European Liberal Forum
by European Liberal Forum
The European Liberal Forum (ELF) is the official think tank and political foundation of the European Liberal Party, the ALDE Party.Together with 56 member organisations we work all over Europe to bring new ideas into the political debate, to provide a platform for discussion and to enable citizens to make their voices heard.
Episodes
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Polish Constitutional Tribunal Crisis with Krzysztof Izdebski
Why is Poland facing another Constitutional Tribunal crisis? What is the story behind the current events? How is legal argumentation instrumentalized by political actors to legitimize partisan objectives? How does systemic political polarization create or sustain a "default state of unlawfulness"...
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Elections in the digital era with Hasan Kamenjaković
How do you rebuild trust in elections after years of systemic electoral fraud? For Bosnia and Herzegovina, the answer this year was historic: biometric voter identification and ballot scanners, rolled out for the first time in general elections — a change that civil society campaigned for, that…
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The Fight for Women's Rights in Iran with Masih Alinejad
Are women’s rights compatible with religion? How have women's rights evolved in the Islamic Republic? Has the recent conflict involving Israel, the United States, and Iran brought Iran any closer to freedom? And what is the endgame? Leszek Jazdzewski (Fundacja Liberte!) talks with Masih Alinejad,...
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The best festival of ideas (Freedom Games) 2026
In this episode of the Liberal Europe Podcast, Ricardo Silvestre and Leszek Jażdżewski look ahead to Freedom Games 2026 in Łódź, where liberals, thinkers, and changemakers will gather under the theme “Tech for Humanity”. This podcast is produced by the European Liberal Forum in collaboration with...
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Europe in the Middle East and the Mediterranean with Francesco Rocchetti
What should be a proper European response to the hybrid attacks by Russia on European territory? How should we view the post-American Middle East and its relationship with Europe? What role is Italy playing today within the EU and what are (and what should be) the country’s ambitions? And what is...
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Strategic foresight panel at Freedom Games 2025
In this episode of the Liberal Europe Podcast, we go to Łódź for a live recording of the panel with the title "Strategic Foresight: Identifying Risks, Threats and Opportunities for the European Union", where Leszek and Ricardo are joined on stage by Jolanta Szymańska, the Head of the European…
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The Scramble for Europe with Dimitar Bechev
How is a waning liberal order shifting the ground beneath Europe's feet?What does Russia’s aggressive revisionism mean for the future of European security?How is Turkey leveraging cooptation to play global powers against each other?Can Europe successfully navigate an increasingly intense…
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Panel discussion in Milan on strategic vision for the EU
What can be a strategic vision for EU finance and industry moving forward? In this episode of the Liberal Europe Podcast, Ricardo Silvestre (Movimento Liberal Social), welcomes (back) Marco Cecchi de'Rossi, and also Marianna Vintiadis and Filippo De Nicola, for a panel discussion on what the…
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Türkiye, Emerging Post-American World Order, and Middle East & Europe Implications with Soli Özel
What is modern Türkiye's relationship with its republican, secularist origins of Kemal Atatürk's republic from 1923? How is the relationship between Türkiye, the United States, and the West evolving? How is Türkiye positioning itself in the region in the aftermath of the Arab Spring? And is...
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Housing agenda as a competitiveness tool with George Mavros
The Affordable Housing Act is about to be introduced. For a short-term rental platform like Airbnb, the housing agenda should be a competitiveness tool. In this episode of the Liberal Europe Podcast, Ricardo Silvestre (Movimento Liberal Social) continues a conversation about the upcoming…
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A Social Investment Framework with Marcel Roy
The Affordable Housing Act is about to be introduced. How can a social investment framework help address housing supply needs? In this episode of the Liberal Europe Podcast, Ricardo Silvestre (Movimento Liberal Social) starts a two-part conversation about the upcoming Affordable Housing Act, this...
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The Lost History of Liberalism with Helena Rosenblatt
What are the most common misconceptions about liberalism? Why has the history of liberalism as an inspirational ideal been lost? How did liberalism come to mean so many different and conflicting things? And what is the historical relationship between 'liberalism' and 'democracy'? Leszek…
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Goliath's Curse: The History and Future of Societal Collapse with Luke Kemp
What makes a civilization thrive and why do civilizations collapse? Is human nature inherently good and it is actually institutions that are simply oppressive? What did Thomas Hobbes get wrong in his reasoning? And what are 'Goliaths'? Leszek Jazdzewski (Fundacja Liberte!) talks with Luke Kemp…
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Completing the EU project with Strahinja Subotić
How can the European Union project continue to be built in a secure and democratic way? In this episode of the Liberal Europe Podcast, Ricardo Silvestre (Movimento Liberal Social), welcomes Strahinja Subotić, Programme Manager and Senior Researcher at the European Policy Centre and think tank in...
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The Power of Narrative with Leonie Haiden
What structural strategies must the political center implement to effectively reclaim the future for liberal democracy? How can governance bodies connect abstract concepts to the everyday lived experiences of citizens? What distinct emotional promises allow the populist right wing to capture…
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The art of execution with Radu Mihail
What is one of the key elements relatively underexplored in European competitiveness? The quality of management. In this episode of the Liberal Europe Podcast, Ricardo Silvestre (Movimento Liberal Social), welcomes Radu Mihail, independent consultant and former Senator in Romania, who…
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Presidential Election in France with Blanche Leridon
What should we know ahead of the 2027 presidential election in France? What topics will likely dominate the political debate ahead of the election? What has recently changed in terms of Marine Le Pen's candidacy for the president? Where does the enormous support base for the Rassemblement…
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Brussels, Moscow, and the Villages: 2026 Armenian elections with Tatev Matinyan
What message did Armenian voters actually send in the 2026 elections? And can Armenia's European path survive the disinformation, external pressure, and polarisation reshaping its politics? Tatevik Matinyan, human rights advocate and chairperson of Armenia's Institute of Liberal Politics, joins...
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Tech for Humanity with Gerd Leonhard
How can we make technology work for us and not the other way around? What is the difference between "algorithms" and "androrithms"? Does outsourcing thinking to AI erode people's capacity to think and leads to the rise of "super-stupidity"? And what will human agency look like in the future?…
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The Human Algorithm - Why proximity still matters in European finance with Annarita Morelli
What does the future of European banking actually look like, in a world of perpetual crisis, heavy regulation, and consolidating institutions? Annarita Morelli, a strategy and governance executive who has worked on the front lines of Italy's financial system, joins Ricardo Silvestre on the…
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Visegrad Is Back? with Linda Kapustová Helbichová
Is the Visegrad Group still relevant? Is it expereiencing its renaissance after Péter Magyar's win in Hungary? What is the relationship between the Visegrad countries and Ukraine? What types of projects does the International Visegrad Fund foster and what is their relevance in terms of cultural...
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Beyond the White Saviour: what real partnership looks like with Rui Santos
What does real partnership between Europe and Africa actually look like in 2026? In this episode of the Liberal Europe Podcast, Ricardo Silvestre is joined by Rui Santos, CEO of CESO Development Consultants, a Portuguese firm celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and one of the most...
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Surviving Chaos: Geopolitics When the Rules Fail with Mark Leonard
Does the idea of an open society still have a place in today's world? Which four exponential forces currently run the world? And how to reconcile Europe's values and vision with those of other key geopolitical players? Leszek Jazdzewski (Fundacja Liberte!) talks with Mark Leonard, Co-Founder and...
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White Terror: A True Story of Murders, Bombings, and Germany's Far Right with Jacob Kushner
How dangerous is the far right in Germany? What should we know about the rise of neonazi terrorism? And what is the role of the secret services in Germany? Leszek Jazdzewski (Fundacja Liberte!) talks with Jacob Kushner, an international journalist who reports on migration, terrorism and violent...
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EU economic integration with Marco Cecchi de'Rossi
Europe has the resources, the talent, and the scale to rival the US and China — so why doesn't it act like it? In this episode, recorded live in Milan with the Adam Smith Society, Ricardo Silvestre sits down with Marco Cecchi de'Rossi, an investment committee member at Arpinge SpA and board…
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Is Europe Headed Towards a New China shock? with Sam Goodman
Is Europe walking into a new China shock? Sam Goodman — Senior Policy Director at the China Strategic Risks Institute joins Ricardo Silvestre to dissect the EU–China relationship at a moment of real turbulence. From Middle East fallout and the Strait of Hormuz, to trillion-dollar trade…
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Who Is Rumen Radev? with Maria Simeonova
How has the recent election transformed the Bulgarian political scene? What will be the European priorities of the newly formed government? What is Rumen Radev's main message? And what was his secret that helped him ensure a win? Leszek Jazdzewski (Fundacja Liberte!) talks with Maria Simeonova…
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Political digital communication with Ahmed Kosovac
What does it take to communicate politics in a world shaped by algorithms, memes, and constant online dialogue? In this episode of the Liberal Europe Podcast, Ricardo Silvestre sits down with Ahmed Kosovac,Marketing Communications Team Lead at Naša stranka and Council Member at Općina Novo...
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Is Digital Sovereignty (Still) Possible? with José Ignacio Torreblanca
Can Europe attain digital sovereignty? What are the limits of the EU's regulatory power? Is the dichotomy between sovereignty and a colony unavoidable? And what is Europe's digital grand strategy? Leszek Jazdzewski (Fundacja Liberte!) talks with Dr José Ignacio Torreblanca, a Senior Adviser and...
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What's Next, Hungary? - with Andrea Virag
What do Hungary’s latest election results tell us about the future of liberal politics in the country? Looking beyond the results, Andrea Virag, Director of Strategy at the Republican Institute in Budapest, joins this week's host, Ricardo Silvestre, to examine the broader picture, from the role…
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The End of the Orbán-Era? with Edit Zgut-Przybylska
What is the expected outcome of the upcoming parliamentary election in Hungary? What are opposition leader Péter Magyar's chances of winning? Will this be the end of the Orbán-era? Will there be any attempts at rigging the election? And if the Tisza party wins, what direction will it adopt toward...
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Reversed Enlargement and Pooled Veto is the Key to Europe's Future? - Interview with Emil Kirjas
What’s really holding back EU enlargement ? Could new ideas like a “pooled veto” reshape how decisions are made in Europe? And what happens when EU integration starts to reverse? In this episode of the Liberal Europe Podcast, Ricardo Silvestre (Movimento Liberal Social) welcomes back Emil Kirjas,...
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Europe in the Age of Global Uncertainty with Jacob Funk Kirkegaard
How does the war in Iran affect Europeans? What is the impact of the Greenland issue on the Danish view of NATO and the transatlantic alliance? Should the Nordic countries acquire nuclear weapons? And what does Europe's path to competitiveness look like? Leszek Jazdzewski (Fundacja Liberte!)…
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Ukraine in the 5th Year of a Full-Scale War with Anna Zakletska
In the 5th year of the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine, how is the civil society in Ukraine currently faring? Is the Ukrainian identity under pressure? What is the impact of the war on the mental health of people, particularly children? And what should we know about paganism? Leszek...
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The Implementation of Draghi Report with Dr.Antonios Nestoras
In this episode of the podcast, Ricardo Silvestre from Movimento Liberal Social welcomes back Dr. Antonios Nestoras, founder and director of the European Policy Innovation Council (EPIC), a Brussels-based policy think movement. Together, they discuss the implementation of the Draghi Report on...
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Renew Europe at the Committee of Regions with Sean O'Curneen
Cities and regions are where European politics meets everyday life. In this episode of the Liberal Europe Podcast, Ricardo Silvestre (Movimento Liberal Social) welcomes Sean O'Curneen, Secretary-General of Renew Europe at the Committee of the Regions. Together they explore why the Committee of…
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Democratic Protests and Civil Society in Iran with Touska Gholami Khaljiri
How is the Iranian society coping with the crackdown on the protests? What is the current state of the regime and its prospects for the future? Who is Reza Pahlavi and what might be his role in the near future? And how do Iranians view the U.S. intervention in their affairs? Leszek Jazdzewski...
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Supporting Civil Society with Raquel Hermida-van der Walle
Civil society is the backbone of democracy: citizens organizing to defend freedoms, strengthen their communities, and hold power accountable. Yet across Europe and beyond, this space is increasingly under pressure. What begins as calls for “transparency” can quickly turn into efforts to discredit...
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Is European Sovereignty a Real Possibility? with Olaf Osica
What is the future, if any, of the transatlantic relationship? Where do we stand on European sovereignty versus President Donald Trump? What should we know about the 'brave new world order' proposed by Canadian PM Mark Carney? Should Europe try to keep the United States on board as long as…
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Liberal Europe Podcast in 2026 with Leszek and Ricardo
We are kicking off the new season of the Liberal Europe Podcast with a thought-provoking conversation between our two hosts, Ricardo Silvestre (Movimento Liberal Social) and Leszek Jazdzewski (Fundacja Liberte!). They talk about the animated start of 2026, the transatlantic relationship, a new...
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Trump, Putin and the EU, with MEP Helmut Brandstätter
What happens when Europe’s traditional allies start to drift and its adversaries grow bolder? In this episode, Ricardo Silvestre (Movimento Liberal Social) is joined by Helmut Brandstätter, Member of the European Parliament and author of Trump, Putin and Their Puppets. The conversation explores…
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One year of Draghi Report with Jeannette Baljeu
What has the European Union actually done with the Draghi Report, and what still remains politically unresolved? In this episode of the Liberal Europe Podcast, host Ricardo Silvestre (Movimento Liberal Social) welcomes back Member of the European Parliament and ELF Board Member Jeannette Baljeu…
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One Resource to Rule Them All with Sven Gerst
How can Europe secure its essential resources in a turbulent geopolitical world? What does economic thought tell us about today’s geoeconomics? And why might the human mind be the true “ultimate resource”? Ricardo Silvestre (Movimento Liberal Social) welcomes back philosopher and political...
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Total Defense in Europe: What Is It and Why Do We Need It? with Helena Quis
When talking about total defense, for whom and against what is it? What should the European total defense look like? Why cannot everyone be like Finland? And is total defense even possible in polarized societies? Leszek Jazdzewski (Fundacja Liberte!) talks with Helena Quis, who works in the...
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Electric Grids for Europe's Energy Independence with Eloi Borgne
How do we power a carbon-neutral Europe when the grid can’t keep up with the energy transition? From congestion and permitting delays to smart meters, digitalisation, energy data spaces, and renewable energy communities, Eloi Borgne the Junior Policy and Research Officer at the European Liberal...
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The Future of Independent Journalism and Public Interest Information with Patrice Schneider
How to deal with the weaponization of information? What is the future (if any) of independent journalism? What does public interest information mean and why should it be protected? Have we lost the shared understanding of the world? And, if that is the case, how can we restore it? Leszek…
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Food security and CAP with Jelte Wiersma
As global pressures reshape agriculture, Europe faces tough questions about food security, sustainability, and the future of the Common Agricultural Policy. In this episode, Jelte Wiersma, the Secretary General of the European Agricultural Machinery Industry Association (CEMA) unpacks how...
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The Return of History to the Present with Luuk van Middelaar
How to interpret the results of the Dutch elections? What does the return of history to European affairs really mean? Is the EU a stage or an actor in the big drama of history? And what kind of Europe is emerging from Donald Trump's efforts to dismantle the American empire and the post-1945 world...
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Security and Defence of the Black Sea with Amb. Batu Kutelia
As the geopolitical balance in Europe continues to shift, the Black Sea has emerged as a key frontline in defending democracy and stability on the continent. Russia’s ongoing aggression, the unfinished dismantling of the Soviet legacy, and the struggle for control over critical trade routes and...
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EU: From Soft to Hard Power? - Discussion with Goran Buldioski
As the liberal world order weakens and Russia’s aggression in Ukraine persists, Europe must shift from soft to hard power to protect its democracies. This requires bolstering military strength and public resolve amid rising threats, with mainstream parties adapting their strategies. Public…
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About this show
The European Liberal Forum (ELF) is the official think tank and political foundation of the European Liberal Party, the ALDE Party.Together with 56 member organisations we work all over Europe to bring new ideas into the political debate, to provide a platform for discussion and to enable citizens to make their voices heard.
Hosted by
European Liberal Forum