By Martin Banks - 29th October 2007
European socialists have launched a novel way of drawing up their manifesto for the upcoming elections to the European parliament.
The Party of European Socialists (PES), the umbrella body representing 32 parties in 28 countries, are inviting all interested parties to post ideas for their programme on the Internet.
The ‘online consultation’ runs until June 2008 after which the party’s election manifesto will be drafted at the PES congress in November.
A PES spokesman said, “The idea is that we produce a manifesto that members of Europe’s socialist and labour parties have shaped through open discussion and debate.
“Our ideas are outlined under four themes: save our planet, new social Europe, European democracy and EU in the world.
“Between now and next June, PES is consulting member parties on what should be in the manifesto.
“A draft manifesto will then be drawn up on the basis of that consultation.”
Since the last European elections in 2004, the Socialists have been the second biggest political group in parliament.
“The PES ambition is to go into the 2009 elections with a common, progressive manifesto, one that gives people a clear choice between left and right,” said the spokesman.
People can register their submissions in a variety of ways, either on the PES website (wwww.pes.org), by starting their own blog or by posting a video on its YouTube channel.
The party's upcoming general assembly in the Bulgarian capital, Sofia (22-23 November), will be the first opportunity its members have had to debate manifesto issues.
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