The gathering brought together progressive leaders, policy makers, strategists, business leaders and opinion-formers from across North-America, Europe, Australia and beyond to exchange ideas, policies and strategies to strengthen progressive politics.
PES Deputy Secretary General Marije Laffeber spoke on Populism & the Future of Progressive Politics in the opening plenary panel of the conference. Ms Laffeber said:
“We need to rethink and renew the way we do politics. The traditional working class has disappeared, society has changed and we’re confronted with a lot of new challenges. A lot of the answers to today’s challenges are to be found in our progressive values.
“We need to re-engage with women and young people, become more inclusive and promote value driven politics. To offer a real alternative, because now is the time.”
Speakers at the conference are: Canadian prime-minister Justin Trudeau, 1st Vice-President of the European Commission Frans Timmermans, Undersecretary Prime-Ministers Office Italy Maria Elena Boschi, Minister of European Affairs and Equality Malta Helena Dalli, Secretary of State European Affairs Italy Sandro Gozi, PvdA Leader Lodewijk Asscher, Irish Labour Pary Leader Brendan Howlin, President Center for American Progress (CAP) Neera Tanden, Founder CAP John Podesta, Policy Network President Peter Mandelson, Minister Foreign Trade and Development Netherlands Liliane Ploumen, President Save the Children Helle Thorning Schmidt and many others.