The
ELDR congress elected a new Bureau with MP Markus Löning (FDP, Germany), and
Wilfried Derksen (D66, Netherlands) re-appointed and MP Kristiina Ojuland
(Reform Party, Estonia) and Jeanette Baljeu (VVD, Netherlands), Deputy Mayor of
Rotterdam being newly elected on 2 year mandates. David Griffiths (Liberal
Democrats, UK) was also selected as the ELDR treasurer.The Musavat Party from Azerbaijan and the Republican Party of Georgia became full members of the ELDR Party during the ELDR council meeting that took place on 18th October 2007 in Berlin, Germany.
The inclusion of both parties into the European liberal family is important for strengthening the position of ELDR in the Caucasus. The total number of ELDR member parties now stands at 50.
The Musavat Party, led by Mr Isa Gambar, was established in October 1911. Its
main slogan is “Freedom to people, independence to nations”. The Party founded
the first democratic multi-party Republic – Independent Azerbaijan Democratic
Republic in 1918-1920. Musavat supports democratic ideals, pluralism, tolerance
and a free market and currently has a 16.5% share of the votes and 4
representatives in the national parliament.
The Republican Party of Georgia, led by Mr David Usupashvili, was founded in May
1978, illegally at that time, as the first organisation with a clear political
aim of state independence for Georgia, on the basis of political pluralism and
democratic institutions, free media, and a market economy. Up until the 2004
elections, it was a partner of the ruling National Movement Party, but decided
to join the opposition following these elections.