Fatah joins party of European socialists

Fatah movement has joined the Party of European Socialists (PES) following a green light from its congress, according to a press release issued Saturday. The Tunisian Ettakatol party has also joined the PES. Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesman for President Mahmoud Abbas who is also head of Fatah movement, welcomed the decision. “Accepting Fatah as member in the European Socialists strengthen the Palestinian position on the international level and sends a message that the international community stands by the Palestinian people and its leadership particularly in its request for membership for Palestine in the United Nations.” Fatah, the largest Palestinian political party established in 1958, is already a member of the Socialist International. Nabil Shaath, Fatah Commissioner for International Relations, who attended the PES meetings, also welcomed the decision. “The PES Congress decision on the membership of Fatah comes at a crucial time for progressive forces in Palestine and in the Arab world,” said Shaath. “We are proud to join the political family which has always been fair and supportive to the cause of the Palestinian people,” he added. “Our membership together with Ettakatol today shows that we share the struggle for freedom, justice and dignity and constitutes a new demonstration of the European socialists’ support for the recognition of the State of Palestine and its membership in the UN. Strengthened by the values and strategies of our sister parties, we will strive to implement new progressive policies responding to the needs and demands of our people,” said Shaath. Newly elected PES President Sergei Stanishev said, “The PES membership of Fatah and Ettakatol is an historical moment. It brings the two parties even closer to their progressive partners within the European political family but it also takes the PES closer to the people of Palestine and Tunisia and their concerns.” He added: “Today the progressive family across the two sides of the Mediterranean comes together with common objectives and efforts to build a future of shared prosperity, peace, mutual respect and democratic values.” According to the press release, “the move comes at a crucial time in the post-Arab Spring period. It reiterates the commitment of the PES, to North Africa and the Middle East and the calls for hope and dignity and progress.” The PES has backed the legitimate demands of the revolutions to bring about democratic change for future generations, it said, adding that today progressive movements throughout the region are emerging, providing a real and credible political alternative for the people. “Together, we will provide a clear plan to achieve social and economic development in a democratic environment. The PES stands ready to support progressive forces in the region and to step up its presence and efforts even further. Together we will demonstrate that democracy is a universal value to the benefit of all,” it said. Since 2010 and the onset of the street protests, the PES has been present in the region with two major international conferences in Tunisia on the region’s uprisings as well as a series of activities in Brussels on the role of the EU to support people’s legitimate demands for freedom, justice and dignity. The PES has set up a permanent Task Force on the Arab Spring. It has also co-organised with Fatah and Ettakatol a seminar on constitutional challenges and reform. “Constitutions must represent the very foundations of fundamental freedoms and individual and collective rights while preserving a pluralist democracy and a separation of powers as well as social, economic and territorial justice,” said the release.