Two months after the launch of their political manifesto, dubbed 'People First: A new direction for Europe' (EurActiv 3/12/08), the Party of European Socialists (PES) is set to present a number of visual initiatives to get its message across.
"More than ever before, the European elections are about political choices. It is the choice between our vision of a progressive Europe […] or a conservative, regressive Europe," wrote PES president Poul Nyrup Rasmussen in his introduction to the manifesto. The cube is meant to be a striking and appealing campaign symbol, activists at the Brussels PES headquarters told EurActiv.
"We think the cube will add visual excitement, recognition and fun to the European election campaign," one campaigner said. "Give someone a cube and they will start turning it, looking at it and wondering what it is and what it is for. Like our manifesto, the cube is multi-faceted. Different people will see different sides depending on their point of view."
European Socialists have expressed deep pride in their manifesto, which sets out the PES's political choices in 71 concrete proposals. "Our manifesto deals with the crisis - unlike the Liberals' manifesto - and it is the only manifesto to feature equality between women and men," noted a PES spokesperson.
All party leaders and activists have had their picture taken with the cube. Spaniard José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, Frenchwoman Martine Aubry, German Franz Müntefering and others have agreed to use the cube in their own party's campaigns.
The cube will be available in several forms: A 'cut out and make your own' version will be included on the back of leaflets about the manifesto. It will also be available to download from the PES website. The message on the 3D cube has been translated into every EU language. The cube will also be available to download as a screen saver.
Other initiatives to be announced today include a photo competition ('Manifesto in every corner of Europe') and an online forum to spark debate about the various proposals. President Rasmussen and other high-level politicians are expected to start a tour of European capitals to talk to activists, stressing their key role as message multipliers.
