CALD Has New Set of Officials

The Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) is under new management.

On the sidelines of the network’s 30^th anniversary celebrations in Taipei Taiwan, CALD held its handover ceremonies on 10 September 2023 signifying the transfer of leadership from the Liberal Party (LP) of the Philippines to the Candlelight Party (CLP) of Cambodia.  The CALD chair-party position rotates among its member-parties every two years.

The CLP chose its Treasurer and long-time CALD Executive Committee Member, Mardi Seng, to assume the post of CALD Chairperson. Seng is a former member of the Cambodian Senate, where he also served as Secretary of the Anti-Corruption Commission. He also previously served as treasurer of the Sam Rainsy Party, and spearheaded the Party’s electoral campaigns in four election cycles. He finished his bachelor’s degree in economics from Calvin College and his Master of Business Administration degree from Northeastern University in Boston, USA.

Seng subsequently appointed Francis Gerald Abaya as CALD Secretary General.  Abaya, a former member of Philippine Congress and an architect by profession, also previously served in such capacity during the chairmanship of Francis Pangilinan of LP Philippines.

During the handover ceremonies, Abaya delivered the remarks on behalf of outgoing CALD Chairperson Pangilinan. He said: “CALD has now turned into a vibrant and bigger network, backed by an enduring legacy, that is always ready to take the challenge. Yes, much needs to be done, but the fact that we’re all here is a testament to how we’ve grown and how much value we put in promoting and fighting for freedom and democracy.”

In his acceptance speech, Seng pledged to make CALD indomitable, inclusive and innovative. He observed that CALD has shown its indomitable spirit by not just surviving — but thriving — amidst the challenges and adversities that come its way.  He noted that the common thread that binds CALD members is the liberal ideology.  “It is our ideology that makes us indomitable”, he said.

Furthermore, Seng noted that CALD under his term will be more inclusive.  “In this day and age of authoritarian populism, we need to forge solidarity with all democratic actors – whether they are liberals, social democrats or conservatives”, he said. “The gravity of the issues and problems we are confronting today entail cooperation, not division”, he argued. “While we may disagree with other democratic actors in degrees or in specific details of policies, let us not forget that we are all united in our fight against autocracy.”

Finally, the new CALD Chair pointed out that CALD should be more innovative in its approach since the enemies of freedom do not play by the rules. He observed that liberals and democrats lost because “we follow the rules, while our competitors don’t.”  He clarified: “This does not mean that we should also do all the illegal, unethical and immoral things that these authoritarians and populists are doing. But it means that we can’t keep on playing in the same way if the game has already changed.”

The CALD chair handover ceremonies also served as an opportunity to introduce the following officials: the new CALD Women’s Caucus Chair, Jaslyn Go, from the Singapore Democratic Party; and the new CALD Youth Chairperson, Jeremiah Tomas, from the Liberal Party of the Philippines.

“I’m excited to collaborate with the new officials, Chair Mardi and Sec Gen Abaya, as a team to broaden the reach of CALD Women’s Caucus beyond regional boundaries”, said Go. “Our aim is to establish partnerships with organizations to raise awareness, educate about women’s issues, and empower and inspire women to become leaders both within their own organizations and in broader society.”

Meanwhile, Tomas emphasized the incredible potential inherent in the region: “Asia is home to over 60% of the world’s youth, presenting a significant opportunity to empower and engage this generation in the fight for liberalism and democracy. CALD Youth’s overarching vision would be to cultivate enduring relationships that could last for generations to come.”

It is apparent that these newly appointed and elected leaders are poised to steer CALD towards a brighter future.  With the support of CALD members and partners, they can be instrumental in giving CALD a bigger voice in the fight for liberalism and democracy in Asia.