Maria João Rodrigues departs from FEPS Presidency, transitions to Nicolas Schmit

After completing eight years in the role, Maria Joâo Rodrigues has departed the role of FEPS President. Former Commissioner for Social Rights and Jobs Nicolas Schmit officially takes up the position.

The transition occurred at the award ceremony of FEPS’ Progressive Person of the Year and the launch of the seventh edition of the Progressive Yearbook. The title of Progressive Person of the Year was awarded to Mariana Mazzucato.

Rodrigues requested to be replaced as FEPS President after accomplishing her mission of building up a sound, strategic and professional governance system, making FEPS the central think tank of the European progressive family, which collaborates with think tanks and partners across Europe and the world.

At FEPS’ New Year Reception, citing the challenging global geopolitical context, Maria João Rodrigues announced that she will assume new roles in Brussels, now focusing more specifically on EU strategic autonomy, digital transformation, and the EU international action.

FEPS’ new President, Nicolas Schmit, said, “It is a great honour for me to take over the role of President of FEPS when social democracy is facing major challenges in terms of democracy. We will work together with the progressive family for these values in Europe and beyond”.

On Rodrigues’ departure, László Andor, FEPS Secretary General, added, “The FEPS team is grateful for the leadership of Maria João Rodrigues for the whole 8-year period of her presidency. She has been at the helm of our organisation during difficult times, including the pandemic, when progressive Europeans sought constructive answers to complex social and political challenges, both internally and internationally. Thanks to Maria, we have transformed into a think tank that builds on the social democratic tradition that is also capable of constant innovation, and a productive engagement with our wide membership and expert network.”

The Presidency transition took place with interventions from Esther Lynch, ETUC Secretary General, Fabrizia Panzetti, S&D Secretary General, and Giacomo Filibeck, PES Secretary General.

Nicolas Schmit was elected as FEPS President at an Extraordinary General Assembly on 12 December 2026. As FEPS’s new President, Schmit intends to draw on his experience as a frontline policymaker to confront the threats to Europe’s democracy and social model posed by the far right and traditional conservatives. Responding to these challenges requires a clear, strong and united response from the progressive political family.

Watch Maria Joâo Rodrigues’ departing speech from FEPS at the launch of the Progressive Yearbook, which was held on 29 January 2026.