(Liberalna Partiia), a party in Bulgaria founded in 1879 during discussions of a draft constitution for the Bulgarian principality at the Turnovo Constituent Assembly.
The leaders of the Liberal Party were P. Karavelov, P. Slaveikov, D. Tsankov, V. Radoslavov, and S. Stambolov. It joined together representatives of the peasantry, petite and middle bourgeoisie, and intelligentsia. In contradistinction to the Conservative Party, the Liberal Party sought the adoption of a democratic constitution. The ruling party from March 1880 to April 1881, it passed a number of important laws (including laws on administrative, judicial, and financial questions and on the organization of a system of education). After the coup d’etat of Apr. 27, 1881, carried out by Alexander of Battenberg, and the abolition of the Turnovo Constitution of 1879, the Liberal Party led the fight for the restoration of the constitution. During the 1880’s it split into a number of factions, which formed independent parties in the late 1880’s and 1890’s: the Democratic Party (Karavelists), the Popular Liberal Party (Stambolovists), the Progressive Liberal Party (Tsankovists), and the Liberal Party of Radoslavov (Radoslavists). From 1899 to 1901 and 1913 to 1918 the Liberal Party of Radoslavov (in coalition with the Popular Liberal and Young Liberal parties) was in power. The chauvinistic, pro-German policies of the Radoslavists helped to draw Bulgaria into the Second Balkan War (June-August 1913) and then, on the side of Germany, into World War I. In 1920 the Liberal Party of Radoslavov joined the National Liberal Party, which was founded in 1920 and collapsed in the early 1930’s.
(To Komma Ton Philelentheron), a party in Greece founded in 1910 by E. Venizelos.
The Liberal Party represented the interests of the big commercial-industrial bourgeoisie and powerful landowners. The party was in power in the years 1910–15 (with interruptions), 1916–20, 1924–25 (with interruptions), 1926–28 (in a coalition with the Progressive Party), 1928–32, 1933, 1944, 1945–46, 1947–49, and 1950–51. Between 1910 and 1915, Prime Minister Venizelos (leader of the Liberal Party from 1910 to 1935) carried out moderate tax, land, and administrative reforms. He participated in the creation of the Balkan Alliance of 1912. During World War I the Liberal Party was on the side of the Entente. Party leaders drew Greece into the anti-Soviet intervention (January-April 1919) and an annexationist war against Turkey (1919–22). They facilitated the restoration of the monarchy (October 1935) and the establishment of a fascist dictatorship (Aug. 4, 1936). During the occupation of Greece by fascist German forces (1941–44) the leaders of the Liberal Party adopted a wait-and-see attitude. Liberals constituted the core of the Center Union (founded in 1961), which was in power from 1963 to 1965.
(Szabadelvü Párt; also known as the 1867 Party), a party in Hungary founded on Mar. 1, 1875, through the unification of Deák’s Party and the Left Center Party (founded in 1867), headed by K. Tisza, who became the leaders of the Liberal Party.
The Liberal Party represented the interests of the middle-level and large landowners and the big bourgeoisie of Hungary. Party policy was directed toward the continuation of the Austro-Hungarian Agreement of 1867 (the source of the name “1867 Party”); this agreement transformed the Hapsburg empire into a dual monarchy, opened the way to Magyarization of the national minorities, and was the basis for imperialist expansion in the Balkans. The party supported the alliance of the Hapsburg monarchy with Germany. The Liberal Party was in power from 1875 to 1905. Defeated in the parliamentary elections of January 1905, the party dissolved itself (Apr. 11, 1906). The National Labor Party, which was founded in 1910 (and existed until October 1918 under the leadership of I. Tisza), was the de facto successor of the Liberal Party. It was in power from 1910 to 1918.