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The launch of Building a Liberal Europe at the European Parliament, Brussels, 26 October 2010. Graham Watson is seen with Parliament vice-president Diana Wallis and President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso. © Photo European Union
In the first decade of the 21st century the Liberal group (known as the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe - ALDE - from 2004) emerged as a powerful third force in the European Parliament, challenging the bi-polar order of Conservatives and Socialists.
Graham Watson, who led the Liberal group from 2002 to 2009, shows how this happened, detailing the Liberal impact on a whole range of policy issues at EU level and the important linkages with Liberal success at national level. He concludes that 'the potential for further growth of the European Liberal centre remains greater than at any point in the last 100 years'.
Politics and personalities combine to make this a richly informative and insightful insider’s account which will be of interest to all who follow EU affairs and Liberal politics.
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