe (ALDE) at its next national conference, according to information given to The Diplomat by Ciudadanos.
Ciudadanos already forms part of the ALDE in the European Parliament, where it has two seats. However, it only has observer status in the Alliance. Rivera’s party is hoping to hold its national conference in March but the uncertainty after the elections of 20 December could postpone the meeting to a future date.
The ALDE houses several internal ideological currents such as social liberalism, radicalism, classic liberalism and European federalism. Among its members are Unión Progreso y Democracia (UPyD) and Convergencia Democrática de Catalunya (CDC), two parties in serious difficulties: the first in danger of disappearing, and the second for having recently changed its name to Democracia i Llibertat (DiL).
The CDC spokeswoman, Marta Pascal, was elected Vice-president of ALDE at the 36th congress held recently in Budapest. At the present time, the European Alliance has member parties present in a score of national governments in Europe, as well as seven prime ministers in the European Union and five European Commissioners.
