Alternative Left
Encyclopedia
The Alternative Left or The Left in translation from French and Italian, is a political party of the far-left in Switzerland
. This party seeks to unite the political forces and movements farther to the left on Switzerland's political spectrum than the center-left Social Democratic Party
and the Green Party
.
Their sole current National Council of Switzerland
member is Josef Zisyadis
, who was elected in 2007 for the Swiss Labour Party
. He is still a member of the SLP, but also now a member of the Alternative Left.
, the party was officially founded six months later at the congress of Lausanne
on May 29, 2010. In that congress the party presented a program of 9 important political points. The third congress took place in Zurich
on the 5th march 2011, where party members voted to launch a national referendum blocking the proposed flat-rate tax incentive favoring foreign millionaires which financial lobbies had sought to enthrone as a Swiss constitutionial amendment. The same referendum in the canton of Zurich, originating with the Alternative List
, was earlier approved in that Canton by Zurich's voters with a 52.9% majority in February 2009.
In the French-speaking part of Switzerland the members of the party come mainly from the Swiss Party of Labour, solidaritéS, Les Communistes and independents. The section in Bern is a newly created one, the section in Valais was already founded 2007 at an earlier election rally.
There are also other groups, that are involved in the AL, but they arent official members of the party:
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. This party seeks to unite the political forces and movements farther to the left on Switzerland's political spectrum than the center-left Social Democratic Party
Social Democratic Party of Switzerland
The Social Democratic Party of Switzerland is the largest centre-left political party in Switzerland....
and the Green Party
Green Party of Switzerland
The Green Party of Switzerland is the fifth-largest party in the National Council of Switzerland, and the largest party that is not represented on the Federal Council.-History:...
.
Their sole current National Council of Switzerland
National Council of Switzerland
The National Council of Switzerland is the lower house of the Federal Assembly of Switzerland. With 200 seats, it is the larger of the two houses....
member is Josef Zisyadis
Josef Zisyadis
thumb|Josef ZisyadisJosef Zisyadis is a Swiss politician, a member of the of the Swiss Party of Labour, and of the Alternative Left ....
, who was elected in 2007 for the Swiss Labour Party
Swiss Labour Party
The Swiss Party of Labour is a socialist party in Switzerland.The party was founded in 1944 by the illegal Communist Party of Switzerland. On May 21 the constituent conference of the Basel Federation of the party was held. On October 14-15 the same year the first Party Congress of the party was...
. He is still a member of the SLP, but also now a member of the Alternative Left.
History
After an opening party congress on November 21, 2009, in SchaffhausenSchaffhausen
Schaffhausen is a city in northern Switzerland and the capital of the canton of the same name; it has an estimated population of 34,587 ....
, the party was officially founded six months later at the congress of Lausanne
Lausanne
Lausanne is a city in Romandy, the French-speaking part of Switzerland, and is the capital of the canton of Vaud. The seat of the district of Lausanne, the city is situated on the shores of Lake Geneva . It faces the French town of Évian-les-Bains, with the Jura mountains to its north-west...
on May 29, 2010. In that congress the party presented a program of 9 important political points. The third congress took place in Zurich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
on the 5th march 2011, where party members voted to launch a national referendum blocking the proposed flat-rate tax incentive favoring foreign millionaires which financial lobbies had sought to enthrone as a Swiss constitutionial amendment. The same referendum in the canton of Zurich, originating with the Alternative List
Alternative List
The Alternative List , abbreviated to AL, is a socialist political party in Switzerland.The AL has existed since 1990 as a loose coalition of left-wing activists. At the beginning of 2007, the AL Zurich was transformed into a political union...
, was earlier approved in that Canton by Zurich's voters with a 52.9% majority in February 2009.
Sections
In total the "Alternative Left" counts actually six official sections:- Alternative Linke Bern
- La Gauche Valais Romand
- La Gauche Arc jurassien
- La Gauche Vaud
- La Gauche Nyon
- La Gauche Genève
In the French-speaking part of Switzerland the members of the party come mainly from the Swiss Party of Labour, solidaritéS, Les Communistes and independents. The section in Bern is a newly created one, the section in Valais was already founded 2007 at an earlier election rally.
There are also other groups, that are involved in the AL, but they arent official members of the party:
- Alternative ListAlternative ListThe Alternative List , abbreviated to AL, is a socialist political party in Switzerland.The AL has existed since 1990 as a loose coalition of left-wing activists. At the beginning of 2007, the AL Zurich was transformed into a political union...
Zürich - Alternative List Winterthur
- Alternative List Limmattal
- Alternative List Schaffhausen
- La Sinistra Ticino