50 Years of Palme and Brandt: FES Nordic Countries

International Social Democracy celebrates two important anniversaries in October 2019. Fifty years ago, on October 14th 1969, Olof Palme became Prime minister. Just seven days later, Willy Brandt became the first social democratic federal Chancellor in Germany on October 21st.

Two politicians that stood up for the modernization of society and a new foreign policy that offered a way out of the dangerous stalemate of the Cold War. Trust, dialogue and a mutual agreement on politics were characteristics for Palme’s and Brandt’s work. This well-known picture stands for their close friendship and their cooperation. A friendship and cooperation that we want to emulate and deepen with our work in the Nordic countries.

Phillip Fink,
Director of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation´s Nordic Office in Stockholm.