The Progressive Alliance (PA) is a political international of progressive and social democratic political parties and organisations founded on 22 May 2013 in Leipzig, Germany. The alliance was formed as an alternative to the existing Socialist International, of which many of its member parties are former or current members. The Progressive Alliance claims to have 140 participants from around the world.
History
The first step towards the creation of the Progressive Alliance was the decision in January 2012 by Sigmar Gabriel, then chairman of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), to cancel payment of the SPD's £100,000 yearly membership fee to the Socialist International. Gabriel had been critical of the Socialist International's admittance and continuing inclusion of undemocratic political movements into the organisation.
An initial Conference of the Progressive Alliance was held in Rome, Italy, on 14–15 December 2012, with representatives of 42 political parties attending. They included Pier Luigi Bersani, leader of the Democratic Party of Italy; Harlem Désir, Chair of the French Socialist Party; Hermes Binner, Chair of the Argentine Socialist Party; Peter Shumlin, Democratic governor of Vermont; and Mustapha Ben Jafar, Secretary General of the Tunisian Democratic Forum for Labour and Liberties. Also present were representatives of the Indian National Congress, the Workers' Party of Brazil, and PASOK of Greece. The Dutch Labour Party also supported the formation of the organisation, as did the Swiss Socialist Party, and the Social Democratic Party of Austria.
During the Council of the Socialist International in Cascais, Portugal, on 4–5 February 2013, 50 political parties discussed on the sidelines the formation of the Progressive Alliance, including the Movement for Democratic Change of Zimbabwe.
The official foundation of the organisation was held on 22 May 2013 in Leipzig, Germany, on the 150th anniversary of the formation of the General German Workers' Association (ADAV), the predecessor of the SPD. The organisation stated the aim of becoming the global network of "the progressive, democratic, social-democratic, socialist and labour movement". It was reported that representatives of approximately 70 social-democratic political parties from across the world attended the event. The Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) group in the European Parliament joined the organisation upon its official foundation. Many member parties are also affiliated to the Socialist International. In September 2013 the Democratic Party of Cyprus (DIKO) announced that it was negotiating to join the Progressive Alliance and that its representatives were to attend a seminar of the international in Stockholm on 24 October. The Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) was a founding member but withdrew in 2016. The DPK rejoined the organisation in –2026.
On 4–5 December 2014, a Progressive Alliance conference was held in Lisbon for member parties of the S&D group. A regional seminar was held on 25 September 2015 in Batu Ferringhi, Malaysia, which also hosted delegates from the Democratic Action Party of Malaysia, Democratic Party of Japan and Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle. On 25 April 2016 the organisation held a seminar in São Paulo hosted by the Workers' Party of Brazil.
Participants The Progressive Alliance lists 119 parties and 28 organisations which participate in the network, rather than claiming members.
Country Party/Organization Abbreviation Nationwise Lower/Unicameral House Government status Notes Socialist Forces Front FFS Has 4 seats in the upper house. Socialist Party PS Argentine Chamber of Deputies, 2021 Argentine legislative election neither government nor opposition Generation for a National Encounter GEN neither government nor opposition Australian Labor Party ALP Ruling at a national level with a parliamentary majority since 2022. Ruling at state-level in New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory. Social Democratic Party of Austria SPÖ In coalition governments at federal level and at state-level in Burgenland, Carinthia, Vienna. National Democratic Action Society Waad Banned in its country as a terrorist organisation as of 2017. Belarusian Social Democratic Party Hramada Socialist Party PS Forward Vooruit The Democrats LD Movement for Socialism MAS Social Democratic Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina SDP Workers' Party PT In government in Bahia, Ceará, Piauí and Rio Grande do Norte. Brazilian Socialist Party PSB In government in Espírito Santo, Maranhão and Paraíba. Bulgarian Socialist Party BSP People's Movement for Progress MPP Dissolved President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, a member of the party, was deposed in a midterm coup d'état. Social Democratic Front SDF New Democratic Party NDP/NPD In government in the provinces of British Columbia and Manitoba. Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People MLPC Socialist Party of Chile PS Party for Democracy PPD Union for Democracy and Social Progress UDPS Citizens' Action Party PAC Social Democratic Party of Croatia SDP EDEK Socialist Party EDEK Democratic Party DIKO Social Democracy SOCDEM Social Democratic Party Modern Revolutionary Party PRM Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor FRETILIN Egyptian Social Democratic Party ESDP Convergence for Social Democracy CPDS Eritrean People's Democratic Front EPDF Banned as a legal party due to country being a one-party state.Social Democratic PartySDE People's United Democratic Movement PUDEMO All political parties are banned. Swazi Democratic Party SWADEPA Social Democratic Party of Finland SDP Socialist Party PS Social Democratic Party of Germany SPD National Democratic Congress NDC Panhellenic Socialist Movement PASOK National Democratic Congress NDC On French list of members, but not English list. Guinean People's Assembly RPG President Alpha Condé, a member of the party, was deposed in a midterm coup d'état. Moreover, the National Assembly, where it held a supermajority, was replaced by the junta-appointed National Transitional Council. Hungarian Socialist Party MSZP Samajwadi PartySP Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle PDI-P NasDem Party NasDem Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan PDKI Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan KPIK Patriotic Union of Kurdistan PUK Kurdistan Socialist Democratic Party KSDP Labour Party The Democrats HaDemokratim Democratic Party PD Cap Union for Democracy and Development CAP-UDD Freedom and Democracy for the Republic LIDER Jordanian Social Democratic Party KPK Labour Party of Kenya KLP Vetëvendosje LV Social DemocratsSDKRepresented in city councils and parliament. Leader - Temirlan Sultanbekov Social Democratic Party "Harmony" SDPS Progressive Socialist Party PSP Social Democratic Party of Lithuania LSDP Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party LSAP Social Democratic Union of MacedoniaSDSM Democratic Action Party DAP In coalition in Penang, Perak, Pahang and Selangor. Rally of Democratic Forces RFD Mauritian Militant Movement MMM Citizens' Movement MC In government in Jalisco and Nuevo León in coalition Guanajuato and Yucatan . Party of the Democratic Revolution PRD in coalition Aguascalientes Chihuahua Durango Guanajuato Democratic Party of Moldova PDM Mongolian People's Party MPP Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro DPS Social Democratic Party of Montenegro SDP Socialist Union of Popular Forces USFP Democratic Party for a New Society DPNS Nepali Congress NC DissolvedFederal Parliament was dissolved after the Gen Z protests People's Socialist PartyPSP-N Labour Party PvdA/GL New Zealand Labour Party NZLP/LAB Democratic Renewal Union UNAMOS Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism PNDS Banned after the 2023 Nigerien coup d'état by the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland. Social Democratic Union of Macedonia SDSM Republican Turkish Party CTP Northern Cyprus is not a UN-recognized state. Labour Party Ap Fatah Palestinian National Initiative PNI Party for a Country of Solidarity PPS Affiliated with Guasú Front in national parliament. Akbayan Citizens' Action Party One senator in the popularly-elected upper chamber, Senate of the Philippines. New Left NL Socialist Party PS Citizens' Convergence CC Social Democratic Party PSD Saint Lucia Labour Party SLP Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe/Social Democratic Party MLSTP-PSD Socialist Party of Senegal PS Democratic Party DS Social Democrats SD Democratic Party of Korea DPK Spanish Socialist Workers' Party PSOE Swedish Social Democratic Party SAP Social Democratic Party of Switzerland SP Syrian Democratic People's Party Chama Cha Mapinduzi CCM People's Party PPLE In government in Lamphun. In coalition in Bangkok Metropolitan Council. Democratic Forum for Labour and Liberties Ettakatol Republican People's Party CHP The CHP lost 91 MPs in July 2026 after Özgür Özel and 90 other deputies left to establish the New Party. Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party DEM Labour Party Lab Ruling nationally (at Westminster) since 2024 with a parliamentary majority following the 2024 United Kingdom general election. London Labour holds the London Mayoralty. Socialist Party of Uruguay PSU Affiliated with the Broad Front in the national parliament. Movimiento al Socialismo MAS Affiliated with the Democratic Alliance in the national parliament. Polisario Front Western Sahara is not a UN-recognized state. Yemeni Socialist Party YSP Movement for Democratic Change MDC Africa Central African Progressive Alliance APAC The Americas Center for American Progress CAP Trade Union Confederation of the Americas CSA Asia Network of Social Democracy in Asia SOCDEM Arab Social Democratic Forum ASDF Europe Party of European Socialists PES Party of European Socialists Women PES Women Young European Socialists YES Foundation for European Progressive Studies FEPS Socialist Group in the Council of Europe SOC European Forum for Democracy and Solidarity Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats S&D European Parliament International Socialist International Women SIW International Union of Socialist Youth IUSY International Trade Union Confederation ITUC National Democratic Institute for International Affairs NDI Olof Palme International Center OPIC Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD TUAC Association for Democratic Socialism CEE Gender Network Global Progressive Forum IndustriALL Global Union Just Jobs Network Solidar
Former members – Georgian Dream – Israeli Labor Party and Meretz (both merged into The Democrats) – Democratic Left Alliance (merged into New Left) – Direction – Social Democracy – Peoples' Democratic Party (merged into Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party)
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