Europe’s progressive political family will gather in Rome, Italy, on 2 March for the Election Congress of the Party of European Socialists (PES).
Socialist and democratic heads of state and government, leaders, activists, and supporters from across Europe will gather in the symbolic birthplace of the EU project – the city where the 1957 Treaty of Rome was signed – to take the next step towards the 2024 European elections.
In Rome, delegates to the Election Congress will elect the PES Common Candidate (spitzenkandidat) and adopt the PES elections manifesto.
With the process beginning at 2023 PES Congress in Malaga, candidates to become the PES Common Candidate have until 17 January to submit their candidacies. To stand, a candidate must be backed by at least nine PES full member parties or organisations (i.e. 25% of PES full member parties or organisations): one nominating her/him and eight others supporting. A PES full member party or organisation can only nominate or support one potential candidate.
After 17 January, the PES Working Group on the Common Candidate will meet to check the candidacies to ensure all the conditions set have been met.
If there is more than one candidate, once the list of candidates is finalised a vote will be organised at the PES Election Congress for the candidates gathering the 25% support (of PES full member parties or organisations). If one candidate secures more than 50% of support, there will not be a vote and the Congress in Rome will acclaim the leading candidate.
In the context of the Election Congress, other high-level meetings will take place including a leaders’ meeting and a PES Presidency meeting. Ahead of the event, fringe events and meetings will also be organised by PES member parties and organisations.
The Election Congress programme and further event details will be announced in the coming weeks.
