In recent years, a number of new liberal parties and movements have emerged in the region of Central and Southeast Europe. They have successfully formed a counterpoint to national-conservative and populist tendencies in their respective countries; here, the Liberals are often the only political actors trying to influence public opinion in promoting a positive, pluralistic, open and pro-European social image. In face of the new wave of populism, it is of utmost importance to connect liberal forces across the region, to strengthen their cooperation and to empower them to develop and share novel political responses to the emerging anti-liberal trends. In 2020, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom launched a new interregional program to strengthen liberal parties in Central and Southeast Europe. The goal of the program is to provide our partner parties with a platform for professional exchange through tailor-made capacity-building workshops and encourage their increased cooperation to counter populism and democratic backlash in the region.
Union Regional Office EN DE Bucharest Romania