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{{distinguish|text=[[Democratic Liberal Party of Armenia]] (1991–2012); [[Armenakan-Democratic Liberal Party]] (2009–2012); [[Democratic Liberal Party (Armenia)]] (2012–2016)}}
{{Infobox political party
| country          = Armenia
| name             = Armenian Democratic Liberal Party<br/> {{Nobold|ADL Ramgavar Azadagan Gusagtsutyun}}
| native_name      = {{Nobold|{{Lang|hy|Ռամկավար Ազատական Կուսակցութիւն}}}}
| logo             = [[File:Armenian Democratic Liberal Party logo.png|Ramgavar logo]]
| colorcode        = {{party color|Armenian Democratic Liberal Party}}
| colors           = Blue
| leader1_title    = Chairman of the Central Board
| leader1_name     = Mike Kharapean
| foundation       = 1 October 1921
| ideology         = [[Armenian nationalism]]<br>[[National liberalism]]<br>[[Classical liberalism]]<br>[[Pro-Europeanism]]
| position         = [[Centre-right]]
| headquarters     = [[Yerevan]], [[Armenia]]
| international    = Canada, USA, Argentina, UK, France, Greece, Cyprus, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Israel, Iraq, Egypt, Australia
| seats1           = {{Composition bar|0|107|{{party color|Ramgavar}}}}
| seats1_title     = [[National Assembly of Armenia|National Assembly]]
| website          = [https://ramgavar.am/ ramgavar.am/]
}}
{{History of Armenia|expanded=age4}}

The '''Armenian Democratic Liberal Party''' ({{langx|hy|Ռամկավար Ազատական Կուսակցութիւն}}), the '''Ramgavar Party''', (known before 1921 as the '''Armenakan''' party) ({{langx|hy|Արմենական Կուսակցութիւն}}), also known by its Armenian initials ({{langx|hy|ՌԱԿ }}) or its English initials '''ADL''' (meaning Armenian Democratic Liberal) is an Armenian [[political party]] in the [[Armenian diaspora]] including the [[Middle East]], [[Europe]], the [[Americas]] and [[Australia]].

It was established in [[Istanbul|Constantinople]] in 1921 as a result of the unification of 3 political parties: the [[Armenakan Party]], the Liberal Party of the Reformed Hunchakians, and the Constituent Democratic Party. The Armenakan Party was founded in 1885 by [[Mekertich Portukalian]] as part of the [[Armenian national movement|national movement]] in [[Van Eyalet|Van]] in the [[Ottoman Empire]].

Following the [[2003 Armenian parliamentary election]]s, the party won 2.9% of the popular vote, failing to win any seats which effected its influence in the political landscape of Armenia. Currently, within Armenia, the party acts as an [[Extra-parliamentary opposition|extra-parliamentary]] force. The party also continues its activities throughout the [[Armenian diaspora]], as one of the three historic traditional parties of the diaspora.

==History==
On 3 March 1872, 46 Armenians came together to form the "Union of Salvation" (not to be confused with the Russian [[Union of Salvation]]). The organization declared "Gone is our honor; our churches have been violated; they kidnapped our brides and our youth; they have taken away our rights and try to exterminate our nation.."<ref name="Nalbandian 1963 80">{{cite book|title=The Armenian revolutionary movement; the development of Armenian political parties through the nineteenth century|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb__dIsS3aidr0C |last=Nalbandian |first=Louise |year=1963 |location=Berkeley |publisher=University of California Press |page=80}}</ref> On 26 April 1872, villages around [[Van, Turkey|Van]] sent a request, "In order to save ourselves from these evils, we are prepared to follow you even if we must shed blood or die. We are ready to go wherever... If the alternative to our present condition is to become Russified, let us be Russified together; if it is to be emigration, let us emigrate; if we are to die, let us die."<ref>{{Harv|Nalbandian|1963|p=81}}</ref><ref name="nal82">{{Harv|Nalbandian|1963|p=82}}</ref> These Russian organizations had goals to liberate the [[Ottoman Armenians]] from the Ottoman Empire.<ref name="nal82" /> The Union of Salvation served a major step toward the formation of the first Armenian political party, the Armenakan.<ref name="nal82" />

===1885–1921: Armenakan Party===
{{Main|Armenakan Party}}
The [[Armenakan Party]] was established in [[Van (Turkey)|Van]] by [[Mekertich Portukalian]], [[Setrak Gabudian]], and [[Hampig Der Hampartsoumian]] in 1885<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=odxRAQAAIAAJ&q=armenian+democratic+party+established+in+Van&pg=PA23|title=Armenians in London: The Management of Social Boundaries|last1=Talai|first1=Vered Amit|last2=Amit|first2=Vered|date=1989|publisher=Manchester University Press|isbn=9780719029271|language=en}}</ref> as an underground organization against the ruling system. It was classified as a party based on the fact that it developed a platform, a central body, and an official publication.

The founders of the Armenakan party, Mekertich Portukalian, Setrak Gabudian, and Hampig Der Hampartsoumian kept in touch with the leaders, and published a journal of political and social enlightenment, "Armenia". Portukalian is also cited as the father of the [[Armenian Patriotic Society of Europe]].

After Mekertich Portukalian, the Armenians of Van continued to develop the political principles behind [[Armenian nationalism]], in secrecy. The party's main misconception was that enemies of the Ottoman Empire would intervene and rescue the Armenian people throughout the period 1885–1918.

With the turn of the century, Armenakans had cells outside Van, in other towns in the province, as well as in [[Trabzon]] and [[Istanbul]]. The military structure was developed in [[Russian Transcaucasia]], in [[Persia]], and in the [[United States]]. Military activities in the Ottoman Empire included [[Bashkaleh Resistance]] in May 1889, [[Defense of Van (1896)|Defense of Van]] in June 1896 and the [[Defense of Van (1915)|Siege of Van]] from April 19 to May 6, 1915.

===1921–present: Armenian Democratic Liberal Party (ADL)===
In 1921, three groupings, namely the Armenakans, the reformed factions splitting from the [[Social Democrat Hunchakian Party]] known as ''Azatakan'' (Liberal) party, and the "Sahmanadir Ramkavars" (Constitutionalist Democratic Party) joined forces to form together the Democratic Liberal Party (also known as ({{langx|hy|Ռամկավար Ազատական Կուսակցություն  (ՌԱԿ) }}) ({{langx|en|Armenian Democratic Liberal Party (ADL)}}) or Ramkavar Party). The majority of the membership of the Armenakan Party was absorbed into the new party.

==Modern developments==
===Ramgavar Heroes and resistance against the Ottoman Empire===
The party was active during and after the Armenian genocide when the Armenians began mobilising politically for rights under the oppressing Ottoman regime. A main figure in the Ramgavar party, Diran Pasha, led the resistance within the Ottoman political arena and subsequently picked up arms when the Ottoman government began the systematic annihilation of the Armenian population in Anatolia and Northeastern Turkey (Western Armenia). With his band of brothers, Zinvadz Lerner, Diran Pasha held out the Ottoman forces from the ancient castle at Haghardzin village. The siege concluded with the death of Diran and all his men.

Diran Pasha's death inspired more people to join the ranks of the Ramgavars. Agha Panos planned an attack an on Ottoman military convoy on their way to deport the Armenians of Mooghni. Later on, after the unsuccessful attack, Agha Panos, later on, was disillusioned by the Ramgavars failures and joined the ranks of the Hnchankians. During that time, the Hnchankians had an active policy against the ranks of the Ramgavars with the aim of recruiting young Ramgavars towards the ranks of the Hnchanks.

With the establishment of the First Republic of Armenia in 1918, the Ramgavar battalions disbanded over their disagreements with the Ramgavar political committees who wanted to have a more confrontational manner vis-a-vis the government in Armenia.

===Expansion towards Armenia===
During the Soviet reign 1921-1990 when the [[Communist Party of Armenia (Soviet Union)|Communist Party]] was the only legal political party allowed in the [[Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic]], all other political parties were banned, including the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party, despite the party's traditional role as, more or less, a supporter of Soviet Armenia achievements in the Armenian diaspora.

With the establishment of the independent [[Armenia]] in 1990, the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party soon established party affiliates in the new Republic commanding a good number of applicants, adherents and sympathisers. The influx of Diasporan Armenians also encouraged the propagation of the party and its right of centre ideology attracted elements in the new republic. Of immense importance was also the establishment of the highly respected and popular [[Azg (daily)|''Azg'' daily]], an official organ of the Armenian Liberal Democrats. The party also tried to form alliances with various political parties and movements established in the new republic.

===Establishment of the Democratic Liberal Party of Armenia===
{{Main|Democratic Liberal Party of Armenia}}
Because of the status of the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party as a Diaspora organisation, and although the party had established cadres allied to it in the new republic, there were legal restrictions about being itself established as a legal political entity and participation in Armenian Parliamentary election. For this purpose, Armenia-based sympathisers of the party established in July 1991 a new nominally independent party called [[Democratic Liberal Party of Armenia]] (in [[Armenian language|Armenian]] Հայաստանի Ռամկավար Ազատական Կուսակցություն '''(ՀՌԱԿ)'''). Close cooperation continued between the two entities, although the political role was reserved predominantly to the new entity. Despite this, the traditional Armenian Democratic Liberal Party (in [[Armenian language|Armenian]] Ռամկավար Ազատական Կուսակցություն '''(ՌԱԿ)''') continued its nominal existence.

===Rift in party and establishment of Armenakan-Democratic Liberal Party===
A major rift developed in the traditional Armenian Democratic Liberal Party (ADL) with a significant number of its members favouring the newly established [[Armenakan-Democratic Liberal Party]] ({{langx|hy|Արմենական -Ռամկավար Ազատական Կուսակցություն }}) generally considered an offshoot of the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party ({{langx|hy|Ռամկավար Ազատական Կուսակցություն }}), but not officially recognised by the current (diaspora) leadership of the ADL. Armenakan-Democratic Liberal Party also decided to move its main office to [[Yerevan]], [[Armenia]], another move not approved by the current leadership of the ADL.

There are also great differences about the ownership and policies of the traditional Armenia and Diaspora media of the ADL, some of which have declared their affiliation with the new Armenakan entity, rather than the line of the current traditional leadership, whereas other party media stuck to the official party line.

The Central Executive of ADL chaired by Mike Kharabian, and in Armenia, the [[Democratic Liberal Party of Armenia]] (ADLA) chaired by Harutiun Arakelian have both expressed clear opposition and blamed the new entity of trying to divide the party.<ref>[http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2009-07-02-armenia-s-ramgavar-chair-condemns-attempts-to--split--party "Armenian Reporter" on the position of ADL and ADLA] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090713230050/http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2009-07-02-armenia-s-ramgavar-chair-condemns-attempts-to--split--party |date=July 13, 2009 }}</ref> In 2008 three parties in Armenia, the National Rebirth, Dashink, and Liberal Progressive Parties dissolved into the ADLA. The last assembly of the official Armenian Democratic Liberal Party (ADL) took place in Spring 2009 in [[Amman]], [[Jordan]].

Harutiun Arakelian of the Democratic Liberal Party of Armenia (ADLA) has also declared that the party will challenge the adoption of the name of the new party once the latter applies for registration, due to the similarity of the names and ADLA will demand that the new party adopts a different and more distinctive name to alleviate any confusion with the ADL / ADLA.

==Ideology==
The Ramgavar party advocates [[liberalism]] and [[capitalism]], unlike the other two classical Armenian political parties, the [[Social Democrat Hunchakian Party]] and the [[Armenian Revolutionary Federation]], which both maintain the leftist ideologies.

The current numbers of the party are minimal compared to other traditional parties in the diaspora and Armenia. Subsequently, due to this situation a debate has been initiated over the existence of the party. Party member Unger Garabed Manushian has called for reform or disbandment of the party, "We, the Ramgavars, today are at a focal point of our history. We have no presence in Armenia and insignificant role in the Diaspora. We must start a process of reforming the party, its ideology, and its activities if we want to exist in the next 10 years. If we do not choose this course, then we must admit to ourselves that our party has come to an end."

==Recent activities==
* On 3 June 2023, ADL leaders held a meeting with the [[For The Republic Party]] representatives in Yerevan.<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=653987676772771&set=pcb.653987863439419]</ref>
* In June 2023, members of the ADL held a meeting with [[Bright Armenia]].<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=653993340105538&set=pcb.653993436772195]</ref>
* On 7 June 2024, members of the party headed by the chairman of the Central Board, Mike Kharapean, met with Prime Minister [[Nikol Pashinyan]] in Yerevan. Pashinyan thanked the party for its close cooperation and long-term support of the policies implemented by the [[Government of Armenia|Armenian government]].<ref>[https://ramgavar.am/%D5%A3%D5%AC%D5%AD%D5%A1%D6%82%D5%B8%D6%80/%D5%B0%D5%B0-%D5%BE%D5%A1%D6%80%D5%B9%D5%A1%D5%BA%D5%A5%D5%BF-%D5%B6%D5%AB%D5%AF%D5%B8l-%D6%83%D5%A1%D5%B7%D5%AB%D5%B6%D5%A5%D5%A1%D5%B6%D5%AB-%D5%B0%D5%A1%D5%B6%D5%A4%D5%AB%D5%BA%D5%B8%D6%82%D5%B4%D5%A8-%D5%BC%D5%A1%D5%B4%D5%AF%D5%A1%D5%BE%D5%A1%D6%80-%D5%A1%D5%A6%D5%A1%D5%BF%D5%A1%D5%AF%D5%A1%D5%B6-%D5%AF%D5%B8%D6%82%D5%BD%D5%A1%D5%AF%D6%81%D5%B8%D6%82%D5%A9%D5%A5%D5%A1%D5%B6-%D5%B2%D5%A5%D5%AF%D5%A1%D5%BE%D5%A1%D6%80%D5%B8%D6%82%D5%A9%D5%A5%D5%A1%D5%B6-%D5%B0%D5%A5%D5%BF H.H. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian's meeting with the leadership of the Ramkavar Liberal Party]</ref>

==ADL media==
The Armenian Democratic Liberal Party has long-established media outlets throughout the [[Armenian diaspora]] as well as in Armenia. This includes:

*[[Argentina]]: ''[[Sardarabad (weekly)|Sardarabad]]'' (ADL weekly newspaper in Armenian and Spanish published in [[Buenos Aires]], Argentina) [http://www.sardarabad.com.ar/]
*[[Armenia]]: ''[[Azg (daily)|Azg]]'' [note **] (ADL Daily published in Armenian in [[Yerevan]], [[Armenia]] —recently sold to other independent owners) [http://www.azg.am/]
*[[Canada]]: ''Abaka'' [note **] (ADL trilingual weekly published since 1975 in [[Montreal]] in Armenian, English, and French)
*[[Egypt]]: ''[[Arev (daily)|Arev]]'' (ADL Daily in Armenian published in [[Cairo]], Egypt)
*[[Greece]]: ''[[Nor Ashkharh]]'' (ADL weekly in Armenian published in [[Athens]], Greece)
*[[Lebanon]]: ''[[Zartonk (Lebanese daily)|Zartonk]]'' ADL Daily in Armenian published in [[Beirut]], Lebanon since 1937 [http://www.zartonkdaily.com/]
*[[United States]]:
**''[[Armenian Mirror-Spectator]]'' [note **] (ADL weekly published since 1932 in English in [[Watertown, Massachusetts]]) [http://www.mirrorspectator.com/]
**''[[Baikar]]'' (ADL periodical established 1922 and published daily / weekly in various periods in Armenian in Watertown, Massachusetts)
**''[[Nor Or]]'' (ADL weekly published in Armenian in [[Altadena]], [[California]]) [http://www.noror.org/]

[note **]: As a result of the rift in the party, some party organs have started actively supporting the rival [[Armenakan-Democratic Liberal Party]] and the latter's policies, most notably ''Azg'' in Armenia, ''Armenian Mirror-Spectator'' in the United States and ''Abaka'' in Canada.

==ADL in Lebanese politics==
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right"
! style="width: 20px" |Year
! style="width: 20px" |Mandates
|-
![[1943 Lebanese general election|1943]]
| colspan="3" |{{Composition bar|1|55|{{party color|Armenian Democratic Liberal Party}}}}
|-
![[1947 Lebanese general election|1947]]
|{{Composition bar|0|55|{{party color|Armenian Revolutionary Federation}}}}
|-
![[1951 Lebanese general election|1951]]
|{{Composition bar|0|77|{{party color|Armenian Revolutionary Federation}}}}
|-
![[1953 Lebanese general election|1953]]
|{{Composition bar|0|44|{{party color|Armenian Revolutionary Federation}}}}
|-
![[1957 Lebanese general election|1957]]
|{{Composition bar|0|66|{{party color|Armenian Revolutionary Federation}}}}
|-
![[1960 Lebanese general election|1960]]
|{{Composition bar|0|99|{{party color|Armenian Revolutionary Federation}}}}
|-
![[1964 Lebanese general election|1964]]
|{{Composition bar|0|99|{{party color|Armenian Revolutionary Federation}}}}
|-
![[1968 Lebanese general election|1968]]
|{{Composition bar|0|99|{{party color|Armenian Revolutionary Federation}}}}
|-
![[1972 Lebanese general election|1972]]
|{{Composition bar|0|99|{{party color|Armenian Revolutionary Federation}}}}
|-
![[1992 Lebanese general election|1992]]
|{{Composition bar|0|128|{{party color|Armenian Revolutionary Federation}}}}
|-
![[1996 Lebanese general election|1996]]
|{{Composition bar|1|128|{{party color|Armenian Democratic Liberal Party}}}}
|-
![[2000 Lebanese general election|2000]]
|{{Composition bar|1|128|{{party color|Armenian Democratic Liberal Party}}}}
|-
![[2005 Lebanese general election|2005]]
|{{Composition bar|0|128|{{party color|Armenian Revolutionary Federation}}}}
|-
![[2009 Lebanese general election|2009]]
|{{Composition bar|1|128|{{party color|Armenian Democratic Liberal Party}}}}
|-
![[2018 Lebanese general election|2018]]
|{{Composition bar|0|128|{{party color|Armenian Revolutionary Federation}}}}
|-
![[2022 Lebanese general election|2022]]
|{{Composition bar|0|128|{{party color|Armenian Revolutionary Federation}}}}
|}
The Armenian Democratic Liberal Party with its centre-right politics has long been one of the three traditional ethnic Armenian parties in [[Lebanon]] alongside the [[Social Democrat Hunchakian Party]] (centre-left) and the [[Armenian Revolutionary Federation]] (left-socialist). But with stronger candidates from its rivals and certainly higher membership and political voting power in the other two, ADL never held representation in the Lebanese Parliament until the end of the 1990s.

ADL Lebanon won its first-ever [[National Assembly of Lebanon|parliamentary]] seat in 2000, as an ally to [[Rafik Hariri]]'s [[Future Movement]], when the latter opted to form alliances with ADL and the Social Democrat Hunchakian Party to the detriment of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, the traditional political power maker of Lebanese-Armenian politics. The MP and party's leader in Lebanon [[Hagop Kassarjian]] was elected in 2000 as part of Hariri's strong Beirut list dominated by the Future Movement and re-elected in 2005 elections as part of [[March 14 Alliance]]. The Armenian Revolutionary Federation sided at the time with the opposition [[March 8 Alliance]].

The official MP of the ADL party in the Lebanese Parliament [[First Cabinet of Saad Hariri|after the 2009 elections]] was Jean Ogassapian as part of the same March 14 Alliance, although he is not a card-holding member of the party.

The ''[[Zartonk (Lebanese daily)|Zartonk]] daily'' is the official news publication of the Ramgavar party. The current president of the Ramgavar party in Lebanon is Avedis Dakessian.<ref>[https://www.armenianorthodoxchurch.org/en/archives/65439 The Regional Committee of the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party (Ramgavar) Visits His Holiness Catholicos Aram I ]</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Liberalism|Politics}}
* [[Liberalism in Armenia]]
* [[List of political parties in Armenia]]
* [[Mkrtich Avetisian]]
* [[Politics of Armenia]]
* [[Programs of political parties in Armenia]]

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
*[https://www.facebook.com/ramgavar/ Armenian Democratic Liberal Party Facebook page]
*[https://ramgavar.am/ Ramgavar Mamoul website]
*[https://www.facebook.com/ramgavarmamoulonline/ Ramgavar Mamoul Facebook page]

{{Armenian diaspora}}
{{Armenian political parties}}
{{Lebanese political parties}}
{{Ottoman Empire political parties}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1885 establishments in the Ottoman Empire]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 1921]]
[[Category:Armenian Democratic Liberal Party| ]]
[[Category:Political history of Armenia]]
[[Category:Political parties in Armenia]]
[[Category:Armenian political parties in Lebanon]]
[[Category:Pro-European political parties in Armenia]]
[[Category:Classical liberal parties]]
[[Category:Liberal parties in Armenia]]