Understanding right-wing populism and what to do about it

On 1 March 2024, we co-hosted the workshop, “Understanding right-wing populism and what to do about it” at the Partito Democratico headquarters in Rome. Organised by the S&D Group, FEPS, and the PES Group in the European Committee of the Regions, this event seeked to dissect the rise of far-right parties in Europe. These parties challenge democracy by undermining liberal institutions, polarising public discourse, and threatening the core values of equality and solidarity essential to social democracy. As the 2024 European elections approach, understanding the drivers behind the success of right-wing populism and formulating effective responses that align with socialist and social democrat principles is crucial.

The workshop was scheduled from 16:30 to 19:00 in the David Sassoli meeting room. Its first part offered comparative analytical insights into the strategies and voter bases of right-wing populist parties, as well as potential promising responses by social democratic parties to curb far-right success.

The second part of the workshop focused on analysing these strategies from national, regional, and logical perspectives across different EU Member States. In collaboration with key social democratic and socialist representatives, we aimed to foster a spirit of mutual learning. By identifying both similarities and differences, we wanted to exchange on targeted strategies to counteract the far-right’s influence while upholding our social democratic values and principles.

This description is also available in French | Italian | Spanish | German

Among the speakers

• Iratxe García Péréz, Chair of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament (S&D Group)
• Christophe Rouillon, President of the PES Group in the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) and mayor of Coulaines
• Elly Schlein, Leader of the Partito Democratico (Italy)
• Ania Skrzypek, Director for research and training at FEPS
• Daphne Halikiopoulou, Chair in comparative politics, University of York
• Tim Vlandas, Associate professor in social policy, Oxford University
• Brando Benifei, Member of the S&D Group in the European Parliament
• Katharina Barley, Vice-President of the European Parliament and Vice-President of the PES
• Oliver Röpke, President, EESC
• Gabriele Bischoff, Vice-president of the S&D Group
• Kata Tüttő, Deputy mayor of Budapest and vice-president of the PES Group in the CoR
• Helene Fritzon, Vice-president of the S&D Group
• María Victoria Chivite Navascués, President of the Autonomous Community of Navarre
• Thijs Reuten, MEP S&D Group
• Andreas Schieder, Chair of the Next Left and MEP S&D Group
• Vasco Alves Cordeiro, President of the European Committee of the Regions, President of
  the Socialist party of the Azores
• Maria João Rodrigues, President of FEPS
• Nicola Zingaretti, President of DEMO, Foundation of the Italian Democratic Party

This event took place in the David Sassoli meeting room of the Partito Democratico headquarters, Via di Sant’Andrea delle Fratte, 16 Rome, Italy.

For more information regarding this event, please do not hesitate to contact Céline Guedes, Project Officer (celine.guedes@feps-europe.eu)