The European Left: The smallest of the EU groups

The Left claims to be the only force in the EU Parliament that does not pit climate protection and social policy against each other. Europe needs redistribution from top to bottom, is the classic left-wing demand.

The Left – the same name as the German party is also the name of the group to which it belongs in the EU Parliament. Of the seven current associations of European parliamentarians, The Left is currently the smallest in the European Parliament.

However, it is not free from internal power struggles and differences of opinion. The acceptance of the EU institutions is one of the most controversial political issues within the European Left.

Despite all the scepticism about the EU, it is clear that the questions facing humanity’s future, such as the question of war and peace, the fight against world hunger or climate protection, can only be solved together, says Martin Schirdewan.

Alongside the Frenchwoman Manon Aubry, he is co-leader of the Left Party in the European Parliament and the leading candidate of the German Left Party. Their program for the EU elections is clear: “If you want Europe, you have to take it away from the rich,” it says. And that is exactly what it means, says Schirdewan.

“Achieved a lot”

It is about fighting poverty and providing social security. In the past five years, the European Left has already achieved a lot in this area, says Schirdewan, for example by helping to implement the European minimum wage.

In addition, it has been achieved that people who work for digital companies such as Amazon, Uber or Deliveroo “finally experience something like occupational safety,” said the leading candidate. Better protection for people who work on construction sites and for tradesmen and women who come into contact with toxic substances has also been implemented.

Stronger taxation of corporations

At the same time, corporations should be taxed more heavily and public spending should be increased. Europe needs redistribution from top to bottom, says Schirdewan. Specifically, the European Left is calling for the deficit and debt limits of three percent and 60 percent of annual gross domestic product to be relaxed in order to enable higher social and environmental spending.

It is about developing good health care, a good transport system and “a functioning industry – and all of this alongside trade unions, social movements, civil society and NGOs”.

In this sense, the German Left has nominated the independent Carola Rackete, who became internationally known as a sea rescuer in the Mediterranean, as its second top candidate. In European asylum and migration policy, the European Left is against any tightening of regulations.

At the same time, it rejects arms deliveries to Ukraine and calls for an immediate ceasefire.

Claim to reconcile climate and social policy

When it comes to climate protection, the Left claims to be the only party that does not play off social issues against ecological ones. Of course, industry, transport and housing should be geared towards climate protection, but people must be relieved of the associated social costs, says Schirdewan.

One idea is the creation of the “United Railways of Europe”. This would be a kind of holding company that would coordinate the European rail network with socially capped ticket prices.

Another example is the discussion about how buildings can be made more climate-friendly. “Then I’m just thinking of the modernization levy in Germany, which de facto means that the costs are passed on to the tenants.” Tenants should be protected from this. For example, socially staggered energy prices could ensure more climate justice, demands the Left.

Walter Baier of the Communist Party of Austria announced that the right to affordable housing would be at the top of the agenda in the coming legislative period. Baier is chairman of the European Left, an alliance of 15 European parties – and is also their top candidate for the post of Commission President.

But this is more of a symbolic move. It would be a success if the group could keep its current 38 seats. This will depend not least on who Sahra Wagenknecht’s alliance joins after the European elections. It is unlikely to be the European Left, but if the BSW tries to form a new group, this could again be to the detriment of the Left in Europe.