Party of Freedom and Progress

The Party of Freedom and Progress (Belarusian: Партыя свабоды і прагрэсу (ПСП), Russian: Партия свободы и прогресса (ПСП)) is a liberal political party in Belarus. Since 2003 it keeps trying to get official registration after being denied one by the authoritarian government.

Party of Freedom and Progress

Партыя свабоды і прагрэсу
LeaderUładzimier Navasiad
Founded22 November 2003 (2003-11-22)
Split fromUnited Civil Party of Belarus
HeadquartersMinsk, Belarus
Youth wingCivil Forum
IdeologyLiberalism
Pro-Europeanism
Political positionCentre
European affiliationAlliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party (Observer)
International affiliationNone
ColoursBlue
Website
liberaly.org

Three constituent congresses took place on November 22, 2003, May 29, 2004, May 29, 2005. The decisions to create PFP, to approve its Charter, Program and Manifesto were taken by PFP founders at the congresses. The Ministry of Justice of Belarus refused to register a new political party under formal grounds in all three cases.

History of PFP

The PFP came into existence in the mid-1990s when a small group of people organized an initiative called "Civil Alliance". In 1996, the initiative was transformed into the youth wing of the liberal-conservative United Civil Party of Belarus called "Civil Forum".

In 2000, the United Civil Party decided not to participate in parliamentary elections. However, members of Civil Forum disagreed with its decision and took part in the campaign. Civil Forum’s chairman Uładzimier Navasiad was elected as an MP. It was at this time that Civil Forum broke away from the United Civil Party. Civil Forum began to elaborate its own strategy based on liberal values. The necessity to create a liberal party on the basis of the youth organization became more evident as members of its youth organization were getting older.

PFP status

The basis of PFP is the activists of the registered youth NGO "Civil Forum", and also youth that have not previously been members of political parties. Party emphasis is on the creation of political brands and active participation in local and parliamentary elections.

PFP has the greatest number of supporters (founders) in the Homiel, Mahiloŭ and Hrodna regions of Belarus.

The Party of Freedom and Progress will make efforts to fill a niche in a political spectrum of the country – it shall become the first democratic liberal party in Belarus (the United Civil Party of Belarus already existing in Belarus is based on conservative ideas and calls itself "liberal-conservative"). PFP intends to articulate and promote liberal ideas in Belarus. European integration of Belarus is one of the basic theses the PFP political platform.

PFP activities and electoral campaigns
Electoral campaignsNomination signatures collected (approx.)PFP and its youth wing elections nominees
Local elections 2003140015
Parliament elections and national referendum 2004150004
President elections 200614000 –[note 1]
Local elections 2007880020
Parliament elections 2008150007

According to the official results of the elections to the local Councils of Deputies of the Republic of Belarus in 2014, no candidate from the party was able to become a deputy.

Notes
  1. PFP supported a joint candidate from thedemocratic opposition, Alexander Milinkevich
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