Socialists build on Sassoli’s legacy, aim to win European elections

Rome – Taking up the legacy of David Sassoli, late president of the EU Parliament, to aim to be the leading political force in the June 6-9 European elections: This is the meaning of the meeting organized in Rome by the Democratic Party with the bureau of the S&D Group, which between today and tomorrow (Jan. 11 and 12) will be in the Italian capital to commemorate President Sassoli two years after his untimely death. It will also be a useful occasion to discuss the policy proposal to be presented to voters ahead of the June vote.

“The Socialists and Democrats group,”—says the group leader Iratxe Garcia Perez, during a press conference presenting the two-day tribute to Sassoli—has the goal” of coming out of the polls as “the first force in the European Parliament.” “We will have a good result,” assures the Spanish MEP, who would prefer “an alliance only with the other progressive forces” for the next majority in Strasbourg. She knows, however, that this is a far-fetched hypothesis, so she assures that in any case “it will be an alliance only with pro-European forces,” because the European Socialists “will never sit down to negotiate with the far-right.”

The willingness of European progressives to rely only on their own strengths, at least until the ballot box certifies the need for alliances, is confirmed by the closure to the idea of Mario Draghi, former Italian Council president, leading the next EU Commission. The former premier’s name is referred to by much of the European press as a possible successor to Charles Michel at the head of the European Council, or to the President of the EU executive Ursula von der Leyen. At the moment, however, the main obstacle to Draghi’s return to the top of the EU institutions seems to be the willingness of the Socialists to aim for those roles.

Garcia Perez’s words are clear: “The process of defining socialist candidates for the European elections is underway and we will support the spitzenkandidat (the candidate for the presidency of the EU Commission, ndr) that will emerge from this process.” A rejection for Draghi, then, but it may not be forever, especially if the post-vote scenario were to force a revival of the alliance between the ESP and the EPP. In that case, Draghi’s name would certainly be among those capable of getting many within the two political families to agree. That is, assuming the former ECB number one is not recalled to duty sooner, to untie the knot created by Michel’s resignation as president of the European Council.

To play these games, the S&D group is preparing by reviving Sassoli’s memory. “A living memory for the battles he fought,” emphasizes Pd National Secretary Elly Schlein, promising to carry them forward “for a Europe that is increasingly united and able to give responses close to people’s needs.”

In addition to values, according to the PD delegation leader in the European Parliament Brando Benifei, it is necessary to recover “the Sassoli method,” which was “seen, for example, when we approved the Next Generation Eu.” On that occasion, according to the Pd member, the former president had the merit of having “united the European Parliament, making the vision of solidarity prevail, when European governments were divided and uncertain” on the measure, which for the first time in history led to the creation of common debt to boost the EU economy after the COVID-19 pandemic.

And who knows if this method will also work for the ongoing debate on the new Stability and Growth Pact, as the agreement reached in the Council “leaves Benifei and his party colleagues dissatisfied.” The text released by the 27, the Italian MEP assures, “is not the text of the new Stability and Growth Pact. On the contrary,” he points out, “it is impossible for that to be the final text, because it will also have to be discussed by the European Parliament,” where the Pd delegation leader is willing to fight to modify it, and he is in good company given the opposition also announced by Green leader Philippe Lamberts.

Sassoli’s legacy was also discussed at the Europa Experience in Rome, a space where citizens can experience firsthand and simulate the work of EU institutions. There, the European Parliament Liaison Office in Italy organized a commemoration with young students, who read and listened to excerpts from speeches given by Sassoli himself. Speaking at the initiative, the Office’s director Carlo Corazza wanted to celebrate the first 100,000 visitors to the space dedicated precisely to the former president of the EU Parliament, recalling that “David was in love with European democracy and believed in an open Europe capable of reaching out to young people.” His “memory points unhesitatingly to the road that we must travel together,” added EU Chamber Vice-President Pina Picierno, who pointed to the trace left by Sassoli: “Autonomy and strength of the Parliament, welcome and solidarity with those who flee wars and look to Europe with the eyes of hope, fight against every violation of law and democracy.”

Commemorations for the late president of the EU Parliament will continue tomorrow (Jan. 12), also in Rome, where the second initiative organized by the European Socialists will take place. At the Campidoglio, in the Hall of the Protomoteca, from 9.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m., a conference will be held entitled ”The Legacy of David Sassoli. A journey towards the new Europe”.