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The Eritrean People's Democratic Party (EPDP) attended  on 25 June 2017 the Extraordinary Congress in Dortmund of the German Social Democratic Party (SPD)  which was partly a  huge electoral rally in support of the SPD candidate for German Chancellorship elections  on 24 September this year.

Ms Adiam Tefera, EPDP Central Council member and passionate women's rights activist, headed the delegation which included one close friend of the party. The delegation handed over to SPD officials a solidarity message from the EPDP Chairman, Mr. Menghesteab Asmerom.

In his message, the EPDP Chairman said, "We in the Eritrean People's Democratic Party  are pleased to express to this Congress a resounding success and convey  to it a message of solidarity on behalf of Eritreans struggling for democratic change, peace, prosperity and social justice."

He reminded the SPD that the EPDP,  which was a founding member, together with fraternal SPD, of the Progressive Alliance in Leipzig in 2013, is today proud to be amongst the SPD in Dortmund.  He also happily recalled the attendance of EPDP  delegation at the last congress of fraternal SPD and, four years ago, at the 150th anniversary of the founding of the German Social Democratic Party.

Mr. Menghesteab wrote about the current sad situation in Eritrea  and expected concrete support from SPD for "the promotion of human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Eritrea through non-state political and civil society actors in exile that are opposed to the repressive regime in Eritrea."

Finally, he expressed the readiness of EPDP members in Germany to do all what they can to help SPD and its candidate, Martin Schultz,  in the campaign for success in the upcoming German elections.

The SPD congress in Dortmund was attended by 600 delegates and 5,000 guests

Speaking at the huge gathering, Mr. Martin Schulz, the SPD candidate for Chancellorship, outlined his programme focused free education, reducing the tax burden on low- and middle-income Germans, investing in infrastructure and fostering a united Europe.

“We are living in a time of upheaval. Now Europe must be founded again,” said Schulz, stressing the importance of human rights, disarmament and investing in digital infrastructure. “I have fought for these ideas through my life. It is worth going onto the streets for these ideas, to make sure the next government is a Social Democratic one which will make them a reality. For this idea it is worth fighting with a passionate heart,” he stressed.