This article gives an overview ofliberalism inColombia. It is limited toliberalparties with substantial support, mainly demonstrated by having had representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ means a reference to another party in the scheme. For inclusion in this scheme, it is not necessary for the parties to have identified themselves as liberals.
Liberalism in Colombia is organized in opposition to conservatism. The Colombian Liberal Party, founded in 1849, still exists as a dominant party, usually achieving the largest voter turnouts and electoral victories in congress and regional elections. It has also been a strong contender in recent presidential elections. It joined theSocialist International, despite historically being considered a party slightly left of center and somewhat prone topopulism, according to some critics.
Its traditional position can be considered somewhere between liberalism andsocial democracy. Several current leaders of the party in the late 20th and early 21st centuries claim to be seeking to move the party closer to the social democratic left.
1990s: Many small liberal regional movements were formed as dissident factions of the main Liberal Party, including the Independent Civic Movement, LIDER Movement, New Colombia Movement, Liberal Oxygen Movement, Civic Popular Convergence, Let’s Go Colombia, 98 Movement, Colombia My Country, Democratic Reconstruction Movement, Colombian Popular Party, and the Citizen’s Movement.
2002: Some regional dissident factions return to the main Liberal Party. Other factions regrouped into new political movements, most of them associated with the dissident liberal presidentÁlvaro Uribe. These included ALAS, United Popular Movement, National Progressist Movement, MORAL, MIPOL, Citizen’s Convergence, Let’s Go Colombia, Civic Popular Convergence,Radical Change Party,We Are Colombia, Colombia Always, New Liberalism, Popular Will, the Independent Civic Movement, and the Social Security Movement.
2003: A political reform allowed parliamentarians to reorganize. The main Liberal Party went into opposition to Uribe’s government, while all pro-Uribe liberals left to join other parties. The New Party (Nuevo Partido) was created to unite all pro-Uribe liberals; however, not all joined, with some opting for the Radical Change Party. Most of the previous liberal factions consolidated into three parties: the Democratic Colombia Party, Living Colombia Movement, and Citizen’s Convergence Party.
2006: The New Party, together with some Liberal Party members, some from Radical Change, various minor liberal and independent movements, and a small group of conservatives, formed theSocial National Unity Party, better known as the Party of the U, which became the largest party in Colombia. The Radical Change Party expanded through mergers with independent liberal and Christian movements. Three small liberal parties continued with representation: the Democratic Colombia Party, Living Colombia Movement, and Citizen’s Convergence Party.
