CIDOB Opinion 665, May 2021, analyzes the current state of European left politics, particularly focusing on the decline of the red left and the rise of the green left. The report highlights that while the red left, a legacy of historical eurocommunism and anti-globalization movements, still maintains a solid but diminishing support base, especially in the European Parliament, its numbers have not seen significant growth despite the constant crisis of social democracy.
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Decline of the Red Left: The GUE/NGL group in the European Parliament has seen a decrease from 52 seats in 2014 to 39 in 2021. The main contributors include Syriza in Greece, La France Insoumise in France, Die Linke in Germany, and Podemos in Spain. However, these parties often exhibit political fragmentation, which hinders their collective action and fundraising capabilities.
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Green Left's Rise: In contrast, the green left is experiencing growth. The 2019 European elections saw the green movement gain more representation across multiple countries, with notable success in Germany, France, the UK, and Spain, among others. This has resulted in a stronger, more cohesive parliamentary group.
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National Success Stories: At the national level, the green parties are doing well, particularly in France and Spain, where they have surpassed traditional parties like the Social Democrats. In France, the Green party, "Plus Madrid," emerged as the leading opposition party in regional elections, outperforming Podemos in Spain.
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Success Factors: The report attributes the green party's success to several factors, including rising public concern about climate change, a move away from radicalism, and the ability to offer positive, empathetic, and non-contentious alternatives. Additionally, their focus on issues like ecology and workweek reduction resonates with voters.
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Future of European Left: The future of the European left could potentially be a blend of red and green ideologies, emphasizing common ground over division. The key challenge lies in forming a united front for the French presidential election in 2022, which could prevent the green left from encountering the same electoral ceiling as the social democrats and halt the red left's loss of influence.
The report concludes by suggesting that while the red-left faces challenges, the green-left offers promising growth opportunities for the European left's future.
