Now with the help of ALDE and ECR, the EPP has the three top positions in the EU – the president of the European Commission, Council and Parliament are all right-wingers. This suggests that Europe will go on with austerity policies and will leave behind the social agenda.
PES president Sergei Stanishev said:
“This new deal cements the conservative status quo. I fear that adding Tajani to its collection of top EU positions will lead the EPP to turn its back completely on social justice, equality, civil rights and focus even more obsessively on its austerity policy.
“On the other hand, this is a clear chance for European socialists and democrats to stand on behalf of European citizens against this new right coalition. We will now fight more fiercely for a social Europe and will not allow any compromise with people’s rights and freedoms. We will fight back.”
PES candidate Gianni Pittella was the right candidate, one who could provide a new vision for the EP and also be a guardian for our social agenda. He will continue to be leader of the Socialists and Democrats group in the Parliament and will be leading the opposition.
The right-winger Tajani is replacing one of the most prominent figures of the European Socialists and Democrats, Martin Schulz — one of the most successful presidents of the EP, a true believer in Social Europe, and our common candidate during the 2014 European elections.