LIBERAL ALTERNATIVE

The 'Liberal Alternative' (French: ''Alternative Libérale'') is a French political party created on March 1 2006. They advocate classical liberalism against socialism or conservatism. Therefore their political colour is purple, between the red of the left wing and the blue of the right wing.
They advocate stronger powers given to the Parliament and a separation from the Prime Minister; favouring a presidential/congressional system as opposed to a strict parliamentary system. They emphasize a more political, rather than economic, role in the European Union (EU) to promote civil liberties and liberalism as the basis of the EU Constitution. In general, the party seems rather libertarian, as evidenced by the following excerpt from a commentary in the Wall Street Journal:
: ''We aim only to create a free society. Our project is to transform our state so that it serves French citizens, not vice versa. We believe in freedom of choice in any area of human life, whether it's the economy, social issues or values. In all respects, we want to give the French their freedom back: freedom to choose the school where they want their children to be taught, freedom to negotiate their working conditions, freedom to choose their health insurance, freedom of speech on any issue.''
Some members of Liberté Chérie, a classical liberal association, took part in the creation of the ''Liberal Alternative'', including Édouard Fillias, founder of Liberté Chérie, Aurélien Veron, former president and Sabine Herold, cofounder.

Contents

2007 elections: the first AL campaigns

External links

2007 elections: the first AL campaigns

In 2007 Liberal Alternative competed in its first election campaign, which included the French Presidential Elections. Édouard Fillias, the founder and leader of LA, failed to obtain the requisite signature endorsements from at least 500 French mayors, and Liberal Alternative quickly altered strategy and endorsed the surging centrist UDF candidate François Bayrou for the First Round vote. Bayrou, with 19%, and Jean-Marie Le Pen of the National Front, with 10%, lost the First Round to Socialist Party candidate Ségolène Royal and center-right Union for a Popular Movement candidate Nicolas Sarkozy, who garnered 26% and 31% respectively. Sarkozy went on to win the Presidency over Royal in the Second Round of voting the following week by a wide 53.4-46.6% margin.
Liberal Alternative also fielded nearly 50 candidates for the 2007 French legislative elections to elect the 13th National Assembly, but AL has still not yet won its first French political office.

External links

★ Liberal Alternative website (English pages)

★ Commentary in the Wall Street Journal

★ An Interview with Sabine Herold on Politics, France, and Freedom