The principles of the Liberal Party can be sought in the pre-electoral speech
of Eleftherios Venizelos in Larissa in November 1910. The Liberal Party
was the first to attempt to create a party of principles and, in any event, a
coherent party mechanism. Even if it did not evolve into a mass-based party, but remained a party of strong political
figures, it differed considerably from previous groupings. Its evolution into an actual
party of principles was impeded by the presence of Eleftherios Venizelos as leader,
a person invested with the prestige of a charismatic leader.
Venizelos wanted to represent the ascending entrepreneurial bourgeois class and to materialize its visions. He
condemned the old party system. Despite all this, part of the old party world, from the old
Deliyannist bloc, went over to Venizelism, as concerned strong political figures and electoral base. On the
other hand, the mass of the Trikoupist-Theotokist party formed the backbone of anti-Venizelism.
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