Sánchez and Scholz defend social democratic values in Berlin as a technique to cease the reactionary wave | International | EUROtoday

Pedro Sánchez and Olaf Scholz at the moment are the primary exponents of social democracy towards the right-wing wave that’s sweeping Europe and, as such, they’ve warned this Saturday that we should undertake a transparent stance towards right-wing extremism and put conventional values first. of their formations. Both have insisted in Berlin, through the congress of the German Social Democratic Party (SPD), that the protection of the welfare state and providing future prospects to residents are key to stopping the reactionary wave that’s sweeping the continent a couple of months earlier than the elections. subsequent 12 months’s European elections.
Sánchez entered the plenary room of the congress of the German Social Democrats accompanied by Olaf Scholz and to the applause of the 600 delegates of the occasion, who later interrupted his speech on quite a few events to applaud his phrases. Previously, each leaders had met privately to debate the problems that may mark the agenda of the following European Council, wherein Spain, which holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU, is making an attempt to present one final acceleration earlier than its time period ends. mandate on the finish of the 12 months.
The two heavyweights of European social democracy have staged their good concord in Berlin. The Spanish president, with a newly fashioned progressive authorities, has supported the German chancellor, who’s going via a foul time after finishing his first two years in workplace. Added to the price range disaster that’s destabilizing the federal government coalition with Greens and Liberals is the drop in recognition mirrored within the polls. Barely two in ten Germans say they’re glad together with his administration, whereas polls already place the acute proper because the second political pressure, above the socialists.
Sánchez started by thanking Scholz for his “leadership” and his “vision to lead the green and digital transformation” and remembering that “what is revolutionary in politics is doing the right thing”, after which warned about “the virus of the extreme right” that “ “It has begun to infect the traditional conservative parties.” This is what has occurred, he stated, within the United States, Brazil, Argentina and a number of other European international locations, which is why Europe should “propose solutions” to keep away from a return to the previous. In these options he has agreed with Scholz, whose speech has additionally been extremely applauded within the morning session.
“We have to continue defending our principles. We cannot forget what we are here for: to improve people’s lives,” stated the Spanish president. “Hate and fear are dangerous viruses that can be lethal to democracy,” he harassed, earlier than including: “The extreme right understands it very well and knows how to spread it.”
Just earlier than Sánchez’s intervention, the co-president of the SPD, Lars Klingbeil, had thanked him for his struggle in Spain towards the acute proper and populism. There is concern in Germany as a result of in a number of states of the previous Democratic Republic that maintain elections subsequent 12 months, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) occasion leads voting intention polls with 32%.
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Both Scholz and Sánchez have defended, every in their very own method, that the values of social democracy, and providing prospects for enchancment to the center and dealing lessons, shall be key to stopping this social discontent and stopping it from persevering with to show in the direction of the acute proper, as has been the case. has already occurred in lots of international locations. And it has raised an “existential dilemma.” “Do we want a Europe that serves to inspire the world by being an example of integration and progress or do we want a Europe that hides behind the trenches? “Do we want to be an inspiration that shows that democracy, social justice and the economy can work together, or a frightened Europe dominated by fear?” asked the Spanish president.
In their previous meeting, the two leaders spoke about the most burning issues on the European agenda before the Council that is being held on the 14th and 15th in Brussels, according to Moncloa sources. Scholz and Sánchez addressed the key issues of the final stretch of the Spanish presidency of the Council of the EU, which ends on December 31, with special interest in the negotiation of the multiannual financial framework, the reform of fiscal rules and the migration pact. The Spanish Government is giving a “final acceleration” to the dossiers it has promoted through the second half of the 12 months and collaboration with Germany, a “strategic partner at all levels”, is essential, these sources added.
In a nationwide key, Scholz dominated out in his speech that the best way out of the intense budgetary and political disaster wherein his Government is mired will translate into cuts to social advantages. “There will be no dismantling of the welfare state in Germany,” promised the social democrat, beneath nice strain from certainly one of his companions, the liberals, to chop social support and thus cowl the opening of 17,000 million euros left by a current Court ruling. Constitutional within the budgets for 2024, not but permitted. The chancellor stated he was assured that the three-way negotiations to agree the accounts will come to a profitable conclusion. “We are not faced with an insurmountable task. We just need everyone to agree,” he assured, however admitted that the problem “is difficult.”
The chancellor known as on his occasion to take a transparent stance towards far-right attitudes in society, which have just lately elevated in Germany. “We have a history and a responsibility with democracy. And that is why we must not allow this to happen,” he assured. And he harassed that, “in times of uncertainty” – the identical expression that Pedro Sánchez used – like the present ones, “it is important to convey confidence and perspective.”
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https://elpais.com/internacional/2023-12-09/sanchez-y-scholz-defienden-en-berlin-los-valores-socialdemocratas-como-forma-de-frenar-la-ola-reaccionaria.html