Progressive Pod

A podcast interview with Dan Luca, Senior Director of Euractiv on the last Presidential Election in Romania.  The story of the country’s 2019 election is not one about surprising results, but one that seems to capture the moment of transition. On one hand, there is certain stability that emerged after the last governmental crisis and the vote of no-confidence. The co-habitation is over, the President emerged as the embodiment of the mainstream that moved to the right and the two main parties (PNL and PSD) are still in their positions. On the other hand, there are many questions about what the weeks and months ahead will bring – once Romania is gearing towards national and local elections. 

Ania SKRZYPEK, Director for Research and Training at FEPS interviews Beatriz CORREDOR, President of the Spanish Foundation Pablo Iglesias, on the elections in Spain.

Olaf Bruns interviews Rick Smith, Executive Director of the Broadbent Institute, on the recent elections in Canada. 

Rebekka Wyler, co-Secretary General of the Swiss Social Democratic Party, shares her analysis of the recent election in Switzerland which have brought a shift to the Left, albeit in the form of a 'green wave' at the expense of the SP. A clear reminder, that the SP of the future needs to be green without losing its social basics.

Just three days after the elections, President Aleksander Kwasniewski (in the office 1995 - 2005) shares with us his insights of the campaign, his reading of the electoral results and how he expects things to unfold. In a conversation with Ania Skrzypek, FEPS Director for Research and Training, President touches upon the main challenges that Poland is facing and shares why he remains an optimist looking at the return of the Left into the Sejm.

A podcast interview with Professor Philip Alston, the Special UN Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, ahead of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Since May 2015, Professor Philip Alston has been submitting reports to the Human Rights Council in his capacity as Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights. His 2018 report was a charge against privatization and Alain Bloëdt, Editor-in-Chief of the Progressive Post asks Alston if he considers that to save our planet we must change the current liberal economic model. A year later Alston’s 2019 report also takes a strong position, stating that the world is facing a risk of "climate apartheid".

A podcast interview with Professor Sheri Berman around her latest book “Democracy and Dictatorship in Europe”. In her latest book “Democracy and Dictatorship in Europe”, Professor Sheri Berman provides a new understanding of the development of democracy and dictatorship in Europe over the long period from the Ancien Régime to the present day. During this podcast interview, Alain Bloëdt, Editor-in-Chief of the Progressive Post, asks Berman about the lessons we should learn regarding the renaissance of populism in Europe and the role played by social democrats. Bloëdt and Berman also talk about the decline of social democracy and trade unions in Europe, as well as the ways to win an election around economic instead of social issues. Elections could also be won around the so-called Left coalition – which could be seen as an opportunity to win an election or as a deep and long-term commitment.

A podcast interview with Luuk van de Middelaar on the technocratic approach at EU level which is no longer credible.  In his recent book, “Alarums and Excursions – improvising politics on the European stage”, Dutch historian Luuk van Middelaar analyses how a decade of crises – from the financial chaos of the euro and Greek sovereign debt, to the conflicts with Russia over Ukraine, unprecedented levels of refugees from across the Mediterranean, and the turmoil created by Brexit – have shaped new ways of doing politics on the European stage. Read the transcript in English and French https://progressivepost.eu/spotlights/the-technocratic-approach-is-not-credible-anymore-real-debate-is-needed

A podcast interview with Sébastien Maillard, Director of Notre Europe, on the last European elections, including reference to Jacques Delors. How should the results of these ninth European elections be measured? Did Brexit and Trump have an impact on voters? Will the new European Parliament extend its power? In this podcast interview with Sébastien Maillard, Director of Notre Europe - Jacques Delors Institute, Maillard explains that he has observed a kind of re-Europeanisation of the public sphere over the last several months. Does this mean social policies are back on the agenda? Talking with reference to Jacques Delors, Maillard reminds us that despite a strong commitment to social Europe, Delors has never pitted social policies against economic ones. Maillard also confesses that social policies do not belong to the S&D nor environmental ones to the Greens, and he calls on pro-Europeans to unite their expectations.

A podcast interview with Laurent  Berger, the new president of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), on the most pressing issues of our time and the future of trade unions. The staggering blow of the rise of the right and extreme right is hard to integrate. What are the challenges to be overcome so progressives can regain ground? How do we stem the nationalist wave? Laurent Berger, the new president of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), comments on the most pressing issues of our time. He also addresses the current situation of trade unionists, assuming that they need to reinvent themselves, as do almost all institutions – although he is totally convinced that society, and especially the working world, cannot do without trade unionism. Read the transcript in English and French:  https://progressivepost.eu/spotlights/strengthening-social-policies-to-counter-nationalists