Validating Council
Some decisions transcend the Coordinating Collective’s coordination role. As these decisions will often need to be validated quickly, it will not be possible to mobilise the entire DiEM25 membership to vote within a tight deadline. For this purpose, a Validating Council composed of 100 DiEM25 members selected by sortition from all members is instituted. To learn more about DiEM25’s Validating Council (VC), please visit the movement’s Organising Principles.
According to the new Organising Principles, any DiEM25 member with voting rights (i.e. verified identity, up-to-date membership fee) can be randomly picked for the Validating Council at any time. You do not need to apply anymore.
The following people form our current Validating Council:
| Artoghrul Alishbayli | Netherlands | |
| Beatrice Annese | Italy | |
| Manuel Barreiro Baru | Germany | Uruguayan-German citizen. Lived and worked in 4 different countries. Trying to make a contribution for a better Europe. |
| Čila Berden | Slovenia | |
| Grzegorz Bieniek | Germany | Freiberufler aus Düsseldorf, seit Anfang 2023 Mitglied bei Diem und Mitorganisator der Lokalgruppe Düsseldorf. |
| Darryl Busuttil Crossley | Malta | |
| João Caldas | Germany | Music teacher from Lisbon. In Struggle, with joy and anger. |
| Tari Caliskan | Germany | |
| GIUSEPPE CERAMELLI | Italy | |
| Hélène Chany | France | A retired teacher, politically aware and interested in international relations at least since the seventies. Keen on languages and much more. Will do my best to contribute as a DiEM25's VC member. |
| Lilia Christova | Bulgaria | Biomedical engineer. Speaking Bulgarian, Russian, English and Greek. Team worker. |
| wendy copage | Greece | I am a British woman who moved to Greece and gained Greek citizenship. I worked for many years in educational publishing and now work on a volunteer basis locally to protect the environment and save local ancient path networks. I deeply believe in democracy and human rights and try to live my life causing the least possible harm to the planet. |
| vasco Costa | Portugal | Eu VC, sou artista plástico, operando no campo da cultura, da interação social e da ação direta. A atenção acordada sobre a informação recolhida, desde a rua, literatura contemporânea e na observação direta, sinalizam poderes! Promovendo um activismo! |
| Dimitris Daskalakis | France | I am a Greek national that lived in the UK for several years and moved to France in 2018. I work in IT. I was never really involved in a political movement before but some years ago I came to realise that there is absolutely nothing to expect from traditional politics and unless we do not self-organise, our future will be distopic. I work full time and I have a family, so spare time is scarce. But I try to be as informed and as politically active as possible. This is why I am here. |
| Diedrik De Mits | Belgium | My name is Diedrik, I am an IT Freelancer, with a family, who wants to make a change for the present and the future. |
| Jan De Tremerie | Belgium | Active member of Diem25 Gent, helped developing LETS systems in Belgium, likes to be practical backed by good theory, experience (international consulting in organizational development, HR, marketing, risk management) |
| Yanic Dollhopf | Germany | I’m a student of history and political science at the Univeristy of Freiburg, Germany. Together with two friends I founded the local DiEM25 chapter in Freiburg in November 2022. My main interest right now is building connections to local groups in Freiburg to establish DiEM25 as a well-known and growing organization. |
| Barbara Edmonds | France | I am a British citizen now retired, residing in France. I believe passionately in a democratic Europe and endorse the principles of DiEM25. I am a MSc in Policy Studies and hold a professional physiotherapy qualification. |
| Cristina Escarmis Homs | Spain | Nací en Barcelona el 6 de agosto de 1943. Soy científica jubilada. Pertenezco a diferentes asociaciones políticas nacionales de izquierdas. |
| Jan Feist | Germany | I'm honoured to have been chosen by the algorithm - happy to take this role in the VC. |
| Julia Ferro | France | Hi everyone ! Born and raised in the Alps, I live in Paris for more than 20 years. Freelancer, my job is to make press review, a great way to stay tuned with the news ;) Otherwise, I enjoy a lot climbing and reading. |
| Mimi Filova | Germany | biophysics master's student from Gevgelija, Macedonia. talk to me about the balkans, queer culture, disability politics, online detox and visions of our future |
| Leon Filter | Germany | |
| Corinna Franchino | Italy | I am a 50 year old psychologist with a very strong interest in politics. I have been dealing with translations, writing and proofreading of texts, documents and videos of the main EU agencies since 2008. |
| Adams Fusheini | Sierra Leone | I’m because we’re! I’m a universalist from Ghana, in Africa, I believe that injustice and insecurity anywhere threatens the security and freedoms and peace of everyone, everywhere. I’m a democratic governance professional passionate for efforts aimed at achieving effective and compassionate representative democracy everywhere. Avid believer that together we can always do better! |
| Kate Gale | France | I'm an American living in France. I'd like to echo Varsha Gandikota-Nellutla in saying: our mission is solidarity. We are not alone comrades. |
| Tamara Eileen Galloway | Britain | |
| Julia Galvao Alinho | Portugal | I am 50 years old. I work as a communication specialist and I am a PHD candidate in Political and Moral Philosophy. |
| EDOARDO GENTILE | Italy | I'm 54 years old, italian and I'm a neurologist. My political experience began when I was 16 years old in the Italian Communist Party, then in the Communist Refounding Party as a militant and as an elected in my city. From November 2022, when we built the party in Italt, I'm a member of Mera25 Italt. |
| Thomas Gribovszki | Hungary | |
| Christian Hagen | Germany | |
| Tarja Hallavainio | Finland | Greetings from Finland! I am a professional in the field of education. I want to promote the realization of a more equal world, the preservation and improvement of the environment and climate. I value good cooperation and expert networks. I don't value anyone's pursuit of their own interests, but equality. |
| Creag Hayes | Germany | Although originally from the US, I have been living in Europe since 1997, 25 years in Prague, now Berlin. I established the Czech branch of Democrats Abroad in 2004 and chaired the group for 6 years. I joined DiEM25 in 2018. Prior to moving to Prague, I owned and managed two retail bicycle shops in Portland OR. |
| Alexander Herz | Germany | I am easily convinced by good arguments, but not at all by bad ones. I want to hear both sides of the story and do not accept to exclude people from the debate because someone claims they have property x and are thus excluded. I do not own the truth and I am open to the possibility that I am wrong and expect you to do the same. |
| Karl Hochholzner | Germany | Als überzeugter Europäer gilt für mich die soziale, ökologische und liberale Perspektive. Ich sorge als Beamter der Bundesverwaltung für die Suche nach einem sicheren nuklearen Endlager für Deutschland. As a devoted European, I stand for a social, ecological and liberal perspective. As a federal public servant, I stand for the site selection of Germany's safe disposal für high acitve nucklear waste. |
| David Houliston | Britain | UK based semi-retired counselling trainee looking for a better Europe and a better world. |
| Lorenzo Huskamp | Germany | Student of Cultural Studies, Anthropology, Marxism and Critical Theory. Background in filmmaking. Working experiences in the fields of media, communication, journalism and cultural organisation/curating. Left by heart. German/Italian roots. Convinced European. Pro animal rights. Human after all. |
| silvia iessi | Italy | |
| Sabine Karwath | Germany | Hi. My name is Bine,44, and I live in a small town in East Germany. Together with my girlfriend and our children. (18,15, 8, 5) I think, that a democratic EU is not an option. It's nessesary! |
| Ariane Kovacevic | Belgium | I always find this self-description thingy awkward. So here's what I came up with for my twitter account a long time ago. It still applies...well, mostly, as life is made of chaos: 8 years a union rep. Unashamedly loyal to ideals. TINA? A lie &scam! |
| Pieter Kroon | Netherlands | first adapter, non-conformist, post-materialist, cosmopolitan. into nature, science, technology, progressive web apps |
| Hannah Lang | Ireland | I am a geographer by training, passionate about mapping the unusual, fantasy/sci-fi writing and debunking the doomed European narrative we are presented with on a daily basis. |
| Stefanie Lebowski | France | Member since March 2016 (France, Paris) |
| ÓSCAR LOMBA ÁLVAREZ | Spain | Graduated in Law from the University of Vigo and Graduated in Teaching from the University of Santiago de Compostela. Social activist. I currently work in the Galician Health Service in Vigo (Pontevedra) Galiza. |
| BERAL MADRA | Türkiye | I believe in the essentiality of DiEM25 Manifesto within the conflictual conditions of today2s democracy and capitalism. |
| Roland Matthews | Britain | I am 70 and retired after a varied career working in arts management, running a community advocacy organisation, as a counsellor and as a writer and translator. I have been a passionate supporter of the trans-national idea of Europe since student days and cannot wait for Britain to be fully integrated with Europe once again. |
| Patrick McCormack | Germany | Hi, my name is Patrick. I’m concerned about the state of Europe and the world. I want to achieve things together so that we all can live in a democratic, just, peaceful and sustainable world. DiEM25 is the best way to reach that goal. |
| Asma Mechakra | Switzerland | |
| Agnès Merlin | Switzerland | Deeply honoured to have been chosen to be a member of the Validating Council. French, I moved to Switzerland more than 2 decades ago for work, as an IT Program Manager. I feel deeply concerned about building a democratic EU. |
| Silvia Missaglia | Italy | Hi. I'm Silvia, a 27 years old architect living in Milan. I am very interested in politics, geopolitics and economics also in relation to my architect job. Very happy to help and get more involved in Diem25. |
| ZIN ZAR YEE MON | Germany | I am an agricultural economist living in Germany. My interest lies in sustainability, food security and climate change. I am originally from Myanmar (Burma) but have been living in Germany for a long time. I speak English, German and Burmese. I will try my best to fulfill my duties. |
| Ulrike Müller | Germany | Medical professional, believing in human rights and international humanitarian law for everybody. |
| Mallika Muralidharan | Germany | Hi there! I’m a student in Munich, originally from India. I was politically active in my home country, and wish to continue my journey with DiEM25. I am deeply interested in anti-imperialism and justice for the Global South. |
| Stephanie Nichols | Greece | I am a Greek woman worried about the future, Είμαι μια Ελληνίδα που ανησυχεί για το μέλλον. |
| William O'Dwyer | Ireland | Hello, my name is William, I am a history student at university. Strong supporter of a more transparent and democratic Europe and a union-wide Green New Deal. Hope to be of help to the movement. |
| Caitríona O’Mahony | Ireland | I am a musician and arts worker from Ireland. |
| Romina Paehrisch | Germany | |
| Christo Papadopoulos | Britain | Tech leader by profession, long time expat and above all an active citizen. |
| Kostas Papazachariou | Britain | |
| Μatina Potiri | Greece | |
| Tonči Radmilović | Croatia | I am 75 years old retiree. I lean to the left (politically), but I am fully aware of sorry state of the European "left" and everything that sells as left nowdays. |
| Jonas Rammasi-Laursen | Denmark | |
| Sonia Ravanelli | Switzerland | I am a scientific researcher in the fiels of molecular biology, I dislike competition in favour of collaboration. |
| Yiannis Ravanis | Britain | I am a 28 year old Greek living in the UK working in software engineering. |
| Sean Reddin | Ireland | Hi. I am a 64 year-old man and have travelled, lived and worked all over Europe in various enterprises including a newspaper distribution business in Spain, a boutique in Scotland, construction work in Holland, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Spain and Slovakia and have also been a language teacher in Spain and Italy. Currently I am semi-retired. I am appalled at the way the world is going, particularly with regard to the housing crisis which I feel has mainly been caused by our corporate overlords and their vulture funds moving into every country globally and buying up all the housing stock to rent out at extortionate rents which any worker on an average salary is unable to afford. Add in the likes of AirBnB and you have a recipe for disaster. I feel that current governments are not taking this issue seriously enough as they are in the pockets of the corporate imperialists and soon (if not already) Europe is going to see similar high levels of homelessness as seen on the streets of the USA. That's my rant for today over. |
| Sérgio António Reis Sousa | Portugal | |
| xenia ricart | Britain | |
| Tim Richter | Germany | I'm 54 years old, married and have three adult sons. I work as system administrator and researcher in theoretical computer science and I'm a hobby musician. Although not a fighter at all, I joined DIEM last year out of a feeling that I have to do "something". By taking on the responsibility of a validating council member I'll hopefully be able to make a small contribution. |
| Linda Richter | Germany | 28 year old environmental engineer working in decentralized (waste)water infrastructure, spent my first 18 years in a tiny village in the German countryside then explored what's outside. Kinda here because of the latest book by Vincent Bevens. Amazed by the diversity of the VC and motivated for what's coming! |
| Julian Robertson | Netherlands | |
| Martin Roger | Britain | |
| Henrik Sander | Germany | I´m an self-employed middleaged man with family and interested in democratic development. Member of attac and other groups. So i think it will be the best to take part of this Validating council too. |
| Nenad Savic | Germany | I am Nenad Savic, psychologist live in work in tech in Berlin. I am interested in the effect emerging technologies have on our mental wellbeing and societies. I originally come from the Balkans, so have strong interest how politics develops there and what role do the EU and its institutions play. |
| Markus Schaal | Germany | I am a computer scientist by education, with a PhD (Dr.-Ing.) from TU Berlin, and I work in education, research, and industry. I am trying to understand the reasons that threaten our national democracies and I aim to find recipes to repair or first time truly establish democracy world-wide. |
| Sabine Scheufele | Austria | I believe in fairness, solidarity, justice, that all creatures on this planet should be treated with respect. Human does not stand above any other living species and his intelligence should protect and care for our environment instead of exploiting it for the benifit of the few. I despice greed and envy. I’m very greatful that DIEM25 exists and maybe one day can change the mindset of the masses. |
| Laura Schiavetta | France | Physiotherapist and multi-curious woman, I strongly believe our european and global way of life must be think over deeply, happy to help DiEM25 to function properly and to continue to ask the fundamental questions and give thorough answers. |
| Jan-Henrick Schröder | Germany | Triple Dad, Handyworker, Love cooking and gardening. Near Hanover, 40 years old, |
| Joris Seibert | Germany | I am a physics student from Berlin, interested in maximizing each person’s happiness on this earth. |
| Johannes Seidel | Germany | Dear fellow members, my name is Johannes Seidel and I´m 35 years old. I currently live in Potsdam (Germany) with my daughter, aged 6. My profession is drumming but at present I earn a living as an assistant to a person with physical disabilities. I am looking for new ideas that concern militant optimism to fight the ghosts of the future. Thank you! |
| Paul Simmons | Britain | |
| Pam Stavropoulos | Australia | I absolutely concur with the need for rapid informed responses to the range of urgent issues DiEM25 addresses and feel privileged to be part of the team which assists in this capacity |
| Nicolas Tavitian | Belgium | Nicolas is a life-long environmental and peace activist based in Brussels. He is currently involved in sociological research on Europe's diasporas. |
| Laura Vialon | Britain | I am Laura, German national living in the UK (London) since 2019. After having worked in private practice, I came to be a Lecturer by chance, I am now soon embarking on an academic pathway to do my PhD – scrutinising the undemocratic nature of the joint stock company. I feel honoured to be part of the VC and look forward to participating in shaping DiEM25's future. |
| Wouter Vlaminckx | Belgium | I work for the Belgian Immigration Office, single parent with 3 kids, even before the creation of Diem25 already an active advocate of real democracy, as opposed to profit as a guiding principle. |
| Kaya Yazgan | Türkiye | I live in Ankara, Turkey and took initiative in the Translation and Peace groups of DiEM25. |
| Κωνσταντίνα Αναστασίου | Greece | Hello, my name is Konstantina and I am a political science and international relations student. I am a member of Diem 25 since 2022 and I will happily help to the Validating Council. |
| ΚΑΤΙΑ ΙΩΑΝΝΟΥ | Cyprus | Retired. Has been working in the private sector as export director. |
| Χρηστος Καλογηρος | Greece | Hi, my name is Christos, born in 1981. My current occupation is a house painter. I'm currently enrolled at the "Hellenic Open University", in Computer Science. I will do my best, to the extend of my abilities. |
| Αγάπη Καραμανλή | Greece | IAgapi Karamanli I was born in 1971 in Thessaloniki. I studied Macroeconomics and Theater in Thessaloniki, Theater Psychology and Philosophy in Paris from 2012 with Alain Badiou. We have been practicing yoga and meditation since 1987. I am a researcher in Applied Philosophy, Macroeconomics and Transformational Economies – Social and Solidarity Economy, Circular Economy, Commons and New Municipalism. We are active in Tourism, Green Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Development. Since 2011 I have worked for the expansion of the scope of the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE), the implementation and improvement of the relevant SSE law of 2016, Energy Communities and the Just Energy Transition. In 2010 I published "Born of the Stars". I have translated into Greek the book "99%" by Pierre Laurent (2017, Libreria Espanola Nikolopoulos). In 2020 I published the book "The Applied Democracy in the 21st Century" with free access to the internet. I am a member of the Nikos Poulatzas Institute. |
| Κωνσταντίνος Μαρασλής | Greece | |
| Μαρία Μπρακούλια | Greece | |
| Ιωάννα Σκουλαρίκη | Greece | Mother of four and working! |
| Μαρία Σόφτση | Greece | Ed-Member of Central Committee of MeRA25, ex-member of political secretariat ,Greece from October 2020 till May 2022. |