Party of European Socialists

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This article is about the europarty established in 1992. For the European Parliament Group and its predecessors, see Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats.
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Party of European Socialists
President Sergei Stanishev (BG)
Parliament Leader Martin Schulz (President) (DE)
Hannes Swoboda (Group Leader) (AT)
Founded 1953 (Group)
1973 (Confederation)
1992 (Party)
Headquarters Rue du Trône/Troonlaan 98, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
Youth wing YES
Women's wing PES Women
Ideology Social democracy[1]
Political position Centre-left
International affiliation Socialist International
European Parliament group Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats
Colours Red
European Parliament
188 / 754
European Council
(Heads of Government)
6 / 27
Council of the European Union
(Participation in Government)
14 / 27
National Upper House Seats
592 / 2,273
National Lower House Seats
1,725 / 7,124
Website
http://www.pes.eu

Politics of the European Union
Political parties
Elections

The Party of European Socialists (PES) is a social-democratic European political party. The PES comprises national-level political parties primarily from member states of the European Union (EU), and other nations of the European continent. The PES member parties are themselves members of the Socialist International. The PES forms the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) group in the European parliament. The PES also operates in the Committee of the Regions and the European Council. The PES is currently led by Sergei Stanishev, former Prime Minister of Bulgaria.

Contents

Name [edit]

The party's English name is "Party of European Socialists". In addition, the following names are used in other languages:

  • Partia Socialiste Europiane – Albanian
  • Partija europskih socijalista – Bosnian
  • Партия на европейските социалисти (Partiya na evropeyskite sotsialisti) – Bulgarian
  • Partit Socialista Europeu – Catalan
  • Evropská strana sociálně demokratická – Czech
  • Plaid y Sosialwyr Ewropeaidd – Welsh
  • De Europæiske Socialdemokrater – Danish
  • Sozialdemokratische Partei Europas – German
  • Páirtí Sóisialach na hEorpa – Irish
  • Euroopa Sotsialistlik Partei – Estonian
  • Ευρωπαϊκό Σοσιαλιστικό Κόμμα (Evropaïkó Sosialistikó Kómma) – Greek
  • Partido Socialista Europeo – Spanish
  • Partio de Eŭropaj Socialdemokratoj – Esperanto
  • Europako Alderdi Sozialista – Basque
  • Parti socialiste européen – French
  • Euroopan sosialidemokraattinen puolue – Finnish
  • Stranka europskih socijalista – Croatian
  • Flokkur evrópskra sósíalista – Icelandic
  • Páirtí na Sóisialaithe Eorpach - Irish
  • Partito del Socialismo Europeo – Italian
  • Социјалдемократски сојуз на Македонија - (Socijaldemokratski sojuz na Makedonija) Macedonian
  • Partit tas-Soċjalisti Ewropej – Maltese
  • Europos socialistų partija – Lithuanian
  • Európai Szocialisták Pártja – Hungarian
  • Partij van de Europese Sociaaldemocraten – Dutch
  • Eiropas Sociāldemokrātiskā partija – Latvian
  • Det europeiske sosialdemokratiske partiet – Norwegian
  • Partia Europejskich Socjalistów – Polish
  • Partido Socialista Europeu – Portuguese
  • Partidul Socialiștilor Europeni – Romanian
  • Партия европейских социалистов (Partiya evropeyskikh sotsialistov) – Russian
  • Pàirtaidh na Sòisealaichean Eorpaich - Scottish Gaelic
  • Strany európskych socialistov – Slovak
  • Stranka evropskih socialistov – Slovenian
  • Партија европског социјализма (Partija evropskog socijalizma) – Serbian
  • Europeiska socialdemokratiska partiet – Swedish
  • Avrupa Sosyalistler Partisi – Turkish

History [edit]

1960s [edit]

In 1961, the Socialists in the European Parliament attempted to produce a common European Socialist Programme but were neglected due to the applications of Britain, Denmark, Ireland and Norway to join the European Communities. The Socialist's 1962 congress pushed for greater democratisation and powers for Parliament though it was only in 1969 that this possibility was examined by the member states.

1970s [edit]

In 1973, Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom joined the European Community bringing in new parties from these countries. The enlarged Socialist Congress met in Bonn and inaugurated the Confederation of the Socialist Parties of the European Community. The Congress also passed a resolution on social policy, including the right to decent work, social security, democracy and equality in the European economy.[2] In 1978, the Confederation of Socialist Parties approved the first common European election Manifesto. It focused on several goals among which the most important were to ensure a right to decent work, fight pollution, end discrimination, protect the consumer and promote peace, human rights and civil liberties.

1980s [edit]

The Luxembourg Congress approved the first Statue of the Confederation of Socialist Parties in 1980. The accession of Greece in 1981, followed by Spain and Portugal in 1986 brought in more parties. In 1984 another common Socialist election manifesto was approved at a congress in Luxembourg. The Manifesto proposed a socialist remedy for the economic crisis by establishing a link between industrial production, protection of the fundamental social benefits and the fight for an improved quality of life.[2]

1990s [edit]

In 1992, with the European Communities becoming the European Union and with the Treaty of Maastricht establishing the framework for political parties at the European Level, the Confederation was able to mobilize a majority of delegates in favour of transforming the Confederation into the Party of European Socialists. The first programme of the party concentrated on job creation, democracy, gender equality, environmental and consumer protection, peace and security, regulation of immigration, discouragement of racism and fighting organised crime.[2]

2000s [edit]

In 2004 Poul Nyrup Rasmussen defeated Giuliano Amato to be elected President of the PES, succeeding Robin Cook in the post. He was re-elected for a further 2.5 years at the PES Congress in Porto on 8 December 2006 and for another 2.5 years at the Prague Congress in 2009.

He resigned at the PES Progressive Convention of Brussels on 24 November 2011, and was replaced by Sergei Dmitrievich Stanishev, chairman of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), elected PES Interim President, by acclamation, by the PES Presidency.

On the same day, the PES Council made the decision that the next PES candidate for Commission President would be democratically elected through a PES presidential primary taking place in January 2014.

Brussels Congress, September 28–29, 2012 [edit]

The Party of European Socialists (PES) held its latest Congress in Brussels on September 28–29, 2012.[3] These congresses are organized every two and a half years,[4] once during the year of the elections for the European Parliament, and once at mid-term. The latest Congress elected Sergei Stanishev as PES President, as well as four deputies: Jean-Christophe Cambadélis (1st Vice-President – Socialist Party (France)), Elena Valenciano (PSOE), Jan Royall ( Labour Party (UK)) and Katarina Nevedalova (SMER) and prepared the 2014 European elections. The same Congress elected Achim Post (Social Democratic Party of Germany) as new Secretary General.

The congress also adopted a process presented by the socialists as more democratic and transparent[5] for the selection of their candidate for the Presidency of the European Commission in 2014. The socialists hope to succeed to José Manuel Barroso [6] benefiting from the failure of the European right wings to find a way out of the crisis for Europe.

Presidents [edit]

Presidents of the Party of European Socialists and its predecessors.[7]

President State National party Term
1. Wilhelm Dröscher  Germany Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) April 1974 January 1979
2. Robert Pontillon  France Socialist Party (PS) January 1979 March 1980
3. Joop den Uyl  Netherlands Labour Party (PvdA) March 1980 May 1987
4. Vítor Constâncio  Portugal Socialist Party (PS) May 1987 January 1989
5. Guy Spitaels  Belgium Socialist Party (PS) February 1989 May 1992
6. Willy Claes  Belgium Socialist Party (SP) November 1992 October 1994
7. Rudolf Scharping  Germany Social Democratic Party (SPD) March 1995 May 2001
8. Robin Cook  United Kingdom Labour Party May 2001 24 April 2004
9. Poul Nyrup Rasmussen  Denmark Social Democrats (SD) 24 April 2004 24 November 2011
10. Sergei Stanishev  Bulgaria Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) 24 November 2011 –

Organisation [edit]

Social democracy
Red rose
Organizations
  • v
  • t
  • e

There are thirty-two full member parties from all the twenty-seven member states, Norway and Croatia. There are a further eleven associate and ten observer parties. PES is an associated organisation of the Socialist International. ECOSY - Young European Socialists is the youth organisation of PES and PES Women is the party's women's organisation, led by Zita Gurmai MEP.[8]

The parties meet at the party Congress twice every five years to decide on political orientation, such as adopting manifestos ahead of elections. Every year that the Congress does not meet, the Council (a quarter Congress) shapes PES policy. The Congress also elects the party's President, Vice Presidents and the Presidency.[8]

The President (currently former Prime Minister of Bulgaria Sergei Stanishev) represents the party on a daily basis and chairs the Presidency, which also consists of the Secretary General, President of the S&D group in Parliament and one representative per full/associate member party and organisation. They may also be joined by the President of the European Parliament (if a PES member), a PES European Commissioner and a representatives from associate parties and organisations.[8]

The Leader's Conference brings together Prime Ministers and Party Leaders from PES parties three to four times a year to agree strategies and resolutions.[8]

In Decembre 2009, disappointed by the European elections results, the PES decided to put forward a candidate for Commission President at all subsequent elections.[9] There is a campaign within the party to organise primaries to select this candidate.[10]

PES in the European institutions [edit]

Overview of the European institutions [edit]

Organisation Institution Number of seats
 European Union European Parliament
188 / 754
 European Union Committee of the Regions
116 / 344
 European Union European Commission
6 / 27
 European Union European Council
(Heads of Government)
7 / 27
 European Union Council of the European Union
(Participation in Government)
14 / 27
 Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly
69 / 318

European Parliament [edit]

Further information: Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats

European Commission [edit]

European Commissioners are meant to remain independent, however there has been an increasing degree of politicisation within the Commission.[11] Although the current Barroso Commission is dominated by Commissioners from the centre-right EPP (13/27) and the liberal ELDR (8/27), six of the twenty-seven Commissioners belong to PES.

Portfolio Commissioner State Europarty Photo
High RepresentativeFirst Vice-President;
Foreign Affairs and Security Policy		 AshtonCatherine Ashton
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
 PES
National: Labour		 Baroness Ashton headshot.jpg
CompetitionVice-President;
Competition		 AlmuniaJoaquín Almunia
Spain
Spain
 PES
National: PSOE		 Joaquin Almunia Mercosul.jpg
Inter-Institutional Relations and AdministrationVice-President;
Inter-Institutional Relations and Administration		 SefčovičMaroš Šefčovič
Slovakia
Slovakia
 PES
National: Smer-SD		 Maroš Šefčovič.jpg
Maritime Affairs and Fisheries DamanakiMaria Damanaki
Greece
Greece
 PES
National: PASOK		 Maria Damanaki.jpg
Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy FüleŠtefan Füle
Czech Republic
Czech Republic
 PES
National: ČSSD		 Stefan File.jpg
Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion AndorLászló Andor
Hungary
Hungary
 PES
National: MSZP		 László Andor - World Economic Forum on Europe 2010.jpg

European Council and Council of Ministers [edit]

States by the European party affiliations of their head of government[12]

Party-alignment at the European Council is often loose, but has been the basis of some intergovernmental cooperation. At present eight countries are led by a PES-affiliated leader, who represents that state at the European Council: Austria (Werner Faymann), Belgium (Elio Di Rupo), Croatia (Zoran Milanovic), Denmark (Helle Thorning-Schmidt), France (François Hollande), Malta (Joseph Muscat), Romania (Victor Ponta), and Slovakia (Robert Fico).

The makeup of national delegations to the Council of Ministers is at some times subject to coalitions: for the above governments led by a PES party, that party may not be present in all Council configurations; in other governments led by non-PES parties a PES minister may be its representative for certain portfolios. PES is in coalition in a further two countries: Ireland and Luxembourg.[13]

Overview [edit]

Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe [edit]

Further information: Socialist Group

Committee of the Regions [edit]

PES has 118 members in the Committee of the Regions as of 2012.[14]

National legislatures [edit]

Country Institution Number of seats
 Austria National Council
Lower house
57 / 183
Federal Council
Upper house
24 / 62
 Belgium Chamber of Representatives
Lower house
39 / 150
Senate
Upper house
11 / 40
 Bulgaria National Assembly
84 / 240
 Croatia Croatian Sabor
60 / 151
 Cyprus House of Representatives
5 / 56
 Czech Republic Chamber of Deputies
Lower house
56 / 200
Senate
Upper house
41 / 81
 Denmark The Folketing
44 / 179
 Estonia Riigikogu
19 / 101
 Finland Parliament
42 / 200
 France National Assembly
Lower house
280 / 577
Senate
Upper house
143 / 348
 Germany Bundestag
146 / 620
 Greece Parliament
25 / 300
 Hungary National Assembly
59 / 386
 Ireland Dáil
Lower house
38 / 166
Seanad
Upper house
12 / 60
 Italy Chamber of Deputies
Lower house
0 / 630
Senate
Upper house
1 / 315
 Latvia Saeima
0 / 100
 Lithuania Seimas
38 / 141
 Luxembourg Chamber of Deputies
13 / 60
 Malta House of Representatives
39 / 69
 Netherlands House of Representatives
Lower house
38 / 150
Senate
Upper house
14 / 75
 Norway Parliament
64 / 169
 Poland Sejm
Lower house
26 / 460
Senate
Upper house
0 / 100
 Portugal Assembly of the Republic
74 / 230
 Romania Chamber of Deputies
Lower house
158 / 412
Senate
Upper house
63 / 176
 Slovakia National Council
83 / 150
 Slovenia National Assembly
10 / 90
 Spain Congress of Deputies
Lower house
110 / 350
Senate
Upper house
65 / 266
 Sweden Parliament
112 / 349
 United Kingdom House of Commons
Lower house
261 / 650
House of Lords
Upper house
239 / 789

Member parties [edit]

With 32 members it is the only political party to have a member from every EU state, although not all of them have elected MEPs.[15]

State Name abbr. European MPs National MPs
 Austria Social Democratic Party of Austria SPÖ
5 / 17
56 / 183
 Belgium (Flanders Flanders) Socialist Party Different SP.a
2 / 22
2 / 13
13 / 150
13 / 88
 Belgium (Wallonia Wallonia) Socialist Party PS
3 / 22
3 / 8
26 / 150
26 / 62
 Bulgaria Bulgarian Socialist Party BSP
5 / 17
36 / 240
 Croatia Social Democratic Party of Croatia SDP
5 / 12
[16]
60 / 151
 Cyprus Movement for Social Democracy EDEK
1 / 6
[17]
5 / 56
 Czech Republic Czech Social Democratic Party ČSSD
7 / 22
56 / 200
 Denmark Social Democrats SD
4 / 13
44 / 179
 Estonia Social Democratic Party SDE
1 / 6
19 / 101
 Finland Social Democratic Party of Finland SDP
3 / 13
42 / 200
 France Socialist Party PS
13 / 72
280 / 577
 Germany Social Democratic Party of Germany SPD
23 / 99
146 / 620
 Greece Panhellenic Socialist Movement PASOK
8 / 22
28 / 300
 Hungary Hungarian Socialist Party MSZP
4 / 22
48 / 386
Hungarian Social Democratic Party MSZDP
0 / 22
0 / 386
 Ireland Labour Party Labour
3 / 12
 Italy Italian Socialist Party PSI
0 / 72
 Lithuania Social Democratic Party of Lithuania LSDP
2 / 12
 Luxembourg Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party LSAP
1 / 6
 Malta Labour Party PL
4 / 6
34 / 69
 Netherlands Labour Party PvdA
3 / 25
38 / 150
 Norway Labour Party DNA N/A[18]
 Poland Democratic Left Alliance SLD
5 / 51
Labor United UP
1 / 51
 Portugal Socialist Party PS
7 / 22
74 / 230
 Romania Social Democratic Party PSD
10 / 33
 Slovakia Direction – Social Democracy Smer
5 / 13
 Slovenia Social Democrats SD
1 / 7
 Spain Spanish Socialist Workers' Party PSOE
24 / 50
 Sweden Swedish Social Democratic Party SAP
5 / 18
 United Kingdom Labour Party Labour
13 / 72
13 / 69
Social Democratic and Labour Party SDLP
0 / 72
0 / 3
Associated parties
State Name abbr. Status
 Albania Socialist Party of Albania PSS Associate
 Bosnia and Herzegovina Social Democratic Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina SDP Associate
 Bulgaria Party of Bulgarian Social Democrats PBS Associate
 Iceland Social Democratic Alliance SDA Associate
 Macedonia Social Democratic Union of Macedonia SDSM Associate
 Montenegro Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro DPS Associate
Social Democratic Party of Montenegro SDP Associate
 Serbia Democratic Party DS Associate
 Switzerland Social Democratic Party of Switzerland SP/PS Associate
 Turkey Republican People's Party CHP Associate
Peace and Democracy Party BDP Associate
Observer parties
State Name abbr. Status
 Andorra Social Democratic Party PS Observer
 Israel Israeli Labor Party עבודה Observer
Meretz N/A Observer
 Latvia Social Democratic Party "Harmony" SDPS Observer
Latvian Social Democratic Workers' Party LSDSP Observer
 Moldova Democratic Party of Moldova PDM Observer
 Northern Cyprus Republican Turkish Party CTP Observer
 Palestine Fatah فتح Observer
 San Marino Party of Socialists and Democrats PSD Observer
 Tunisia Democratic Forum for Labour and Liberties FDTL Observer

References [edit]

  1. ^ Parties and Elections in Europe: The database about parliamentary elections and political parties in Europe, by Wolfram Nordsieck
  2. ^ a b c "History". Socialist Group website. Retrieved 11 November 2007. 
  3. ^ "Together for the Europe we need!". Zita Gurmai, President of PES Woman. 26 July 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2012. 
  4. ^ "PES Statutes adopted by the 8th Congress". PES. December 2009. Retrieved 8 August 2012. 
  5. ^ "Ethics in politics : For strong moral conduct through a strong moral code". PES Presidency declaration. 14 April 2011. Retrieved 8 August 2012. 
  6. ^ "Our common candidate for 2014. PES Resolution". PES Council. 24 November 2011. Retrieved 8 August 2012. 
  7. ^ "Former PES Presidents". PES website. Retrieved 21 January 2008. [dead link]
  8. ^ a b c d "How does PES work?". PES website. Retrieved 7 November 2007. [dead link]
  9. ^ "A New Direction for Progressive Societies. Resolution N. 2 A new way forward. Adopted by the 8th PES Congress". PES. 8 December 2009. Retrieved 17 October 2010. 
  10. ^ Phillips, Leigh (12 August 2010). "Socialists want US-style primaries for commission president candidate". EU Observer. Retrieved 17 October 2010. 
  11. ^ Mahony, Honor (7 May 2007). "Brussels struggles with communication policy.". EU Observer. Retrieved 12 May 2007. 
  12. ^ Does not account for coalitions. Image as of 18 May 2012. Key to colours is as follows;
      European People's Party
      Party of European Socialists
      European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party
      Independent
      Alliance of European Conservatives and Reformists
      Party of the European Left
  13. ^ "The Socialist Family in the EU". PES CoR Group website. Retrieved 7 November 2007. 
  14. ^ "PES Group Members". Retrieved 2012-12-17. 
  15. ^ "PES Members". PES website. Retrieved 7 November 2007. [dead link]
  16. ^ elected in April 2013
  17. ^ Kyriacos Mavronicholas, since June 2009
  18. ^ Norway is outside the European Union, hence this party does not participate in European elections.

External links [edit]

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