Haven't seen this addressed previously, so apologies if it's duplicated.
The following is some detail outlining the platform for the latest supranational party to be launched in the wake of the now thrice rejected TEC/Lisbon. I hope that many will be relieved that a belated cavalry from across the rest of the Union is finally asserting itself, giving a sense of solidarity to those whom view themselves as pro-EU, yet find themselves exasperated by the particular neo-liberal/militarist direction that has been the only option to be found on the table of the previous six years.
"The Party of the European Left (EL) will campaign for the European parliament based on a joint electoral platform for the first time in the 2009 European elections, according to an agreement reached by 170 representatives of 19 member parties and 11 observers from 23 countries at an election conference in Berlin. The conference took place at the Babylon Cinema on Rosa Luxemburg Street. The conference focused on discussing and adopting the joint election document.
In his opening speech, Lothar Bisky, Chair of the EL and Die Linke, pointed out that the Left is growing in popularity because this period is about change in Europe. "The Party of the European Left has over 400,000 members. This is a vast potential of ideas, political experience and assertiveness. To draw on them successfully we need to focus on our common ground," Bisky said. The EL's member parties agreed to run a spirited campaign based on the joint election platform they adopted. "This weekend we undertake to establish the Left as the recognized representative of peace, social justice, democracy, ecology and solidarity throughout Europe," Bisky stated.
The period leading up to the 2009 elections has shown that the 'No' of the European Left to the Lisbon Treaty was inspired by their pro-European hopes. It makes no sense to continue the European Union (EU) policy that is based on a failed neo-liberal ideology: "Neither arms build-ups, nor a radical market policy, nor the absence of a social policy in Europe nor the lack of democracy advance us a fraction of an inch out of the current crisis. That is why we said 'No' to the treaty and 'Yes' to integration, 'Yes' to the lessons from Europe's history. Europe is more than just the EU..."
Bisky's speech is about resistance to the right wing-fascist threat across Europe, against rearmament and weapons of mass destruction, against loss of living standards and for secure employment for more regulation and fairer redistribution. Essentially, it is a classic social democratic political stance, of the kind that would have been mainstream in Europe a few decades ago.
I am encouraged that the left in Europe is showing some energy and organisation, but far from convinced that these policies are strong and radical enough to capture a mass following and reverse the economic implosion we're faced with. Some real, substantial and fundamental shift of economic power and control is needed.
Guest Guest
Subject: Re: New Party Of European Left (EL) to fight European Elections Mon Dec 29, 2008 11:58 pm
Wunderbar!
So we have a Pan European Left organisation rising to to tell us all of the Neo-Liberal Right wing conspiracy that is the EU of which the Lisbon Treaty is a vital plank - to contrast with the Pan European Right organisation that is already up and running warning us of the Lisbon Treaty's potential to plunge us all into a socialist sea of red ink in preparation for the return of Lenin and Stalin that is the EU raison d'etre.
Throw in the ubernationalists warning of the end of nationhood as we have known it, Evangelicals and racists warning of the impending Islamic flood and abortions available on every street corner, Bilderbergers and the Illuminati directing everything from a war-room under the Louvre and the Cern project directed by the people who brought you the moon landings with the aim of stealing and cloning your first born - boy- we are simply spoilt for choice - who knew that the Lisbon Treaty was going to have such an effect - why wasnt it mentioned in the book of revelations along with the Whore of Babylon, the Beast and the end of the Days?
Im off down the pub now - hopefully I'll run into our local contraband pharmaceutical supplier and he can suggest some chemical solution to my problems of living in what appears to be a very boring,mundane,universe and he'll give me the key to passage to all these alternative exciting simple solution universes that are on display all over the internet - Im feelin so left out
Guest Guest
Subject: Re: New Party Of European Left (EL) to fight European Elections Tue Dec 30, 2008 12:09 am
Edo wrote:
Wunderbar!
So we have a Pan European Left organisation rising to to tell us all of the Neo-Liberal Right wing conspiracy that is the EU of which the Lisbon Treaty is a vital plank - to contrast with the Pan European Right organisation that is already up and running warning us of the Lisbon Treaty's potential to plunge us all into a socialist sea of red ink in preparation for the return of Lenin and Stalin that is the EU raison d'etre.
Throw in the ubernationalists warning of the end of nationhood as we have known it, Evangelicals and racists warning of the impending Islamic flood and abortions available on every street corner, Bilderbergers and the Illuminati directing everything from a war-room under the Louvre and the Cern project directed by the people who brought you the moon landings with the aim of stealing and cloning your first born - boy- we are simply spoilt for choice - who knew that the Lisbon Treaty was going to have such an effect - why wasnt it mentioned in the book of revelations along with the Whore of Babylon, the Beast and the end of the Days?
Subject: Re: New Party Of European Left (EL) to fight European Elections Tue Dec 30, 2008 1:16 am
ibis wrote:
Edo wrote:
Wunderbar!
So we have a Pan European Left organisation rising to to tell us all of the Neo-Liberal Right wing conspiracy that is the EU of which the Lisbon Treaty is a vital plank - to contrast with the Pan European Right organisation that is already up and running warning us of the Lisbon Treaty's potential to plunge us all into a socialist sea of red ink in preparation for the return of Lenin and Stalin that is the EU raison d'etre.
Throw in the ubernationalists warning of the end of nationhood as we have known it, Evangelicals and racists warning of the impending Islamic flood and abortions available on every street corner, Bilderbergers and the Illuminati directing everything from a war-room under the Louvre and the Cern project directed by the people who brought you the moon landings with the aim of stealing and cloning your first born - boy- we are simply spoilt for choice - who knew that the Lisbon Treaty was going to have such an effect - why wasnt it mentioned in the book of revelations along with the Whore of Babylon, the Beast and the end of the Days?
Brilliant video, O spawn of Baphomet! One of the last good laughs I'll have in 2008. I presume the "EU poster" was a fake? We know how sensitive they are about graphic representations of those stars.
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