ECOSY-IUSY attend Council Socialist International

ECOSY Secretary General,  Brando Benifei, ECOSY Vice-President, and Eliza Politi, ECOSY Bureau Member were part of the IUSY/ECOSY delegation, while Katarina Nevedalova, MEP and ECOSY Vice-President, Adrianos Kyriakidis, ECOSY CC President, and Irma Nisic, ECOSY Bureau Member were also present, as members of their party delegations. Eliza Politi also attended the SI Women Council (26-27 June), on behalf of IUSY and ECOSY.

In her address to the Council, Petroula Nteledimou stressed, among other things, the following:

"Until a few years ago, when speaking about democracy, we were all mainly referring to electoral democracy: to free, transparent, regular elections, with voting rights for all citizens. Nowadays, this is taken for granted for a big part of the world. But not for all people. Maybe not even for the biggest part of the world. Therefore, it is our duty to still fight, so that electoral democracy becomes a reality in every corner of our planet.

However, even this, where achieved, is today simply not enough. Electoral abstention, as the main expression of personal renouncement of the fundamental right to vote, clearly proves this. A lot of analysis has already been made about abstention, which I do not want to repeat. Still, I would like to stress two points:

• Abstention is bigger among women and young people
• And it does not necessarily mean ignorance or indifference. But it may mean distance or disappointment; disillusionment.

But why is this so? I would like to refer to a term Segolene Royal used earlier: "La personne humaine". A notion sometimes confused, or even forgotten by many. Institutions, politicians, legislations, even some among the progressive movement, tend to confuse three different aspects of the same element: the voter, the citizen, and the person. It is often considered easy to address and convince the first (the voter), convenient to govern and discipline the second (the citizen). But democracy has to involve the person: This unique being, who is no average; who can be rich or poor, old or young, male or female, native or immigrant, healthy or disabled; who lives, works, studies, smiles and suffers throughout the clock and throughout the year - not just once every four or five years. This is the one we have to address. Democracy exists for him. For her.

But what kind of democracy can be enough in this perspective?

Definitely more than electoral democracy: A far-reaching, substantial democracy, following the proposals included in our declaration. With the addition of more rights, opportunities, possibilities and representation for women and young people. Involving a new ethics, with transparency and participation in its core. Implementing new forms of action and participation, in close cooperation with civil society and within the new social networks. Including new ways of functioning also of our own parties, who need to turn to the people, to "la personne humaine", more than to the party members only.

There is one more specific reference I would like to make as well, regarding democracy, and this is our region, the Balkans - the region which is also hosting us these two days. In the Balkans, democracy means much more than just abolishing inequalities.

It means, among others, respect to diversity, in terms of minorities, immigrants, societies, and countries.

It means free movement of people - and therefore abolishment of the visa regime - instead of the uncontrolled trafficking of human beings.

It means Balkan integration and peace, European accession, and a new global role as a model for solidarity rather than separatism.

This is our main goal and vision, as IUSY and ECOSY, for this region , a region so rich in history and perspectives; and for this we work in consistence with all progressive young people in the Balkans.

This is also going to be one of our main topics of discussion in the IUSY Festival, in a couple of weeks from today, where we hope to welcome you as well, and share with you our dreams and aims".