PES Activists Portugal / Activistas do PSE - Portugal

Press release do PES Activists [Bruxelas] sobre o evento de ontem.

Over 120 people packed into the Headquarters of the Socialist Party in Lisbon for the inaugural meeting of PES activists in Portugal. The topic? Childcare – the campaign of the PES!

It was standing room only for late arrivals who wanted to hear Labour Minister José Vieira da Silva, one of Prime Minister José Sócrates’ closest colleagues, describe the investments made by Portugal’s Socialist Government in childcare, and how the investments are intended to boost equality of opportunity for children and between women and men. Also addressing the crowd were António de Almeida Santos, President of the Portuguese Socialists, Vitalino Canas, National Secretary and Head of the Committee of European Matters of Portuguese Parliament, Jorge Lacão, Secretary of State for the Presidency of the Cabinet, Zita Gurmai, Hungarian MEP and President of PES Women, and Portuguese MEP Edite Estrella.
Everyone was able to demonstrate their support for more and better childcare in Portugal and across the rest of Europe by signing the PES ‘childcare book’ – which states

“Childcare provides much more than just a great start for the future generation. It frees parents to pursue their careers knowing their children are learning in a caring environment. It allows parents and kids to become closer to the community they live in. And with more nurseries and crèches, comes the opportunity for professional childcare workers to work in the job they love: helping to raise the next generation. We believe that childcare should be a basic public service for all who want it. Please sign up to our campaign to encourage all governments in the European Union to commit to this aim. Help us urge governments to increase investment in childcare. Make childcare available for everyone. Leave no one behind.”

José Reis Santos, one of the founding organizers of PES Activists Portugal, said “There is enormous interest among grassroots party members in getting more involved in European politics. The success of our first meeting shows that there is a hunger for supporting the PES and that childcare is a topic that really matters to ordinary people. It is easy to talk about Social Europe but by focusing on concrete investments and policies for children we can really communicate with families who are working hard and doing their best. They deserve our support and the childcare campaign is a good way to offer practical help.”