The position of the ALDE Party President and of six Vice Presidents are up for election at this year's Congress.

The deadline for nominations for the election of Bureau members was Friday 4 October. The nominations received by that time are as follows:

Nominations received for the position of President:

• Hans van Baalen, VVD, the Netherlands                     Nomination letter

Nominations received for the 6 positions of Vice-President:

• Daniel Berg, Momentum Hungary                               Nomination letter

• Boris Blažeković, HNS Croatia                                   Nomination letter

• Sal Brinton, UK Liberal Democrats                              Nomination letter

• Timmy Dooley, Fianna Fáil Ireland                             Nomination letter

• Annelou van Egmond, D66 Netherlands                    Nomination letter

• Ilhan Kyuchyuk, MRF Bulgaria                                  Nomination letter

• Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, FDP Germany               Nomination letter

• Radu Mihail, USR Romania                                       Nomination letter

• Tatiana Terekhova, European Party of Ukraine          Nomination letter

Resolutions and Urgency Resolutions

Please note that in accordance with ALDE Party statutes the deadline to submit draft resolutions to the ALDE Party Congress is two months prior to the Congress.

Resolutions must be submitted via the online platform (debate.aldeparty.eu) by 23:59 CET on Friday 30 August.

The platform will be activated in August and International Officers will be given administrative rights to upload draft resolutions upon registration on this platform or can use their access codes from previous years. If you have not received or cannot find your debate platform login details, contact Andrew on the details below.

Member parties will receive a consolidated dossier of all draft resolutions submitted at the latest by Friday 13 September.

Amendments to draft resolutions must then be submitted by Friday 27 September, also via the online platform at debate.aldeparty.eu.

Member parties will then receive a consolidated dossier of all amendments submitted to the draft resolutions by Friday 4 October.

Urgency Resolutions

Draft urgency resolutions can be submitted via the online platform debate.aldeparty.eu until Thursday 24 October at 12:00 CET. They must not exceed 300 words and must deal with issues or developments that occurred since the deadline for regular resolutions.

Statutes and Internal Regulations

Member parties will receive the proposed amendments to the Statutes and Internal Regulations at the latest by Friday 13 September.

Delegations

Delegation lists will close at 12:00 CET on Friday 18 October.

After this point, changes can only be made in the statutory exceptional cases of flight cancellation, sickness, or unforeseen political developments. In such cases, please contact the ALDE Party Secretariat immediately [email protected]

Failure of the International Officer to assign all voting rights by this deadline will result in that delegation being unable to exercise unallocated votes.

To review the number of votes each delegation is entitled to, please download the delegation list below.

Onsite Voting

As per past years, there will be various different styles of voting.

For voting on resolutions and statute changes, also during Working Groups and Matters of Procedure, electronic voting pads (or vote by show of hand, as decided by the Chair) will be used. Results will be announced immediately.

For the elections of new Bureau members however, a vote in-person system will be used. Voting delegates will be required to go to an electronic voting booth, there their right to vote will be checked, before they proceed to voting on an interactive voting screen. The booths will open for an extended period throughout the Congress, permitting delegates to go to vote whenever is convenient for them. The voting booths will be located within the main Congress venue and will therefore be easily accessible, technicians and ALDE Party staff will be on hand throughout the voting session to help with this process.

Further information about voting and elections during Congress will become available here over the coming months, so keep checking back to this page.

Procedures for the election of the President and Vice Presidents

Election of the President:

As stipulated in the ALDE Party Statutes, adopted by the ALDE Party Congress in Warsaw on 1-3 December 2016 (art. 21, a):

“The President and the Treasurer are elected separately, by a majority of more than 50% of the votes cast. If there are more than two candidates, and no one obtains more than 50% of the votes cast, a second round takes place between the two candidates who obtained the most votes.”

Election of the Vice Presidents:

As stipulated in the ALDE Party Statutes, adopted by the ALDE Party Congress in Warsaw on 1-3 December 2016 (art. 21, b) [emphasis added to highlight change to previous procedure]:

“The Vice Presidents are elected on a single ballot paper. Delegates can choose as many candidates as they wish to up to the maximum number of vacancies to be filled. The candidates with the most votes are elected in the order of the amount of votes.”

“Only candidates reaching the quorum defined as follows are elected: 1/the positions available, i.e. that for 2 positions the quorum will 1/2 = 50% of the ballots cast (and not of total votes), for 3 positions 1/3=33,33% of the ballots cast, for 4 positions 1/4 =25% of the ballots cast, etc.”

“In case of only 1 vacant position for a round of election, the principle of simple majority shall be used, as is the case with the positions of President and Treasurer.”

“Candidates failing to obtain the quorum in the first round can run in the second round where there will be no quorum. Those obtaining the highest number of votes are elected until all vacant mandates are filled. If two or more candidates obtain the same number of votes for the last vacant mandate, an extra round will be arranged between those candidates to determine who will fill the mandate.”

In case one or several candidates miss the quorum, a second round of election will be held.

The returning officers will ensure anonymity of the votes by supervising the process and ensuring that the data is not retained following the vote.

Timetable and Congress Deadlines

Please find a full overview of Congress deadlines available to download below.

Venues

All parts of the Congress except for the Official Dinner Reception will take place at Hilton Athens Hotel, Leof. Vasilissis Sofias 46, Athina 115 28, Greece

Official Congress Dinner Reception will take place at Zappeion Megaron, Leof. Vasilissis Olgas, Athina 105 57, Greece.

Registration Fee

Please note that following a decision of the ALDE Party Council 2018, a Congress registration fee has been introduced. All Congress attendees who are not valid Voting Delegates, elected politicians or press will be directed to a payment screen during their registration process. There are three available rates:

• Early Bird (50.00 EUR) available until 30 September 2019
• Regular Ticket (65.00 EUR) available until the end of online registration on 22 October 2019
• On-site registration fee is 75.00 EUR

The payment can be done online via the Paypal or via a bank transfer. For any queries related to registration, please contact: Edita Jatulyte, Events Officer [email protected] or +32 2 551 01 69.

Hotel

The ALDE Party Secretariat has negotiated a block of rooms available at preferential rates at the Hilton Athens hotel where the Congress will take place. Please note that the number of rooms at preferential rates is limited, therefore delegations are encouraged to make their bookings as soon as possible.

Please click here to book your hotel at the Hilton Athens

Access to the hotel 

Hilton Athens is the perfect location to explore the beauties of Ancient Greece from a modern environment, easily accessible by taxi, metro or bus. The hotel is within walking distance from the famous Syntagma square, Kolonaki and Plaka districts- all full of cafes, Greek restaurants and taverns, shops and a lively night scene. The Evangelismos station, opposite the hotel, offers easy access to the Acropolis Monument and Museum in just a few minutes.

From the Airport

Hilton Athens is located approximately 30km from the airport. From the airport you might take a taxi which will cost you around 38.00 EUR. Please beware that many taxi drivers in Athens do not take credit cards.

Alternatively, you can take a metro line 3 (Blue Line) which will bring you to the Evangelismos station which is situated 3-minutes’ walking distance from the hotel. The cost of the ticket is 10 EUR per person.

Travel Reimbursement

In accordance with ALDE Party statutes, partial travel costs will be reimbursed to ALDE Party Council delegates only. To claim your reimbursement, download the form at the bottom of this page and follow the instructions listed on it.

Printing and Copying

In order to comply with ALDE Party commitments to environmental sustainability, the compilation of resolutions & the amendment table will NOT be printed & distributed to delegates. Instead, all registered delegates will receive the aforementioned documents by email, prior to the Congress. It is delegates' responsibility to provide their own paper copies if they wish.

Following the Working Groups, all delegates will receive an email with the draft table of amendments containing the recommendations made by the working groups to Congress. All these documents will also be available via the Congress app.

Congress App

The ALDE Party events team are working on the 2019 Congress app which will be available for download shortly via the App Store & Google Play.

The Congress app will give you full access to all information about the Congress, including programme, political documents, up-to-the-minute venue information & news. It will also allow you to create your own personalised event schedule.

Tourist Information

Acropolis of Athens

This 156-meter-high hill is one of the most iconic places in Athens. The climb is a bit steep, but once you reach the top you are awarded with ancient temples and impressive statues of the Greek gods. These beautiful ancient architectures will take you back thousands of years ago where you can wander between the Parthenon, Temple of Athena Nike, Theatre of Dionysus and much more. The view of the city from the hill is also breathtaking, so if you have a spare minute, do not hesitate and visit the Acropolis.

The District of Plaka

The historical neighborhood of Plaka is built on top of the residential areas of ancient Athens. It is closely located to the Acropolis and is therefore also known as ‘Neighborhood of the Gods’. You can enjoy the neoclassical architecture while getting lost in the tangle of narrow streets of this beautiful quarter full of cozy restaurants, tiny shops and different museums (e.g.: the Jewish museum of Greece, the new Acropolis museum, the museum of Greek Folk Art, the Museum of Popular Music Instruments and many more).

Monastiraki

Monastiraki is another rustic district where you can find many local merchants who sell fruits, vegetables, souvenirs and other local products. The mix of ancient and modern architecture in this vivid part of the town is a perfect place to delve into the local culture and enjoy all Greek specialties.

Olympic Stadium

The Olympic Games and Greece go hand in hand, which means a perfect opportunity to visit the oldest Olympic stadium of Athens, the ancient Panathenaic Stadium. The track was built in the 6th century BC and the stadium, which was made of limestone, was added in 330 BC. Back then it had a capacity of 80,000 people, while nowadays it can fit up to 45,000 people. The stadium is easily accessible by public transport and is ideally located to do some sightseeing afterwards.

Athens Central Market (Varvakeios)

Right on the busy Athinas street, the central market also known as Varvakeios, is a hectic and vibrant marketplace. The market is split between meat, seafood and fish products on one side of the street, and fruits and vegetables on the other side. Open from Monday to Saturday, the central market operates from early morning until late afternoon.

Laiki Agora

Laiki agora (or street markets), are great to stop for fruits and vegetables, household goods, herbs and dried nuts. Markets are open every day of the week in different areas of the city. Enjoy vibrant laiki on Kallidromiou street in Exarcheia where food stalls stand in front of colourful street art background. Not far from the Acropolis in Koukaki you can find another laiki on Fridays on Tsami Karatassou street.

Address:  Kallidromiou, Athens, Greece
Accessible by lines 021, 230, 813, A7 stops: Arachobes or Kallidromiou; 035, 046, 060 stop: ΠΛ.ΕΞΑΡΧΕΙΩΝ

Klimataria

This family restaurant has been offering authentic Mediterranean food since 1927. Here you will find a perfect Southern combination of food, music and dance. Their meat platter or tis oras is a must-do: it includes biftekia, grilled meat patties seasoned with spices, as well as lamb and pork chop. It also offers great options for vegetarians and seafood lovers. - €€ - Traditional Greek cuisine, music and dance.

Address: Panathenaic Pl. Theatrou 2, Athens, Greece
Accessible by lines 100 stop: Peiraios; 035, 227, 500 stops: Town Hall or Agora; 100 stop: Apheteria

Orizontes

On one of the highest peaks in Athens and very close to our Congress venue you will find Orizontes. Here you have a wonderful view of the Acropolis, the Aegan Sea and the rest of the city. The restaurant offers high-end Mediterranean dishes with seasonal ingredients that will knock your socks off. Local tip: pork tenderloin with vegetables in feta cheese, honey and sesame is a must pick! - €€€ - Traditional Greek cuisine

Atitamos

For a more budget-friendly choice, head to the northern part of the city where you can find Atitamos. This simple and cozy restaurant offers wide range of Mediterranean cuisine and is known and beloved by locals – don’t be alarmed if you see a queue at the entrance, that only proves that Atitamos is a true gem. After dinner, walk more towards the east and climb the Lycabettus hill where you can enjoy a magnificent view over the city. - € - Traditional Greek cuisine

For any queries related to logistical matters, please contact:
Edita Jatulyte, Events Officer
[email protected] +32 2 551 01 69

How to participate in the ALDE Party Congress if you are not a delegate

All individual members can participate in the meetings of the Congress but do not have the right to speak in the plenary session on behalf of the individual members or vote – that is the exclusive right of the elected Congress delegates.

A dedicated “fringe” meeting will be organised specifically for the individual members, the Annual General Meeting. More below.

Motions for resolutions – how individual members can be involved

The four individual member delegates for the ALDE Party Congress, after consulting the other individual members and the Steering Committee, can submit motions for resolutions as well as amendments to be discussed at the ALDE Party Congress.

How will it work in practice, at the beginning in the first phase, ahead of the Congress? All individual members can draft a motion for a resolution. You need to gather support of at least 20 individual members. For now we use the platform called "Slack" for this process - go to the congress_athens_2019 channel. (if you're not yet part of the ALDE Party individual members' Slack, please write here to receive an invitation to join). The final versions of the draft resolutions must be submitted via e-mail to the elected Congress delegates by the latest on 16 August 2019. With the help of the ALDE Party secretariat, the Congress delegates will put the resolutions to an online vote among all paid-up members in the month of August as the rules stipulate that “a limited number of resolutions will be selected through preferential voting of all paid-up members at the latest 10 weeks before the Congress”.

UPDATE 21 August: the vote on the resolutions is taking place this week. On Wednesday 28 August, the names of the three resolutions that received most votes will be published on this page.

UPDATE 28 August: The vote is closed. The following resolutions are the winners of the vote:

1. Transnational lists for the European elections in 2024
2. Supporting ALDE individual members in Central and Eastern Europe
3. Creation of a European Rule of Law Mechanism

Full results of the vote are available on OpaVote. All voters have also received an e-mail in their inbox with a link to the full results of the vote.

Annual General Meeting

As every year, an Annual General Meeting will be held to review the past year and make plans for the future. The Steering Committee shall draw up an agenda, not later than two weeks prior to the Annual General Meeting. Items for the agenda may be submitted to the Steering Committee no less than one month prior to the Annual General Meeting. For an item to be taken up in the agenda, it has to be submitted by at least 15 members.

At this Annual General Meeting, a new Steering Committee will take up its mandate. Elections for the new Steering Committee were held in early September.

The Annual General Meeting will take place on Saturday 26 October between 09h00-12h00

UPDATE: 12 October: The Steering Committee has shared the agenda of the meeting:

Agenda for Annual General Meeting of ALDE Party’s individual members (Hilton hotel Athens, room Thalia 4)

Saturday 26 October 2019, Athens, Greece

09:00: Opening and welcome

09:05-09:30: Special Guest Laura Owen, Head of Events and Engagement at the ALDE Party secretariat will join the Annual General Meeting to talk about GDPR and individual membership. After her input members can discuss further with the Steering Committee on how to share information among us while respecting privacy legislation.

09:30-10:00: The ALDE Party Individual Members Facebook group: The moderators and Steering Committee would like to reflect with members on how to improve the group.

10:00-11:00: The outgoing Steering Committee will share feedback regarding its term (events, budget etc.). Susanne Wunderer will present the “White paper” for new rules for Individual Membership and there is room for discussion.

Followed by transition to the new Steering Committee

11:00-12:00: The new Steering Committee will set the new goals of its term.

Deadlines Timetable

ALDE Party Congress, Athens 24-26 October 2019

The list of deadlines are available as a download (these deadlines apply to ALDE Party's Individual Membership).