The former prime minister George Papandreouwith an article he posted on his accounts on social networks entitled “With our participation and our vote we must and can create a Progressive Europe”, asks progressive citizens to vote for PASOK-Movement of Change for a better future both in Greece as well as in Europe.

Giorgos Papandreou refers to the Manifesto of the Ventotene, the three Italian exiled politicians in 1941, which called “essentially the people to become the creators of their future. He called on the Europeans to build, a United and Federated Europe, with, Common defense, for the consolidation of peace”.

He also points out that the course of Europe will be judged on Sunday as the conservative forces cannot face the major problems of European citizens who demand another social and democratic Europe.

“The vote for PASOK signals the deepening of Europe. While voting to the right means deepening Europe’s problems. And the vote for the Far Right, with which the forces of the traditional right are flirting, means the end of Europe”, Mr. Papandreou further emphasizes.

The following is the entire article by the former Prime Minister, George Papandreou.

“European elections 2024:

With our participation and our vote we must and can create a Progressive Europe”

Three fighters, three visionaries, Altiero Spinelli, Ernesto Rossi, Eugenio Colorni, imprisoned by the Mussolini regime for their anti-fascist action on the island of Ventotene. They were the authors of the homonymous Manifesto which was to be the beginning of the venture “for a Free and United Europe” (https://federalists.eu/federalist-library/the-ventotene-manifesto/).

A text, drawn from the dark experience of violence, intolerance, wars, holocausts and authoritarian leaders, showed another path, different from those followed by the people until then, under the will of their leaders. Because the Manifesto of Vedotene essentially called on the people to become the creators of their future.

He called on the Europeans to build a United and Federated Europe, with a common defense, for the consolidation of peace.

Fair economic changes, to strike the great social inequalities. Protection of all basic human rights. Solidarity between peoples and citizens, developing a common European consciousness. Strong international presence, to ensure world peace.

But also a Democratic Europe, of the citizens, with leaders and institutions elected by the people.

It inspired founders of the European Union, such as Robert Schuman, Alcinde de Gasperi, Konrad Adenauer, Jean Monnet. But it also inspired the creation of an organization for the consolidation of Democracy, Human Rights and the Rule of Law, the Council of Europe, in 1949.

Despite the great strides made since then, we are a long way from the vision of the imprisoned campaigners and editors of the Vedotene Manifesto.

The citizens’ Europe, the democratic, solidarity and fair Europe, is not yet complete. And not only. Today, even democratic conquests that were taken for granted are under threat.

The course of Europe is being judged in Sunday’s elections.

The prolonged hegemony of the conservative forces in the Union, not only did not deal with the new and difficult crises, but made them worse.

It led to the economic crisis, which was caused by the abuses of the powerful of the global financial establishment, as happened in Greece, with the help of course of the reckless choices and mismanagement by the then right-wing government.

Instead of instilling a sense of justice, it led to increased inequalities, speculation of the powerful and exactitude, with weakened systems of welfare, health, education, which resulted in the prevalence of generalized insecurity.

It strengthened the perspective and future of the younger generations, despite the enormous wealth and technological capabilities that humanity has as never before.

It undermined the ability of the European peoples and the EU itself to deal seriously, effectively and reliably, with the integration of new populations, refugees and workers creatively into our societies, since the conservative forces chose the easy path of demagoguery and division with racist slogans.

He initially chose denial and then showed signs of political paralysis in the face of the phenomenon of climate change that plagues and threatens us all.

Conservation proved unable to see crises as an opportunity for radical change, with a democratic sign, a sign of social justice and a just, peaceful, green transition to a sustainable, to a livable society.

And this, because it is and will be inextricably linked with powerful interests that do not want to lose privileges, wealth and power, which they consider to be their property.

Thus, the Right, unable to offer fair solutions to the great problems of society and the challenges of our time, reacts to the people in the only way it has known throughout time, with authoritarianism and arrogance.

Common are the characteristics of this conservative authoritarian and arrogant perception in European countries, as well as here in Greece:

Controlling the media and undermining freedom of the press.

Use of new technology to monitor political opponents, but also to shape public opinion and influence citizens.

Impoverishment, speculation and precision, with a parallel financial hostage of a large part of the citizens through the client logic pass.

Transfer of public wealth, from renewable energy to education and health, to private interests and establishments.

Waste of the resources of the Greek people and the taxpayers of the European Union through opaque contracts, assignments and corruption. A historic opportunity to develop another development model for the country is being lost. Development that will not be based on the acquisition and nationalization of land, businesses and homes. The wealth of the Greek people, which should be invested to create a sustainable future, a future of dignity, hope and perspective for the Greeks and the country, in a complex, difficult and asymmetric world full of challenges.

We are experiencing unprecedented precision, to satisfy specific interests from which the right-wing government expects their support to stay in power. At the same time, we are also experiencing unprecedented tragedies, such as that of Tempe. Because authoritarianism and arrogance go hand in hand with the opaque governance of the Right, with the undermining of the rule of law and the independent authorities that demand that the government be accountable to the citizen.

Against these phenomena, the demand of the citizens in Greece and in Europe for another policy is reasonable.

Another Europe.

PASOK has always criticized the Europe of maintenance. He wanted, wants and is fighting for another Europe. Against the dominance of interests and establishments. For a Europe of the peoples. Europe of solidarity, equality, democratic participation and a just green transition.

But he never sought her destruction. The vote for PASOK signals the deepening of Europe. While voting to the right means deepening Europe’s problems. And the vote for the Far Right, with which the forces of the traditional right are flirting, means the end of Europe.

If we think that we will regain our freedom or our power “closed” in our national shell, closing our borders and our eyes to global phenomena, such as those of climate change or inequalities, naming as our enemy the wretched of the earth that reaches the our borders and undermining values ​​and institutions of cooperation in Europe, then we are simply turning a blind eye. And not only.

Because this perception leads us to the absolute sovereignty of the powerful and not to the validity of law for all. It fragments creative forces and leads to new regional conflicts and new war adventures. It leads to an absolute inability to deal with the big and new problems of the time, such as those of the pandemic, inequalities, the Internet, artificial intelligence, the climate crisis that know no borders and therefore require transnational responses.

Many generations fought for a progressive Europe.

And in Greece – apart from our accession to the EEC at the time by Konstantinos Karamanlis, PASOK was always the leading force. The progressive force for Europe.

A simple reference to the great conquests that bear the stamp of PASOK, proves to be enough to understand the size of its offer:

Mediterranean Integrated Programs and their evolution into the vital Community NSRF and CAP programs for the Mediterranean.

Large infrastructure projects in Greece with the proper utilization of European funds.

Accession of Cyprus to the EU and creation of a European Framework for Turkey.

Prospects for the Western Balkans to join the EU with the decisions of the Thessaloniki Summit under the Greek presidency – June 2003.

A defining article in the Treaties of the European Union on “mutual assistance” of all member states of the Union if a country is threatened.

Provision in the Treaties for Citizens’ Initiative on EU policies.

Anti-bankruptcy Support Mechanism, which evolved into Pandemic Support Programs and Eurobonds, which were also a proposal of the PASOK governments of the period 2009-2011.

Green environmental policy, initiated by progressive forces including the socialists and the greens of the Union.

Today, of decisive importance for the future of Europe itself, is the strengthening of the progressive forces in the European elections, the forces of democracy and socialism.

Only in this way can the way be opened for the construction of a progressive majority, capable of promoting the adoption of a new, green, democratic and progressive social contract. A Europe of a sustainable future of dignity and perspective.

Social contract, which will bring Europe back to the field of values. Humanizing globalization.

It would be a development of historical importance, because, among other things, it would also be a practical response to those forces that seek to undermine and ultimately undermine the EU.

For all these reasons, the progressive forces must play their historical role and play the leading role in the struggle for the progressive turn of Europe.

Throughout time, PASOK has been and is a leading force in the struggle for the creation of a federal, democratic and participatory Europe.

A Europe that will belong to the Europeans and will be the vanguard of the effort for a world of humanity, solidarity and justice.

The island of Vedotene, according to historians was the island where Odysseus met the Sirens.

And today’s Europe faces its own “Sirens”.

Extreme ideologies, misinformation and divisive politics threaten to derail progress towards unity, solidarity and democracy.

Through the fascist prisons of Vedotene the cries of anguish for the future of Europe were heard loudly.

On our journey to Ithaca, we must ignore the “Sirens” of neo-fascism and launch a return to our democratic values ​​and the vision of a united Europe.

The Europe of the future, our Europe, will be our creation.