Party of the European Left

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Party of the European Left
Partei der Europäischen Linken
Parti de la Gauche Européenne
Partito della Sinistra Europea
Partido de la Izquierda Europea
Partido da Esquerda Europeia
Κόμμα Ευρωπαϊκής Αριστεράς
Avrupa Sol Partisi
Il-Partit Ewropew tax-Xellug
AbbreviationPEL [a]
President Walter Baier (AT)
Founded8–9 May 2004 (2004-05-08 2004-05-09);
20 years ago
HeadquartersSquare de Meeûs 25,
1000 Brussels, Belgium
Think tank Transform Europe
Women's wing EL-Fem
Membership (26 January 2025)447 [1]
Ideology
Political position Left-wing to far-left
European Parliament group The Left in the European Parliament
Colours  Dark red
European Parliament
16 / 720(2%)
[3]
European Council
0 / 27(0%)
[4]
European Commission
0 / 27(0%)
[5]
European
Lower Houses
344 / 6,312
European
Upper Houses
27 / 1,498
Website
european-left.org OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

The Party of the European Left (PEL), or European Left (EL), is a European political party that operates as an association of democratic socialist and communist political parties in the European Union and other European countries. It was formed in January 2004 for the purposes of running in the 2004 European Parliament elections. The PEL was founded on 8–9 May 2004 in Rome. The elected MEPs from member parties of the PEL sit in The Left in the European Parliament – GUE/NGL group in the European Parliament, though not all PEL members are also members of GUE/NGL.

Contents

Several member and observer parties participate also in the more radical European Anti-Capitalist Left. Before the PEL was founded, most of its members already held annual meetings together, as part of the New European Left Forum (NELF). [6] The current president is the Austrian politician Walter Baier.

History

The Party of European Left (PEL) was formed on 8 and 9 May 2004 in Rome, Italy. [7] [8] The party's first congress took place on 8 October 2005 in Athens, and produced the Athens Declaration of the European Left. The second congress was held 23–25 November 2007 in Prague. [9] The third congress was held on 2–5 December 2010 in Paris. [10] [11] [12] Its fourth congress was held on 13–15 December 2013 in Madrid. [13] Its fifth congress took place on 16–18 December 2016 in Berlin, [14] and elected German lawyer and politician Gregor Gysi as the new PEL President. [15] Heinz Bierbaum was elected president in 2019. [16] [17] He was succeeded by Walter Baier in December 2022. [18]

It operates a think tank, Transform Europe, and it has women's wing named EL-Fem. [19] [20]

In 2024, the Danish member Red-Green Alliance (Enhedlisten) announced the schism of the party and the formation of a socially liberal (green- and pro-Ukraine leaning) European Left Alliance for the People and the Planet, in short ELA. The split follows the split of socially liberal Die Linke and socially conservative BSW in Germany, and the creation of a separate platform for the 2024 European elections, Now the People. [21]

Ideology

PEL has been described as a left-wing [22] [23] and a far-left [24] [25] political party. Its ideology is based on principles of democratic socialism, [26] [27] socialism, [28] and communism. [26] [27] [28] It is opposed to capitalism and consists of parties with wide range of opinions. [28] [29] :46 PEL is also supportive of progressivism. [29] :50

It takes a soft Eurosceptic approach towards the European Union, [30] and opposes militarization and foreign interventionism. [29] :53 PEL opposed the Iraq War and War in Afghanistan, and criticised the oppression of 2009 Iranian presidential election protests. [29] :53 It is also opposed to NATO and United States military bases. [29] :54 It supports Cuba, and a delegation visited the nation in February 2022. [31]

In an interview with the political magazine Jacobin , Walter Baier, the president of PEL, described PEL as part of the "socialist left" and criticised the European Union, stating that it is neoliberal and "closer to enlightened absolutism than parliamentary democracy". [32]

Leadership

Membership

The Party of the European Left consists of member parties with full rights, observer parties, individual members and EL partners. [33] As of October 2024, The Party of the European Left has 24 member parties in 21 countries. [34] Not all members of PEL are members of The Left in the European Parliament – GUE/NGL group in the European Parliament. [28] [35]

Full members

CountryPartyNational MPs MEPs [b]
Flag of Austria.svg  Austria Communist Party of Austria
Flag of Belarus.svg  Belarus Belarusian Left Party "A Just World" Not in the EU
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium Communists of Wallonia-Brussels
Workers' Party of Belgium
15 / 150
2 / 22
Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria Bulgarian Left
Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia Workers' Front
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic The Left
Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia Estonian United Left Party
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland Communist Party of Finland
Flag of France.svg  France French Communist Party
12 / 577
(National Assembly)
0 / 81
14 / 348
(Senate)
Republican and Socialist Left
0 / 577
(National Assembly)
0 / 81
1 / 348
(Senate)
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany The Left
28 / 736
(Bundestag)
2 / 96
4 / 69
(Bundesrat)
Flag of Greece.svg  Greece New Left
11 / 300
Syriza
26 / 300
4 / 21
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary Workers' Party of Hungary 2006 – European Left
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Communist Refoundation Party
Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg The Left
2 / 60
0 / 6
Flag of Moldova.svg  Moldova Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova
8 / 101
Not in the EU
Flag of Romania.svg  Romania Romanian Socialist Party
Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia The Left
5 / 90
0 / 9
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain United Left
5 / 350
(Congress of Deputies)
0 / 61
0 / 266
(Senate of Spain)
Communist Party of Spain
7 / 350
(Congress of Deputies) [c]
0 / 266
(Senate of Spain)
Flag of Catalonia.svg  Catalonia United and Alternative Left
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland Swiss Party of Labour Not in the EU
Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey Left Party Not in the EU
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom Left Unity Not in the EU

Observer members

CountryPartyNational MPsEuropean MEPs
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium Mouvement Demain  [ fr ]
Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus Progressive Party of Working People
15 / 56
1 / 6
Flag of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.svg  Northern Cyprus New Cyprus Party De facto not in the EU
United Cyprus Party
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia
0 / 200
(Chamber of Deputies)
1 / 21
0 / 81
(Senate)
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Italian Left
4 / 400
2 / 76
3 / 200
Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia Communist Party of Slovakia
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain Sortu
1 / 23
(Congress of Deputies; Basque seats)
1 / 61
1 / 20
(Senate of Spain; Basque seats)
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom Transform Party Not in the EU

EL Partners

CountryPartyNational MPsEuropean MEPs
Flag of Austria.svg  Austria Der Wandel
Left
Flag of France.svg  France Ensemble!
5 / 577
(National Assembly)
0 / 81
0 / 348
(Senate)
République et Socialisme
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany Marxistische Linke
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary Táncsics – Radical Left Party
Yes Solidarity for Hungary Movement
Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia SolidarnostNot in the EU
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Democratic Left Scotland Not in the EU
Socialists for the Independence

Former members

CountryPartyNotes
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium Communist Party Stopped working as a Party in 2009, since December 2013 not listed as a Member.
Communist Party of Belgium Resignation decided at the party congress on 30 July 2018. [36]
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic Party of Democratic Socialism Merged into The Left in 2020.
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark Red–Green Alliance Left the EL in 2024.
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland Left Alliance Delisted from the EL website in 2024.
Flag of France.svg  France Left Party Left the EL on 1 July 2018.
Unitary Left Merged with the French Communist Party in Fall 2015.
La France Insoumise Member until 2018, observer until 2024
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany German Communist Party Ended its observer status on 27 February 2016. [37]
Flag of Greece.svg  Greece Renewing Communist Ecological Left Merged into Syriza in 2013.
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary Hungarian Workers' Party Quit 1 May 2009.
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Party of Italian Communists Dissolved in December 2014, which meant that the "observer status" was lost.
The Other Europe Dissolved in 2019, which meant that the "observer status" was lost.
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland Young Socialists Dissolved in 2015, which meant that the "observer status" was lost.
Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal Left Bloc Quit 22 June 2024. [38]

Representation in European institutions

OrganisationInstitutionNumber of seats
Flag of Europe.svg  European Union European Parliament
16 / 720(2%)
[3]
European Commission
0 / 27(0%)
[5]
European Council
(Heads of Government)
0 / 27(0%)
[4]
Council of the European Union
(Participation in Government)
2 / 27(7%)
Committee of the Regions
0 / 329(0%)
[39]
Flag of the Council of Europe.svg  Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly
34 / 612(6%)
(UEL) [40]

See also

Notes

  1. The abbreviation "EL" is also used.
  2. The number of MEPs listed below may not match the total number of MEPs of the European party, as it does not include MEPs who join as individual members.
  3. 4 of the deputies of the Communist Party of Spain are also members of United Left

References

  1. '"`UNIQ--templatestyles-00000003-QINU`"' "List of members as per Article 32(2) of Regulation 1141/2014 (English)" . Retrieved 26 January 2025.
  2. Some remarks concerning the creation of the Party of the European Left
  3. 1 2 '"`UNIQ--templatestyles-00000009-QINU`"' "Party of the European Left". Authority for European Political Parties and European Political Foundations. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  4. 1 2 '"`UNIQ--templatestyles-0000000B-QINU`"' "Members of the European Council" . Retrieved 7 February 2025.
  5. 1 2 '"`UNIQ--templatestyles-0000000D-QINU`"' "College of Commissioners" . Retrieved 7 February 2025.
  6. "Some remarks concerning the creation of the Party of the European Left". Official European Left site. Archived from the original on 2 October 2009. Retrieved 1 July 2009.
  7. Hudson, Kate (2012). The New European Left: A Socialism for the Twenty-First Century?. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 46. ISBN   978-1-137-26511-1.
  8. Hudson, Kate (2012), "The Party of the European Left", The New European Left, London: Palgrave Macmillan UK, pp. 46–65, doi:10.1057/9781137265111_3, ISBN   978-1-349-32054-7 , retrieved 29 April 2023
  9. Press release of the EL Executive Board meeting in Tallinn, May 2007 Archived 1 July 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  10. "European Left convenes third congress in Paris". Archived from the original on 13 June 2011. Retrieved 19 January 2010.
  11. "Executive board met in Luxembourg: Countdown to the Congress". Party of the European Left. 15 September 2010. Archived from the original on 13 June 2011. Retrieved 13 October 2010.
  12. "EL elects new President and vice-chairpersons!". Party of the European Left. 6 December 2010. Archived from the original on 13 December 2010. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  13. "Convention of the 4th Congress of the Party of the European Left". Party of the European Left. 12 January 2013. Archived from the original on 14 April 2013. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
  14. "5th Congress – Berlin 2016". Party of the European Left. 16 December 2016. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  15. "Gysi elected president of European Left – DW – 12/17/2016". dw.com. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  16. "European Left Party elects Die Linke's Heinz Bierbaum as new president". Morning Star. 15 December 2019.
  17. "European Left Congress". www.transform-network.net (in French). 3 February 2020. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  18. Morea, Roberto (24 December 2022). "Walter Baier, the new president of the Party of the European Left: we stand for peace and defend the environment". Cross-border Talks. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  19. Grants from the European Parliament to political foundations at European level per foundation per year
  20. "History". Party of the European Left. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  21. Neivelt, Jonas (27 August 2024). "Enhedslisten forlader European Left og går med i nyt europæisk parti". Solidaritet (in Danish). Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  22. Cahill, Ann (24 July 2014). "Sinn Fein adopt 'Team Ireland' approach in Europe". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  23. Connoly, Raul (1 April 2015). "European left backs asylum rights". Green Left Weekly (1050): 17. ISSN   1036-126X . Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  24. Keating, Dave (15 May 2014). "The EBU candidates debate – as it happened". Politico. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  25. Hudson, Kate (2012), Hudson, Kate (ed.), "The Party of the European Left", The New European Left: A Socialism for the Twenty-First Century?, London: Palgrave Macmillan UK, pp. 46–65, doi:10.1057/9781137265111_3, ISBN   978-1-137-26511-1 , retrieved 7 October 2023
  26. 1 2 Nordsieck, Wolfram (2019). "European Union". Parties and Elections in Europe. Archived from the original on 8 June 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  27. 1 2 Toplišek, Alen (14 March 2019). "Chapter 3: Between populism and socialism: Slovenia's Left party" (PDF). The Populist Radical Left in Europe. p. 9. doi:10.4324/9781315180823-4. S2CID   159164068.
  28. 1 2 3 4 Routledge handbook of European politics. José M. Magone. Abingdon, Oxfordshire: Routledge. 2015. p. 600. ISBN   978-1-317-62836-1. OCLC   898475226.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  29. 1 2 3 4 5 Hudson, Kate (2012). The new European left: a socialism for the twenty-first century?. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN   978-1-137-26511-1. OCLC   809796420.
  30. Martinelli, Alberto (2020). European society. Leiden and Boston: Brill Publishers. p. 236. ISBN   9789004351776.
  31. Puig Meneses, Yaima (16 February 2022). "Díaz-Canel thanks European Left Party for its longstanding support". Granma .
  32. Baltner, Adam (21 January 2023). "If the European Union Doesn't Democratize, It Will Crumble". Jacobin. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  33. "Documents European Left 7th Congress" (PDF). European-Left.org. Party of the European Left. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  34. "Our Parties". European-left.org. Party of the European Left. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  35. Chryssogelos, Angelos-Stylianos (2015). "Patterns of Transnational Partisan Contestation of European Foreign Policy" (PDF). European Foreign Affairs Review. 20 (2): 8. doi:10.54648/EERR2015017. S2CID   153490875.
  36. Pourquoi le PCB a quitté le Parti de la Gauche Européenne (PGE) — Official statement on the party website.
  37. ELP-Beobachterstatus beendet – Bericht vom 3. Tag des XXI. Parteitag der DKP. Newswebsite of the Deutschen Kommunistischen Partei (DKP).
  38. https://www.bloco.org/media/20240622resolpol.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]
  39. '"`UNIQ--templatestyles-0000005C-QINU`"' "European Committee of the Regions Members Page" . Retrieved 6 February 2025.
  40. '"`UNIQ--templatestyles-0000005E-QINU`"' "Group of the Unified European Left" . Retrieved 6 February 2025.