Europe Needs a New Left

dublin | anti-capitalism | event notice Tuesday July 15, 2008 02:07 by PBP member

People Before Public Meeting Thursday 17th 8pm Wynns Hotel

The People Before Profit Alliance is oranisng a public meeting on Thursday 17th at 8pm in Wynns Hotel, Dublin. Francois Duval founder of a new anti-capitalist party in France will be joined on a platform that will discuss the need for a New Left in Europe by Richard Boyd Barrett and Joan Collins, independent councillor from Crumlin.
There is also a No means No protest against Sarkozy on Monday July 21st. It assembles at 12.30 in Dame St Plaza.

On July 21st Nicholas Sarkozy is visiting Dublin to sort out the Irish ‘problem’.
The rulers of Europe cannot accept the fact that we voted against the Lisbon Treaty. So WE are supposed to be ‘the problem’ because we do not understand or are too stupid to accept their wise guidance. And Mr Sarkozy will deal with us.
The whole charade is outrageous. It shows that democracy under Western capitalism has become a fig-leaf to cover rule by a corporate elite.
Sarkozy’s big agenda is turning Europe into a neo-liberal superpower. Immediately after winning a general election in France, he launched attacks on the pension rights of railway workers and sought to make universities more beholden to big business. He wants to create a powerful EU army that can intervene in Africa and the Middle-East in alliance with the US. He has tried to win a popular base for his right wing policies by stirring up hatred against migrants.
Yet his strategy is not working. His poll ratings are dropping dramatically and France is experiencing a new wave of workers struggles.
Just before Sarkozy visits Dublin, the People Before Profit Alliance have invited another important French visitor to the town.
Francois Duval, is one of the founders of the French Anti-Capitalist Party – a new party that has emerged from a wave of struggles that have followed the French vote against EU Constitution.
The new party was recently formed at a conference of one thousand delegates. It drew on the support of 300 committees who emerged to promote the idea of a new left in France.
Alongside parties like Die Linke in Germany – which is currently winning the support of over 15 percent in opinion polls – the new French party is part of an emerging new left across Europe.
Such a new left formation is also needed in Ireland. The betrayal of the Greens and the way the Labour Party supported the Lisbon Treaty shows there is a huge opening for a strong left wing organisation that puts ‘people power’ at the heart of its strategy.
The People Before Profit Alliance public meeting takes place on Thursday 17th at 8pm in Wynns Hotel. Francois Duval will be joined on a platform that will discuss the need for a New Left in Europe by Richard Boyd Barrett and Joan Collins, independent councillor from Crumlin.
There is a No means No protest against Sarkozy on July 21st. It assembles at 12.30 in Dame St Plaza.