Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats

The Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D)[1] is the political group in the European Parliament of the Party of European Socialists (PES).[14] The Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats was officially founded as a Socialist Group on 29 June 1953 which makes it the second oldest political group in the European Parliament after the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Group (ALDE). It adopted its present-day name on 23 June 2009.[15] Centre-left in orientation,[16] the group mostly comprises social-democratic parties and is affiliated with the Progressive Alliance and Socialist International.

Progressive Alliance
of Socialists and Democrats
European Parliament group
NameProgressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats
English abbr.S&D[1]
(23 June 2009 to present)
French abbr.S&D[6]
(23 June 2009 to present)
Formal nameGroup of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament[1]
(23 June 2009 to present)
IdeologySocial democracy[11][12]
Pro-Europeanism
Factions:
Third way
Social liberalism
Democratic socialism
Political positionCentre-left[13]
European partiesParty of European Socialists
Associated organisationsProgressive Alliance
Socialist International
From23 June 1953[3]
ToPresent
Chaired byIratxe García
MEP(s)
145 / 705
Websitewww.socialistsanddemocrats.eu

Until the 1999 European Parliament elections, it was the largest group in the Parliament, but since then it has always been the second-largest group. During the 8th EU Parliament Assembly, the S&D was the only Parliament group with representation from all 27 EU member states. In the current EU Parliament the S&D is currently composed of 146 members from 25 member states.

In the European Council, 8 out of 27 Heads of State and Government belong to PES parties and in the European Commission, 8 out of 27 Commissioners come from PES parties.

History

The Socialist Group was one of the first three groups to be created when it was founded on 23 June 1953[3][17] in the Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community. The Common Assembly was the predecessor of the European Parliament. A group bureau and secretariat was established in Luxembourg. The group continued through the creation of the appointed Parliament in 1958 and, when the Parliament became an elected body in 1979 following the first European election, the group became the largest in terms of returned MEPs. It has ever since remained the largest or second largest Group.

In 1987, the Single European Act came into force and the group began co-operating with the European People's Party (EPP) to secure the majorities needed under the cooperation procedure.[18] The left–right coalition between the Socialists and EPP has dominated the Parliament since then[19] and the post of President of the Parliament has alternated between the two groups ever since, with some exceptions.[20]

Meanwhile, the national parties making up the group were also organising themselves on a European level outside the Parliament, creating the Confederation of Socialist Parties of the European Community in 1974.[4][5][21] The Confederation was succeeded by the Party of European Socialists (PES), in 1992.[4][21] As a result, the parliamentary group was renamed the Group of the Party of European Socialists on 21 April 1993.[3]

In 1999, the Parliament refused to approve the Santer Commission's handling of the EU budget. Allegations of corruption centred on two PES Commissioners, Édith Cresson and Manuel Marín. The group initially supported the Commission but later withdrew their support, forcing the Commission to resign.[22]

The group was renamed again to the Socialist Group in the European Parliament[7] on 20 July 2004[3] and was given a different logo, to further distinguish the PES group organisation from the PES European political party.

In 2007, the Socialist Group was the second largest group in Parliament, with MEPs from all but two member states, Latvia and Cyprus.[23] However, the 2009 European election saw a reduction in the number of PES MEPs returned from 2004. The group sought additional members in the Democratic Party of Italy, which was not affiliated to the PES in 2009.[24][25] By the conclusion of the 2004–2009 parliamentary term, the Democratic Party had 8 MEPs in the Socialist Group (coming from Democrats of the Left), but also had 8 MEPs in ALDE Group (coming from The Daisy). The Democratic Party is a big tent centre-left party, strongly influenced by social democracy and the Christian left, and had MEPs who were former Christian Democrats or had other political views.[26] So a new and more inclusive group name had to be found.

The group was going to be named Alliance of Socialists and Democrats for Europe (ASDE) but this was seemed too similar to Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE).[27] The name Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats was suggested on 18 June by group president Martin Schulz[28] and it was renamed on 23 June 2009.[15] The English abbreviation was initially unclear, being variously reported as PASD,[29] S&D Group[30] or PASDE.[31][32] Dissatisfaction by Socialist MEPs towards the new name led Martin Schulz to admit that the name was still under consideration and that the group was to be referred to as the 'Socialists and Democrats' until a final title was chosen.[33] On 14 July 2009, the first day of the constitutive session of the 2009–2014 term, the full formal group name was Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament[1] and the abbreviation was S&D.[1]

The S&D Group joined the Progressive Alliance upon its official foundation on 22 May 2013[34] and is a member of the organisation's board.[35] The group was formerly an Associated Organisation of the Socialist International.[36]

Presidents of the European Parliament

For presidents of the European Parliament from the group, see President of the European Parliament.

Organisation

The group is led by a President and a Bureau of vice-presidents. There is also a Treasurer and a Secretary General.[37]

Presidents of the Group

Presidents of the Group include:[38]

Number President State National party From To
1. Guy Mollet  France French Section of the Workers' International (SFIO) 1953 1956
2. Hendrik Fayat  Belgium Belgian Socialist Party (PSB) 1956 1958
3. Pierre Lapie  France French Section of the Workers' International (SFIO) 1958 1959
4. Willi Birkelbach  Germany Social Democratic Party (SPD) 1959 1964
5. Käte Strobel  Germany Social Democratic Party (SPD) 1964 1967
6. Francis Vals  France French Section of the Workers' International (SFIO) 1967 1974
7. Georges Spénale  France Socialist Party (PS) 1974 1975
8. Ludwig Fellermaier[39]  Germany Social Democratic Party (SPD) 1975 1979
9. Ernest Glinne  Belgium Socialist Party (PS) 1979 1984
10. Rudi Arndt  Germany Social Democratic Party (SPD) 1984 1989
11. Jean-Pierre Cot  France Socialist Party (PS) 1989 1994
12. Pauline Green  United Kingdom Labour Party 1994 1999
13. Enrique Barón Crespo  Spain Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) 1999 2004
14. Martin Schulz  Germany Social Democratic Party (SPD) 2004 2012
15. Hannes Swoboda  Austria Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ) 2012 2014
16. Martin Schulz  Germany Social Democratic Party (SPD) 2014 (May) 2014 (June)
17. Gianni Pittella  Italy Democratic Party (PD) 2014 2018
18. Udo Bullmann  Germany Social Democratic Party (SPD) 2018 (March) 2019
19. Iratxe García  Spain Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) 2019 present

Vice-presidents

Following the 2019 European elections, S&D Members elected their new political Bureau made up of the President Iratxe García Pérez, nine vice-presidents and the treasurer. As a consequence of Brexit, British S&D Member Claude Moraes had to resign from his position as vice-president. Marek Belka has been appointed the new vice-president. [40]


Treasurer

Vice-presidents

Previous vice-presidents of the group appointed at the start of the current legislature in 2014[41]

Treasurer

Vice-presidents

Previous vice-presidents of the group appointed at the start of the 2009 legislature:[42]

Vice-presidents

Previous vice-presidents of the group for the 2004–2009 term were as follows:

Treasurers

Current/previous Treasurers of the group are as follows:

Secretaries General

Current/previous Secretaries General of the group are as follows:

  • Manfred Michel (West Germany)c1970-c1985
  • Paolo Falcone (Italy)c1986-1989
  • Julian Priestley (UK)1989–1994
  • Joan Prat (Spain)1994–1999 (Deputy Sec Gen Richard Corbett UK)
  • Christine Verger (France)1999–2004
  • David Harley (UK)2004–2006
  • Anna Colombo (Italy)[37] 2006–2014
  • Javier Moreno Sanchez (Spain) 2014-2019
  • Michael Hoppe (Germany) since 2019

MEPs

9th European Parliament

MEPs from the following parties sit in the group:[43]

The S&D has MEPs from 25 of the 27 EU states, including 24 with more than one MEP (in red) and one (Luxembourg) with exactly one MEP (pink). Ireland and the Czech Republic have no S&D MEPs.
State National party European party MEPs
 Austria Social Democratic Party of Austria
Sozialdemokratische Partei Österreichs (SPÖ)
PES               
5 / 19
 Belgium Socialist Party
Parti Socialiste (PS)
PES
2 / 21
Socialist Party Differently
Socialistische Partij Anders (SPA)
PES
1 / 21
 Bulgaria Bulgarian Socialist Party
Българска социалистическа партия (БСП)
Bulgarska sotsialisticheska partiya (BSP)
PES
5 / 17
 Croatia Social Democratic Party of Croatia
Socijaldemokratska partija Hrvatske (SDP)
PES
4 / 12
 Cyprus Movement for Social Democracy
Κίνημα Σοσιαλδημοκρατών (ΚΣ)
Kinima Sosialdimokraton (KS)
PES
1 / 6
Democratic Party
Δημοκρατικό Κόμμα
Dimokratikó Kómma (DIKO)
None
1 / 6
 Denmark Social Democrats
Socialdemokraterne
PES
3 / 14
 Estonia Social Democratic Party
Sotsiaaldemokraatlik Erakond (SDE)
PES
2 / 7
 Finland Social Democratic Party of Finland
Suomen sosialidemokraattinen puolue
Finlands socialdemokratiska parti
PES
2 / 14
 France Socialist Party
Parti socialiste (PS)
PES
6 / 79
 Germany Social Democratic Party of Germany
Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands (SPD)
PES
16 / 96
 Greece Movement for Change
Κίνημα Αλλαγής (ΚΙΝΑΛ)
Kinima Allagis (KINAL)
PES
2 / 21
 Hungary Hungarian Socialist Party
Magyar Szocialista Párt
PES
1 / 21
Democratic Coalition
Demokratikus Koalíció
None
4 / 21
 Italy Democratic Party
Partito Democratico (PD)
PES
17 / 76
Action
Azione (A)
None
1 / 76
 Latvia Social Democratic Party "Harmony"
Sociāldemokrātiskā partija "Saskaņa" (SDPS)
PES
2 / 8
 Lithuania Social Democratic Party of Lithuania
Lietuvos socialdemokratų partija (LSDP)
PES
2 / 11
 Luxembourg Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party
Lëtzebuerger Sozialistesch Aarbechterpartei
Parti ouvrier socialiste luxembourgeois
Luxemburger Sozialistische Arbeiterpartei
PES
1 / 6
 Malta Labour Party
Partit Laburista
PES
4 / 6
 Netherlands Labour Party
Partij van de Arbeid (PvdA)
PES
6 / 29
 Poland Democratic Left Alliance
Sojusz Lewicy Demokratycznej
PES
5 / 52
Spring
Wiosna
None
2 / 52
 Portugal Socialist Party
Partido Socialista
PES
9 / 21
 Romania Social Democratic Party
Partidul Social Democrat (PSD)
PES (suspended)[44]
8 / 33
PRO Romania
PRO România
EDP
1 / 33
Humanist Power Party
Partidul Puterii Umaniste
None
1 / 33
 Slovakia Direction – Social Democracy
Smer – sociálna demokracia (Smer-SD)
PES
3 / 14
 Slovenia Social Democrats
Socialni demokrati
PES
2 / 8
 Spain Spanish Socialist Workers' Party
Partido Socialista Obrero Español (PSOE)
PES
21 / 59
 Sweden Swedish Social Democratic Party
Sveriges socialdemokratiska arbetareparti (SAP)
PES
5 / 21
 European Union Total
145 / 705

From 6th to 8th European Parliament

State National party European
party
MEPs
2004–
2009
MEPs
2009–
2014
MEPs
2014–
2019
 Austria Social Democratic Party of Austria
Sozialdemokratische Partei Österreichs
PES 7 4 5
 Belgium Socialist Party
Parti Socialiste
PES 4 3 3
Socialist Party Different
Socialistische Partij Anders
PES 3 2 1
 Bulgaria Bulgarian Socialist Party
Българска социалистическа партия
Bulgarska sotsialisticheska partiya
PES 5 4 4
 Croatia Social Democratic Party of Croatia
Socijaldemokratska partija Hrvatske
PES 5 4
 Cyprus Movement for Social Democracy
Κίνημα Σοσιαλδημοκρατών
Kinima Sosialdimokraton
PES 1 1
Democratic Party
Δημοκρατικό Κόμμα
Dimokratikó Kómma
None 1 1 1
 Czech Republic Czech Social Democratic Party
Česká strana sociálně demokratická
PES 2 7 4
 Denmark Social Democrats
Socialdemokraterne
PES 5 4 3
 Estonia Social Democratic Party
Sotsiaaldemokraatlik Erakond
PES 3 1 1
 Finland Social Democratic Party of Finland
Suomen sosialidemokraattinen puolue
Finlands socialdemokratiska parti
PES 3 2 2
 France Socialist Party
Parti socialiste
PES 31 14 12
Radical Party of the Left
Parti radical de gauche
None 1
 Germany Social Democratic Party of Germany
Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands
PES 24 23 27
 Greece Movement for Change (PASOK)
Κίνημα Αλλαγής
Kinima Allagis
PES 8 6 2
Democratic Left
Δημοκρατική Αριστερά
Dimokratiki Aristera
None 1
The River
Το Ποτάμι
To Potami
None 2
 Hungary Hungarian Socialist Party
Magyar Szocialista Párt
PES 9 4 2
Democratic Coalition
Demokratikus Koalíció
None 2
 Ireland Labour Party
Páirtí an Lucht Oibre
PES 1 3
Nessa Childers (Independent) None 1
 Italy Democrats of the Left[45]
Democratici di Sinistra
PES 12
Democratic Party
Partito Democratico
PES 21 31
Italian Democratic Socialists[46]
Socialisti Democratici Italiani
PES 2
Article 1 – Democratic and Progressive Movement
Articolo Uno – Movimento Democratico e Progressista
None 3
Italian Left
Sinistra Italiana
None 1
Possible
Possibile
None 1
United in the Olive Tree
Uniti nell'Ulivo
None 2
 Latvia Social Democratic Party "Harmony"
Sociāldemokrātiskā partija "Saskaņa"
PES 1 1
 Lithuania Social Democratic Party of Lithuania
Lietuvos socialdemokratų partija
PES 2 3 2
 Luxembourg Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party
Lëtzebuerger Sozialistesch Aarbechterpartei
Parti ouvrier socialiste luxembourgeois
Luxemburger Sozialistische Arbeiterpartei
PES 1 1 1
 Malta Labour Party
Partit Laburista
PES 3 4 3
 Netherlands Labour Party
Partij van de Arbeid
PES 7 3 3
 Poland Democratic Left Alliance-Labor Union
Sojusz Lewicy Demokratycznej – Unia Pracy
PES 5 7 5
Social Democratic Party of Poland
Socjaldemokracja Polska
None 3
 Portugal Socialist Party
Partido Socialista
PES 12 7 8
 Romania Social Democratic Party
Partidul Social Democrat
PES 10 11 14
 Slovakia Direction – Social Democracy
Smer – sociálna demokracia
PES 3 5 4
 Slovenia Social Democrats
Socialni demokrati
PES 1 2 1
 Spain Spanish Socialist Workers' Party
Partido Socialista Obrero Español
PES 24 21 14
 Sweden Swedish Social Democratic Party
Sveriges socialdemokratiska arbetareparti
PES 5 5 5
Feminist Initiative
Feministiskt initiativ
None 1
 United Kingdom Labour Party PES 19 13 20
Total 215 184 190

References

  1. "Seats by Political Group in Each Member State – Elections, Politics & Social Issues". elections2009-results.eu.
  2. "Democracy in the European Parliament" (PDF). Retrieved 18 June 2010.
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  12. Marie-Claire Considère-Charondu (2010). "Irish MEPS in an Enlarged Europe". In Christophe Gillissen (ed.). Ireland: Looking East. Peter Lang. p. 157. ISBN 978-90-5201-652-8. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
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  15. "European socialists change name to accommodate Italian lawmakers". monstersandcritics.com.
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  18. "EPPED Chronology – 1981–1990". EPP-ED Group website. Retrieved 7 November 2007.
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  20. "Interview: Graham Watson, leader of group of Liberal Democrat MEPs". Euractiv. 15 June 2004. Retrieved 1 November 2007.
  21. How does the PES work? Archived 30 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  22. Ringer, Nils F. (February 2003). "The Santer Commission Resignation Crisis" (PDF). University of Pittsburgh. Retrieved 7 October 2007.
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  33. "Socialists bid to grab key Commission portfolios | EU – European Information on EU Treaty & Institutions". EurActiv.com. Retrieved 18 June 2010.
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  35. "Progressive Alliance Board" (PDF).
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  37. "Presentation". Socialist Group website. Archived from the original on 1 November 2007. Retrieved 7 November 2007.
  38. "History". Socialist Group website. Archived from the original on 1 November 2007. Retrieved 11 November 2007.
  39. "Archiv der sozialen Demokratie". fes.de.
  40. https://www.socialistsanddemocrats.eu/who-we-are/our-president-and-bureau/bureau
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  44. https://www.romania-insider.com/european-socialists-freeze-relations-psd
  45. On 14 October 2007 the Democrats of the Left merged with Democracy is Freedom – The Daisy to form the Democratic Party. A minority of Democrats of the Left MEPs did not join the Democratic Party and sat in the PES group affiliated with Democratic Left.
  46. The party became the Italian Socialist Party in October 2007. The Italian Socialist Party had 4 MEPs for the remainder of the 2004–2009, the additional two from Socialists United for Europe, formerly Non-Inscrits.
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