Congratulations to Jill Evans

Congratulations to Plaid Cymru MEP Jill Evans who's been elected as Vice President of the Greens / EFA group in the European Parliament. I've been a long time admirer of Evans and others in Plaid, like Adam Price MP, who seem to do well combining a left social democratic vision with strong community work.

The Green grouping in Europe is much larger and politically broader than once it was and, for a couple of examples, having wooed the impressive Socialist People's Party in Denmark, and recently elected Jose Bove as an MEP in France the grouping has shifted substantially towards a more anti-capitalist left membership.

That said, it doesn't mean that it's a homogeneous grouping, I certainly wouldn't be a member in Ireland for example, but this looser, big tent approach to political work is one that is paying dividends. That emphasis on getting things done and pushing for real reforms stands head and shoulders above any Simon Pure attention to micro-managing the ideologies of the group members.

(h/t Ordovicius)