LI Leader begins Central American tour in Nicaragua
Only a week after assuming the presidency of Liberal International, Hans van Baalen MEP is leading a high level delegation to several Central American states. Other members of the delegation include Juli Minoves, Deputy President, Josep Soler, Bureau Member and Emil Kirjas, Secretary General.The first stop of the tour is Nicaragua, a state where democracy is under threat by the unconstitutional and totalitarian attitudes of Sandinista leader Daniel Ortega.
Van Baalen urged all Nicaraguan liberals to unite, not to work with Daniel Ortega and to put forward one candidate for the 2011 Presidential elections. Liberal International will support the liberal leader who is chosen as the Presidential candidate through a free and fair process.
"Liberals have to defend the Nicaraguan Constitution which Ortega violates. Liberal International will return on the invitation of all the liberal leaders present today, in order to advise and assist them in realising further cooperation and unity", said President Van Baalen.
Mr. Van Baalen met with the liberal leaders of Nicaragua at the InterContinental hotel in Managua. The meeting was arranged though the invitation of Eduardo Montealegre, and participants included: Indalecio Rodríguez, President of Partido Liberal Independiente; Alejandro Mejía, President of Alianza Liberal Nicaraüense and Arnoldo Alemán, former President of the Republic from Partido Liberal Constitucionalista. Liberal International was also represented by Bureau Member Josep Soler and Secretary General Emil Kirjas. The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Liberty was represented by Ulrich Wacker, Regional Director for Latin America and Christian Lüth, Director for Central America.
