George Papandreou was re-elected president of the Socialist International

President of the Socialist International was re-elected the president of the Movement of Democrats Socialists, Giorgos Papandreou, with the unanimous support…
of the Conference of the Organization, carried out in Colombia.
“The confidence with which you honor, all the members of the Socialist International, it is a responsibility that I will serve with all my strength,” said the re-election of mr. Papandreou.
In his speech, immediately after his re-election, mr. Papandreou reported extensively on contemporary challenges and the phenomena of populism and nationalism that have plagued the political life of many countries of the world, highlighting among others:
“Their priority is the conquest and retention of power. Our priority is to use our power for the benefit of all.
Believe that you will make strong their countries by building walls, by investing in weapons, taking unilateral decisions.
We believe that we will make strong our countries by investing in people, in education, in social rights, on the ability of cooperation in a globalised economy.
They say “get a grip on our hands,” and this is what they mean isolationism, the Brexit, the closed borders.
We would say, “get a grip on our hands” and we mean to fight against the inequalities, to strengthen their citizens, to strengthen our democracies, to respect human dignity and rights. Say, reduce the taxation of the rich. We reduce the power of the rich”.
The Congress of the Socialist International, which has a central theme “For a peaceful world with Equality and Solidarity”, started its work in the city of Cartagena de Ίντιας of Colombia.
Made in Colombia, to support the efforts of President Juan Manuel Santos and the government of the partner, a member of the Socialist International (Παρτίδο Λιμπεράλ Κολομβιάνο PLC), for a peaceful solution to the internal conflict with the guerrillas of the FARC – a conflict with enormous costs in human lives, since it lasted for over half a century.
The more than five hundred participants from all parts of the world have enjoyed a warm reception to President Santos, who was awarded the Nobel Peace prize 2016. In his speech, thanked the Socialist International for its active support to the peace process by 2015.
George Papandreou, thanked President Santos for the warm words and awarded him the Peace Prize Papandreou-Cem 2017. This year’s award, he stressed, is given to the President Santos, for two reasons: “The initiatives for the termination of a multiannual internal conflict, show a political courage that is very rare in the current era. The courage of this, we hope to inspire the other leaders for the initiatives that will resolve any other conflicts that plague many areas of the world.
The effort made by President Santos to the peace process of all forces and layers of society, is a model for the resolution of disputes with a solid and democratic foundations”.