The elite of European socialism met in Rome on Saturday March 2 to launch their campaign for the European elections on June 9, under the theme of “ a democratic, united and sustainable Europe “. Luxembourger Nicolas Schmit, current EU Commissioner for Employment and Social Rights, was officially designated as the socialist candidate for the Commission, in the elections estimated as ” the most important ” for decades ” to save democracy in Europe “.
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MEPs, deputies, party bossesEuropean commissioners and heads of government, all considered that these elections were “ the most important » for decades, more than two years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and facing the hypothesis of a wave ” illiberal » in the polls.
Luxembourger Nicolas Schmit, 70, has been named the candidate of the Party of European Socialists (PES) for the European Commission. He will face Ursula von der Leyen, member of the European People’s Party (EPP), given as a favorite for his own succession for the June elections and whose candidacy for the conservatives should be ratified during the congress of his party on March 6 and 7 in Bucharest.
Approved, Nicolas Schmit recalled the courage of the Ukrainians who are fighting “ for freedom in Europe » and promised the unfailing support of European socialists “ against the tyrannical regime of [président russe Vladimir] Poutine », reports our correspondent in Rome, Anne Le Nir.
He deplored the tragic situation in Gaza, while reiterating that Israel has the right to defend itself against Hamas, but that international laws must be respected. He then outlined, in broad terms, the content of the “ Election manifesto », adopted in Rome. This moves from the protection of labor rights to the European Green Deal – “ which must not have a break, due to the accelerated effects of climate change » – to a common European defense and the fight against the nationalism advocated by the extreme right, judged a “ a poison for democracy “.
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Discontent from the agricultural world benefiting the far right?
The Party of European Socialists (PES) is the second largest group in the number of seats in the European Parliament, behind the European People’s Party (EPP).
Three months before the European elections on June 9, the two main groups of the European Parliament are getting into working order facing an extreme right which could make a breakthrough taking advantage in particular agricultural discontent.
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The head of the French Socialist Party Olivier Faure said he feared seeing “ the extreme right is gradually nibbling on the peasant electorate on the grounds that today there is a contradiction between the ecological question and the agricultural question “. “ What we must constantly remember is that the enemy of agriculture, it’s not ecologyit’s liberalism “, he said, calling on European socialists to “ bring a substitute hope to that which the extreme right seems to bring today “.
The leader of the Italian Democratic Party, Elly Schlein, concluded the congress with these words: “ We must be the greatest enemies of fear of the future and the greatest supporters of a policy closer to vulnerable people “. And to add “ We must restore sea rescue missions because Europe was not built to die, but to give new hope “.
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