Issue 37
- Liberal Mayor of Cape Town assaulted
- Liberal President of Honduras blames economic model for poverty
- Liberals support workers’ claims in the Philippines
- Belgian Liberals back adoption for gay couples
- Correction: Hungary elections
- Monthly poll and message board
Liberal Mayor of Cape Town assaulted
As recently reported, Helen Zille, from the Democratic Alliance (LI Member), was elected Mayor of Cape Town on 1 March 2006. On 22 April, Mayor Zille was attacked with chairs and threatened with a knife by ANC supporters during a meeting.
The Democratic Alliance leader, Tony Leon, said the ruling party‘s behaviour in the Western Cape, 'is not only dangerous; it is a direct assault on the Constitution and its freedoms: including the freedom of expression, freedom of association, freedom of movement and freedom of political choice'.
In a statement to commemorate South Africa's first democratic elections 12 years ago, Leon also claimed that, 'the ANC had resorted to intimidation and violence in an attempt to destroy Cape Town's multiparty government'. Mayor Zille will reportedly demand police protection before going into the townships again and will lay charges against the attackers.
Liberal President of Honduras blames economic model for poverty
Manuel Zelaya, the President of Honduras, from the Liberal Party (LI Member) has declared that the present economic model is responsible for the poverty gripping the nation. He said it only benefited small groups of power. 'Small groups in Honduras are getting rich to the detriment of great majorities, who ignore that millions of Hondurans are dying of hunger,' said Zelaya on 26 April 2006, in his address before civil organisations promoting a housing programme.
Zelaya said he had become the target of those sectors after he began, 'to interfere in their interests', especially following his measures to stop deforestation, which thousands of businessmen and politicians are against. The President termed the economic model exclusive and an obstacle to solving the problems of the nation. Zelaya, who was inaugurated on 27 January 2006, said his government will work for changes so that new generations do not face the current levels of poverty, violence and corruption.
Liberals support workers’ claims in the Philippines
This year's 1 May International Labour Day provided an excellent opportunity for Philippine workers to express their grievances. Considered to be, 'deprived of the just share of the fruits of their work' by the Archbishop of the Philippines, support for the workers' claims was also offered by the Liberal Party of the Philippines (LI Member).
In response to the workers' demonstrations to demand a sharp improvement of their working conditions, Ernesto Nieva, representative of the Liberal Party, states that, 'employers and workers should find a compromise for an acceptable wage increase'.
Belgian Liberals back adoption for gay couples
On 21 April 2006, approval was given by the Belgian Senate to a legislative proposal granting gay couples the right to adopt children. This proposal was backed by the Vlaamse Liberalen en Democraten Party (LI Member). This marks a significant achievement of the current Liberal-Socialist ruling coalition, as adoption was until now only legal for heterosexual couples or single people. This legislation was faced with strong opposition and passed in the Senate with a whisker of a majority, with 34 votes to 33 votes in favour.
Correction: Hungary elections
We would like to apologise for incorrect information given in our last newsletter. The Alliance of Free Democrats (SzDSz) (LI Member) gained 20 seats in the second round of the Hungarian general election on 23 April 2006, rather than 18.
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