SAN MARINO – Repubblica Futura participated in the XXII Congress of the European Democratic Party (PDE/EDP), held on 23 and 24 October in Athens, with the president Mara Valentini and the head of International Activities Francesca Piergiovanni. At the center of the meeting, the defense of democracy, international cooperation and the challenges posed by nationalism, authoritarianism and disinformation.
The congress, entitled “The Final Countdown – It’s Time for Europe”, brought together over one hundred European delegates and more than three hundred participants from Greece, involving political and institutional representatives and organizations committed to the protection of human rights.
Among the main interventions, those of the general secretary of the PDE and MEP Sandro Gozi and the party president François Bayrou. Gozi underlined the need for a stronger and more autonomous Europe, capable of strengthening cooperation between democratic forces even beyond the borders of the European Union. François Bayrou instead recalled the value of citizen participation, stating that “democracy cannot be built for the people without being built with the people”.
The senator Enrico Borghipresident of the Institute of European Democrats and vice-president of Italia Viva, highlighted the risks of political inaction and a return to exclusively national policies, potentially capable of weakening the process of European integration.
A significant part of the work was dedicated to the testimonies of those who fight for freedom and fundamental rights. In the “Fighters for Freedoms” panel, moderated by the Vice President of the European Parliament Pina Piciernothey intervened Anna Victoria Politkovskaya, Jewher Ilham And Shervin Haravi. Particular attention aroused the video message of the mayor of Istanbul Ekrem İmamoğlu, detained, welcomed by a long standing ovation. She also intervened Oleksandra Romantsovaexecutive director of the Ukrainian Center for Civil Liberties, awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
For Repubblica Futura, participation in the congress represents an opportunity to consolidate relations with European democratic forces and contribute to the international debate on the issues of freedom, the rule of law and political participation.
