European centre-left launches election drive, attacks austerity

European Parliament President Martin Schulz speaks during a pre-election congress of the Party of European Socialists (PES) in Rome March 1, 2014. REUTERS/Remo Casilli

ROME (Reuters) - European centre-left parties called on Saturday for a change to austerity policies enacted to counter the eurozone crisis as they named Martin Schulz to be their candidate for next head of the European Commission.

The Party of European Socialists (PES), which groups Europe's main centre-left parties, said the focus on tight budgetary policy during the crisis had resulted in mass unemployment, hardship and the rise of populist movements.