The Presidency of the Party of the European Socialists convened earlier today online to discuss items on the progressive agenda. The PES governing body focussed on the urgent need to defend our democracies, as well as the challenges EU and the World are facing in 2025.
During the meeting, the Presidency adopted an important declaration on defending our democracies against social media manipulation and foreign interference. In the document,the PES presidency calls upon the Commission to take more action to protect our elections from foreign interference and social media tech giants.
During the debate on the declaration, PES President Stefan Löfven said:
‘‘Today, we are on the cusp of a crucial moment in the history of both Europe, and of social democracy. The weaponisation of social media platforms by tech oligarchs presents an existential threat to democracy and the rule of law, the fundamental pillars of which our Union was founded.
As Social Democrats, it is our duty to protect our progressive values which are integral to our way of life, and we must not bend to those seeking to compromise our commitment to equal rights, workers’ rights, and protecting the environment. Decisions affecting European citizens, must be made by European citizens.’’
The PES Presidency declaration reads:
A new trend is particularly alarming: the instrumentalisation of social media to undermine democracy. For years, there have been concerns regarding the functioning of social media, their role in the democratic debate, and the lack of transparency of their algorithms. Today, they have crossed a line. […]
The unchecked power of tech oligarchs and their growing influence is posing significant challenges to democracy. Largely unaccountable, they hold disproportionate power. Some are now using their platforms to promote their political agenda, amplify far-right ideologies, distort public discourse, influence elections and freely spread fake news and disinformation.
We are deeply concerned about foreign interference in democratic elections. In Romania, recent allegations of Russian interference in the presidential elections highlight the dangers posed by external actors seeking to undermine our sovereignty and the integrity of the European project. […]
We urge the European Commission to fully implement and enforce the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Digital Markets Act (DMA) to ensure accountability and transparency in the digital space.
Read the full declaration here
PES General Secretary Giacomo Filibeck echoed this message, saying that:
“We call upon the European Commission to fully implement and enforce the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Digital Markets Act (DMA), ensuring that social media giants peddling disinformation and hate speech are held accountable. We cannot allow ourselves to lose our grasp of democracy and slip into the populist abyss which has swallowed so many countries in recent years.’’
The Presidency reaffirmed its support to all citizens through this period of insecurity. The PES will always defend women’s rights, gender equality, and social justice, workers’ rights, and ensure a fair, green, and digital transition. It will also continue to stand against racism, xenophobia, sexism, LGBTI-phobia, and all forms of discrimination. The PES is committed to taking strong action against disinformation and safeguarding independent media.
At the meeting in Brussels today, the presidency also discussed the European defence strategy.
The presidency members condemned the recent Belarusian presidential election as a sham and expressed solidarity with Belarusians who continue to aspire for democratic values and human rights.
The Presidency also expressed the PES’ support to the Serbian students who have been protesting for over two months on the streets of Belgrade and elsewhere in the country, demanding respect for the rule of law, civil rights, and fair elections.
