New European left party formed

On May 9 a new European Left Party was established in Rome 
after months of discussions and arguments. The new party wants to 
be seen as a critical voice inside the European Union (EU).

However, a number of parties that had taken part in or observed 
the initial discussions withdrew, including AKEL of Cyprus, the 
Communist Party of Greece, the Communist Party of Bohemia and 
Moravia, the Socialist Party of the Netherlands, and all the 
Scandanavian Communist and Left Parties.

Thirteen parties remained, these include some small left social 
democratic parties and the German Party of Democratic Socialism, 
the United Left of Spain, the Communist Parties of France and 
Slovakia and the Italian Refoundation Party.

The number of parties remaining were enough to have the new party 
registered as a EU party. It will receive financial support 
directly from the EU.

The reason why most Communist parties withdrew from this project 
is related to the fact that it would be subordinate to the EU 
constitution and accept that its activity will be within the 
framework of the EU constitution.

All parties registered as EU parties have an obligation to 
promote EU towards federalism through a common program and by 
voting as a block in the EU Parliament.

It means that all questions of national interest will be 
subordinated to the common program. National interests on 
questions concerning national sovereignty will not be supported 
either.

As a result, democratic institutions in the member states of the 
EU will be undermined and the fight against increasing 
monopolisation, both nationally and internationally, will be 
weakened.

The establishment of the European Left Party created considerable 
friction within those parties that took part in the process, 
including some communist parties.

The whole process has damaged the struggle against the federal 
development of the EU. In some parties there exists the risk of a 
split.

The Communist Party of Norway circulated a statement saying: "Now 
that the European Left Party is a reality, we hope that the Party 
does not develop to be a party justifying the EU system, but will 
live up to its own definition as a party critical of the EU, 
fighting for more social justice, peace and against neo-
liberalism.

"The European Left Party is not ideologically based on Marxism. 
They define their political view as a party of social justice, 
ecology and feminism. Our hope is therefore that the European 
Left Party will be an important and close partner of Communists 
and other progressive forces inside the EU."