The Congress of the Party of European Socialists concluded on Saturday 8 December with a highly applauded speech by the party's leading candidate, the Dutchman Frans Timmermans. Succeeding three heads of state at the University of Lisbon who all congratulated and encouraged him, he made a rock star entrance on 9 December to the song "Stick Together" by the Dutch group Jett Rebel.
He defended the European Socialists' slogan "a fair, free and sustainable Europe", echoing the speech delivered by the Portuguese Prime Minister before him, who had repeated these words in about ten languages. He addressed his “Polish friends”, promising that he would not give up the fight for democracy, his “Hungarian friends” deploring Viktor Orbán's undermining work towards Europe, or his British friends, whom he saw leaving with a heavy heart, but who would always be welcome in his political family.
One of the most notable speakers of the last day was the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, who charismatically defended the return of a social contract for Europe, also supported by Mr Timmermans. Let us also mention the Chairman of the S&D Group in the European Parliament, Udo Bullmann, who, during his repeated speeches, unreservedly criticised Emmanuel Macron, revealing a certain tension between the two men.
The next meeting of the European Socialists will be the presentation of their manifesto in February 2019. (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)