Libertas: The Rise and Fall of Declan Ganley's Pan-European Political Project
The story of Libertas is a unique chapter in European political history, representing an ambitious attempt to create a unified, pan-European political movement. Founded by Declan Ganley, the project evolved from a successful single-issue lobby group in Ireland into a wide-reaching political party that sought to challenge the integration of the European Union across 27 member states.
The Origins of Libertas
The seeds of the party were sown during the 2008 referendum in Ireland on the Treaty of Lisbon, known as Lisbon I. The Libertas Institute Limited, a lobby group led by Declan Ganley, campaigned vigorously for a "no" vote. On June 12, 2008, the referendum failed, with 53.4% of voters rejecting the treaty compared to 46.6%, amidst a turnout of 53.1%.
Following this victory, Ganley sought to scale the movement. With the support of Danish Eurosceptic Jens-Peter Bonde—a former MEP and President of the EUDemocrats—Ganley began transforming the lobby group into a formal political entity. By July 2008, Ganley announced his intention to run as a European political party, fundraising to field candidates across the continent for the 2009 European Parliament elections.
In October 2008, Ganley registered the Libertas Party Limited in County Galway, Ireland. By December, the party publicly announced its goal to field up to 400 candidates and secure seats in every EU member state. While the party initially received recognition from the European Parliament, this status was later suspended indefinitely due to controversy.
Pan-European Expansion and Regional Struggles
Ganley spent early 2009 traveling across Europe to establish local lists and party branches. The movement opened a Brussels office in November 2008 and launched in France on February 12, 2009, followed by the Netherlands on April 15. The momentum culminated in a pan-European convention in Rome on May 1, 2009.
Despite the grand vision, the expansion faced significant hurdles as local parties and figures often resisted Ganley's centralized control:
- Austria: The Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) and the Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ) both rejected the partnership. The FPÖ specifically associated Ganley's activism with an alleged American conspiracy.
- Bulgaria: A list called "Libertas: Free Citizens" was rejected by the Bulgarian electoral commission for failing to prove a required deposit. Meanwhile, a separate entity called Libertas Bulgaria was founded by Hristo Atanassov, though it had no connection to Ganley's network.
- Czech Republic: Despite early support from President Václav Klaus, the party was rejected by Petr Mach's Party of Free Citizens. Furthermore, a group led by Vladimír Železný registered as Libertas.cz, effectively usurping the brand.
- Lithuania: After initial talks with figures like Eugenija Sutkienė and Lauras Bielinis, the partnership collapsed. By May 2009, Libertas fielded no candidates in Lithuania.
- Italy and Hungary: In Italy, talks with the Pole of Autonomy coalition failed to result in any candidates. In Hungary, concerns that a disorganized EU would benefit Russian strategic interests prevented the fielding of a list.
Some successes were found in Greece, where the Liberal Party ran under a Libertas-affiliated list, and in Portugal, where the Earth Party (MPT) joined under the Libertas.eu banner. In Slovakia, the KDS and OKS parties used Libertas as a supplementary brand rather than adopting it as their primary identity.
Key Facts
- Founder: Declan Ganley.
- Catalyst: The defeat of the Treaty of Lisbon in the 2008 Irish referendum (Lisbon I).
- Ambition: To field candidates in all 27 EU member states for the 2009 elections.
- Election Result: Out of over 600 candidates, only one was elected: Phillippe de Villiers.
- Outcome: Declan Ganley retired from politics following his personal defeat on June 8, 2009.
The Endgame and Legacy
The 2009 European Parliament elections proved to be the breaking point for the party. Despite fielding over 600 candidates and substitutes, the results were overwhelmingly disappointing. Only Phillippe de Villiers secured a seat. Declan Ganley, despite receiving a respectable number of votes, failed to win his constituency and retired from politics after a failed recount.
The Libertas Institute reappeared during the Irish government's re-run of the Lisbon Treaty referendum. However, the movement was outspent and outperformed by proponents of the European Constitutional Amending Bill. Ganley later acknowledged the political mastery of the Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) and noted that national economic turmoil played a significant role in the final vote.
| Country | Outcome/Status | Key Note |
|---|---|---|
| Ireland | Successful Lobbying | Defeated Lisbon I referendum (53.4% No). |
| France | Partial Success | Phillippe de Villiers was the only elected MEP. |
| Austria | Rejected | FPÖ and BZÖ declined partnership. |
| Bulgaria | Failed | List rejected by electoral commission. |
| Czech Republic | Fragmented | Brand usurped by Libertas.cz. |
| Lithuania | Failed | No candidates fielded in final May list. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the primary goal of Libertas?
Libertas aimed to be a pan-European political party that opposed the Treaty of Lisbon and sought to reform the European Union's structure across all member states.
Who founded Libertas and why?
The party was founded by Declan Ganley following the success of his lobby group in defeating the first Lisbon Treaty referendum in Ireland in 2008.
How did Libertas perform in the 2009 European Parliament elections?
The party performed poorly; despite fielding over 600 candidates, only one person, Phillippe de Villiers, was successfully elected to the European Parliament.
Why did Libertas struggle to expand in countries like Austria and Lithuania?
The party faced resistance from established national Eurosceptic parties who preferred their own identities or viewed Ganley's movement with suspicion, sometimes citing alleged foreign conspiracies.
What happened to Declan Ganley after the 2009 elections?
After failing to win a seat in his own constituency and an unsuccessful recount, Ganley retired from politics as he had promised to do prior to the election.