On Saturday, 1 February, in Amsterdam, DiEM25 brought together key voices in the fight for peace, dignity, and freedom: Yanis Varoufakis, Jeremy Corbyn, Brid Brennan, and Lucille Cornelius.

In just two and a half days, DiEM25 mobilised an electrifying gathering, uniting progressive voices from across Europe and beyond to confront the crises of our time. The packed venue buzzed with urgency, determination, and the undeniable energy of a movement ready to reclaim power from the forces that have kept people suppressed for far too long.

Moderated by DiEM25’s Davide Castro, the event wasn’t just about diagnosing Europe’s problems—it was about action. “We know what the problems are, but we also need to figure out how we’re going to actually organise for power,” he declared, setting the stage for a day of strategy and commitment.

The Fight for Peace and Justice

From the outset, Lucille Cornelius, DiEM25’s Spokesperson in the Netherlands, captured the spirit of the event: “If not now, when? If not you, who?” Drawing from her experiences growing up in apartheid South Africa, she urged attendees to break free from the “spell of capital” and organise resistance with urgency. Activism on the streets, she stressed, is crucial—but without political intervention, real change remains out of reach.

Brid Brennan, drawing on Ireland’s struggle for self-determination, challenged attendees to recognise the deep structural roots of inequality and NATO’s role in global conflict. “Do any of you in Europe understand how parasitical our economy is?” she asked, linking Europe’s exploitative economic model to its history of imperialism.

A Fixation on Palestine—And Why It Matters

Yanis Varoufakis addressed criticism that he and DiEM25 are “fixated” on Palestine. His response was unequivocal: “In 1936, we all would have had a moral obligation to be fixated on the Nazis and their persecution of Jewish people. If this were the 1960s, we would have a duty to be fixated on apartheid in South Africa. Today, we have an ethical duty to be fixated on Palestine.”

But, he stressed, this fixation is about more than Gaza. The Palestinian struggle is deeply connected to Europe’s own crises, from the war in Ukraine to the erosion of democratic freedoms. European complicity in global oppression is inseparable from the continent’s economic stagnation and political fragmentation.

Jeremy Corbyn reinforced this international perspective, condemning the military-industrial complex, neoliberal austerity, and the arms trade that fuels war and suffering. “We bring people together on causes, on justice, and build a movement from that,” he said, underlining the importance of cross-border solidarity.

From Protest to Political Power

A core message of the event was clear: activism alone is not enough. While protest and grassroots mobilisation are essential, they must be transformed into real political power.

“We need to play them at their own game. We have power in the fact that we can change what is happening at government levels,” Lucille Cornelius declared.

DiEM25 is already putting this into action. With MÉRA25 running in Germany and plans to establish a Dutch electoral wing, the movement is building a pan-European alternative to challenge the status quo. The low threshold for political entry in the Netherlands presents a major opportunity, and attendees were encouraged to join the working group to lay the foundation for meaningful political impact.

The Road Ahead

The gathering in Amsterdam was more than an event—it was a launchpad. It underscored the need for progressive forces to break out of silos, connect local struggles with international movements, and resist the co-option of left-wing politics by corporate interests.

As the event closed, Davide Castro’s final call to action resonated: “Sign up. Go there and sign up. We are all part of the solution. This is just the beginning.”

DiEM25 isn’t waiting for change—it’s organising to make it happen. Now, it’s up to all of us to turn this energy into real political power.

Photo (c) Adam Newby

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