Szabadelvű Polgári Egyesület

The Szabadelvű Polgári Egyesület (Liberal Civic Association, SZPE) is a Hungarian civil organization founded in August 2009, largely by members and politicians who had left the Alliance of Free Democrats (SZDSZ). It was established at the Vám Design Center under the leadership of Klára Sándor, following the SZDSZ's poor result in the European Parliament elections. The association attracted both active and former SZDSZ politicians as well as people who had never been party members. At its founding, Sándor indicated that if sufficient support emerged, the group might become a political party. The association had 38 founding members, including Gábor Kuncze, Bálint Magyar, György Bálint, Pál Juhász and László Rajk. Its presidency comprised Attila Ara-Kovács, Miklós Hankó Faragó, Györgyné Litván, Klára Sándor, Éva Subasicz, Gábor Világosi and Tamás Wittinghof, the mayor of Budaörs. From 2012 it was led by Gábor Kuncze. That same year, members signalled their intention to join the Together 2014 Voters' Movement associated with Gordon Bajnai. At that time, according to the president, the association had "no political ambitions" and did not wish to field candidates in the 2014 parliamentary election; several members — by then more than 100 — said they would leave if it became a party. In 2014, however, Kuncze became a candidate of the opposition cooperation associated with DK, and the Hungarian Liberal Civic Association was registered by the Pest County Regional Election Committee as a nominating organization. It appeared as a party in the municipal elections. Since 2014, several members of the association have been represented in the representative body of Tököl. The association's creed, as stated on its website that operated until 2016, centred on freedom and the core values of civic democracies. It sought to provide political space for those who hold that freedom cannot be anarchy, and that circumventing or cheating the rules endangers everyone's physical, mental and material security. It also counted on those who prefer preparedness and responsible deliberation to spectacle politics, and who seek compromise rather than hatred.

The Szabadelvű Polgári Egyesület was founded in August 2009 at the Vám Design Center in Hungary. Its founders were predominantly former members and politicians of the Alliance of Free Democrats (SZDSZ), who acted after the party's disappointing result in the European Parliament elections. The founding group was led by Klára Sándor. The association had 38 founding members, among them well-known figures such as Gábor Kuncze, Bálint Magyar, György Bálint, Pál Juhász and László Rajk. Its presidency included Attila Ara-Kovács, Miklós Hankó Faragó, Györgyné Litván, Klára Sándor, Éva Subasicz, Gábor Világosi and Tamás Wittinghof, the mayor of Budaörs. At the time of its establishment, Sándor stated that if the association received sufficient support, it might become a political party. From July 2010 the organization used the name Magyar Szabadelvű Polgári Egyesület (Hungarian Liberal Civic Association). In 2012 Gábor Kuncze became its leader. In the same year, members indicated their intention to join the Together 2014 Voters' Movement associated with Gordon Bajnai. At that point, according to the president, the association had "no political ambitions" and did not plan to run candidates in the 2014 parliamentary election. Several members — by then more than 100 — stated that they would leave if the association transformed into a party. In 2014, however, Kuncze became a candidate of the opposition cooperation associated with DK, and the Hungarian Liberal Civic Association was registered by the Pest County Regional Election Committee as a nominating organization. It participated in the municipal elections as a party. Since 2014, several members of the association have been represented in the representative body of Tököl. The association's website operated until 2016 and set out its creed: it considered freedom the most important principle and the core values of civic democracies. It wished to provide political space for those who believe that freedom cannot be anarchy and that circumventing or cheating the rules endangers everyone's physical, mental and material security. It also counted on those who prefer preparedness and responsible deliberation to spectacle politics, and who seek compromise rather than hatred.

• 2014

  Kuncze became a candidate of the opposition cooperation associated with DK; the association was registered as a nominating organization by the Pest County Regional Election Committee and appeared as a party in municipal elections.

• 2014

  Several members of the association have been represented in the representative body of Tököl since this year.

• 2012

  Gábor Kuncze became the leader; members signalled intention to join the Together 2014 Voters' Movement.

• 2010

  From July, the organization used the name Magyar Szabadelvű Polgári Egyesület.

• 2009

  Founded in August at the Vám Design Center by former SZDSZ members under the leadership of Klára Sándor.

Liberal civic association rooted in the values of freedom and civic democracy, founded by former SZDSZ members.

1. 1Szabadelvű Polgári Egyesület – Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2Szabadelvű Polgári Egyesület – Hungarian Wikipediahu.wikipedia.org