Doc PES

SPAIN

FRANCE

GERMANY

GREECE

UK

ITALY

PES IN THE MAJOR EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

in collaboration with

FRANCE

GERMANY

UK

GENERAL ANALISYS

The past decade was marked by strong recession, and socialist parties have paid the highest price in terms of electoral consensus. Such a trend occurred in all the large European countries, regardless of whether the Socialists had been at the Government or at the opposition for many years. Due to multiple factors such as the great economic crisis, the very strict political stance taken on by EU institutions to counter such crisis, the structural difference among European countries and the connected inability of the European reformist left to put forward a really common political proposal, the European left failed to demand that Brussels granted budget flexibility and spending capacity - thus also failing the expectations of its potential voters. Whether intentionally or not, the Socialists flattened down to a mere free-trade approach thus widening the gap between the socialist parties and their electoral basis. To compound matters, other structural and long-term challenges emerged, such as the crisis of representative democracy, the effects of globalisation and technological innovation on the labour market, population ageing, the need to reform the welfare state, and finally the disastrous effects of migration flows. As a consequence, the dream of the Social Democrat "third way" became pure utopia, and did so exactly in the EU where - according to the European reformist left - such third way would have been able to realize itself. As a result, voters have been moving elsewhere. "Where" depends on the characteristics of the local context. In Spain and Greece, the socialist crisis led to the foundation of radical left parties that achieved over 20% of consensus: in facts, such parties emerged exactly from a deep disagreement with the latest reformist Governments.Germany and the UK witnessed a strong increase of consensus for people's and conservative parties: in 2013, CDU/CSU in Germany achieved 40% of consensus while, in Britain, Cameron succeeded in elections twice in a row (2010 and 2015) and Ukip-Brexit reached the peak of its success in 2015-2016. The political arena was even more complex in France and Italy, due to the simultaneous crisis of moderate centre-right parties. Millions of moderate and reformist voters were dispersed and ended-up feeding into a diverse range of populist forces (leftist and rightist in France, even more diverse in Italy) that, as a whole, were able to achieve over 40% of votes. Socialist parties in the various countries are facing such challenges in different ways.Spain and the UK went back to a classic social-democrat stance. France and Italy endeavoured to formulate new moderate policies. Whereas SPD in Germany had no other option than continuing the forced Large Alliance with the centre-right.Nevertheless, there is a strong and widespread desire for change: in certain cases it is so overwhelming that it seems content no longer matters.The European reformist left needs to face up to at least four crucial issues, to avoid being overcome by such raising expectations.

The most recent cases of the Socialists at the Government

The Programme Issue

The Media Issue

The Government Issue

The European Issue

Party

Period of Government

Electoral Drop

SPD

PD

Labour

PS

PSOE

PASOK

2005-2009

2011-2013

2012-2017

2008-2011

2012-2015

-11,2%

-7,8%

-6,2%

-22,0%

-11,1%

-7,6%

2005-2010

The future of socialist parties is at stake. They can only survive if they are able to prioritise unity at European level over other national issues. In other words, they need to identify a set of common values to pursue, focussing on the rights of European citizens as European citizens and not merely as German, French, Italian (and so on) nationals. This is the only way in order for the socialist message to be credible and effective in steering the European policies.

Socialist parties need to deeply reflect upon the society model that they have been promoting for decades, where public spending was aimed at overcoming social inequalities and building a welfare state that would be as wide as possible. Today's challenge is understanding whether such a project is still feasible under the economic standpoint. National socialist parties are divided virtually everywhere on this matter: in certain cases, they prefer a centre/moderate and liberal solution whereas, in other cases, they go back to a traditional social-democrat recipe. It is paramount to shed light on this point: doing so requires a prior, deep cultural reflection at European level.

Socialist parties are the most faithful to the classic party model from the 1900s. But it is time for them to have to reckon with the social disintermediation characterizing modern societies. Doing so does not mean to get rid of the internal debate within the party. On the contrary, it means to accept and compete with other players also on the front of communication techniques, the charisma of leaders and the personalization of politics.

Today's democratic society is more and more fragmented. Therefore, a good electoral result does not necessarily mean to be able to form a Government alone. In certain cases - such as in France and the UK - the institutional system allows to enter the Government even with just a relative majority of votes. On the contrary, in most cases it is necessary to make alliances in order to form a Government. Therefore, it is more and more urgent for socialist parties to decide whether they can still tolerate the electoral costs resulting from their collaboration with People's Parties. For instance, the German socialists and the Spanish socialists are responding in two opposite ways to this issue.

The Party

Key-Actors

Manifesto’s main points

The Party within the PES

The new course of the party started the last 21st of June, during a meeting in which the leaders of the party have decided not to vote the confidence to Philippe’s Government and to undertake a reflection onto their own future, both on ideological and organizational point of view. Since then, the political initiatives within and outside the Socialist Party have multiplied.

The 4th of July, the Group Leader Faure has addressed the group to abstain in the confidence vote to the Philippe’s Government, although the Group split, showing its inner problems. Only 23 MPs abstained, while 5 voted against and 3 in favour. Therefore new expulsions are probable, after that 2 MPs have already joined Macron group in the last weeks. In the meanwhile, the Group took the name of “Nouvelle Gauche”: the word “socialist” disappears from the hemicycles for the first time since 1958.

Voted against: Joël Aviragnet, Luc Carvounas, Alain David, Régis Juanico and Boris Vallaud. Voted in favour: Guillaume Garot ( near to Ségolène Royale), David Habib (near to Valls) and Hélène Vainqueur-Christophe.

Following five years of Hollande's Government, which have caused a dramatic drop in party's popoulatity , socialists have clearly lost the presidential elections.The PS candidate Benoit Hamon, after winning the socialist primaries elections against the outgoing Prime Minister Manuel Valls, did not manage to reach the second round, obtaining only 6,4%. The majority of the socialist consensus, taking different ways, headed to Macron and Melenchon.

After the debacle in the PS primary elections, Manuel Valls has expressed his endorsement to Macron and, for that reason, he was expelled from the Socialist Party. Anyway, without Macron's agreement to candidate Valls with En Marche, he presented himself as an independent candidate in the constituency of Evry, being re-elected for only 136 votes against the candidate of the radical Left. Probably, En Marche’s decision not to present any candidate against Valls in his constituency was crucial. At the moment , Valls is an “apparenté” MP to "La Republique en Marche" group and he voted the confidence to the Philippe’s Government.

2002

2007

2012

2017

24,1%

24,7%

29,4%

7,4%

1999

2004

2009

2014

22,0%

28,9%

16,5%

14,0%

National Elections

European Elections

During the legislative elections, one month later, things have not gone better . Only 31 socialists deputies were elected, with a drop of 22% compared to 2012 elections. The debacle has led to the inevitable resignation of the secretary Cambadelis, the 18th of June 2017.

The PS lives a complicated moment, characterized by a clear divergence between the elected MPs and the party. Additionally, divisions inside the Party are stronger than ever. Here are some of the most influential characters which will have a role in this complex scenario.

Benoît Hamon

Martine Aubry

Stéphane le Foll

199.051

Olivier Faure

Delphine Batho

Jean-Christophe Cambadélis

Anne Hidalgo

1.200.000

9.195

19.600

1.459

58.500

201.023

442.000

10.775

106.000

75.000

165.000

27.142

20.900

After having defeated Manuel Valls at the primary elections held by the PS, he did not succeed in reaching the second round of the presidential elections, as he got only 6.3%. Before that, he was Minister for education in Valls' Government form April 2014 to August of the same year. He was ousted from the cabinet after some divergence with Manuel Valls. In the last days, he launched a new political movement, called "July 1st Movement", leaving the PS and hoping a reunification of all the centre-left and left French parties before the next local elections, which will take place in 2020.

Jacques Delor's daughter, she is Major of Lille since 2001. She has been PS Secretary from 2008 to 2012. Before that, she was Minister for Work in Cresson's Government (1991-1993) and Jospin's Government (1997-2000). She recently took part to Anne Hidalgo's political movement "Dès demain".

Major of Paris since 2014. She supported Vincent Peillon at the presidential primaries held by the PS, even though she never hid her regard for Benoit Hamon. After Macron's victory, she launched on the national newspaper Le Monde a new political movement, called "Dès demain" (from tomorrow): it is a political project, open to the contribution of every citizen, whose role is to build a new ecologist, Europeanist and equalitarian PS. Martine Aubry, historical character of the Party, and Christiane Taubira, former Minister for Justice, took part to the movement.

He was elected for the first time in Parliament in 2012. In 2016 he was appointed President of the Socialist group. Elected for a second time in 2017, his role of President of the Group was confirmed July 22nd, when he defeated the other candidate, Delphine Batho, 22 votes against 3. He has been considered one of the strongest Valls' opponent.

MP since 2007, she was re-elected in 2012 and 2017. She recently ran for PS Group Presidency in the Assemblée Nationale, but she was defeated by Olivier Faure, 22 votes against 3. Under Hollande's Presidency, she was appointed Minister for Environment in Ayrault's cabinet.But in 2013 she has been excluded from the Government because of a statement in which she criticized Government's energy policies. After that, she published an autobiography, whose title is "Insoumise" (rebel).

PS Secretary since 2014, when he substituted Harlem Désir, he resigned June 18th 2017, after PS's defeat at the legislative elections. He was defeated too in its own constituency. He has been MP for four mandates, from 1997 to 2017.

MPs elected in Sarthe constituency in 2012, he was re-elected in 2017. Previously he has been Member of the European Parliament from 2004 to 2012. In 2012, he was appointed Minister for Agriculture of Valls' Government and, in 2014, he became Government's spokesman.

Welfare

The PS aims at retaining and strengthening French welfare system. The party will work for the implementation of an effective system of social security for every worker, the universal access to healthcare, a reform of education system able to ensure children's development and to win the struggle against poverty and discrimination. Government's policies will need to respect workers' rights, with particular attention the the minimum wage rules. The Party also underlines the need for a tax reform to reduce the tax burden and to ensure more fairness and sustainable development. Additionally, there is the need to redistribute financial resources to the weaker areas of the country, included the so-called "banlieux".

Environment

The PS will fight against climate change, biodiversity reduction, natural resources' crisis and pollution. In particular, PS's policies aim at totally abandoning fossil fuels. Additionally, the party promotes an economic model based on agroecology and an industrial policy based on R&D.

Reforms

The PS will work to promote institutional renewal, gender equality in French institutions, transparency and open-government. On the other hand, it will fight against the holding of more than one office and against lobbies' influence in the Parliament. The party supports a justice reform, whose purpose should be represented by a stronger judiciary independence and a more effective protection for whistleblowers. Socialists will also fight against centralism, in order to give more independence to local authorities. Finally, the party hope for a stronger role of trade unions, both in their negotiations with the Government and with industry representatives.

Europe

The PS aims at rebuild European Union, carrying out new economic, development, welfare and occupation policies in order to improve the life quality of the European citizens. It is necessary to give common answers to common problems, such as immigration crisis and climate change.

Manifesto’s main points

France is a founder and heavyweight member of the PES and has been since the period of the Confederation of socialist parties of the European Community, ancestor of the PES.

French MPs represent 7% of the PES representation at the European Parliament .

François Hollande is one of 9 socialist heads of state of member countries of the EU.

Although the recent trend of fiscal austerity imposed by the European Union has gone against traditional socialist values defended by the PS, European integration remains an important part of the party’s goals.

Signed in 2015 by the party, the Europe Resolution describes European integration directed towards the protection of citizens and of the environment as one of the party’s furthermost goal.

The Party’s fragile position in France could signify a loss of weight at the European level and the need to rebuild a representation at the PES.

The Party

Key-Actors

Manifesto’s main points

The Party within the PES

In January 2017, Martin Schulz, the former president of the European parliament, was announced as the Social Democrat´s candidate for the German Chancellorship in September 2017, after Sigmar Gabriel had announced he would not stand for re-election as party leader.

The Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) is the junior partner in a grand coalition with the CDU/CSU under the leadership of Chancellor Angela Merkel.

With 25.7% of the electoral votes, the SPD holds 193 seats (out of 630) in the Bundestag.

Furthermore, he became the party´s chairman on the 19th of March, having 100% of the votes. After the nomination, the survey results increased to the highest level in the last ten years and over 10.000 persons has joined the SPD. On the 12th of February 2017, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, was elected as 12th President of Germany.

2002

2005

2009

38,5%

34,2%

23,0%

1999

2004

2009

2014

30,1%

21,5%

20,8%

27,3%

National Elections

European Elections

2013

25,7%

Martin Schulz

Hannelore Kraft

Aydan Özoguz

Thorsten Schäfer-Gümbel

Olaf Scholz

Manuela Schwesig

Ralf Stegner

Katarina Barley

Sigmar Gabriel

39.694

105.000

14.915

35.000

21.102

8.763

79.476

170.000

341.129

418.000

--

--

17.954

12.800

14.549

--

18.745

26.500

Chairman and candidate for chancellorship.

Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia Vice Chairwoman of the SPD in German Member of the SPD executive board Chairwoman of the SPD in North Rhine-Westphalia

Vice Chairwoman of the SPD in Germany

Minister of State Member of the Bundestag

Vice Chairman of the SPD in Germany Regional Chairman and Whip of the SPD in Hesse

Mayor of Hamburg Vice Chairman of the SPD in Germany Regional Chairman of the SPD in Hamburg

Vice Chairman of the SPD in Germany Regional Chairman and Whip of the SPD in Schleswig-Holstein

Secretary General of the SPD in Germany. Federal Minister of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth in the federal Cabinet of Angela Merkel, serving since 2 June 2017.

Vice Chancellor and Minister for Foreign Affairs

Vice Chairwoman of the SPD in Germany Federal Minister of Family Affairs Senior Citizens Women and Youth

Economy

A strong economy with a just society A society that wants to be permanently successful needs a strong cohesion. Therefore, affordable living space and just taxes are needed. We invest in the future and provide a perfect basis with the energy transition. ·

Work

· Good work, fair payment and just pension

• We introduced the minimum wage in order to pay a just wage for hard work.
• We want clear rules for temporary employment and work contracts.
• We introduced the women´s quota and a pension package for more justice and equality within the society.

Consumers

· A high level of protection for consumers

• Tenants have to be protected from price fluctuations, especially in large cities.
• Bank customers have to be protected from debt traps and financial risks and retail investors from non-transparent financial products.

Education

A good education for everyone A good education needs more daycare facilities for children, an integration of digital education in school, more money for equal opportunities and higher grants for students.

Manifesto’s main points

Climate

Clean environment and a healthy climate Germany needs clean, safe and affordable energy. We promote climate protection with structural changes, but without putting the affected persons at a disadvantage.

Security

· · Freedom and security

• We support a faster information exchange between the security services in Europe.
• We intensified laws in order to react to the changing situation in our country and in the world.

Municipalities

· A good life in strong municipalities A relief program was carried out in order to help cities and municipalities to discharge their debts. Furthermore, the Federal Republic of Germany contributes money to build daycare facilities for children and to support refugees.

Families

· We make families strong

• We want to support families so that work and family life can be combined in a better way.
• We want a fairer support for all children and a better support for single parents.

Digital Society

Our future in a digital society The digitalization of the production is of particular importance for Germany. New technologies present an opportunity to improve our fundamental values freedom, justice and solidarity.

Europe

Our Europe: solidary and strong The united Europe is our greatest achievement. We are a solidary community with the largest internal market in the world. We work hard to keep Europe together and to make it more democratic, economically more innovative and more equitable.

Germany is a considerable member of the Party of the PES. It is among the founding members of the PES and of the Confederation of the Socialist Parties of the European Union, the ancestor of the PES.

Today, the German member party provides 26% of PES representation in the European Parliament, with 27 members.

From 2012 to 2017, the current candidate for the chancellorship in Germany, Martin Schulz, was president of the European Parliament.

During the Greek crisis the SPD had adopted a principled European stance, refusing to make political capital out of the difficult position. Although there was a clear risk that this position could have come under pressure, the SPD´s actions appeared to epitomize the “solidarity” message proposed by the PES.

In its role as a founding member the SPD takes responsibility to strengthen the political, economic and social unity of Europe. Therefore, the unified social welfare system is needed among the economic and monetary union.

The Party

Manifesto’s main points

The Party within the PES

Key-Actors

PASOK has been a founding and active member of the Party of European Socialists (PES) since 1992.

The Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) constitutes the main social-democratic political party in Greece.

Founded in 1974 by Andreas G. Papandreou, PASOK has been a major political force both on national and European level.

Since June 2015, Ms Fofi Genimata serves as the incumbent elected President of the party and Head of the Democratic Alignment formed in 2015 as a political coalition comprising PASOK and other political forces of Social Democracy and the Democratic Left.

2000

2004

2007

2012

43,8%

40,6%

38,1%

12,7%

1999

2004

2009

2014

32,9%

34,0%

36,6%

8,0%

National Elections

European Elections

2009

43,9%

2015

5,5%

Pavlos Christides

Manolis Othonas

Andreas Loverdos

Vasilis Kegkeroglou

--

935

--

3.491

--

5.277

12.694

37.500

Fofi Gennimata

24.100

22.500

Evaggelos Venizelos

23.131

72.400

Nikos Androulakis

Evi Christophilopoulou

Nikos Salagiannis

Eva Kaili

--

8.064

--

5.940

70.799

60.800

--

--

Odysseas Konsantinopoulos

8.759

10.100

Sylvana Rapti

--

1.622

Party Spokesman and Secretary of the Party’s Youth Organization.

Head of Mrs. Gennimata office. A former Minister and Member of Parliament, he is the de facto “right hand” of the Chairwoman. Member of the Political Council, the Party highest ranking executive body.

University Professor and long-serving Member of the Parliament (2nd Athens District). Former Minister of Health and Social Solidarity, Labor and Social Insurance and Education and Religious Affairs in various governments. A candidate for the Party presidency in 2015, lost to Mrs. Gennimata.

Secretary of the Parliamentary Group. Member of Parliament (Irakleio District, Crete) and a former Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Insurance and Welfare.

PASOK Chairwoman. Former Minister in various governments. Led the party to an improved electoral result in the latest elections, reversing a series of shrinking percentages under her predecessors.

University Professor and former Party Chairman (2012-2015). Long-serving Member of Parliament, since 1993 (1st Thessaloniki District) and a former Vice-President of the Government and Minister in various Ministries. Vice-President of the Socialist Group of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

Member of the European Parliament, former Party Secreatry.

University Professor and Member of the Parliament (Attica District). Former Deputy Minister of Education and Religious Affiars (twice) and of Administrative reform and E-governance.

Party General Director (in charge of Party administration services). Former Member of the Parliament and former Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications. Member of the Political Council.

Member of the European Parliament, former TV presenter.

Member of Parliament (Arkadia District) and former Deputy Minister of Development and Competitiveness. A candidate for the Party presidency in 2015, lost to Mrs. Gennimata.

Journalist and former Member of the European and Greek Parliaments. Member of the Political Council.

Reforms

Undertake active reforms in the fields of Environment and Quality of Life. Highlight the importance of Regional Planning as the basis for a socially inclusive National Development Strategy.

Nation

· Build a modern citizen-friendly State, based on transparency, meritocracy, accountability and a real decentralised structure actively supporting Local Administration.

Development

Strengthen Development, attracting investment, supporting entrepreneurship emphasising on young people (“Programme Greece”).

Manifesto’s main points

Political system

Reinforce a reliable and transparent political system, safeguarding the independence of Justice and state institutions. ·

Social State

Recreate an effective Social State to safeguard social coherence and promote energetic policies against unemployment.

Health

Develope a new National Health System ensuring every citizen’s access to high-quality health services.

Europe

Support reform policies on a European level, targeting to a politically unified EU that will regain the active support of the peoples of Europe and will efficiently tackle xenophobia and racism.

Education

Upgrade the quality of the Educational System to transform it into a “key-factor” for the access of young people to employment and entrepreneurship.

One of the most stable and time-enduring features of PASOK has been its extrovert approach to politics and its active and continuous presence on the international political scene.

Over the past years PASOK has developed strong and well-founded relationships with numerous other socialist and democratic parties from all over Europe and the rest of the world.

It is a founding member of the Party of European Socialists promoting the values of democracy, freedom, equality, peace and justice in Greece. Mrs F. Genimata in her capacity as President of the party regularly and actively participates in PES conferences and high-level meetings, along numerous other main political figures of the Party.

PASOK is an indispensable part of the PES movement, coordinating regularly with the Party and its several organisations (PES Activists, PES Women) to undertake common steps and actions towards a more progressive Europe.

The Party

Key-Actors

Manifesto’s main points

The Party within the PES

Partito Democratico was created as the merger of the two main Italian reformist forces, i.e. the post-communist and the Christian-democrats parties. Its debut at the general elections in 2008 marked a strong defeat, and PD was then obliged to support Mario Monti's technical Government (2011-2013). This resulted in its "half defeat" at the 2013 general elections, when PD was unable to achieve a majority at the Senate.

The country is now led by PM Gentiloni, a supporter of Renzi. His Cabinet is the exact copy of Renzi's previous government, apart from the fact that its momentum is now over.

Over the past years, PD has been marked by strong internal frictions between the left-wing minority and Secretary Matteo Renzi. Such a situation finally resulted in such minority splitting from the party and to a new congress stage in which Renzi defeated his opponents inside the Party: the Minister of Justice Andrea Orlando and the President of the Apulia Region, Michele Emiliano.

On the Government front as well, PD has been going through tough time: the internal left found that the reforms of the Renzi Government were too center-wing, and opposed many of them. Former Prime Minister Renzi stumbled on several occasions during the path leading to the ambitious goals he had announced; in December 2016 he ended up losing the referendum on his proposal for a constitutional reform and consequently resigned from his post.

Waiting for the next elections, PD still is the strongest "moderate" Italian party. Its opponents, the centre-right coalition and the M5S, are very competitive. In this context, PD could extend its electoral basis thanks to an alliance with other left parties, but this perspective is uncertain, after the conflicts of last months. The decision about the party's future strategies must be taken in the next weeks.

2001

2006

2008

2013

31,1%

31,3%

33,2%

25,4%

1999

2004

2009

2014

30,7%

31,1%

26,1%

40,1%

National Elections

European Elections

Matteo Renzi

Matteo Orfini

GianniPittella

DavidSassoli

PatriziaToia

PaoloGentiloni

Andrea Orlando

MaurizioMartina

Dario Franceschini

Graziano Delrio

Michele Emiliano

1.089.439

3.002.000

74.812

120.000

117.933

137.000

36.007

59.900

48.955

37.000

120.758

89.600

3.715

4.636

47.669

122.000

55.161

300.000

22.358

224.000

42.178

190.000

Former Prime Minister (2014-2016) PD Secretary (2013-in charge)

PD President (2014-in charge) Member of the Chamber of Deputies since 2013

Chairman (O “Chief-Whip”) of the S&D group at the European ParliamentEuropean Parliament Vicar Vice-President from 2009 to 2014MEP since 1999

European Parliament Vice-President Head of PD Delegation to the European Parliament from 2009 to 2014. MEP since 2009.

Head of PD Delegation to the European Parliament Former Minister for Relationship with Parliament Former Minister for EU Affairs MEP since 2004

Minister for Justice (2014-in charge) Former Minister for the Environment Leader of the party's left wing

Minister for Agriculture Former Undesecretary of the Minister for Agriculture He endorses Matteo Renzi for Secretary

Minister for Culture Former Minister for Relationship with Parliament Former PD Secretary (february 2009-november 2009) Member of the Chamber of Deputies since 2001

Prime Minister Former Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2014 to 2016 Former Minister for Communications Member of the Chamber of Deputies since 2001

Minister for Infrastructures and Transports Former Deputy Prime Minister Former Minister for Regional Affairs

Apulia Region Governor since 2015 Former Major of Bari Run for PD Secretary in 2017 Party Congress

Welfare

Today's social security system should be reviewed, shifting from the current "compensatory" approach to a new strategy aimed at minimizing the negative effects of adverse events on people's life. The welfare system should be universal: social rights need to be guaranteed to all categories of citizens. Work is needed to establish a "wage of inclusion", and stronger efforts are required for women employment (more flexibility in terms of work time and better family allowances).

Taxation

The resources to keep it all this operational should be retrieved through a deep spending review effort, speeding up digitalization in the PA, recovering tax evasion and avoidance, and imposing taxation on the profits of the digital economy, though without penalising innovation. Measures should also be put in place to support families, for instance envisaging that kindergarten expenses may be deducted from the taxable income. A comprehensive reform is required, moving towards the reduction of the tax burden on labour and more equality, also envisaging decontribution for women and youth employment. We propose to establish a two-track progressive system, based on both income and age.

Manifesto’s main points

Europe

The challenges of today's world - security and the economic crisis, above all - should be tackled at European level. In order to counter the current drift towards sovereigntism, Europe should grow to become more and more a political rather than an economic Union, with the President of the European Commission being directly elected and with two levels of government in place: one at federal level - with its own budget - and another one at inter-governmental level. In view of such a change, we propose to hold primary elections to choose the PES candidate for President of the Commission. Furthermore, the EU needs to strip investments in security, research and culture away from the budget rules. A European unemployment insurance is also required, along with the investment in resources to fight against educational poverty, establishing a European defence force, and achieving a true EU foreign policy that would mainly focus on the management of migration flows in the Mediterranean.

Employment

Employment policies should be reviewed taking into account the impact of new technologies on labour. A new person-centered training system should be pursued - to follow workers within and outside the company - co-financed by enterprises and State funds. Under such a system, workers will be able to stay at pace with technological evolutions. Youth unemployment needs to be tackled by strengthening dual training systems (i.e. alternating learning and work), through a decontribution of open-end employment contracts in the first three years (building on the provisions of the Jobs Act) and by improving the services related to active employment policies. When it comes to the sectors that most suffered from the economic crisis and globalization, new forms of income support should be devised, such as for instance the NASpI allowance, applicable during the time necessary to train and re-qualify workers. Other social benefits instruments are needed for self-employed workers who are not entitled to NASpI, in order to allow them to have a minimum income.

Healthcare

Greater investment is required to achieve a generational turnover in medical staff, to cut down waiting lists and, broadly, to improve the services provided to ill people.

In 2009, PD joined the S&D Group (the only Group of the European Parliament gathering MEPs from all 28 Member States) and, in 2014 it joined PES.

At the European elections of 2014, PD was the party in the PES that attained most votes; Gianni Pittella became the new President of the S&D Group on the same year.

The Italian delegation (not only PD) is the one with most members both within PES and the S&D Group.

Having a few MEPs left PD, the party is now the second political force in the S&D Group with 25 members, just behind the German delegation with 27. The Italian party is therefore able to strongly influence the political agenda of the European socialists.

The delegation of PD at the European Parliament is playing a key role on controversial files such as immigration, the vote on CETA, the fight against austerity and the co-financing of spending caused by natural disasters in Central Italy.

The Bureau of the S&D Group (President is Gianni Pittella) is tasked with reaching a compromise among the stances of the diverse souls in the Group.

The Party

Key-Actors

Manifesto’s main points

The Party within the PES

A meeting of the Federal Committee of PSOE held in October 23rd decided to abstain in the investiture of Rajoy amid internal struggle. Rajoy was thus re-elected with the abstention of the majority of Socialist MPs.

After the resignation of Pedro Sánchez as Secretary General in last october, a leaderless and deeply divided PSOE became controlled by an interim committee chaired by the current President of Asturias region, Javier Fernández, known for his dialogue and consensus capacities.

From the very beginning, Fernández was in favour of a “technical abstention” in the voting to invest Mariano Rajoy (People’s Party) as President of the Government.

Since January 14th 2017, Javier Fernández proposed to celebrate primary elections in May 14th and an extraordinary party congress in June 17th and 18th. During the 39th party congress, Pedro Sanchez has been surprisingly re-elected as General Secretary of PSOE, proposing a left wing political line and casting doubt on his support to Rajoy government .

2000

2004

2008

2011

34,2%

42,6%

43,9%

28,1%

1999

2004

2009

2014

35,9%

43,4%

38,5%

23,0%

National Elections

European Elections

2015

22,0%

2016

22,6%

Cristina Narbona

Pedro Sánchez

Susana Díaz

Miquel Iceta

Javier Fernández

Emiliano García-Page

Guillermo Fernández-Vara

Ximo Puig

Patxi López

215.062

562.000

--

18.000

24.493

205.000

29.308

119.000

19.346

41.200

7.752

14.400

14.445

27.400

14.270

--

17.883

36.100

President of the PSOE. Member of the PSOE since 1993. From April 2004 to April 2008, she was Minister of Environment. She has been chosen in 2017 by Secretary General Pedro Sánchez to preside over the PSOE.

Pedro Sánchez made the announcement of his candidacy during a meeting with Socialist base members in Andalusia - a domain close to the regional president Susana Díaz. He laid out the primary elections as a “plebiscite” to choose between two different views of the Socialist Party: a true left-wing PSOE in which base members decide vs a PSOE that did not block a right-wing government. In June 2017 he became the Secretary-General elect of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)

President of Andalusia since 2013. She placed herself second in the race to party secretary.

Leader of the Partit dels Socialistes de Catalunya. He is currently a deputy in the Catalan Parliament and a member of the PSOE's Federal Executive Committee since July 2008. He was a member of the paper for the reform of the current Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia.

President of Castilla-La Mancha since 2015. Since February 2012, he has also been General Secretary of Castilla-La Mancha socialists.He was mayor of Toledo between 2007 and 2015 and senator for Castilla-La Mancha between 2011 and 2015.

President of the Government of Extremadura since 2015. He supported Susana Díaz and recently criticised Pedro Sanchez’s political ideals for the country and the party.

President of the Valencian Generality since June 28, 2015. He is general secretary of the Socialist Party of the Valencian federation of the Spanish Socialist Party.

He has been Secretary General of the Asturian Socialist Federation since November 4, 2000 and President of the Principality of Asturias since May 26, 2012. He was President of the PSOE Management Commission from October 1, 2016 until the election of Pedro Sánchez.

Actual Secretary of Federal Policy of the PSOE. He placed himself third in the race to the party secretary. From January to June 2016 President of the Congress. From 2009 to 2012 former President of the Basque Country.

Manifesto’s main points

Climate Change

Increase energy efficiency and promote change through the replacement of fossil fuels to renewable energies.

Economy

Repeal the existing labour reform to create quality jobs and livable wages. Promote an alliance with the trade union to foster a framework of collective bargaining. Strengthen stability and quality of employment through maximising part-time employment. Set the minimum wage in ‘1,000 euros a month to reach the 60% of the average wage’ and promote a basic income rent. Neutralise the power of the oligopolies in public policies.

Taxation

Review the taxation to levy the benefits which come from the work carried out by intelligent machines that substitute the wage labour. Reshape the fiscal policy reforming taxation and redefining the estate and wealth tax. No tax amnesties, European fiscal harmonisation and abolishing tax havens.

Reforms

· Federal constitutional reform with the aim of maintaining sovereignty in the Spanish population and which improves the recognition of the multinational character of the State mentioned in article 2 of the Constitution. Spain is formed by different nationalities. Incorporate EU membership into the Constitution.

To guarantee the commitment of the ECB not only price stability but also to the economic and employment growth.

To stand for the progress in the banking union and the establishment of a European employment insurance which aims at alleviating the negative effects of the Politics of the European Union.

The Party

Key-Actors

Manifesto’s main points

The Party within the PES

Blair’s New Labour went on to lead the most successful Labour government. He himself becoming the one of only two Prime Minister’s to oversee three consecutive General Election victories. Blair eventually stepped down, replaced by his Chancellor Gordon Brown. Brown was unable to hold the Labour majority, which was lost at the 2010 General Election.

In the snap 2017 general election, despite all pools was giving him as an underdog, Corbyn increased the share of popular vote to 40%, resulting in a gain of 32 seats and a hung parliament.

Founded in the late 1800s, the Labour Party is traditionally a centre-left, socialist party with historic ties to trade unions and working class people.

After a divisive leadership election in 2010, Labour were defeated resoundingly in 2015 (under Ed Miliband). Following Miliband’s resignation, veteran MP Jeremy Corbyn rode a wave of left-wing populism to win the 2015 leadership election.

2001

2005

2010

2015

40,7%

35,2%

30,4%

2004

1999

2009

2014

26,3%

21,9%

15,3%

24,7%

Elezioni nazionali

Elezioni europee

2017

40,0%

29,0%

Jeremy Corbyn

John McDonnell

Tom Watson

Dan Jarvis

Chuka Umunna

Clive Lewis

Rebecca Long-Bailey

Len McCluskey

70.658

212.000

1.363.404

1.350.000

76.568

125.000

45.333

21.100

15.849

59.000

21.307

56.400

--

25.100

--

--

Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition since 2015. He identifies himself as a democratic socialist. MP since 1983. As a backbench MP he was known for his activism and rebelliousness, frequently voting against the Labour whip.

MP for Hayes and Harlington from 1997. Twice attempted to run for leadership of the Labour party, in 2007 and 2010. In 2015, he finally made it into a senior position when he was appointed Shadow Chancellor by Jeremy Corbyn.

Deputy Leader of the Labour PartyFormer Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office) (2008 to 2009) Former Assistant Whip (HM Treasury) (2007 to 2008 Former Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Veterans) (2006 to 2006) Former Lord Commissioner (HM Treasury) (Whip) (2005 to 2006) Former Assistant Whip (HM Treasury) (2004 to 2005) in government.

MP since 2011 Former Shadow Minister (Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs) (2015 to 2015) Former Shadow Minister (Justice) (2013 to 2015), Former Shadow Minister (Culture, Media and Sport) (2011 to 2013) He is considered a moderate.

MP since 2015 Former Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (2016 to 2017), Former Shadow Secretary of State for Defence (2016 to 2016) Former Shadow Minister (Energy and Climate Change) (2015 to 2016)

Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy since February 2017. Elected as MP for Salford and Eccles in the 2015, she was one of 36 Labour MPs to nominate Jeremy Corbyn as a candidate in the Labour leadership election of the same year. In June 2016, she was appointed as Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury after mass resignations from the shadow cabinet necessitated a reshuffle.

Whilst not an MP, as the General Secretary of Britain’s largest Trade Union, Unite, McCluskey is a significantly influential figure in the Labour Party. McCluskey had been an ardent supporter of Jeremy Corbyn throughout his leadership.

Shadow Business Secretary under last the Party leadership of Ed Miliband.He is considered a moderate.

Work

Security at work.

Homes

Secure homes for all (investment in decent homes).

Environment

Action to secure the environment.

Manifesto’s main points

According to Corbyn, the Party is in the process of developing new policies on social affairs, industrial investment and the economy, through a series of roadshows and engagement with voters.

Finance

Democracy in the economy.

Social State

Cut income and wealth inequality (investment in decent jobs)

Health

Secure NHS and social care.

World

Peace and justice abroad.

Education

A free National Education Service (for all).

Economy

An economy that works for all. ·

Justice

Reinforce a reliable and transparent political system, safeguarding the independence of Justice and state institutions.

The Labour Party has an active history in Socialism across Europe. There were a founder member of the Party of European Socialists (PES).

On the European Parliament, the Party is represented by its 20 MEPs, where they form a part of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats.

Represented by Emma Reynolds in the PES Presidency, Labour are the second largest group in the European Parliament.

The Party was also a founding member of the Progressive Alliance in 2013. Due to this, Labour has particularly strong ties with the Social Democratic Party of Germany.

In the past few weeks, Jeremy Corbyn invited delegates from businesses, trade unions, NGOs and socialist MPs from Britain and the continent to an alternative Brexit summit.

At the conference, the Labour leader spoke of what he perceives as widespread Socialist ‘disappointment’ across Europe in the Government’s vision for Brexit.