With two Vice-Presidents in attendance and three ALDE Party members joining Liberal International, European liberals are strengthening its international network at a time when democratic freedoms face growing pressure.
Liberal leaders from across the world gathered in Bangkok and Taipei from 2-6 November for Liberal International’s 65th Congress, held under the theme Building Resilient Democracies for a Secure Future.
Among them were ALDE Party Vice-Presidents Yevheniia Kravchuk and Eva Kjer Hansen, who spent the time building connections with liberal colleagues, particularly across Asia.
Liberal International also elected its Bureau for 2026–28, with Prof. Dr. Karl-Heinz Paqué (FDP, DE) continuing as President and Lennart Salemink (VVD, NL) elected Deputy President, alongside a geographically diverse team of Vice-Presidents.
Click here to see the full list of Bureau candidates.
The Congress marked an important step as three ALDE Party members were admitted to Liberal International: Servant of the People from Ukraine and Bright Armenia as full members, and USR from Romania as an observer member.
For Kravchuk, Servant of the People's admission carries particular significance as the country continues to defend itself against Russia’s aggression. “This is particularly symbolic at a time when Ukraine is defending liberal values, freedom and democracy every single day,” she said.
She also joined the panel discussion Women in Conflict, sharing Ukraine’s experience and highlighting the crucial role women play during wartime. Her contribution brought a frontline perspective to the Congress’s wider discussions on human rights, democratic resilience and international cooperation.
Across the Congress sessions, delegates discussed how AI is reshaping democracy and how authoritarian regimes use cyberattacks and cross-border intimidation to undermine it. They also examined why liberal parties are losing ground to populists, with many voters seeing them as out of touch.
The conversation also turned to how liberal parties can make their message more relevant by connecting freedom with everyday prosperity, speaking to younger generations and finding new ways to communicate in a changing digital world.
For ALDE Party, these connections mean more than building an international network. They are about standing together when freedom is under threat and ensuring that no liberal movement has to face that fight alone. Together, we can strengthen the voice of those working for a more open and democratic world.