We kick off a brand-new season of the ALDE Party podcast UNFILTERED: The Liberal Take with a tough but essential question: can a political party really start over from scratch?
In this episode, “Starting Over – Can You Really Reinvent a Liberal Party?”, we are joined by Frédéric De Gucht, leader of the rebranded Belgian ALDE Party member Anders, formerly Open VLD.
De Gucht became party leader in 2025 and led the decision to fundamentally rebrand the movement after a challenging election result. The conversation digs into what drove the move to drop a long-standing political name, and whether such a reset can genuinely restore political trust.
At the centre of the discussion is one of the most radical liberal rebrands in recent European politics - and the question of whether ‘starting over’ strengthens a party, or risks deepening uncertainty among voters.
The episode also steps back to examine broader challenges facing liberal parties across Europe, including questions of ideological identity, voter engagement and how political movements are adapting to interest younger audiences.
This exchange offers a rare inside view of what it takes to rebuild a political party from the ground up after electoral defeat. De Gucht reflects on what it truly means to be “different” in today’s political landscape and what Anders means as a party name.
As usual, you won't want to miss our 60-second challenge on Belgian politics and the “Hero or Zero” lightning round!
Season Two, Episode One of UNFILTERED: The Liberal Take is available now on our social media channels.
Click below to watch the full episode.