This article gives an overview of liberalism in

Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...

. Liberalism was a dominant force since the

Belgian Belgian may refer to: * Something of, or related to, Belgium * Belgians, people from Belgium or of Belgian descent * Languages of Belgium, languages spoken in Belgium, such as Dutch, French, and German *Ancient Belgian language, an extinct languag ...

independence from the

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

. It is limited to

liberal Liberal or liberalism may refer to: Politics * a supporter of liberalism ** Liberalism by country * an adherent of a Liberal Party * Liberalism (international relations) * Sexually liberal feminism * Social liberalism Arts, entertainment and m ...

parties A party is a gathering of people who have been invited by a host for the purposes of socializing, conversation, recreation, or as part of a festival or other commemoration or celebration of a special occasion. A party will often feature ...

with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in

parliament In modern politics, and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...

. The sign ⇒ denotes another party in that scheme. For inclusion in this scheme it is not necessary that parties labeled themselves as a liberal party.

History

Since 1972 the traditional liberal current is divided in parties for each language. In Flanders the liberal

Flemish Liberals and Democrats french: Libéraux et démocrates flamands ouverts , abbreviation = Open Vld , logo = , leader1_title = President , leader1_name = Egbert Lachaert , foundation = 1992 (VLD)2007 (Open Vld) , predecessor = P ...

(''Vlaamse Liberalen en Democraten'', member LI, ELDR), comprising both market and left of center liberals, is one of the dominant parties. Smaller liberal parties are

Spirit Spirit or spirits may refer to: Liquor and other volatile liquids * Spirits, a.k.a. liquor, distilled alcoholic drinks * Spirit or tincture, an extract of plant or animal material dissolved in ethanol * Volatile (especially flammable) liquids, ...

, allied with the social democrats, and

Vivant Vivant is a small social-liberal political party in Belgium founded by millionaire Roland Duchâtelet. In the regional elections in June 2004, the party formed a strategic alliance with the Flemish Liberals and Democrats (VLD). Both parties are ...

, allied to the VLD. In the French-speaking part of the country the nowadays center liberal

Reformist Movement The Reformist Movement (french: Mouvement Réformateur, MR) is a liberal French-speaking political party in Belgium. MR is traditionally a conservative-liberal party, but it also contains social-liberal factions. The party is in coalition as ...

(''Mouvement Réformateur'', member LI, ELDR) is one of the major parties. Affiliated with this party is the German-speaking

Party for Freedom and Progress The Party for Freedom and Progress ( nl, Partij voor Vrijheid en Vooruitgang; french: Parti de la Liberté et du Progrès; german: Partei für Freiheit und Fortschritt, PVV-PLP) was a liberal political party in Belgium which existed from 1961 unti ...

(''Partei für Freiheit und Fortschritt'').

Liberal Party/Party for Freedom and Progress

*1846: Liberals formed the

Liberal Party The Liberal Party is any of many political parties around the world. The meaning of ''liberal'' varies around the world, ranging from liberal conservatism on the right to social liberalism on the left. __TOC__ Active liberal parties This is a li ...

(''Parti Libéral'') *1887: A radical faction seceded as the ⇒

Progressive Party Progressive Party may refer to: Active parties * Progressive Party, Brazil * Progressive Party (Chile) * Progressive Party of Working People, Cyprus * Dominica Progressive Party * Progressive Party (Iceland) * Progressive Party (Sardinia), Ita ...

*1900: The ⇒ Progressive Party rejoined the party *The party name gradually included the

Dutch Dutch commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands * Dutch people () * Dutch language () Dutch may also refer to: Places * Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States * Pennsylvania Dutch Country People E ...

version ''Liberale Partij'' (LP/PL) *1961: The LP/PL is reorganised into

(''Partij voor Vrijheid en Vooruitgang/Parti pour la Liberté et le Progrès'') (PVV/PLP) *1972: The PVV/PLP fell apart in three parties with the same name in the three state languages ( French, Dutch and

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) ** Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

)

Progressive Party

*1887: A radical faction of the ⇒ Liberal Party formed the

(''Parti Progressiste'') **1900: The PP merged into the ⇒ Liberal Party

(Flemish) Party for Freedom and Progress/Flemish Liberals and Democrats

*1972: The Flemish section of the ⇒ PVV/PLP formed the

(''Partij voor Vrijheid en Vooruitgang'') *1992: The PVV is reorganised into the present-day

(''Vlaamse Liberalen en Democraten'' or VLD)

(Francophone) Party for Freedom and Progress/Liberal Reformist Party

*1972: The francophone section of the ⇒ PVV/PLP became the

(''Parti pour la Liberté et le Progrès'') *1973: The Brussels section of the PLP formed the ⇒ Liberal Party *1976: The PLP merged with a faction of the

Walloon Rally The Walloon Rally (french: Rassemblement wallon; RW) is a regionalist political party in Belgium, active in Wallonia since 1968. The party favoured federalism and since 1985 independence. Founded on 7 March 1968, the party contested the Belgi ...

(''Rassemblement Wallon'') into the Party for Reforms and Freedom of Wallonia (''Parti pour les Réformes et la Liberté de Wallonie'') *1979: The party merged with the ⇒ Liberal Party into the Reformist Liberal Party (''Parti Réformateur Libéral'') *2002: The PRL is reorganised into the present-day

(''Mouvement Réformateur'' or MR)

(Brussels) Liberal Party

*1973: The Brussels section of the ⇒ PLP formed the

(''Parti Libéral'') *1979: The Liberal Party merged into the ⇒ Liberal Reform Party

(German speaking) Party for Freedom and Progress

*1976: The German-speaking section of the ⇒ PLP became the present-day

(''Partei für Freiheit und Fortschritt'') *2002: The PFF became affiliated to the ⇒ Reformist Movement

Libertine party during the 1990s

ROSSEM Radical Reformists and Social Fighters for a Fairer Society ( nl, Radicale Omvormers en Sociale Strijders voor een Eerlijker Maatschappij, ROSSEM) is a Belgium, Belgian Libertarianism, libertarian political party founded in 1991 by the Flemish bu ...

, defunct, around

Jean-Pierre Van Rossem Jean-Pierre Van Rossem (29 May 1945 – 13 December 2018) was a Belgian stock market guru, economist, econometrician, convicted fraudster, author, philosopher, public figure, politician, and member of the Belgian and Flemish Parliaments. Li ...

New liberal parties formed in the 2000s

FlemishProgressives Sociaal-Liberale Partij (; SLP; Dutch for Social Liberal Party) was a Belgian Flemish political party formed after dissolution of the moderate nationalist People's Union (''Volksunie'') party. Prior to 19 April 2008 it was known as Spirit, and i ...

(left-liberalism), cartel partner of the Different Socialist Party. *

(social-liberalism), cartel partner of the VLD. *

Liberal Appeal The Liberal Appeal ( nl, Liberaal Appèl, LA) was a Flemish conservative-liberal political party. Founded on March 22, 2002 by the liberal MEP Ward Beysen (1941-2005) as a secession of the VLD, mostly in Antwerp. The Liberaal Appèl was fir ...

(right-liberalism), cartel partner of the VLD. * Veilig Blauw-''Safe Blue'' (right-liberalism), local party, defunct. * Verstandig Rechts-''Smart Right'' (right-liberalism), local party, defunct. *

VLOTT VLOTT is a minor Belgium, Belgian conservative liberalism, right-wing liberal or Fortuynism, fortuynist political party. Its title, ''VLOTT'', is an acronym for "Flemish, Liberal, Independent, Tolerant, Transparent" (''Vlaams, Liberaal, Onafhankeli ...

(far-right liberalism), cartel partner of the

Vlaams Belang , ideology = , predecessor = Vlaams Blok , position = , europarl = Identity and Democracy , european = Identity and Democracy Party , youth_wing = Vlaams Belang Jongeren , colours = ...

. *

List Dedecker Libertarian, Direct, Democratic ( nl, Libertair, Direct, Democratisch; LDD) is a conservative-liberal, libertarian, right-wing populist Flemish political party in Belgium. The party surprised commentators by winning five seats in the Chamber an ...

(populist right-liberalism).

Liberal leaders

*''Parti Libéral'' **

Charles Rogier Charles Latour Rogier (; 17 August 1800 – 27 May 1885) was a Belgian liberal statesman and a leader in the Belgian Revolution of 1830. He served as the prime minister of Belgium on two occasions: from 1847 to 1852, and again from 1857 to ...

Walthère Frère-Orban Hubert Joseph Walthère Frère-Orban (24 April 1812 – 2 January 1896) was a Belgian liberal statesman. Early life He was born at Liège, received his education at home and in Paris, and began the practice of law in his native town. He identif ...

(1812-1896), wrote the first charter of the liberal party **

Paul Janson Paul Janson (11 April 1840 – 19 April 1913) was a Walloon Belgian liberal politician.Jean Francis ''Mes belges années'' 1974 "Paul Janson ne demeura que quatre ans dans la cité liégeoise car sa famille vint s'établir à Ixelles, rue d ...

Paul Hymans Paul Louis Adrien Henri Hymans (23 March 1865 – 8 March 1941), was a Belgian politician associated with the Liberal Party. He was the second president of the League of Nations and served again as its president in 1932–1933. Life Hymans was ...

** Paul-Emile Janson *''Mouvement Réformateur'' **

Charles Michel Charles Michel (; born 21 December 1975) is a Belgian politician serving as the president of the European Council since 2019. He previously served as the prime minister of Belgium between 2014 and 2019. Michel became the minister of Developm ...

*''Vlaamse Liberalen en Democraten'' ** Guy Verhofstadt

Liberal thinkers

In the

Contributions to liberal theory Contribution or Contribute may refer to: * ''Contribution'' (album), by Mica Paris (1990) ** "Contribution" (song), title song from the album *Contribution (law), an agreement between defendants in a suit to apportion liability *Contributions, a ...

the following Belgian thinkers are included: *

Dirk Verhofstadt Dirk Verhofstadt (born 25 August 1955 in Dendermonde) is a Belgian social liberal ( Rawlsian) theorist and younger brother of former Belgian Prime Minister and former ALDE European Parliament Leader Guy Verhofstadt. He has a keen interest in ...

(born 1955) * Boudewijn Bouckaert