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The Left (Luxembourg)
Encyclopedia
The Left is a left-wing and socialist political organisation
in Luxembourg
. The Left was formed on 30 January 1999 by a group of like minded activists, many of them affiliated with existing political parties
, notably the Communist Party of Luxembourg
(KPL), the New Left, the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), and the Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party
(LSAP). One of the aims of this new organisation was to present a further leftist alternative to social democracy
.
In the 1999 national elections
, the Left won 3.3% of the votes and one seat in the parliament; André Hoffmann
was elected from the southern constituency
. In 2000, after anticipated elections in the city of Esch sur Alzette
, Hoffmann became deputy mayor
and Aloyse Bisdorff (KPL) succeeded him in parliament. Then, in 2002, in accordance with the Left's statutes, Bisdorff resigned from parliament and was succeeded by Serge Urbany.
Later, however, a dispute arose between a number of members of the Communist Party and the majority of the Left. As a consequence, the KPL and the Left ran separate lists in the 2004
elections. The Left won 1.9% of the votes, and accordingly lost its parliamentary presence. In the 2009 elections
, it increased its share of the vote to 3.3%. As a result, Hoffmann returned to Parliament as the Left's sole representative - Hoffmann's personal vote of 9,067 in the south constituency was almost equal to the total number of votes gathered by the Communist Party, which won 10,803 votes.
It is associated with the European United Left - Nordic Green Left in the European Parliament
. It does not currently have any members in the parliament, however. The party participates both in the European Anticapitalist Left
and the Party of the European Left
.
Political organisation
A political organization is an organization that involves itself in the political process. In a broader sense, a political organization can also be viewed as a political system, as long as it includes the entire system and body of government...
in Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
. The Left was formed on 30 January 1999 by a group of like minded activists, many of them affiliated with existing political parties
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
, notably the Communist Party of Luxembourg
Communist Party of Luxembourg
The Communist Party of Luxembourg , abbreviated to KPL or PCL, is a communist political party in Luxembourg.Ali Ruckert is the current chairman of the party.- History :...
(KPL), the New Left, the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), and the Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party
Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party
The Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party , abbreviated to LSAP or POSL, is a social democratic political party in Luxembourg.The LSAP is the second-largest party in the Chamber of Deputies, having won 13 of 60 seats at the 2009 election, and has one seat in the European Parliament...
(LSAP). One of the aims of this new organisation was to present a further leftist alternative to social democracy
Social democracy
Social democracy is a political ideology of the center-left on the political spectrum. Social democracy is officially a form of evolutionary reformist socialism. It supports class collaboration as the course to achieve socialism...
.
In the 1999 national elections
Luxembourgian legislative election, 1999
Legislative elections were held in Luxembourg on June 13, 1999. Voters elected 60 members of the Grand Duchy's unicameral legislature, the Chamber of Deputies.The election coincided with the 1999 European Parliament election.-Candidates:-Overall results:...
, the Left won 3.3% of the votes and one seat in the parliament; André Hoffmann
André Hoffmann (politician)
André Hoffmann is a Luxembourgian politician from the leftist The Left grouping, of which he is the leader. He was formerly leader of the Communist Party , but has remained as leader of the Left after the KPL left the alliance...
was elected from the southern constituency
Circonscription Sud (Luxembourg)
Circonscription Sud is an electoral constituency for Luxembourg's national legislature, the Chamber of Deputies.The constituency includes the cantons of Capellen and Esch-sur-Alzette, both of which are in the district of Luxembourg...
. In 2000, after anticipated elections in the city of Esch sur Alzette
Esch-sur-Alzette
Esch-sur-Alzette is a commune with city status, in south-western Luxembourg. It is the country's second city, and its second-most populous commune, with a population of 29,853 people...
, Hoffmann became deputy mayor
Deputy Mayor
Deputy mayor is an elective or appointive office of the second-ranking official in many local governments. Many elected deputy mayors are members of the city council who are given the title and serve as acting mayor in the mayor's absence...
and Aloyse Bisdorff (KPL) succeeded him in parliament. Then, in 2002, in accordance with the Left's statutes, Bisdorff resigned from parliament and was succeeded by Serge Urbany.
Later, however, a dispute arose between a number of members of the Communist Party and the majority of the Left. As a consequence, the KPL and the Left ran separate lists in the 2004
Luxembourgian legislative election, 2004
Legislative elections were held in Luxembourg on 13 June 2004. Voters elected all 60 members of the Grand Duchy's unicameral legislature, the Chamber of Deputies...
elections. The Left won 1.9% of the votes, and accordingly lost its parliamentary presence. In the 2009 elections
Luxembourgian legislative election, 2009
Legislative elections were held in Luxembourg on 7 June 2009, together with the 2009 election to the European Parliament. All sixty members of the Chamber of Deputies were elected for five years...
, it increased its share of the vote to 3.3%. As a result, Hoffmann returned to Parliament as the Left's sole representative - Hoffmann's personal vote of 9,067 in the south constituency was almost equal to the total number of votes gathered by the Communist Party, which won 10,803 votes.
It is associated with the European United Left - Nordic Green Left in the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
. It does not currently have any members in the parliament, however. The party participates both in the European Anticapitalist Left
European Anticapitalist Left
The European Anticapitalist Left is an informal network for European anticapitalist left wing parties. EACL met for the first time in Lisbon in March 2000 with the representation of the Scottish Socialist Party, the Portuguese Left Bloc, the Danish Red-Green Alliance, the French LCR, and the...
and the Party of the European Left
Party of the European Left
The Party of the European Left, commonly abbreviated to just the European Left, is a political party at European level and an association of democratic socialist and communist political parties in the European Union and other European countries. It was formed in January 2004 for the purposes of...
.
Election results
| Constituency | 2004 votes | % | 1999 votes | % |
| Centre Circonscription Centre (Luxembourg) Circonscription Centre is an electoral constituency for Luxembourg's national legislature, the Chamber of Deputies.It includes the cantons of Luxembourg and Mersch, both of which are in the district of Luxembourg. , Centre has an estimated population of 151,166, or 33% of Luxembourg's total... | 20 451 | 1.99% | 27 999 | 2.82% |
| East Circonscription Est (Luxembourg) Circonscription Est is an electoral constituency for Luxembourg's national legislature, the Chamber of Deputies.It includes the cantons of Echternach, Grevenmacher, and Remich. Its boundaries are coterminous with those of the district of Grevenmacher... | 2 179 | 1.31% | 2 448 | 1.63% |
| North Circonscription Nord (Luxembourg) Circonscription Nord is an electoral constituency for Luxembourg's national legislature, the Chamber of Deputies.It includes the cantons of Clervaux, Diekirch, Redange, Vianden, and Wiltz. Its boundaries are coterminous with those of the district of Diekirch. , Nord has an estimated population of... | 3 725 | 1.34% | 3 653 | 1.41% |
| South Circonscription Sud (Luxembourg) Circonscription Sud is an electoral constituency for Luxembourg's national legislature, the Chamber of Deputies.The constituency includes the cantons of Capellen and Esch-sur-Alzette, both of which are in the district of Luxembourg... | 36 868 | 2.28% | 76 174 | 4.98% |