Summary of the World Council of the Socialist International
Madrid, February 24 and 25, 2024
"The Socialism That Wins"
The World Council of the Socialist International, held on February 24 and 25 in Madrid, was inaugurated by the organization’s Vice-President, Isabel Allende, who expressed the Chilean people’s gratitude for the international solidarity received during the dictatorship that followed the coup in Chile and the tragic death of President Salvador Allende, marking its 50th anniversary.
In her speech, Isabel Allende emphasized that "the world is in a state of chaos that demands the Socialist International reclaim its leadership to play a fundamental role in strengthening democracy." She also thanked the organization’s President, Pedro Sánchez, for taking the reins of the Socialist International, highlighting that he is providing "the momentum it needs." The Vice-President stressed the need for the organization to regain its global presence and leadership, stating that "we need to renew our project to strengthen democracies and support electoral processes with guarantees."
Following this, the President of the Socialist International and Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, delivered the opening address. In his speech, Sánchez emphasized that "democratic socialism is the only viable model for social progress." He also underlined the principle of fraternity, which he defined as one of the organization’s fundamental values: "Everything that happens in the world affects us all. Fraternity is essential for progressivism to counteract the ultra-right positions of the reactionary international."
Based on this foundation, Sánchez reaffirmed the commitment of progressive parties to a just peace in Ukraine and the Middle East and stressed that "we socialists face the challenge of adapting our values to the 21st century, convinced that it is possible to combine economic growth with social progress."
Main Topics of Debate
Under the theme "The Socialism That Wins," the World Council focused its discussions on three major current issues:
- Reforming global governance to achieve sustainable development for all.
- Addressing the challenges of our time to build a fair and inclusive world: gender equality, green transition, and digital transformation.
- Promoting international peace and security.
The World Council in Madrid was established as a key space to redefine the progressive agenda on a global scale, with the goal of strengthening democracies and socialist values at a critical moment for humanity.
- Decisions Approved by the Council of the Socialist International (SI) during its meeting held on February 23, 2024, in Madrid:
• Approval of statutory amendments.
• Approval of the decision to open a delegation in Madrid.
• Approval of the decision to create a Socialist International Foundation.
• Approval of the decision to end Benedicta Lasi’s term as Secretary-General.
• Approval of the creation of a new position for General Coordinator.
Participants
- President Pedro Sánchez, Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE), Spain
- Chantal Kambiwa, General Coordinator, Cameroon
- Prime Minister Edi Rama, Socialist Party of Albania (SPA), Albania, Vice-President
- Romina Kuko, Socialist Party of Albania (SPA), Albania
- Manuel Domingos Augusto, People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), Angola
- Jesus Rodriguez, Radical Civil Union (UCR), Argentina, Vice-President
- Mario Nalpatian, Armenian Socialist Party (ARF), Armenia, Vice-President
- Paul Magnette, Socialist Party (PS), Belgium
- Samuel Doria Medina, National Unity Front (UN), Bolivia
- Carlos Lupi, Democratic Labour Party (PDT), Brazil, Vice-President
- Desislava Krumova, Bulgarian Social Democrats (PBSD), Bulgaria
- Saleh Kebzabo, National Union for Development and Renewal (UNDR), Chad, President of the Africa Committee
- Isabel Allende, Socialist Party of Chile (PS), Chile
- Paulina Vodanovic, Socialist Party (PS), Chile, Vice-President
- Miguel Ángel Sánchez, Liberal Party of Colombia (PLC), Colombia, Vice-President
- Kattia Rivera Soto, National Liberation Party (PLN), Costa Rica, Vice-President
- Karolina Leakovic, Social Democratic Party (SDP), Croatia
- Agustin Kabuya Tshilumba, Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), Democratic Republic of Congo, Vice-President
- Miguel Ángel Vargas Maldonado, Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD), Dominican Republic, President of the Latin America and Caribbean Committee
- Janet Camilo, Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD), Dominican Republic, President of the SIW
- Andres Esono, Convergence for Social Democracy (CPDS), Equatorial Guinea
- Eero Heinäluoma, Finnish Social Democratic Party (SDP), Finland, Vice-President
- Olivier Faure, Socialist Party (PS), France, Vice-President
- Karl Mark Arhin, National Democratic Congress (NDC), Ghana
- Paulina Lampsa, Movement for Change (PASOKKINAL), Greece, Vice-President
- Victor Benoit, Social Democratic Assembly for the Progress of Haiti (RSD), Haiti
- Edmonde S. Beauzile, Union of Haitian Social Democrats (Fusion SD), Haiti, Vice-President
- Zana Bestoon Ali Kurdi, Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), Iraq
- Pia Locatelli, Italian Socialist Party (PSI), Italy
- Askhat Rakhimzhanov, Nationwide Social Democratic Party (OSDP), Kazakhstan, Vice-President
- Temirlan Sultanbekov, Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan (SDPK), Kyrgyzstan, Vice-President
- Moustapha Dicko, African Party for Solidarity and Justice (ADEMAPASJ), Mali
- Bokary Treta, Assembly for Mali (RPM), Mali
- Brahim Boyhi, Assembly of Democratic Forces (RFD), Mauritania
- Alejandro Moreno Cárdenas, Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), Mexico, Vice-President
- Ion Sula, European Social Democratic Party (ESDM), Republic of Moldova
- Enkjargel Danzalbarjir, Mongolian People’s Party (MPP), Mongolia
- Aleksandar Bogdanovic, Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro (DPS), Montenegro
- Khaoula Lachguar, Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP), Morocco, Vice-President
- Elias Muthemba, Liberation Front of Mozambique (FRELIMO), Mozambique
- Khagendra Chetry, Nepali Congress (NC), Nepal, Vice-President
- Rawhi Fattouh, Fatah (Fatah), Palestine, Vice-President
- Rafael Augusto Filizzola Serra, Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), Paraguay
- Augusto Robinson, Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), Panama
- Gerardo Morris Abarca, Peruvian Aprista Party (PAP), Peru
- Norberto Gonzales, Philippines Social Democratic Party (PDSP), Philippines, Vice-President
- Francisco André, Socialist Party (PS), Portugal
- Lucian Romascanu, Social Democratic Party (PSD), Romania
- Gerardo Giovagnoli, Party of Socialist and Democrats (PSD), San Marino
- Gorgui Ciss, Socialist Party (PS), Senegal
- Katarina Roth Nevedalova, Slovak Social Democracy Party (SMER SD), Slovak Republic
- Hella Ben Youssef, Democratic Forum for Labour and Freedoms (ETTAKATOL), Tunisia
- Özgür Özel, Republican People’s Party (CHP), Turkey, Vice-President
- Rafael Michelini, New Space (PNE), Uruguay, Vice-President
- Henry Ramos, Acción Democrática (AD), Venezuela, Vice-President
- Carlos Valero, A New Era (UNT), Venezuela
- Dr Mohammed Ahmed Ali Al-Mekhlafi, Yemeni Socialist Party (YSP), Yemen
- Domingos Simoes Pereira, African Party of Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), Guinea Bissau
- Iebrahem Muslem, Democratic Union Party (PYD), Syria
- Olena Skomoroshchenko, Social Democratic Party of Ukraine (SDPU), Ukraine
- Natasha Mihailovic, Social Democratic Party of Serbia (SDPS), Serbia
Other councils
Santo Domingo, 28-29 January 2019
Geneva, 26-27 June 2018
Barcelona, Spain, 24-25 November 2017
New York, 11-12 July 2017
Cartagena*, 2-4 March 2017
Geneva, 01-02 July 2016
Luanda, Angola, 27-28 November 2015
New York, 06-07 July 2015
Geneva, 12-13 December 2014
Mexico City, 30 June - 1 July 2014
Istanbul, 11-12 November 2013
Cascais, Portugal, 4-5 February 2013
Cape Town*, 30 August - 1 September 2012
San José, Costa Rica, 23-24 January 2012
Athens, 1-2 July 2011
Paris, 15-16 November 2010
New York, 21-22 June 2010
Santo Domingo, 23-24 November 2009
Montenegro, 29-30 June 2009
Vallarta, 17-18 November 2008
Athens*, 20 June - 2 July 2008
Geneva, 29-30 June 2007
Santiago, 6-7 November 2006
Athens, 30-31 January 2006
Tel Aviv and Ramallah, 23-24 May 2005
Johannesburg, 15-16 November 2004
Madrid, 7-8 February 2004
São Paulo*, 26 October 2003
Rome, 20-21 January 2003
Casablanca, 31 May - 1 June 2002
Santo Domingo, 26-27 November 2001
Lisbon, 29-30 June 2001
Maputo, 10-11 November 2000
Brussels, 10-11 April 2000
Paris* 7 November 1999
Buenos Aires, 25-26 June 1999
Geneva, 23-24 November 1998
Oslo, 18-19 May 1998
New Delhi, 10-11 November 1997
Rome, 21-22 January 1997
New York*, 8 September 1996
Brussels, 7-8 December 1995
Cape Town, 10-11 July 1995
Budapest, 2-3 December 1994
Tokyo, 10-11 May 1994
Lisbon, 6-7 October 1993
Athens, 9-10 February 1993
Berlin*, 15-17 September 1992
Santiago, 26-27 November 1991
Istanbul, 11-12 June 1991
New York, 8-9 October 1990
Cairo, 22-23 May 1990
Geneva, 23-24 November 1989
Stockholm*, 20-22 June 1989
Madrid, 11-12 May 1988
Dakar, 15-16 October 1987
Rome, 8-9 April 1987
*On the eve of the Congress
