A step towards left unity
International Viewpoint #245 May 1993
THE dramatic crisis of the European Community in the summer months of 1992 has stimulated a series of Europe-wide initiatives by the left opposed to the capitalist vision of a united Europe embodied in the Maastricht Treaty. FRANÇOIS VERCAMMEN — Paris, April 28, 1993
T HE very small majority in
favour of the treaty in France followed soon after its shock defeat in the June referendum in Denmark. Italy and Greece saw a massive strike wave against the austerity plans necessitated by Maastricht's stipulations on economic convergence. And finally, the exit of the British pound and Italian lira from the European Monetary System, accompanied by a cascade of devaluations of other currencies, showed the fragility of the whole edifice.
However, collaboration between the bourgeoisies and the bureaucracies of the workers movement - with the support of the intellectual elites prevented the emergence of any serious alternative to Maastricht Europe. The only gainers were the far right which has moved into the vacuum.
Now a series of well-known political and trade union figures from a variety of currents of the anti-capitalist left have launched an appeal for "An assembly of the European left" to be held in Paris on June 12, 1993
This initiative comes in the wake of a conference in the Danish capital Copenhagen held on April 23-24, 1993 under the heading "for an alternative to the EEC and to political and monetary union". This was called by Denmark's Red-Green "Enhedslisten" alliance which brings together the Communist Party, the Left Socialists (VS) and the Socialist Workers Party (SAP — Danish section of the Fourth International). The aim of the conference was to back up the campaign for a second no vote in the new Danish referendum on Maastricht to be held on May 18.
In the first referendum, 50.7% of 34
• EUROPE I those who voted were against the treaty, although 80% of the politicians, including the opposition Social Democrats, were for. This time round, even the Socialist People's Party (SF) - a left social democratic party born out of a split in the Communist Party in 1956— which was the driving force behind the campaign for a "no" back in spring last year, has been won over to the "Edinburgh Compromise"
As a result, the gulf between the aspirations of the leftwing's natural constituency and their political representatives has become still wider. Despite the SF's defection, support for the "no" continues to gravitate around 40% with around 15 to 20% undecided This is in the face of an unprecedented propaganda barrage in the media about how a no vote will increase unemployment. At the same time there is a struggle going on within the "no" camp between the nationalist and populist far right and the socialist left.
The Enhedslisten's initiative was a big success. On the panel were Tony Benn, a leftwing Labour MP from Britain, Winfried Wolf, the editor-in-chief of the German Sozialistische Zeitung newspaper, Karmelo Landa, Euro-MP for the Basque nationalist Herri Batasuna party and Dorothy Piermont, also a Euro-MP, previously for the German Greens, but now independent.
Representatives of many organizations took part in the discussion, among them:
• Sections of the Fourth International in Denmark, Sweden, France, the Netherlands and Belgium;
• The Communist Parties of Britain, Greece (both the KKE and the AKOA - the Renovated and Ecological Left), Portugal, and Finland (the Communist Party - Unity;
• The Party of Democratic Socialism (PDS) and the United Socialist Party (VSP) from Germany; the exMaoist AMG and the Red Electoral Alliance from Norway, which brings together the AMG and the Workers Power Group, which has developed relations with the Fourth International; the UDP from Portugal; the Red and Green Alliance from France; Herri Batasuna and the Nationalist Bloc of Galicia from the Spanish State.
The conference organizers had prepared and sent out in advance a draft political declaration that reproduced in a generous interpretation the main ideas of the speakers. However, some CP delegations objected to this declaration.
However, the conference had a big media impact both owing to the presen-
Appeal for the Paris Assembly
THE world is going through a period of stagnation and crisis that is throwing millions into poverty and despair. Mass unemployment and hopelessness are the the Citizens Movement, France; Claude Poperen, spokesperson of the Alternative-
Democracy-Socialism (ADS), France; Gilbert Wassermann, spokesperson of the ADS,
France; Stéphane Peu, spokesperson of the Communist Refounders, France; Alain
Krivine, spokesperson of the Revolutionary Communist League (LCR), France; René
Dumont, agronomist, France; Julio Anguita, United Left (IU), Spanish State. *
International Viewpoint #245 May 1993 ce of Tony Benn and the big turnout for the public meeting on the Saturday both of which gave a sense of the legitimacy of the "leftwing no", even if it is now represented in Denmark only by groups without parliamentary representation.
For two evenings running the result.
Today, Europe cannot be regarded as a haven of peace and prosperity. Seventeen million unemployed, above all youth, and 30 million "marginalized" people consticonference was on the television news tute our "Third World". Millions of impoverished people press at Europe's borders and various radio stations. Some papers, to the south and east, attempting to escape from even more dreadful misery.
including the Social Democratic daily,
Against this bleak background, racism is spreading, attempting to scapegoat put it on the front page with photos and immigrants for these evils. And for the first time in 50 years, fascist and neo-fasinterviews with Benn. In this way the cist groups are asserting themselves at the ballot box and in the streets.
Enhedslisten made its mark on the deba-
The form of European unity currently being pursued will not provide the needed, te; on the morrow of the conference socially responsible, generous and fraternal answer that this crisis requires.
leaders of the Danish Socialist Party, which is the pivot of the new govern-
The Maastricht Treaty, centered on monetary union and the formation of the independent bank, is being used as an alibi for dismantling social gains.and the ment, were calling for a visit from a spokesperson of European social democracy to reply to Benn.
As resolute opponents of all forms of national and regional chauvinism, we are partisans of a Europe whose peoples are mobilized and fighting against unem-
The forthcoming Paris Assembly ployment and social exclusion, of a Europe without racism all of whose inhabican pick up where Copenhagen left off.
tants enjoy the same rights, an egalitarian Europe which accords women their full
The latter initiative was part of a one-off place in society, an ecological Europe which protects natural resources and campaign to influence the referendum reconciles economic development and defence of the environment, a Europe vote while the Paris meeting will where minorities enjoy democratic rights and an independent and pro-peace address broader political issues. Last
Europe open to the East and in solidarity with the South.
September, as the EEC tottered, the
Europe needs another road! One which allows ordinary people - workers, youth, absence of a left alternative was sorely women, immigrants and national minorities to go forward.
felt. This led to the drawing up of an
Priority must be given to the social needs of the majority of the population rather appeal aimed at bringing together left than to the profits of a tiny minority. Everyone needs a job, a reasonable income, forces from the workers, union and somewhere to live, health care, and the right to education and vocational training.
social movements to present a clear pro-
We need the public services and infrastructure as well as a radical reduction in file to European public opinion.
the working week to give people the time and the possibility for personal develop-
Despite its rather general nature, the appeal is clearly anti-capitalist, anti-
Such priorities are incompatible with the despotism of profit and the domination imperialist, anti-racist/fascist, feminist of all aspects of the economy by the law of the market.
and ecologist. It embodies a long term
More than ever, the struggle for a new society free from exploitation and oppres perspective. The ruling classes of sion, an egalitarian and democratic, free and self-managing society is on the
Europe are far from winning the war whatever the result of the May 19
We have no ready-made solutions and there are certainly differences amongst us.
referendum in Denmark and the
But we share solid convictions and the will to discuss and act together on a forthcoming vote in the British parliament.
We call on militants from the left of the workers and union movement, the
However, the workers and social women's movement, the ecological movement, the international solidarity move movements of Europe are paralyzed by ment, the anti-racist and anti-fascist movement and the cooperative movement to deadbeat leaderships and national sign this appeal and come to the European Assembly of the Left which will be divisions despite the obligatory "Euroheld on the weekend of June 12-13, 1993, in Paris.
pean" professions of faith.
Initial list of signatories: Fausto Bertinotti, Confederal Secretary of the General Confe-
The Paris Assembly must be the first deration of Italian Labour (CGIL) Italy; Tony Benn, Member of Parliament, Labour Party, link which tests, organizes and draws
Britain; Marcelino Camacho, National Secretary of the Workers Commissions (CCOO), together all those who have shown
Spanish State; Luciana Castellina, Member of European Parliament and editor of Liberazione, the weekly of the Party of Communist Refoundation (PRC), Italy; Armando themselves ready to resist the bourgeois
Cossutta, President of the PRC, Italy; Luciano Pettinari, International Secretary of the offensive, maintain a socialist vision and
PRC, Italy; Ernest Mandel, economist, Socialist Workers Party (POS/SAP) Belgium;
have already found themselves working
Gregor Gysi, former President of the Party of Democratic Socialism (PDS), member of together on key questions such as the parliament, Germany; François Vercammen, POS/SAP, Belgium; Wilfried Telkamper,
Gulf War, the rejection of austerity and
Member of European Parliament, Greens, Germany; Michel Suchod, Vice-President of of Maastricht, support for the progressive forces in Nicaragua, Cuba and El Salvador, against racism and for equal rights and for equality of women and men. * welfare state.
ment and allow real community life.
agenda.
Europe-wide scale.
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