The Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D)[1] is the political group in the European Parliament of the Party of European Socialists (PES).[13] The Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats was officially founded as a Socialist Group on 29 June 1953 which makes it the second oldest political group in the European Parliament after ALDE. It adopted its present-day name on 23 June 2009.[14] Centre-left in orientation,[15] the group mostly comprises social-democratic parties and is affiliated with the Progressive Alliance.