PAkistan
17 DECEMBER 2014
The Socialist International (SI) is deeply shocked and saddened by the abhorrent massacre carried out yesterday by the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) against a military school in Peshawar. We vigorously condemn this despicable act of terror which deliberately targeted hundreds of innocent children, killing at least 132 as well as 9 adults, leaving more than a hundred others injured. The TTP have claimed that this attack is in retaliation for army-led operations against them in the Khyber and North Waziristan areas. There is no justification for such inhuman acts and the Socialist International further speaks out with a strong and united voice against the misuse of Islam to inflict terror and suffering on the population and in particular the heinous targeting of children...
VenezueLa
15 NOVEMBER 2014
José Antonio Viera-Gallo, a prominent Chilean lawyer and socialist, with broad experience in public service in his country, where he has served as a parliamentarian, Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Senator, Minister Secretary General of the Presidency, as well as Minister of the Constitutional Tribunal of the Republic of Chile, accompanied by the lawyer, Professor of Law at the University of Chile and collaborator of the Socialist International Secretariat, Claudio Herrera, are in Caracas from 13 to 16 November as representatives of the SI to gain information about the circumstances under which the leader of the Voluntad Popular party, Leopoldo López, continues to be imprisoned along with numerous other political prisoners, and to make representations for their early release...
Press coverage
Burkina Faso
31 october 2014
The Socialist International welcomes the decision by President Blaise Compaore to step down from the Presidency, thus averting a deepening of the crisis in Burkina Faso. Yesterday our International had deplored the actions of President Compaore in shutting down the government, dissolving parliament, imposing a state of emergency and announcing the creation of a transitional government to serve for the next twelve months, actions which led to increased violence on the streets of the capital, Ouagadougou, and the abhorrent attack on the National Assembly and on parliamentarians....
IRaq and Syria
15 October 2014
The latest developments in Iraq and Syria continue to demonstrate that the terror carried out by ISIS is a major threat to international peace and security, to the people in the region and to the world at large, which must urgently be brought to an end. We reiterate the previous calls of the Socialist International for the international community to unite in response to this terror and to act in defence of the innocent populations of Iraq and Syria, and in support of those from all ethnic and religious groups affected.
Iraq and Syria
25 September 2014
From the headquarters of the United Nations in New York, where the international community has come together to stand against terror, the Socialist International recalled the declaration of the SI Council in Mexico City on 30 June-1 July 2014 on the insurgency in Iraq, which condemned the acts of the terrorist group Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). The attacks perpetrated by ISIS have increased in their barbarism and the group now operates with disregard for national borders across areas of northern Iraq and Syria...
Ukraine
16 September 2014
The Socialist International Committee for the CIS, the Caucasus and the Black Sea, meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan on 15-16 September 2014, addressed the issue of overcoming conflicts and securing peace in the region, paying particular attention to the current conflict in Ukraine. With the participation of its member parties from Ukraine and the Russian Federation, along with social democratic parties from other countries of the region, the committee discussed and agreed upon the need for a swift end to the conflict...
MIDDLE East
24 JULY 2014
Socialist International condemns unreservedly the assault by the Israeli Defence Force against a school used by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) as a shelter in northern Gaza harbouring refugees, mostly women and children, killing at least fifteen and leaving hundreds injured. Reports from UNRWA officials highlight that great efforts had been made to secure a window so that civilians could evacuate to safety but these efforts were to no avail. For over seven years the citizens of Gaza have had to endure hardship and suffering brought about by Israel’s blockade of the enclave....
MIddle East
14 July 2014
The Socialist International, deeply concerned about the ongoing crisis in Gaza and the increasing civilian death toll, urges both Israeli and Palestinian leaders to immediately de-escalate the crisis, to restore calm and re-establish the ceasefire of November 2012, as called for by the Security Council of the United Nations on 12 July. The respect for humanitarian law, and in particular the protection of civilians, is fundamental, as the loss of life and the suffering that the world has witnessed in the past days is totally unacceptable...
Nigeria
Jordan
04 JUNE 2014
The President of the Socialist International, George Papandreou, during a working visit to Jordan, was received on Monday 2nd of June, in Amman, by His Majesty the King Abdallah II. The King reviewed the repercussions of the crisis in Syria on neighbouring countries, mainly on Jordan. George Papandreou underlined the key role of Jordan for stability in the broader region and praised the contribution of King Abdallah in the efforts to address political and humanitarian problems created by the civil war in Syria...
VenezueLA
17 February 2014
The situation in Venezuela continues to be of serious concern for the international community. That in a democracy violence can reach the levels observed last week in Caracas and in other places of the country with people being killed and injured, opposition leaders being persecuted, with restrictions on freedoms, including the freedom of information, amongst others, point to the gravity of the situation in that country...
SyriA
07 FEBRUARY 2014
Ahead of the second round of Geneva II talks, and following the agreement on the removal of the country’s chemical weapons, our priority in Syria must now be to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis. According to available estimates, more than 130,000 people have been killed since March 2011. Millions more have been displaced as refugees. Securing a ceasefire would provide immediate relief for citizens caught in the fighting and enable humanitarian aid to reach those in need…
Cyprus
17 February 2014
The agreement between the President of the Republic of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades and the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu on a Joint Statement is opening the way for renewed negotiations and provides a solid basis for a constructive dialogue that can lead to a functional and viable resolution of the Cyprus problem as soon as possible. It also creates the conditions for ending, at last, the unacceptable status quo...
NePaL
11 February 2014
The Socialist International has congratulated Sushil Koirala, the president of its member party the Nepali Congress (NCP), on his election on 10 February as new Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal. Sushil Koirala got the support of 405 of the 553 members of parliament that took part in the vote. The NCP will now have again, after its last time in office in 2006-2008 under the late G. P. Koirala, the opportunity to bring forward its social democratic agenda and to strengthen the institutional framework of Nepal...
COP19/CMP9
27 NOVEMBER 2013
The Socialist International has been closely following the Warsaw Climate Change Conference, COP19/CMP9, which concluded on 23 November in Poland. Regretfully, once again little progress has been achieved on the most vital issues. There have been some positive developments and the SI welcomes these, but on the most pressing points, in particular that of sealing a new global agreement to replace Kyoto, and on firm and sufficient financial commitments from the developed world, decisions were weak or absent...
GuineA
11 October 2013
On 28 September 2013 Guinea held for the first time elections for a new parliament in democracy. Having endured more than 50 years of autocratic rulers since achieving independence in 1958, the country swore in its first democratically elected President, Alpha Condé, in December 2010. There was, unsurprisingly, a high level of expectation from such a significant electoral process. These elections were originally foreseen to take place six months after the new democratic government took office. However, this timeframe proved to be too short to secure the necessary agreements, including all the political forces, for the carrying out of these elections, which were eventually reached earlier this year...
Iran
25 NOVEMBER 2013
As President of the Socialist International, I welcome the positive outcome of the talks between the P5+1 (United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Russia and China) and Iran, facilitated by the European Union, concerning Iran's nuclear program. It is a major step towards increased stability in the broader region. This important deal, reached after intensive negotiations in a climate of mutual respect, paves the way towards a long term comprehensive solution. The successful implementation of this first agreement...
MAuritania
21 NOVEMBER 2013
The situation in Mauritania, just days before the municipal and legislative elections that are due to take place on Saturday 23 November 2013, continues to be a source of great concern for the Socialist International. The country is suffering from a profound institutional crisis as a result of a great democratic deficit. Mauritania has been deprived of a legal parliament for two years since elections that were initially due in November 2011 were twice postponed, and the November 2013 elections have been convened without due respect for the established procedures...
Argentina
26 October 2013
The Socialist International has been closely following the investigation underway in Santa Fe, Argentina, looking forward to a speedy clarification of the facts surrounding the criminal attack a few weeks ago against its Governor, Antonio Bonfatti, which took place at his home in the district of Alberdi in Rosario. Bonfatti is a member of the Socialist Party of Argentina, a member party of this organisation. The violence against the Governor, whose home was the target of 14 bullets, has been condemned and firmly repudiated by leaders and representatives of member parties of the International...
SyRia
04 SeptembER 2013
In March 2011 the world began to witness anti-government protestors in Syria taking to the streets calling for an end to President Bashir al-Assad’s regime and for an opening of the way for a democratic system and the enjoyment of rights and freedoms for all the Syrian people. From the outset, the Socialist International, consistent with its principles and values and its commitment to all those in the world struggling for democracy and fundamental rights, has openly supported these demands. Throughout the period since the protests began, the Syrian regime has ignored these calls from its people, as well as calls from members of the international community...
EGypT
31 JULY 2013
During recent weeks the world has been witnessing a dramatic departure from the democratic agenda in Egypt. Following the removal of the Morsi government by the military, the political situation has continued to deteriorate rapidly, further diminishing the prospects for national reconciliation and democracy. The violent crackdown and extreme use of force by the army and police against demonstrators, which has resulted in scores of deaths and many more injured, is deplorable and is unequivocally condemned by the Socialist International...
FTT
04 JULY 2013
The adoption, by the European Parliament, with a large majority, of the report of MEP and Vice-President of the EP, Anni Podimata, for the implementation of a financial transactions tax (FTT) by 11 EU member states within the framework of enhanced cooperation, is an additional significant step in the right direction. Through this decision, the persistent and concerted efforts made by the Socialist International and many democratic and progressive forces in Europe and around the world, are also rewarded...
EGyPT
04 JULY 2013
One year on from sweeping to power with 13 million votes, President Mohamed Morsi and his Moslim Brotherhood dominated government have been forcefully removed from office by the Egyptian military. President Morsi, the first freely-elected President of Egypt, was at his lowest in terms of popularity, having failed to deliver on the democratic promises he was elected to fulfil. Last December he granted himself un-challengeable powers, which shocked both the Egyptian people and the international community...
Bolivia
JULY 2013
The withdrawal of permission, after it had been granted, for the presidential plane carrying Bolivian leader Evo Morales to cross airspace, by several European countries, while he transited home from Moscow, represented a grave infringement of the immunities and rights recognised for Heads of States, and endangered the lives of all those on board the aircraft. These developments demonstrate, on the one hand, the fragility of recognised and long-established international norms, and on the other hand, the vulnerability of international actors, such as leaders of sovereign states, vis-à-vis other powers in the international political system...
ALBania
25 JUNE 2013
The Socialist International joins the people of Albania celebrating in the streets today, welcoming the results of the elections that took place last Sunday, which point to a resounding victory for the coalition of the Left led by Edi Rama of the SI member Albanian Socialist Party, and a Vice-President of the International.
The strong showing of the Left coalition, Renaissance, is a signal of the desire for change in Albania, a desire to turn the page on the previous regime...
Council
12-13 December 2014
Latifa Perry
The Socialist International held its second Council meeting of the year on 12-13 December at the United Nations, Geneva (UNOG). The main theme on the Council agenda was 'International peace and security: the resolution of conflicts and countering terrorism’. Discussions were also held on our work to gain new democracies and strengthen democratic governance and the human dimension of migration and the plight of refugees...
Latin America and the Caribbean
01-02 December 2014
Patricia Leiva, OEA
The Socialist International Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean met in the headquarters of the Organisation of American States (OAS) in Washington DC, on 1-2 December 2014. At the opening of the meeting, OAS Secretary General José Miguel Insulza, welcomed the participants and the presence of the regional member parties of the Socialist International in the Hall of the Americas....
Migrations
21-22 November 2014
Latifa Perry
The Socialist International Committee on Migrations met in Catania on 21 and 22 November, hosted by the Italian Socialist Party.
The meeting was chaired by the leader of the Italian Socialist MPs, Marco Di Lello, with the participation of SI Secretary General Luis Ayala and delegates from socialist and progressive parties from…
India
17-18 November 2014
Declaration adopted at the International Conference on "Nehru's Worldview and his Legacy: Democracy, Inclusion and Empowerment"
We the delegates representing 20 countries, 29 Political Parties and organizations participating in the International Conference on "Nehru's Worldview and his Legacy: Democracy, Inclusion and Empowerment" on 17-18 November 2014, New Dehli, dedicated to the commemoration of the 125th Anniversary of Jawaharlal Nehru…
IPU
12-16 October 2014
Latifa Perry
The Socialist International attended the 131st Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union held in Geneva from 12 to 16 October 2014. During the event, the SI held its regular meeting of Parliamentarians present at the Assembly from SI member parties and invited guests…
Presidium
25 September 2014
Latifa Perry
On the occasion of the 69th session of the United Nations General Assembly, members of the Presidium of the Socialist International and Heads of State and Government gathered for a meeting on 25 September 2014 at the UN headquarters. The main themes of the discussions were the contribution of our movement to peace and international security in face of today’s open conflicts; our agenda on equality in the global economy...
Press coverage of the meeting
Committe for the CIS, the Caucasus and the Black Sea
15-16 September 2014
The Socialist International Committee for the CIS, the Caucasus and the Black Sea met on 15-16 September 2014 in Astana, Kazakhstan, hosted by its member party in that country, the Nationwide Social Democratic Party (OSDP). The agenda of the meeting consisted of three main themes: overcoming conflicts and securing peace in the region: the social democratic contribution...
Council
30 June-01 July 2014
The first Council meeting of the Socialist International of 2014 took place on 30 June-1 July in Mexico City, hosted by the organisation’s two member parties in Mexico, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) and the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD). Leaders and representatives from member parties and organisations gathered to discuss the main themes on the agenda of the Council...
Press coverage of the meeting
Latin America and the Caribbean
09-10 May 2014
Latifa Perry
The SI Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean met in the Dominican Republic on 9-10 May 2014, hosted by the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD). At the opening of the meeting, the Committee paid tribute to the memory and legacy of José Francisco Peña Gómez, who was for many years leader of the PRD and a prominent figure of social democracy in the region....
Press coverage of the meeting
Europe
29 May 2014
The Socialist International, which brings together socialist, social democratic, labour and other progressive parties from all continents, is deeply concerned over the results of the European elections that took place 22-25 May to elect the new members of the European Parliament. From the perspective of our global movement, serious and disturbing issues have emerged in these elections....
Migrations
02-03 May 2014
Essatti Abdelaziz
Under the main theme of “Humanising Migration”, the SI Committee on Migrations convened in Tangiers, Morocco, on 2-3 May 2014, hosted by the Socialist Union of Popular Forces, USFP. In a widely attended opening session, the gathering was addressed by Driss Lachguar, First Secretary of the USFP, Abdallah Boussouf, Secretary General...
Press coverage of the meeting
Africa
28-29 March 2014
H.E. President Kikwete and participants at the meeting
Leaders and representatives from over twenty parties and organisations took part in the two-day meeting of the Socialist International Africa Committee which was held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on 28-29 March, hosted by the SI member party in that country, Chama Cha Mapinduzi, CCM...
Press coverage of the meeting
IPU
18 March 2014
Latifa Perry
Within the framework of the 130th Assembly of the IPU held in Geneva from 16 to 20 March 2014, the Socialist International held its regular meeting of parliamentarians from SI member parties attending the Assembly...
Yemen
01 February 2014
The Socialist International is pleased that the National Dialogue Conference in Yemen has concluded with agreement among all political and civil society actors to charter a course as a nation and define an institutional framework to secure democracy, freedoms and rights for all Yemenis...
Council
11-12 November 2013
Latifa Perry
The Council of the Socialist International convened in the city of Istanbul on 11-12 November, hosted by the Republican People’s Party, CHP, a member of the SI. Leaders and delegates from parties and organisations from all continents attended the meeting, which had the following main themes on its agenda: "Current crises related to the struggles for democracy, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa, and conflicts threatening peace and security in that part of the world" and "Reaffirming the centre-left vision for the global economy with an emphasis on growth, jobs and equality, and for a new development agenda"...
Press coverage of the meeting
SI delegation in Mali
13 August 2013
SI delegation with Ibrahim Boubacar Keita
A Socialist International delegation is in Mali from the 8th to the 14th of August for the second round of the presidential elections that took place on Sunday the 11th. The delegation includes the SI Secretary General Luis Ayala; Emmanuel Golou, Chair of the SI Africa Committee, from PSD Benin; SI Vice-Presidents from the region Ousmane Tanor Dieng from the PS Senegal and Chantal Kambiwa from the SDF Cameroon, and Nana Cheikhna, Vice-President of the RFD of neighbouring Mauritania...
IPU
08 October 2013
In connection with the 129th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) organised in Geneva, Switzerland, from 7 to 9 October 2013, the Socialist International held its regular meeting of parliamentarians from the SI political family on 8 October...
Syria
29 October 2013
A broad delegation of the National Coalition of Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces held discussions with the SI Secretary General, on the grave situation in Syria and on their participation at the forthcoming SI Council meeting to be held in Istanbul on November 11-12
Presidium
26 September 2013
Latifa Perry
Members of the SI Presidium, Heads of State and Government from SI member parties, leaders of international organisations and a number of foreign ministers gathered at the United Nations headquarters in New York on the 26th September for the organisation's 6th annual meeting in conjunction with the UN General Assembly...
Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean
26-27 July 2013
Latifa Perry
On 26-27 July 2013, the Socialist International held a meeting of its Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean, SICLAC, in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, hosted by the People’s National Party, PNP, with the participation of Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, PNP leader and a Vice-President of the Socialist International. The meeting was convened following consultations among members of the SI Presidium from the region and included on its agenda the election of the authorities of the Committee for the current inter-congress period...
Committee on Local Governments
19-20 July 2013
The SI Committee on Local Governments, established by decision of the Council in February this year in Cascais, Portugal, held its first meeting in Santiago, Chile on 19 and 20 July. The Committee also held a meeting with the candidate of the progressive forces for the Presidency of the Republic, Michelle Bachelet, who shared her views with the representatives of the Socialist International, commenting on some of the main objectives of her government programme…
The CIS, the Caucasus and the Black Sea
03-04 June 2013
Latifa Perry
Socialist International member parties from the CIS, Caucasus and Black Sea region gathered in Tbilisi on 3-4 June 2013, to discuss current priorities and challenges to social democracy in the region and ways to overcome conflicts, a fundamental need to achieve fair and prosperous societies. The meeting was hosted by the SI member party in Georgia, the Social Democrats for Development, SDD...
The Kurdish People
12 April 2013
Hama Omer
The SI Committee on the Kurdish People, established by the Council following a decision by the Congress, held its first meeting in Sulaimaniya, on Friday 12 April 2013. It was hosted by the SI member Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, PUK, and brought together participants from more than twenty Kurdish political parties and organisations from Iraq, Iran, Turkey and Syria...
Resolutions and Decisions of the XXIV Congress
Elections
Sri Lanka
Presidential
| 08 JANUARY 2014
Zambia
Presidential
| 20 JANUARY 2014
Greece
Parliamentary
| 25 JANUARY 2014
Member Party Congresses
Report of the Secretary General
Equatorial Guinea
25 JUNE 2013
A peaceful demonstration planned for today by the opposition Convergence for Social Democracy, CPDS, the SI member party in Equatorial Guinea, has been forcefully repressed, and last night six members of the leadership of the party were detained for several hours by government security forces. The Socialist International wholeheartedly condemns these acts and calls on the Obiang regime to end the harassment of opposition forces and to respect the fundamental rights of the people of Equatorial Guinea…
Turkey
17 JUNE 2013
Developments in Turkey during the last three weeks have been followed with increasing concern by the international community. The Turkish government, which should respond to the grievances of the citizens who are protesting and act in accordance with the norms and principles of a democracy, is failing to listen and to seek a way forward to avoid the current spiral of violence, of beatings, and the victims that the world continues to witness as a consequence...
Moldova
07 May 2013
The Socialist International is deeply concerned by legislation passed by the Moldovan Parliament last week, which compromises the integrity and the character of fundamental democratic institutions of the Moldovan State. Indeed, the International has been following political life in Moldova closely over recent years with a keen interest in seeing Moldova joining Europe, developing a new legitimate institutional framework, and consolidating past gains borne from the will of the Moldovan citizens for a fair and democratic society...
Tax evasion & tax havens
15 April 2013
The Socialist International (SI) has repeatedly called for international regulation to prevent tax evasion, which is robbing our economies of trillions of dollars every year. The recent media investigation of this phenomenon comes as a resounding confirmation of our position. In 2008, the SI created a Commission on the Global Financial Crisis, which highlighted the lack of effective international regulation and implementation mechanisms to stem tax avoidance and tax evasion...
VEnezuelA
15 April 2013
The Socialist International, which has member parties in Venezuela and whose activities also include the participation of other like-minded organisations in that country, has followed with great attention for several years now, the evolution of political life in Venezuela. Among the international observers officially accredited for the presidential elections carried out yesterday, 14 April, were those from the Socialist International...
iPU
27 March 2013
On the occasion of the 128th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) held in Quito, Ecuador, from 22 to 27 March 2013, the Socialist International organised its regular meeting of parliamentarians from the SI political family attending the IPU Assembly, on 24 March...
VenezuelA
13 March 2013
To mark the 6th Anniversary of the party Un Nuevo Tiempo in Venezuela, and in their designated year for political education, the Secretary General of the Socialist International, Luis Ayala, delivered a talk on the history and ideological foundations of social democracy, and of the Socialist International as a political model, offering as well his best wishes to a Venezuela in transition...