Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, who took over the party leadership in 2004 has significantly raised the profile of the PES, notably being at the forefront of creating new rules for financial markets on the European level after the start of the economic crisis and playing a key role during the recent nomination of Cathy Ashton as High Representative of the EU.
In his speech to the PES Congress, Poul Nyrup Rasmussen urged the PES and its member parties to learn the lessons of the 2009 European elections and to “reform or die”.
Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, PES President, called on the congress to “… equip itself with a vision, a programme and candidate to win the next European elections and to take the Presidency of the European Commission”. He called on the Congress to agree a mandate for change in the next five years.
In this speech Poul Nyrup Rasmussen stressed: “We must change the political priorities of Europe in the next five years. Europe needs a progressive recovery and long-term development strategy, a substantial reform of the financial system, a global climate deal, gender equality and a new Social Europe.”
He also called on the PES and its member party to increase its influence in the European institutions by coordinating action in the European and national institutions and mobilising all members in national parliaments and in the European Parliament to shape a new progressive European agenda, using the increased powers they have thanks to the Lisbon Treaty.
”We must strengthen our political family by renewing social democracy, by modernising our way of doing politics, by building the bridge between our national and our European parties, by stimulating the development of grassroots engagement, through our networks, organisations, PES activists, and citizens’ initiatives” Poul Nyrup Rasmussen added.
He concluded by calling on the PES congress: “Let’s make a pact for a new way of doing politics. Reform or die. This is our moment of truth.”
Notes to editors
Poul Nyrup Rasmussen’s speech is available here
A Mandate for Change: PES Strategy for the next five years
by Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, PES President
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We must change the political priorities of Europe in the next five years:
a) A progressive recovery and long-term development strategy;
b) Reforming the financial system;
c) A global climate deal;
d) Gender equality and a new Social Europe;
e) Progressive external action to shape the global order with our progressive international partners. -
We must increase our influence in the European institutions: a) Equipping ourselves with a vision, a programme and a candidate to win the European elections and take the Presidency of the European Commission;
b) Supporting PES opposition parties to win at national level and enter government;
c) Coordinating our action in the European and national institutions;
d) Mobilising all our members in national parliaments and in the European Parliament to shape a new progressive European agenda, using the increased powers they have thanks to the Lisbon Treaty;
e) Revitalizing PES networks, mobilising the most relevant decision-makers and thinkers of our member parties and organisations. -
We must strengthen our political family
a) By renewing social democracy;
b) By modernising our way of doing politics;
c) By building the bridge between our national and our European parties;
d) By stimulating the development of grassroots engagement, through our networks, organisations, PES activists, and citizens’ initiatives.
For further information please contact Silke Thomson on +32 2 548 90 85 or +32 476 94 22 70
