Internal cracks emerge in European Socialists ahead of 2024 elections

Divisions over the war in the Middle East, the Italy-Albania migration deal, and other political events involving Socialist leaders underlined the fragility of the European Socialist family during its congress in Málaga last weekend, just seven months before the next European elections.

During the congress, delegates engaged in debates over issues generally considered to be central to centre-left ideology, such as the social dimension of the climate crisis, access to housing, and equitable representation of women and young people in political decision-making.

However, the many ‘elephants in the room’ dominated discussions, with EU and national socialist leaders holding extensive closed-door meetings and corridor conversations. 

The divisions were exacerbated by the recent resignation of Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa due to a corruption investigation started last week against his entourage.

In addition, the just-formed Spanish government led by socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has stirred up domestic dissent following an agreement reached with the Catalan separatist movement, in order to form a majority large enough for a coalition.

Thousands of people took to the streets of Madrid last Sunday (12 November) to protest against the agreement.

In the meantime, the socialist national parties were not able to unanimously agree on a common position on the war in Israel and Palestine.

Further frictions emerged following socialist Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama’s signing of a migration cooperation agreement with the far-right Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Tuesday. According to the deal, Albania will become a ‘waiting point’ for some migrants who are applying for asylum protection in Italy.

The Italian Democratic Party, a member of the European socialist party, criticised the agreement. However, the deal did not dominate the discussions in Málaga.

Meanwhile, the suspension of the Slovakia Smer party, which finished first in September’s elections, has spotlighted the debatably pro-Russian stances of its leader Robert Fico.

EU top jobs

The congress at the southern Spanish coast was not intended to define candidates to lead the European campaign, but instead to consolidate the work done in the last year and approve a resolution that reflects the state of play in policies and politics.

Any possible steps towards selecting a spitzenkandidat – a lead candidate – will take place at the beginning of next year at a dedicated congress.

However, discussions on the general approach towards the campaign are taking place. 

“There is a general orientation to look for a woman as a leader,” multiple sources from the PES confirmed to Euractiv.

Last year, rumours circulated among Finnish media about Sanna Marin, at the time still prime minister. Ex-heads of state or ministers of an EU member state are typically viewed as the most viable lead candidates.

Costa stepping down

Antonio Costa was among the names being floated for candidacy for the European Council presidency and other top jobs – however, his recent resignation has taken his name off the table.

“Let me thank António Costa for his work as a prime minister, even though he is not accused, I want to commend his leadership and courage, stepping down,” the President of the European Socialists Party, Stefan Löfven, declared during his opening speech at the congress.

Iratxe Garcia Perez, the president of the socialist group at the European Parliament, told the press that Costa could only be a candidate if the investigation completely exonerates him.

“There is an investigation and we do not want to interfere with the judicial procedures. We want the procedures to be quickly over and the situation cleared up,” Garcia Perez said.

However, it is not certain how long the investigations will take.

Normalisation of far-right

In Málaga, the socialists re-stated what was a major point of discussion in October 2022 at their congress in Berlin – namely, the potential of reaching across the aisle to collaborate with the far right.

Just prior to last year’s meeting, the Swedish and Italian governments had created coalitions with far-right parties – the Swedish Democrats and Brothers of Italy respectively.

“Our red line is our alliance with the far right. We will always have the opportunity to share, to discuss and to negotiate with the pro-European political forces, such as the centre-right, liberals and Social Democrats,” Garcia Perez told journalists. 

These right-wing nationalist parties are members of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) party, which has moved in recent years from a sovereigntist and anti-EU rhetoric to a more conservative narrative.

In an interview with Euractiv, the co-President of the ECR, Nicola Procaccini, said that the conservatives hope for a right-wing majority in the next EU Parliament.

[Edited by Benjamin Fox/Nathalie Weatherald]

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