The Party of the European Left (PEL), commonly abbreviated European Left, is a
European political party that operates as an association of
democratic socialist and
communist
Communism (from Latin la, communis, lit=common, universal, label=none) is a far-left sociopolitical, philosophical, and economic ideology and current within the socialist movement whose goal is the establishment of a communist society, a s ...
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 election
The 2004 European Parliament election was held between 10 and 13 June 2004 in the 25 member states of the European Union, using varying election days according to local custom. The European Parliamental parties could not be voted for, but electe ...
s. The PEL was founded on 8–9 May 2004 in Rome.
The elected
MEPs
A Member of the European Parliament (MEP) is a person who has been elected to serve as a popular representative in the European Parliament.
When the European Parliament (then known as the Common Assembly of the ECSC) first met in 1952, it ...
from member parties of the PEL sit in
The Left in the European Parliament – GUE/NGL group in the
European Parliament.
Several member and observer parties participate also in the more radical
European Anti-Capitalist Left
The European Anti-Capitalist Left (EACL) is an informal network for left-wing and anti-capitalist parties in Europe.
The EACL took part in the Europe against Austerity Conference in 2011 and 2012.
Ideology
Parties participating in the EACL ar ...
. Before the PEL was founded, most of its members already held annual meetings together, as part of the New European Left Forum (NELF).
The current president is the German politician and economist . The four vice-presidents are ,
Margarita Mileva
A margarita is a cocktail consisting of Tequila, triple sec, and lime juice often served with salt on the rim of the glass. The drink is served shaken with ice (on the rocks), blended with ice (frozen margarita), or without ice (straight up). ...
,
Paolo Ferrero, and former PEL President
Pierre Laurent. Swiss
Brigitte Berthouzoz serves as the new EL treasurer.
The party supports
Cuba, and a delegation visited the nation in February 2022.
As of December 2016, the Party of the European Left gathers 27 member parties, 8 observers, and 3 partners from 25 European countries.
Membership
Member parties
Observer parties
Partners
As well as those of member and observer parties, individuals may also hold membership of the party.
Former members
Party congresses
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. The third congress was held on 2–5 December 2010 in
Paris. Its fourth congress was held on 13–15 December 2013 in
Madrid. Its fifth congress took place on 16–18 December 2016 in
Berlin,
and elected German lawyer and politician
Gregor Gysi
Gregor Florian Gysi (; born 16 January 1948) is a German attorney, former president of the Party of the European Left and a prominent politician of The Left (''Die Linke'') political party.
He belonged to the reformist wing of the governing So ...
as the new PEL President.
Leadership
*President:
Fausto Bertinotti (2004–2007),
Lothar Bisky (2007–2010),
Pierre Laurent (2010–2016),
Gregor Gysi
Gregor Florian Gysi (; born 16 January 1948) is a German attorney, former president of the Party of the European Left and a prominent politician of The Left (''Die Linke'') political party.
He belonged to the reformist wing of the governing So ...
(2016–2019),
Heinz Bierbaum (2019–present)
*Leader in the
European Parliament:
Francis Wurtz
Francis Wurtz (born 3 January 1948 in Strasbourg) is a former French Member of the European Parliament, serving from 1979 until 2009. Elected in the Île-de-France constituency on the French Communist Party (PCF) ticket, he sat with the European ...
(2004–2009),
Lothar Bisky (2009–2012),
Gabi Zimmer
Gabriele "Gabi" Zimmer (born 7 May 1955) is a German politician who served as leader of the Party of Democratic Socialism (PDS) from 2000 to 2003. After leaving office as leader, she was a member of the European Parliament from 2004 to 2019. Z ...
(2012–present)
See also
*
European Anti-Capitalist Left
The European Anti-Capitalist Left (EACL) is an informal network for left-wing and anti-capitalist parties in Europe.
The EACL took part in the Europe against Austerity Conference in 2011 and 2012.
Ideology
Parties participating in the EACL ar ...
*
European United Left–Nordic Green Left
*
Initiative of Communist and Workers' Parties
*
List of communist parties represented in European Parliament
*
Nordic Green Left Alliance
*
Now the People
Now the People! ( da, Det er Folkets tur Nu; french: link=no, Maintenant le Peuple ! fi, Nyt on Ihmisten Vuoro!; pt, Agora o Povo !; es, Ahora la Gente; sv, Det är folkets tur nu) is a political movement in the European Union. It was found ...
*
Unified European Left Group Unified European Left Group (UEL) is a group in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, formed by 34 MPs from various leftwing parties in 16 countries. Georgios Katrougalos (Greece) is the president of the group, Andrej Hunko (Germany), ...
References
External links
*
Italian website
{{Authority control
Political parties established in 2004
Pan-European political parties
International organisations based in Belgium
Socialist parties in Europe
Democratic socialism in Europe
2004 establishments in Europe
Eurosceptic parties