Brussels, 27/04/2012 (Agence Europe) - One hundred days after being elected to lead the S&D, Hannes Swoboda is already looking towards the next European elections in 2014, saying: “Over the next two years, we shall prepare the group for the elections, in connection with our legislative work with Parliament”. In his view, the European Left will grow stronger with the election in France of a left-wing president and government. “There is no doubt that the change in France will bring a major change for the European Left”, Swoboda said. He went on to add that “the renewal of the Left is not only possible, it is necessary for Europe”, saying that “we must provide a social and democratic alternative”.
The S&D president also spoke of his ambitions over coming months. He believes that one key issue is the economic and social situation of Europe. Rather than austerity, Swoboda recommends “another economic policy” based on investment, in particular in education and research. “The wind is blowing in the direction of a clear investment and growth policy”, he said, also underlining the need for a new industrial policy that is environmentally-friendly. He spoke of his support for setting in place a financial transaction tax, in the hope that it would also be as “strong and complete as possible”.
Swoboda also plans to work more on unemployment, especially youth unemployment. He trusts that the European citizenship initiative will be used for a legislative proposal on the subject. Swoboda wants, moreover, greater participation by European citizens, including the young, and underlined the role played by the internet. “More participative methods are needed, not only by vote but also by communication”, he explained, saying that Europeans should have their word to say in the choice of Socialist candidate to the post of Commission president in 2014. (CG/transl.jl)