A new start? Why not!

The European elections: focussing on historical left-wing values: social justice, solidarity, internationalism and sustainable development.

27/04/2019

And if a major, symbolical election was needed? An election that brings the Socialist and Social Democrat parties back to historical left-wing values: social justice, solidarity, internationalism and sustainable development. Those centre-left parties, which, from one Member State to another, have been greatly dispersed during these last years in the meandering of power and coalitions, to the extent of sometimes losing their identity and sometimes even their followers.

And if a major, symbolical election was needed? An election that brings the Socialist and Social Democrat parties back to historical left-wing values: social justice, solidarity, internationalism and a sustainable development. Those centre-left parties, which, from one Member State to another, have been greatly dispersed during these last years in the meandering of power and coalitions, to the extent of sometimes los- ing their identity and sometimes even their followers.

At the risk of going against the flow, this European election could, for three reasons, become the moment when Social Democracy and its electorate meet, but also its rivals who would be all too happy to bury a contender in a weak position.

First and foremost, there must be a starting point and a point of convergence in this large, and sometimes complex, progressive family: Europe. There isn’t a single national Social Democrat leader who would dare to question that the challenges of climate change, terrorism, taxation, security, migration, could be solved at a national level. This is what should give the European election the most exceptional nature every five years. However, 40 years after its first vote in 1979, it remains an unjustly downgraded election, downgraded by this decryed elites, still reluctant towards the idea of transferring a part of their power from a national to a supranational level.

Then there is the context. This election will take place against the background of the resurgence of populist movements, which we thought to be confined to the history books, in various elections in Europe. And of course, that all the candidates of the European Socialist Party, all over Europe, should be inspired by their Spitzenkandidat, Frans Timmermans, and address these dis- illusioned, lost people! They need to speak to the millennials, this disabused or cynical generation – even both at times! – that desperately seeks leaders they can talk to! They need to defend women, whose aspiration to be equal to men isn’t still but a promise, but worse, could become a regression with leaders such as Viktor Orbán, determined to send them back to the household to repopulate the old European civilization! And what can we say about the culture and the artistic environment which no longer dare to join together when they were just as boisterous before.

There is finally an opportunity, because as we divide ourselves in backward rhetorics, the populists of all sorts, allied to right-wing parties that are as conservative as ever, provide the Progressives with an enormous space to offer a new vision of European society, adapted to the 21st century. It is up to them to seize this opportunity and to have an influence on the debates.

Find all related publications
Publications
26/09/2023

‘Abortion in the EU’ – Country fact sheets

Multispeed access to abortion across member states
26/09/2023

Abortion in the European Union

Actors, issues and discourse
21/09/2023

A European Health Union

A blueprint for generations
18/09/2023

Making trade work for prosperity, people and planet

FEPS Primers series - Arancha González and Yanis Bourgeois
Find all related news
News
20/09/2023

FEPS is recruiting 1 project officer

Notice of vacancy
14/09/2023

FEPS President at the SDG Summit and United Nations General Assembly in New York

FEPS President Maria João Rodrigues is in New York this week on the occasion of […]
14/09/2023

Call for tender – Researcher on inflation

Basic Information Project    The profits-prices spiral: measures to avoid inflation  Partners   TASC (Ireland), Pietro Nenni Foundation (Italy)  […]
12/09/2023

Call for tender – Research and analysis for the project “Progressive paths to rebuild Ukraine”

Basic Information Project Research “In search of a ‘lost generation’. Harnessing youth potential for post-war […]
Find all related in the media
In the media

NATO Deputy Secretary General Geoană: “Democracies should stand united to defend the multilateral global order”

by ReportDifesa.it 25/09/2023
Mircea Geoană, NATO Deputy Sec Gen, took part to FEPS' Annual Autumn Academy 2023 in a session devoted to “Building a sustainable and multilateral global order”

‘SDG funding gap swells to $137trn’ New Policy Study from FEPS, together with Earth4All, to deliver a five-point plan for the SDGs.

by Edie 19/09/2023
The “SDGs for All” report emphasises that policymakers have the potential to significantly advance SDG implementation by the original 2030 deadline and beyond by enacting five “extraordinary turnarounds” that break away from current trends.

“Trade doesn’t work in isolation from good domestic policies” Interview to Arancha González

by Borderlex 19/09/2023
Interview to Arancha González, former Spanish foreign minister, who released together with FEPS the new book entitled 'The Trade Handbook: Making Trade Work for Prosperity, People and Planet'

AI to ‘determine course of global trade, jobs’ in near future

by The Financial Express 14/09/2023
The Financial Express's article focuses on the publication of FEPS Primer on Trade written by Arancha González Laya and Yanis Bourgeois