The Secretary General of the PS defended in Germany on Tuesday that social democracy must be “more combative” and respond with “self-confidence” to the growing populism, which feeds on the fear and uncertainty caused by the events of recent years.
“What fuels populism is fear, what we need to provide is trust,” defended António Costa, who spoke during a panel discussion on “how we can protect a democratic Europe” in the context of next June’s European elections, held at the Frederich Ebert Foundation in Bonn.
The PS leader, who traveled to Germany between Monday and Tuesday to take part in the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the party’s founding, in the city of Bad Münstereifel, together with his German ‘sister party’, the Social Democrats of the SPD (socialist party). family) emphasized this Tuesday in Bonn their belief that there is “every reason for a more combative social democracy”.
“And more: we need a more combative social democracy. We do not only fight the extreme right and populism with speeches. We have to start understanding what people’s feelings are and why there is this growth of populism,” he stated. .
The Secretary General of the PS pointed out that “very special years” have been experienced in recent times and stated that people are currently living with a “cocktail” in which “there is a malaise” resulting from the return of the war in Europe, faced with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, at a time when people thought people could finally breathe after ‘two terrible years of the Covid-19 pandemic’, and which also had the effect of ‘rising energy prices, spreading inflation and the ECB to raise interest rates”.
“It is not possible to have a society that is not afraid, that is not worried, that is not uncertain about the future. And it is normal that that is the case. And the duty of politicians is not to tell people that people are wrong, it is to give reasons that will make people trust again.” the PS leader prescribed.
António Costa argued that this is also the way to respond to people’s concerns about the effects that the digital transition and the energy transition will have on their lives, with politicians assuming that there will actually be repercussions, such as the loss of jobs and change of habits. – but explain why these changes are so necessary, and ensure “investments that create more and better jobs” and that “no one is left behind”.
“We must make this change, and what answer can social democracy give? It is the answer she has always given: she must be the defenders of the social state, which is the safety net in the face of the vicissitudes of life.”he said, pointing to the National Health Service and Social Security as examples.
António Costa also warned that we should not forget, as often happens, “what led to the birth of social democracy, namely the fight against social inequality”.
Costa stressed that it is “important to fight all forms of inequality”, such as gender inequality or inequality based on sexual orientation, and stressed that it is necessary to always “fight the greatest inequality of all, the most transversal, that still exists” to keep in mind. inequality is social”.
“And our people, our voters, the voters of social democracy, often felt not represented in our speech. They thought we were no longer concerned about social inequality because we were deeply concerned about other types of inequality.” noticed.
António Costa argued that progressive parties should continue to address “those people who have faith in social democracy” and who know that, with social democracy, this Tuesday there will be public schools, national health care, labor legislation and decent salaries . “And we have to manage ourselves in a credible and effective way so that people really feel like they can get better.”
“We have increased the minimum wage by 72% and the average wage has increased by 40%. There is one thing people know: they live better today than they did in 2015. What do they want to live better than this next year? Of course they want that. And what we have to work on is that next year they can live better than this year,” he said.
António Costa, who resigned as prime minister on November 7 and will also leave the leadership of the PS, concluded his two-day visit to Germany at the Frederich Ebert Foundation at the head of a party delegation in what was one of his last. actions as Secretary General, as his successor will be elected through direct elections that will take place on December 15 and 16, about three months before the early parliamentary elections scheduled for March 10.
Source: DN
