Friday

22nd Sep 2023

Greek leftist rallies allies in Slovenia

  • Alexis Tsipras is the leftist candidate for the EU commission presidency (Photo: Joanna)

Greek leftist leader Alexis Tsipras was in Slovenia over the weekend to try and rally political forces on the left ahead of the May EU election.

Tsipras, leader of Greece’s Syriza party and the New Left’s candidate to be president of the European Commission, said he felt at home in Slovenia, which has seen a surge in support for left-wing parties amid the economic crisis.

Read and decide

Join EUobserver today

Become an expert on Europe

Get instant access to all articles — and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial.

... or subscribe as a group

Three of them - the Initiative for democratic Socialism (IDS), Sustainable Development Party (TRS) and Democratic Party of work (DSD) - have now joined the European New Left Party.

"Looking at Slovenia as a Greek I’m afraid that I’m watching a film whose ending I know,” Tsipras said, referring to the county's deep economic crisis.

The Slovenian parties, for their part, promised to fight against the "neoliberal zombie which breeds corruption, austerity, unemployment and poverty".

Luka Mesec, chair of the IDS party, said austerity measures in Slovenia meant €460 million in savings, but caused the country’s GDP to drop by €700 million.

Slovenia is one of just two member states (along with Cyprus) expected to remain in recession this year, according to European Commission forecasts.

Other parties in the New Left bloc include Germany’s Die Linke and France’s Parti de Gauche.

All want to emulate Syriza’s success, with Tsipras’ party currently polling top in Greece.

The young generation of Slovenian leftists are hoping that at least one of the eight MEPs Slovenia will elect to the European Parliament in May comes from their ranks

Their programme calls for economic and political transformation. They want progressive taxation, the nationalisation of too-big-to-fail banks, full employment and a shorter workday. Meanwhile, citizens should be more involved in political decision-making through consultative forums.

Analysis

Von der Leyen overlooks cost-of-living crisis and job quality

Von der Leyen's speech focused on labour and skills shortages, inflation and improving the business environment. Some trade unions, political groups, and organisations felt that there were missed opportunities to outline a roadmap for a social Europe.

Agenda

Spain's EU-language bid and UN summit This WEEK

While the heads of EU institutions are in New York for the UN high level meeting, Spain's EU presidency will try to convince ministers to make Catalan, Basque, and Galician official EU languages.

Latest News

  1. Here's the headline of every op-ed imploring something to stop
  2. Report: Tax richest 0.5%, raise €213bn for EU coffers
  3. EU aid for Africa risks violating spending rules, Oxfam says
  4. Activists push €40bn fossil subsidies into Dutch-election spotlight
  5. Europe must Trump-proof its Ukraine arms supplies
  6. Antifascism and fascism are opposites, whatever elites say
  7. MEPs back Germany's Buch to lead ECB supervisory arm
  8. Russia to blame for Azerbaijan attack, EU says

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. International Medical Devices Regulators Forum (IMDRF)Join regulators, industry & healthcare experts at the 24th IMDRF session, September 25-26, Berlin. Register by 20 Sept to join in person or online.
  2. UNOPSUNOPS begins works under EU-funded project to repair schools in Ukraine
  3. Georgia Ministry of Foreign AffairsGeorgia effectively prevents sanctions evasion against Russia – confirm EU, UK, USA
  4. International Medical Devices Regulators Forum (IMDRF)Join regulators & industry experts at the 24th IMDRF session- Berlin September 25-26. Register early for discounted hotel rates
  5. Nordic Council of MinistersGlobal interest in the new Nordic Nutrition Recommendations – here are the speakers for the launch
  6. Nordic Council of Ministers20 June: Launch of the new Nordic Nutrition Recommendations

Join EUobserver

Support quality EU news

Join us