the Left party leader Bernd Riexinger is relaxed. “There is a new spirit,” he says at the Saturday lunch on the edge of Europe party Congress in Bonn, Germany. “There is not only verbiesterte criticism, but we want to change something.”
at this time, the Convention is already clear that the 580 delegates of the party Congress to follow the suggestions of the party Executive Board for the programme for the European elections in may, in all essential points. Applications of the anti-capitalist Left and other fundamentalists to a tightening of the EU-criticism are rejected, as well as the reform wing “Forum of democratic socialism” that wanted to know the demand for a “Republic of Europe” in the election program anchored.
The program will be decided on Saturday evening with only a few votes against and abstentions.
minority for “Republic of Europe”
The majorities were in previously in the discussion of the individual applications, however, quite scarce, as in the vote about the “Republic of Europe” shows that 53.4 percent against 44.7 percent. The reformers connect with the “Republic of Europe” the idea that the regions could get a stronger voice in the community. In addition, it is provided that the Central policy fields such as social Affairs and employment will be controlled at the European level.
“at Least as a Vision” should be provided to this project “in the room”, had advertised the Berlin culture Senator Klaus Lederer in vain. “I hope that the Left is running the things behind, but to the top.”
A formulation, according to which the fundamentals of the EU “militaristic, undemocratic and neoliberal”, by the Board of Directors in advance of the party rally had been defused. Unlike before the European elections in 2014, as the Ex-party leader Oskar Lafontaine of the Left-a debate about the Euro, and pushed it open, the party before the European elections in 2019, a Pro-European Position.
For the Gregor Gysi, former Chairman of the parliamentary group and today head of the European Left advertises: “We will join the elections to the European Parliament, because we want the European Integration”, he said in Bonn: “the EU must be reformed fundamentally.”
Gysi criticised the fact that the party did, and just ends up in the European policy – too many negative messages. He argues, however, that The European Parliament now have more rights than they used to, “therefore, is it not abolished, but in its position to the European Council and the EU Commission be strengthened”. The crisis of the EU could be a Chance for a reboot. And: “We need to understand the EU as a necessary Evil, but as an opportunity.” With emphasis Gysi warns: “If the EU goes really broken, and now the return of war to Europe.”
Bartsch: rights to said Europe under the brand
Harald Wolf, Ex-Senator for economic Affairs in Berlin today, Federal Treasurer of the Left, tearing on the Congress, and a generally positive attitude towards the United Europe and fundamental criticism of the EU belong to the party of “inseparable”. Party leader Katja Kipping had based this Thesis on the Friday evening with other words: “I mean, other EU, is the greater Declaration of love for Europe than by allowing the EU to remain as it is.”
Demonstrating harmony: the Left-group chair, Dietmar Bartsch and party leader Katja Kipping on Saturday at the…photo: Oliver Berg/dpa
the Left party leader Dietmar Bartsch, his party is calling after a fractious year before the European elections to unity. “We need to get back on the winning track,” he says. For this unit, and attitude “are” instead of “small piece dispute any mm intra-party space”. The EU is in a state of disrepair. “The Right want to tear Europe under the nail. And the Bad thing is: they are only partially successful,” he warns. Bartsch and Co-Head of Sahra wagenknecht was not traveled because of a lengthy illness, at the party Congress in Bonn.
