Now it is time for change – this time of a personal nature. My entire political career I have listened to the body politic and tried to make the best call. Now it is time to listen to the demands of my own body and make the responsible call. After several decades in national and European politics, the time has come for me to focus on my family, on projects close to my heart in Denmark and trying to stay in good shape.
This crucial phase for the PES has built on our biggest strength – it is based on our fundamental belief in solidarity. For eight years this strength has been a daily presence in my life; from my friends in all our Member Parties, in the S&D Group in the European Parliament and the PES group in the Committee of the Regions, from PES Women to the enthusiasm of our PES activists; from our Foundation FEPS, to the vibrancy of ECOSY, and from our tireless PES secretariat, led so ably by our Secretary General, Philip Cordery.
Our joint efforts have led us to this PES Convention – the biggest ever gathering of European Progressives. Our principles, clearly expressed, are firmly anchored in the roots of socialist and social democratic thought. We have spent eight years painstakingly building our platform. Now it will be up to you to use this platform to relaunch our shared dreams.
“Nothing makes the earth seem so spacious as to have friends at a distance; they make the latitudes and longitudes”. During my time as PES President, and throughout my political career, I have been blessed by fortune. I have been lucky enough to have many, many friends across the globe and across this great continent of Europe. I will remain, as you can expect, full of vigour and passion for our progressive cause. And I look forward to the energy and excitement at our Convention in a few days time.
Thank you so much for the wonderful messages of support.
