About CALD

The Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) was inaugurated in Bangkok, Thailand in 1993, with the support of then Thai Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai and South Korea’s Kim Dae-Jung. CALD, which offers a unique platform for dialogue and cooperation, is the only regional alliance of liberal and democratic political parties in Asia.

CALD was formed out of the recognition of leaders of like-minded political parties in Asia with the need for a dynamic forum promoting discussion and exchange of ideas regarding trends and challenges affecting democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in the region. The chair parties of CALD since its inception to the present have been the Democrat Party of Thailand or DP (1993-1995, 2002-2004, 2016-2018), the Democratic Progressive Party of Taiwan or DPP (1995-1997, 2004-2005, 2018-2020), the Liberal Party of the Philippines or LP (1997-1999, 2005-2007), the Singapore Democratic Party or SDP (2007-2010), the Liberal Party of Sri Lanka or LPS (1999-2000, 2010-2012), the Sam Rainsy Party or SRP (2000-2001, 2012-2014), and the Civil Will Green Party (2014- 2016).

The Candlelight Party of Cambodia is currently the chair party of CALD. Mardi Seng is currently the Chairperson and Francis “Blue” Abaya from the Liberal Party of the Philippines is serving as Secretary General.

The other members of CALD are the Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia (PGRM), the Indonesian Democratic Party Struggle (PDI-P), and the Nation Awakening Party (PKB). In 2010, CALD bestowed honorary individual membership to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and her party, the National League for Democracy is an observer party.

Through CALD, political parties, groups, and individuals have a continuing discussion on the developments occurring in the region. The aim is to assess the possibilities for liberal solutions to problems facing Asian democracies.

Accordingly, CALD organizes network meetings including those with its partners (Friedrich Naumann Foundation, Liberal International, Alliance for Liberals and Democrats for Europe, Alliance of Democrats, Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, and the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs), international conferences on vital issues affecting the region, and regular workshops on communication, political party management, climate change, youth, and women in politics. It also sends missions for various advocacies, sponsors internship programs in its secretariat and in the European Parliament, as well as maintains a website, social media accounts, and a weekly electronic newsletter.