24 Apr, 2024
Since spring 2020, ALDE Party has been highlighting liberal party leaders from member parties across Europe as part of an exclusive interview series. Meet our Leaders series gives our party leaders the opportunity to share their perspective on some of the most topical issues in Europe, and it also provides interesting personal insights which you might not have previously known about.
You can find all episodes published to date (end of June 2022) below – we will continue the series after Summer 2022, so stay tuned!
Ferenc Gelencsér (Momentum, Hungary)
For Ferenc Gelencsér, party leader of Momentum in Hungary addressing the climate crisis is one of his policy priorities as newly elected party leader.
Christian Lindner (FDP, Germany)
As leader of FDP in Germany, Christian Lindner is moving the country forward on digitalisation, education and key issues four our common future.
þorgerður katrín (Viðreisn, Iceland)
þorgerður katrín, leader or Viðreisn in Iceland and former Minister for Education, Science, Culture and Sport states that honesty, integrity and staying true to yourself and the key elements to be a successful leader.
Benedetto della Vedova (Più Europa, Italy)
Benedetto della Vedova, leader of Più Europa in Italy said that it is necessary to strengthen the common European policies, to reiterate the need to defend and promote the rule of law everywhere in the world.
Daniels Pavluts (Kustība "Par!", Latvia)
Daniels Pavluts, leader of Kustība "Par!" and Minister of Health of Latvia, believes that we are all going to win this the fight against COVID-19 and come out of the pandemic as a stronger society.
Dalibor Paus (IDS, Croatia)
Dalibor Paus, leader of IDS in Croatia, was elected to lead his party earlier this autumn. In this interview, he shared with us how the past months in his new role have been like, what the upcoming priorities for the party are and why politics and mathematics complement each other.
Goran Milevski (Liberal Democratic Party, North Macedonia)
Since young age, Goran Milevski, leader of Liberal Democratic Party in North Macedonia, has been inspired by change, and this is also what motivated him to enter into politics. In this interview, he reveals why cooperation and working together in politics matters and how the future of Europe looks like from the Western Balkan perspective.
Beate Meinl-Reisinger (NEOS, Austria)
According to Beate Meinl-Reisinger, leader of NEOS, you can only succeed as a politician if you feel an authentic desire to improve the lives of people. In her exclusive interview, she shared why new modes of communication in politics are a must, what potential the ongoing Conference on the Future of Europe holds, and where she likes to go for a refreshing hike.
Annie Lööf (Centerpartiet, Sweden)
Annie Lööf has been leading Centerpartiet this past decade and over the years has witnessed the growth of the party and its supporter base, including key electoral successes. Entering politics at a young age, her message to Europe’s youth is clear: young people should take part in the discussions and get the opportunity to influence decision that will shape their futures. But did you know what she thinks are the similarities between politics and football?
Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen (Liberal Movement, Lithuania)
Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, leader of Liberal Movement, was elected Speaker of Parliament earlier this year when her party entered government. A former Chess Grandmaster, in this interview she shares how chess and politics relate, who is the political leader she looks up to and how she sees the role of liberal parties in an EU that shows global leadership.
Sofie Carsten Nielsen (Radikale Venstre, Denmark)
While the EU has become increasingly relevant during the ongoing health crisis, there are still major challenges to solve, says leader of Radikale Venstre Sofie Carsten Nielsen and shares her view on what is needed to de-attach the “Brussels Bubble” image. But do you know which experience has inspired her the most during her political career?
Petra Gössi (FDP, Switzerland)
Petra Gössi, leader of FDP in Switzerland, is proud of the Swiss direct democracy, labelling it as the “best system in the world”. In her interview, Gössi also shares what her party is doing to effectively involve young people in politics, what she thinks about cooperation with the European Union and what she might work on, if not politics.
Mustafa Karadayi (MRF, Bulgaria)
For MRF leader Mustafa Karadayi, involving young people in politics and engaging them to solve citizens’ problems is key. In this interview, he also shares his hope for 2021, the plan for Bulgaria’s green economy and his perspective on the future of European cooperation.
João Cotrim Figueiredo (Iniciativa Liberal, Portugal)
For João Cotrim Figueiredo, leader of Iniciativa Liberal, entering politics was motivated by his desire to push for increased representation of liberal ideas in Portugal. In this interview, Cotrim Figueiredo reflects, among others, on his career spanning over 35 years, the state of liberalism in his country as well as the key lessons he and his party have learned over the years.
Guri Melby (Venstre, Norway)
One of the proudest political accomplishments of Guri Melby, leader of Venstre in Norway, was making parental leave more equal during the child’s first year. Together with her party members, she continues to push for more gender equality and also shares her advice for women and girls who are thinking about entering politics. But what about Norway entering the EU?
Inés Arrimadas (Ciudadanos, Spain)
According to Ciudadanos leader Inés Arrimadas, a greater Europe translates into more freedom, more employment, more civil rights and more well-being, and that is why her party is a proud defender of the European project. But did you know that if she wasn’t working on politics, Arrimadas would love to give a spin to her career and be an archaeologist.
Ed Davey (Liberal Democrats, UK)
Elected to lead the Liberal Democrats this autumn, Ed Davey reaffirms his party’s position on Brexit in this interview: The Liberal Democrats are passionately pro-European — and always will be. From coping with the pandemic to his first speech as party leader, Davey also reveals what being a member of the wider liberal European family means for him and his party.
Predrag Kojović (Naša Stranka, Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Did you know that for Predrag Kojović, leader of Naša Stranka, one of the most rewarding things about his work is being in direct contact with voters and with those who are undecided? With many political and ethnic challenges in Bosnia and Herzegovina, his party isn’t giving up but instead keeps on pressing on until progress is achieved.
Kaja Kallas (Reformierakond, Estonia)
25-year-old Reformierakond has always been a future-oriented and forward-looking political party, says its leader Kaja Kallas. In this interview, Kallas shared her concern for the increasing trends of protectionism and isolation, enforced by the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, and why such an approach will be detrimental for Europe in the long run.
Corinne Cahen (DP, Luxembourg)
As leader of Demokratesch Partei, Corinne Cahen wants her party to empower people to live their best life. But what inspired her to go into politics and which parts of her work she finds to be the most rewarding? And from her point of view, what is the liberal answer to the continuous rise of extremist forces?
Dan Barna (USR, Romania)
For USR leader Dan Barna, entering politics was motivated by his desire to change Romanian politics and the fate of his country. In this interview, Barna reflects on his 2019 presidential candidacy and shares the key lessons he learned during the race in addition to sharing his view on the future of European Union and 21st century liberalism.
In case you have an ALDE member party leader in mind, send us your suggestions at [email protected]
