36 years ago, just before Christmas 1989, Romania tore freedom out of the grip of dictatorship. It was won with blood and courage — but it proved that even the most brutal, seemingly untouchable regime can fall. That sacrifice opened the road to today’s democratic Romania.

It is shameful that Viktor Orbán downplays Russia’s aggression by saying it’s “not even clear who attacked whom.” Ukraine was invaded. Full stop. Orbán owes an apology — and should stop serving Vladimir Putin’s interests over Europe’s values and security.

May the lights of Hanukkah shine in our lives. 🕎✨ Let us drive out darkness and hatred from every corner of the world. Chag Sameach!

Congratulations to the new @feps-europe.eu President Nicolas Schmit and Treasurer Kaisa Vatanen. This Bureau is a strong team for a progressive future! ✊🌹 #FEPS #ProgressiveEurope #SocialJustice

Proud to call Maria João Rodrigues a comrade and to have fought beside her. As FEPS president, she showed what real feminist, progressive leadership looks like — principled, bold, and unafraid to challenge power. Thank you, Maria, for your courage and your example. ✊🌹 @feps-europe.eu

Amid rising backlash, PES Women reaffirmed that women’s rights are human rights at our Executive Meeting 🇪🇺✊. We discussed key political developments, growing backlash against gender equality, and our 2026 working priorities. 🔗 Check the details: shorturl.at/tjlr5

The Istanbul Convention saves lives — and I’m glad the Catalan Parliament treats it that way. Grateful for our rich discussion. Digital violence against women is rising fast. Women deserve safety everywhere — online and offline. ✊💜 #IstanbulConvention #PACE

The Universal Declaration didn’t write itself — a woman did the impossible. Eleanor Roosevelt united democracies, communists, and decolonising nations to defend human dignity. On Human Rights Day, remember: one woman helped build the rights we now defend. ✊🌍

I spoke yesterday at @solidar-eu.bsky.social’s 25-year-old Silver Rose Award, which honours those working for a fairer and more sustainable world. Congratulations to this year’s two winners: former MEP Agnes Jongerius and La Vía Campesina! 🌹 #SilverRoseAwards @mikaelleyi.bsky.social

PES Gender Equality ministers met yesterday under the Danish Presidency to address the growing and worrying backlash on women’s rights, fight gender-based violence, and involve men & boys in advancing equality. ✊

Great to meet @annehidalgo.bsky.social today in Paris. Her leadership shows what real politics looks like this: safer streets, greener transport, stronger support for women. When leaders act with conviction, not excuses, cities become fairer for ordinary people. ✊🌹 #FeministLeadership #Paris

🎉 The Annual Autumn Academy is back! #FEPSAAA bit.ly/FEPSAAA2025 The 6th FEPS AAA kicked off with the panel “Never for granted! #Europe then now & tomorrow” 👉 @linagalvez.eu 👉 Zita Gurmai @pes-women.bsky.social 👉Tomáš Petříček 👉Irja Vaateri @yesocialists.bsky.social 👉@aniaskrzypek.bsky.social

There’s no lasting peace without women — period. At the Socialist International I made it clear: wars rise, anti-gender forces attack, yet women are shut out of peace talks. When women lead, peace lasts. Fund them. Protect them. Give them power. ✊🌹 #PESWomen #WPS

We marched again this year, carrying the Silent Witnesses — silhouettes for women killed by violence. Thank you to NANE, the Women for Women Together Against Violence for organising this vital protest. 💜 #StopViolence #IDEVAW

We marched again this year, carrying the Silent Witnesses — silhouettes for women killed by violence. Thank you to NANE, the Women for Women Together Against Violence for organising this vital protest. 💜 #StopViolence #IDEVAW

On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, we honour the Mirabal sisters — proof that courage is a choice, and silence is never an answer. Full reflection ⤵️ 🔗 www.linkedin.com/feed/update/... #PESWomen #StopViolenceAgainstWomen #25Nov

Great to catch up with Dina Loghin, President of the @EuropeanWomen— I’ve known her for over two decades, always dedicated and inspiring. #EWL #PESWomen #WomensRights

The EU can’t ignore this any longer: – unequal laws – low convictions – impunity – victim-blaming The draft report led by @joannasw.bsky.social & Evin Incir in the European Parliament sends a clear message to the Commission and Member States: the EU needs a consent-based definition of rape.

Rape laws still vary across Europe. In many countries, rape is not defined on the basis of consent - leaving survivors without justice. With the leadership of @joannasw.bsky.social & Evin Incir, the S&D fights in the European Parliament for an EU-wide consent-based definition of rape.

On Women’s Entrepreneurship Day, remember Bertha Benz — the woman who completed history’s first long-distance drive and proved the future of the car. Women’s courage has always driven innovation. 👉 www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...

🇱🇻 Today we celebrate the courage of 1918, when the Republic of Latvia was proclaimed.

🇨🇿Happy Freedom and Democracy Day to Czechia. The courage shown by students and protestors in 1989 remains an inspiration — and a reminder that we must always stand up for democracy!

🇦🇱 Albania is emerging as one of Europe’s gender-equality success stories — now ranked No.1 worldwide for the smallest pay gap. This took real political courage. I wrote about it after meeting PM @ediramaal.bsky.social in Tirana. 👉 Read more on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/posts/zitagu...

Albania is now one of the leading countries on gender equality — a miracle few expected, built on real courage. Great to meet my friend and ally Edi Rama in Tirana this week. His leadership shows what real political will can achieve. ✊🌹 #EdiRama #GenderEquality

From today, women effectively work for free for the rest of the year — because in the EU women still earn 12.7% less than men. This is Unequal Pay Day. Equal pay now! ✊🌹 #PESWomen #Nov15 #EqualPay

👏 Congratulations to Marko Vešligaj and everyone involved! The EP adopted priorities for the new Strategy on Women’s Rights & Gender Equality — including a call for universal access to safe, legal abortion across the EU. ✊💜 #EP #PESWomen #GenderEquality

Thousands stood with us today — as a pastor and three women MPs were charged with “violence” for protesting. Orbán’s regime uses fear to silence dissent. But it won’t work. We stand united for democracy and justice. ✊🇭🇺 #Hungary #Democracy #Solidarity

🇵🇱🇭🇺 Poles and Hungarians have fought for their independence for centuries — often side by side, as ”dwa bratanki”. Happy Independence Day, Poland! May our shared spirit of solidarity and courage endure. ✊ #Poland #IndependenceDay #DwaBratanki #Freedom #Solidarity

Honoured to meet my longtime mentor, former Danish PM Poul Nyrup Rasmussen. 🇩🇰 He taught us that a stronger, fairer Europe is always worth fighting for — and he’s still doing it today through his work on mental health. 🌹🇪🇺 #Solidarity #Europe

Hungarian prosecutors want to jail us for standing with a pastor punished for helping the poor and defying Orbán. Authoritarians rule by fear — but we won’t be silent. ✊🇭🇺 #Freedom #RuleOfLaw

🇭🇺 35 years ago we joined the Council of Europe — and chose democracy. Orbán walked away from that choice. The next government must bring Hungary home. #CoE

Good news from Latvia. People spoke up, pressure worked, and the government backed off from abandoning the Istanbul Convention for now. We stay vigilant. We keep fighting. Women's rights and safety are non-negotiable. ✊♀️ #IstanbulConvention #WomensRights #Europe

The victory of Zohran Mamdani shows the power of innovative, grassroots campaigning and a relentless focus on voters’ everyday needs. 🌹 Progressives everywhere can learn from his positive message in a gloomy political climate. #ProgressivePolitics #ZohranMamdani

30 years ago, Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated—a tragic loss for Israel, Palestine, and all who believe in peace. In Tel Aviv a huge crowd remembered the man who had the courage to choose dialogue over division, proving that leadership means daring to pursue peace. #Peace #MiddleEast

🇪🇺 75 years since the ECHR was signed — a shield against tyranny and abuse of power. Authoritarians still fear it. Citizens still need it. Democracy survives because we defend it. ✊ #ECHR #HumanRights #Europe

👏 Huge credit to the women’s organization of PSD, Simona Bucura-Oprescu and the coalition for pushing a bold law against femicide and gender-based violence. Protecting women’s lives is not optional — it’s a pillar of democracy. 🌹✊ #WomensRights #Romania

One year on from the Serbian train station disaster, we remember the lives lost — and demand the truth. This tragedy exposed corruption, sparked mass protests, and forced resignations. We must keep pushing for justice. ✊🇷🇸 #Serbia #Accountability #Solidarity

A dark day for women in Europe. Latvia walking away from the #IstanbulConvention. Let’s be clear: this is not about “tradition” or family values.” It’s an attack on human rights. Women deserve safety and dignity — everywhere, every day. And we will not back down. ✊ #WomensRights #Democracy #Europe

As someone who’s known @franstimmermans.groenlinkspvda.nl for many years, I watched his decision to step down with both sadness and respect. In politics, resignation isn’t retreat — it’s accountability. 🌹 Read my full reflections on leadership and renewal here: 🔗 bit.ly/3LcCbFC #Leadership #Renewal

@pes.eu: Good luck to our friends from @groenlinks-pvda.bsky.social in this week's general election in the Netherlands. @franstimmermans.groenlinkspvda.nl has the right experience to lead 🇳🇱 through turbulent times, deliver social and green policies and defend democracy.

Happy Austrian National Day! 🇦🇹 Our histories have long been intertwined — sometimes in struggle, often in peace and solidarity. Today we celebrate our shared European values of peace, democracy, and cooperation. 🌹✊ #Austria #Europe #Solidarity #NationalDay #PES #SPÖ

🌹 Congratulations to Catherine Connolly on her landslide victory as President of Ireland! A powerful win for a left-wing woman who stands for justice, equality and a new direction in Irish politics. ✊🇮🇪 #Ireland #Connolly #WomenInPower #ProgressiveEurope

Great ProgressiveAlliance conference with Elisabeth Baume-Schneider, Márcia Lopes, @eviholz.bsky.social, Machris Cabreros and many other phenomenal women leaders! 🌹 #GenderEquality #Justice #Progressives #FeministLeadership

At the #ProgressiveAlliance in Lucerne, I said it clearly: women’s leadership, online safety, peace — one fight, one struggle. Women must be at every table where the future is decided. #PESWomen #FeministLeadership

Fifty years ago, Iceland’s women shut the country down for one day — and woke the world up. ✊ Equality isn’t charity. It’s the backbone of democracy. #GenderEquality #Justice #ProgressiveEurope 🔗https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7387806661794582528/

On my way to Lucerne for the Progressive Alliance Conference on Feminist Leadership & Peace. ✊🌹 In a world torn by war and inequality, women’s leadership isn’t a luxury — it’s a necessity. #ProgressiveAlliance #FeministLeadership #PESWomen

We remembered Imre Nagy — the martyred PM of 1956. Orbán can try to rewrite history, but he can’t erase those who died for freedom. ✊🇭🇺 #1956 #ImreNagy #Freedom #RussiaGoHome

🇫🇮 Met with Finnish MP & former minister Tuula Haatainen. Orbán’s rule deepens division and inequality — the left’s duty is clear: stand with people, fight for justice. ✊🇭🇺 #Hungary #Solidarity

Congratulations to Tufan Erhürman, the new leader of Turkish Cyprus. 🇨🇾 A blow to Erdoğan’s grip — and a hopeful step toward dialogue, peace, and a united future. ✊🌹 #Cyprus #Peace #Democracy

Congratulations to all the new @pes.eu leaders elected at #PESCongress25 — strong progressive voices for Europe’s future! 🌹✊ #ProgressiveMobilisation