Freedom Union – Democratic Union
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Freedom Union–Democratic Union
Unie svobody–Demokratická unie |
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| Founded | 1998 |
| Dissolved | 2011 |
| Split from | Civic Democratic Party |
| Ideology | Liberalism |
| Political position | Centre-right |
| Colours | Dark green |
| Website | |
| www.unie.cz | |
The Freedom Union–Democratic Union (Czech: Unie Svobody–Demokratická unie, US–DEU) was a small, pro-european liberal party in the Czech Republic from 1998 to 2011.
Freedom Union was founded in January 1998 by former members of the Civic Democratic Party who were unhappy with the leadership of Václav Klaus. After initially serving in a caretaker government, Freedom Union went into opposition after the 1998 election. In opposition Freedom Union merged with the Democratic Union party and formed an alliance with the Christian Democratic Union - Czechoslovak People's Party.
From 2002 to 2006 Freedom Union was part of a coalition government with the Social Democratic Party and the Christian Democratic Union. However, in government the party lost support and at the 2006 election the party won less than 1% of the vote and failed to win any seats. The party ceased to exist on the 1 January 2011.
The party was founded on the 17 January 1998 at a congress in Litomyšl as Freedom Union (Unie Svobody), as a split from the Civic Democratic Party. The party was founded after divisions within the Civic Democratic Party over the leadership of Václav Klaus and what the defectors said was his failure to tackle funding scandals. The former Interior Minister Jan Ruml led a challenge for the leadership of the Civic Democrats, but was defeated by Klaus by 227 votes to 72 at a special congress on the 14 December 1997. Afterwards 30 Members of Parliament formed Freedom Union, with these including the Finance Minister Ivan Pilip and the Defence Minister Michal Lobkowicz. The party elected Jan Ruml as the first leader of the party on 2 February 1998.
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