Dutch PRO members choose European social democratic affiliation

Members of the Dutch party Progressief Nederland (PRO) have voted for affiliation with the Party of European Socialists (PES), with more than 65% voting in favour, according to an ANP report published by Nieuws.nl on 25 September 2026. The choice follows the party’s merger, but its MEPs do not plan an immediate move into a single parliamentary group. [1]

The membership ballot ran from 18 to 25 September. Previously, the European affiliations were divided: four GroenLinks MEPs were aligned with the European Green Party, while four PvdA MEPs were aligned with PES.

The distinction between a European political party and a parliamentary group matters here. Members chose PES as PRO’s European party affiliation; S&D is the group representing that political family in the European Parliament. [1]

PRO MEP Mohammed Chahim said the party’s representatives would continue working in both the Greens and S&D groups until the European elections in 2029. That is the stated plan for the delegation, rather than a transfer of all its MEPs into S&D following the ballot. [1]