European social democracy in danger

The Dutch Labour Party (PvdA) is currently going through its biggest crisis since the end of the Second World War. In an article entitled "Social Democrats menaced by the Left, the Right and themselves", the newspaper draws comparisons to other European social democratic parties. "Almost everywhere in Western Europe, the old social democratic or socialist parties are encountering difficulties, whether they are in power or not. ... The [German] SPD and the PvdA both had setbacks in recent elections, they are doing badly in opinion polls and face their competitors on the Left like a rabbit facing a snake. ... What they need is better leaders, as the party's policy-maker Jos de Beus said on television last Sunday. ... But things will probably get even more complicated for Western European social democracy, and for the PvdA. Perhaps the party must concentrate its efforts on heightening its profile, ... showing patience and helping the current coalition to success through sound policies."

» full article (external link, Dutch)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Social movements, » Germany, » Netherlands, » Europe