Spanish president: “The Social Democracy that some considered liquidated enjoys an iron health”

The 40th Congres of PSOE that took place over the weekend bore constructive results. Dubbed the congress of ´unity´ it ended with the election of a new federal executive with 95% support.

On Saturday (16 October), Sanchez started with a message of party unity by gathering the two former Socialist prime ministers, Jose Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and Felipe González. The latter has criticised Sanchez’s decisions frequently but finally gave his blessing.

The party announced a focus on ecology and feminism would be on its political agenda for the next few years. Moreover, it also compromised for the first time on abolishing prostitution in Spain.

Sánchez praised his party as the main “ecologist and feminist” party in Spain but also lamented a lack of strong green parties in Spain. “Many speculate about why green parties are not gaining strength in Spain. It is not because there is less environmental awareness. We Spaniards are committed people. The reason is the same as with feminism: it is because there is already an ecologist and feminist party, and it is called the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party”, he highlighted.

Finally, there were online interventions from the prime ministers of the Nordic countries, Portugal, New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern, Brazil’s Lula da Silva, Italy’s Enrico Letta, and Olaf Scholz, who will become the next German chancellor.

Scholz discourse was warmly received, and he pointed out that “our common future is a strong and united European Union. We are not just a community of 27 countries. He also confirmed his support for Sánchez and the rise of the social-democrats: “Let us work together for a Europe of solidarity that improves people’s lives”.

(Pol Afonso Fortuny | EURACTIV.com)