S&D Times

Message from S&D Group Leader Iratxe García:

“Electoral interference and manipulated social media algorithms are a direct threat to our European values. In recent months, we have seen how Elon Musk and his social network X have become the main promoter for the far right by supporting Donald Trump and Alice Weidel's AfD party through fake news and hate messages. We have also witnessed Mark Zuckerberg’s decision to remove fact-checking programmes on Meta as an act of complicity with lies and manipulation.

Freedom of expression does not mean freedom to misinform,?and it cannot justify any lie aiming to destroy societies and instigate divisions. History has shown us the dangers of propaganda and manipulation. It was not so long ago that the totalitarian regimes of the 20th century used massive lies to justify wars, genocides and oppression. For the Socialists and Democrats, the truth is non-?negotiable!”?

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Up next:

Next week, in the European Parliament in Brussels,we will hold a solemn Plenary session. On Wednesday, 29 January,?we will?mark?Holocaust Remembrance Day –?commemorating?80 years since the?end?of the Holocaust.

Also on 29 January, we will closely follow the presentation of the?Competitiveness Compass, to be unveiled by European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen as the first follow up to the Draghi report on the future of Europe's competitiveness. The S&Ds welcomed the Draghi report as a solid starting point?–?offering ideas on how to?modernise?our economy and accelerate the green and just transition.?However, for progressives, competitiveness must benefit everyone and be grounded in social progress.

In addition, next week the European Parliament will officially launch?four?committees.

For those following the topics, here are the official dates:

SEDE (Security and Defence): Monday, 27 January, 15:00

SANT (Health): Wednesday, 29 January, 09:00

We are particularly proud to announce the new EP special committee on housing (HOUS) to be fully set up on Thursday, 30 January. We have brought housing to the forefront of the EU agenda, with the goal of achieving decent, affordable?and?sustainable homes for all.

EUDS (Special committee - European Democracy Shield): Monday, 3 February, 18:00.

Upcoming events:

On 4 February, from 14:00 to 16:00, the S&Ds will partner with the Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS) and the Kalevi Sorsa Foundation to host a seminar highlighting the urgent need to introduce wealth taxes and minimum capital income taxation. The event, titled?Capital and wealth taxation in the EU - Ways forward on the path of justice,?will delve into an issue of growing concern both politically?and economically.

Recent Oxfam research on the surge in billionaire wealth within the EU underscores the necessity of rebalancing the tax mix to ease the burden on the workers and middle class and ensuring?that the ultra-rich pay their fair share.?

Our members?Aurore Lalucq, Matthias Ecke, Jonás Fernández and Bruno Gon?alves?will be participating. You can learn more about the speakers?here.

And?you can?register here?to attend in person.

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And as always don’t forget to stay updated on all our initiatives and reactions on?Facebook,?Bluesky,?X,?Instagram,?Telegram,?Spotify,?Apple Podcasts?and?TikTok!