03.11.2005

Realigning the left

If the European Left Party does nothing else but bring to an end the multiplicity of ineffective umbrella organisations that exist on the European left, it will have achieved something. Let us look at a few of them.

Forum of the New European Left (NELF) NELF was established in 1990, in the aftermath of the collapse of the USSR. The founder-members declared themselves to be "green left parties attempting to chart a new way forward following the discrediting of 'actual existing socialism'", which most of the groups had earlier been associated with to a greater or lesser degree. NELF was a conscious reaction "against the creation of any new form of an International", as a working group on the future of NELF explained in 2001: "Inter-party relations among the new left in Europe should be based on mutual respect and collaboration rather than on domination by any centre or directorate" (http://sozialisten.de/politik/international/gemeinsame_dokumente/view_html?zid=3667). NELF basically sees itself as a "network and meeting place for like-minded new/alternative/green left parties" and meets for bi-annual sessions. The main organisations involved are Rifondazione Comunista (Italy), the Party of Democratic Socialism (Germany) and Synapsismos (Greece). With the establishment of the European Left Party, NELF has now most definitely become superfluous, though it has not yet been formally abolished. United European Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL) The GUE started off almost as the parliamentary arm of NELF, when in 1999 four parties represented in the European parliament formed the European United Left (Gauche Unitaire Européenne - GUE). This alliance was quickly enlarged to include other parties and after the June 1999 elections a number of red-green organisations from northern Europe joined (this was reflected in the addition to the name). Rifondazione Comunista, the Parti Communiste Franà§ais, the Party of Democratic Socialism (Germany) and the Communist Party of Greece are the main parties involved. Five MEPs from France, elected on the joint list of Lutte Ouvrière and the Ligue Communiste Révolutionnaire (LCR) in 2004, are associate members, as are the two Sinn Féin MEPs. GUE/NGL is the fifth largest group in the European Parliament and is, at present, made up of 41 MEPs from 16 political parties in 12 countries. The main purpose of the GUE/NGL is certainly not to arrive at political clarity or strong united action amongst the parties involved. Its key role is to secure finances and organisational support for their MEPs. European Social Forum Set up in 2000 by almost exactly the same political parties that are involved in NELF and the GUE/NGL, the ESF was supposed to get the left together with "the movements". To counter the conception that parties were old-fashioned, undemocratic and lacked transparency, party representatives decided to officially ban their own organisations - and continued to run things wearing different organisational hats. Others, like the SWP, soon became adept at this game. The same people decided that the ESF should not be able to make any political declarations or organise joint activities across Europe. All decisions are to be made by consensus - in theory allowing a tiny minority to veto any proposal, but in practice giving self-appointed cliques the power to do what they like (no votes are permitted and decisions often go unrecorded). Unsurprisingly then, the ESF is not exactly going from strength to strength. While the next event in Athens in March 2006 will undoubtedly be a jolly good affair, the ESF has proved itself incapable of uniting either 'the movements' or the left. Because, well, the 'movements' without political leadership are bound to go all over the place and in different directions. Assembly on the 'Charter of principles for another Europe' As a way around the ban on political decision-making and real debate in the ESF, a number of participating organisations set up a working group to draft the 'Charter of principles'. This charter might or might not be used by the ESF, the European Left Party or the GUE/GNL. It is actually one of the few forums where participants make an effort to talk politics. The next meeting is the two-day assembly in Florence on November 12-13. For details see www.transform.it. Transform! This "European research network" was set up in 2002 in Porto Alegre during the World Social Forum. It is made up of magazines, trusts and political institutes linked to Rifondazione, the PCF, the PDS, Synapsismos ... Yes, again pretty much the same organisations that are involved in all the above initiatives. It concentrates on pooling and analysing research on European integration, the European labour market, etc. European Anti-Capitalist Left Formed in 2000, the EACL consists mainly of the Trotskyist organisations involved in the Fourth International, whose main European organisation is the Ligue Communiste Révolutionnaire (LCR). The Scottish Socialist Party and both the Socialist Alliance and Respect have signed the various election manifestos released by the EACL - the last just before the elections to the European parliament in 2004. For a few years, Rifondazione Comunista took part in the EACL, as well as NELF and the GUE/NGL. But ever since the Italian comrades jumped ship in 2003, the EACL has become rather stale. Although Alain Krivine, leader of the LCR, announced at the ELP congress that the Anti-Capitalist Left would continue to exist as a separate body, it would be very surprising if the comrades did not join the ELP soon. Also see related articles: * Tentative steps to unity Around 300 people attended the first congress of the European Left Party in Athens, October 29-30. The congress did not achieve much in terms of political clarity - but undoubtedly it was an advance in the cooperation of the left across Europe. Tina Becker reports * Realigning the left If the European Left Party does nothing else but bring to an end the multiplicity of ineffective umbrella organisations that exist on the European left, it will have achieved something. Let us look at a few of them. * Unification process Interview with Haris Golemis, a member of the central political committee of the Greek party Synaspismos (Coalition of the Left and Movements of Ecology) * Respect: Britain out of the EU? Chris Bambery told participants at the congress that Respect is for the British withdrawal from the European Union