SPECIAL COVERAGE 2019 European Elections - lessons to be learnt

THEshutterstock © IBERIAN DRIVER FOR EUROPEAN SOCIAL DEMOCRACY

by Javi López

| If they both won the European election Today, the Iberian Peninsula is sending out a message of hope in their respective countries, the to the rest of the European continent. The Socialist parties Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa (p22) is currently in a clearer that lead the Portuguese and the Spanish governments have situation than Spanish Prime Minister both secured a remarkable 33 percent of electoral support Pedro Sánchez, whose PSOE party gained the most seats in April’s national in the recent European elections and are in a position to election but fell short of a majority. become a reference point for European Social Democracy as a whole.

n Spain, the electoral resurgence of the first successful motion of no-confidence such as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, for- PSOE (Spanish Socialist Worker's Party) in the four decades of Spanish democracy mer President of the European Parliament I at the hands of Pedro Sánchez deserves – a genuine black swan – brought the third Josep Borrell, and the Minister of Economy, a thorough analysis, since the country is Socialist, after Felipe González and José Luis the former Director General at the European today the most populated European country Rodríguez Zapatero, to the Presidency of the Commission Nadia Calviño. governed by Social Democracy and PSOE has Government. won the four elections held in the spring of The policies implemented by Sánchez’s cab- 2019: local, regional, general and European. Over the last year, the PSOE has had the inet over the last year have been aimed at chance to roll out a strong ‘red’, ‘purple’ and the rebuilding of the welfare state and the Pedro Sánchez became President of the ‘green’ agenda with a clear pro-European Spanish Government in June 2018 thanks character and in favour of modernisation Spain and Portugal, two beacons to a constructive motion of no-confi- of the country which largely explains the of hope for European Social dence against the previous Prime Minister election results. Pedro Sánchez formed the Democracy - @!avilopez Mariano Rajoy, after a harsh sentence for first Spanish cabinet with a large majority corruption which confirmed the existence of women, as well as ministers who were of systemic irregular funding in the cen- highly regarded in society, several of them tre-right Spanish Popular Party (PP). The having substantial experience in Brussels,

Summer-Autumn 2019 - The Progressive Post !12 21 SPECIAL COVERAGE 22 enced by the Spanish political system and and system political Spanish the by enced interact withtheprofound changes experi rent PSOE lies in their ability to assimilate and The virtue of the political formula of the cur of the country. transition green necessary the ensure that change climate against policies as well as feminist policies in favour of gender equality constitutional order and the development of the of defence the in strong but dialogue of agenda territorial a corruption, against fight the are priorities Other violence. der gen against spending in increase or leave of democracy (22.3%), increase in paternity increase in the minimum wage in the history largest the made and investments ductive pro consolidates that proposal budget a through economy the of modernisation movement that the new generations across the globe are demanding. to environmentalism adding items related traditional identity The traits of European PSOE has kept the Social Democracy Spanish feminist freedoms – while – redistribution and individual and the strong Progressive Post Post !12 - Summer-Autumn 2019 Summer-Autumn - - - - -

© shutterstock mented political system. do not guarantee easy governance in a frag elections in Andalusia. Good election results regional 2018 the after seen already have we which far-right, the and conservatives liberals, among agreements post-election of establishment the and fragmentation political the PSOE: and Sánchez Pedro for Back in Spain, there are two major challenges centre of the country. while occupying and redrawing the political progressivepolicies with left his on parties the with Parliament in agreements reach to government of Antonio Costa has managed solvent The deficit. and debt of reduction and benefits social and salaries of ment for its country: economic recovery, improve ment that has achieved spectacular results govern socialist minority a is government Portuguese The government”. “Gueringonça the formula: similar a following is Costa Antonio Minister Prime Portuguese The the globe are demanding. movement that the new generations across strong feminist the and Spanish mentalism to programme related items their to environ tion and individual freedoms – while adding of European Social Democracy – redistribu- they have kept the traditional identity traits time, same the party.At State trustworthy of role traditional their to true remain but reach agreements with their left (Podemos) - - - - a whole. example for European Social Democracy as very a an set could and nowadays not thing common is This position. electoral its the political temperature has strengthened understanding, serenity, andawillto lower of the conservative forces, the PSOE’s bet for In a tense and polarised context on account draw the attention of the whole of Europe. certainly should - Madrid in partners ical part of Ciudadanos - Macron’s alleged polit the on especially behaviour, This Spain. in the normalisation of the new far-right party rioration of some basic consensuses due to Pedro Sánchez’s government and the dete- maintains a high level of confrontation with that Vox far-right the and PP Ciudadanos, have level liberal the by formed block a consolidated local and regional at ments At the same time, the post-election agree Foreign Relations). of the Council of ECFR (European Council for Universityof Barcelona. He is also aMember Social Management at the UAB - Autonomous and Political for Leadership in Master a and University Fabra Pompeu - UPF the from the European Socialists. He has a Law Degree PresidencyPartyof – PES ofMember (PSOE) & Catalonia of Party Socialist - Affairs PSC the of European for Secretary the is He European Parliament since 2014 (S&D Group). López Javi ! AUTHOR has been a Member of the the of Member a been has - -