Problem with current day socialists is that most of social democratic parties are suffering complete loss of identity. We all know, in simple words, what Christian democrats, liberals, Greens or even far right or far left want. Christian democrats, are a big party of "common sense" as average Joe, Jacques or Jaap understands it. Liberals-they want freedom for business and free enterprise, liberal values. Greens are for environment. Nationalists and far right want immigrants out, less Eu, and more national pride. Far left want Euro-communism, but modernized version. Can anyone explain in a plain words what social democrats were offering to people in this troubled time? Is there any trade mark of modern social democracy? Do we want strong welfare state, strong government investments in social programs? Most regional party's afraid to say that loudly. Do we as a political movement want stronger or weaker taxation, what do think on wars in Middle East, are we advocating the close borders to protect local workplaces or free movement and equal chances for everyone because of solidarity and human rights? Are we accepting the emerging sense of national pride and national identity across Europe or we are rejecting nationalism? No one knows. Different member parties has different positions about this. In too many cases the platform of PES member parties were resembling of program of Christian democrats or conservatives, with a bit more compassionate wording. But if anyone wants to vote for "compassionate conservatism" the EPP and liberal parties offer big variety of ideas. So why should anyone vote for socialists? The key to the resent result is in yesterdays speech of Mr. Rassmussen. Yesterday, in Solvay, he said that in crisis time, the employee who is about to be fired would not run and vote for us. His primary concern would be how he is going to survive... And then he would think whom, among politicians, he likes. This is a key. Only when PES member parties will be able to offer clear and reasonable solution to the survival of this person, if not short term but at least long term, will he consider losing an hour of his time to go and vote for us. Otherwise as Mr Rassmussen pointed out correctly, why would he do it? In most national program’s social democrats had not offered anything like that. Yes SOME said that more welfare might not be a bad idea, but no one said how it should work, where money should come from, what will be attitude to business and so on -there were no offers on national level. Many people still trust social democracy, some others just used voting for socialists that’s why PES is second large group, but if some clear fresh and working ideas will not be found, the result will never be better than this… Nick Gabrichidze, Gallery Gabrichidze http://www.gallery-gabrichidze.com

Please find the speech of our president at this special electoral night in a short video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tmf20_skE9o The sentence Poul gave is very important to many, many ears in European Union: "we won't give up the fight!..." amitiés socialistes et européennes, Aleksander Glogowski ------ Fédération de Paris du PS 32 rue Alexandre Dumas 75011 Paris GSM +33 6 74 83 86 68 http://www.chourka.eu