Socialists on the march in Spain and France - Bad weekend for European conservatives 

10 March 2008

Socialists gave European conservatism a bad weekend - keeping power in Spain and getting strong results in local elections in France. 

"This has been a bad weekend for European conservatives" said Rasmussen. "Socialists are on the march in Spain and France, and there's still everything to fight for in Italy."

PES President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen said "Finally, the tide is turning and people are saying no to the conservatives. No to cuts in social spending, no to setting community against community, no to the conservative's passive leave-it-all-to-the-market response to the economic crisis, no to insecurity and fear."  

"The people of Spain have said loud and clear that they believe in a progressive, confident, forward-looking government" said Poul Nyrup Rasmussen. "They have said a decisive no to the conservatives' policy of fear. This is good news for Spain and good news for Europe. I am confident the second Zapatero Government will continue to offer more jobs and better life opportunities for all the people of Spain, and give Spain a stronger role in shaping the destiny of the European Union. Spain can be a flagship for our vision of a New Social Europe." 

"By winning a second term Zapatero becomes a very senior figure in European politics."

"In France the Parti Socialiste has defied those who wanted to pronounce it dead after last year's Presidential election" said Poul Nyrup Rasmussen. "The Parti Socialiste is alive and well in cities and villages across France, and running local services extremely competently."

"The people of France have sent a clear message - we want the Parti Socialiste to run local services for families and children. There is a better way than Sarkozy" said Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, "a way of solidarity, cohesion, of decent social policy and education. And the people of France know it. They know, and they have shown through the ballot box, that the Parti Socialiste is the only force that can deliver."  

Looking forward to the Italian elections next month Rasmussen said "There is still everything to fight for in Italy. There is growing support for Walter Veltroni and his new Democratic Party, and for Enrico Boselli and his Socialist Party. One thing is clear: many European conservatives will be as alarmed about the danger of getting Berlusconi back as we are."     

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Julian Scola, Communications Advisor - Media & Campaigns
Party of European Socialists, Rue du Trône, 98, B-1050 Brussels
Mobile +32 486 117 394,