International

On 5 June 2026, the European Left Alliance (ELA) held a major public event, “Tax the Rich - How to tackle inequalities and redistribute profits,” in Milan as part of its General Assembly. 

Over 300 people gathered at Santeria Toscana to hear political leaders, activists and experts call for progressive taxation of wealth, corporate profits and large fortunes across Europe.

The Socialist Party (SP) of the Netherlands played an active role. Gerrie Elfrink, SP Head of International Affairs, spoke on the panel alongside representatives from parties across Europe, including Sinistra Italiana, Podemos, La France Insoumise, Bloco de Esquerda and others. He underlined the need for concrete European measures so that the wealthiest finally pay their fair share. SP Senator Bastiaan van Apeldoorn and Member of Parliament Sarah Dobbe also attended, reinforcing the party’s commitment to international left cooperation on tax justice.

The gathering stressed Europe’s growing affordability crisis- rising energy, food and housing costs- while millionaires and billionaires continue to accumulate ever greater wealth, economic power and political influence. This extreme concentration of capital undermines democracy itself, as economic power translates into political power and leaves ordinary people with less and less control over the decisions that shape their lives. The clear message was: tax the super-rich to make life affordable again for working people, and give workers a stronger say in the economy.

SP’s presence underscored its solidarity with sister parties in demanding that the richest contribute fairly to the societies that enable their fortunes -and that working people regain real influence over the economy.

A video (stream) of the event is placed with this article.

https://www.youtube.com/live/ZD1OMgMJvFA?is=T_CRsPln5sq_nN2w

Foto: European Left Alliance