PES Manifesto

Esteban Romero: The political agenda of the left

Published Monday, April 28, 2008 at 14:45
by eromerof in New Social Europe (281 views and 2 comments)

Nowadays, the panorama of the left in Europe does not seem to be very tempting. Only 7 out of 27 countries belonging to EU are ruled by socialist parties. These are: United Kingdom, Portugal, Spain, Hungary, Bulgaria, Lithuania and Cyprus. We could argue that there is a lack of real political leadership, a leadership that in other decades was embodied by politicians such as Francois Mitterrand.

The political victory of Zapatero in Spain last march gives the Spanish socialism a great opportunity to implement and develop politics that can be seen as an example for other European countries. It generates a new opportunity to take the initiative in the European context. Whereas the majority of countries in South America are governed by left parties, sometimes with a strong and questionable populist sense, and whereas United States are given an opportunity to give the power again to the Democratic party, regardless of whether Clinton or Obama wins, the European left movement needs to reshape its political agenda, taking the initiative and dismantling the demagogic and populist discourse of conservative countries, too much focused on very sensitive and easy to be manipulated issues such as security, migration, taxes...

From a Spanish perspective, I would like to introduce some of the main points for a socialist agenda. An agenda that is already set in Spain, but that certainly can be useful for setting up priorities on the European level:

1.- Reform of the economic system. Economic politics should promote a change in the production model so that the next growth period after this world economic crisis can be seized from better conditions. The 2000 Lisbon Agenda must be updated to reinforce the goals of a European economy based in knowledge and new technologies. Education and equal opportunities are basic parameters in this sense.

2.- Fight against climate change. The consecuences of climate change are not only environmental, but also socioeconomic. This process represents a huge opportunity for economical, social and cultural transformation.

3.- Inmigration. Some issues are esential:

• Linking the job demand and offer so that it is possible to have legal and sustainable inmigration process.
• Fostering the economic, political and social development of developing countries, within a framework of respect to their cultures and particularities but, at the same time, standing for human rights being respected throughout the world.
• Promoting inmigrants to return to their home countries in order to contribute more consistently to their economies.
• Avoiding the knowledge decapitalization of developing countries by taking from them the best skilled worker without any benefit being given in return.
• Searching new ways to integrate different cultures in our European society, sharing essential values of plurality and respect.

4.- Equality between men and women. Equality should not be seen only as a matter of social justice but also an issue of social efficiency. Diversity adds value to our societies and economies.

5.- Priority for public servicies and modernization of Public Administration.

6.- Multilateralism in foreign affairs.

All these political actions have to be achieved by empowering and enabling people to participate in the political process at a European, but also national and regional level. Manifesto 2009 project is surely one of the ways to transform the current status-quo.

Find a Spanish version at manifiesto2009.es

Esteban Romero

Tags: blogger of the week, climate change, development, diversity, equality, welfare, women