Party of the European Left


The Party of the European Left, commonly abbreviated European Left, is a European political party that operates as 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 running in the 2004 European Parliament elections. The PEL was founded on 8–9 May 2004 in Rome. The elected MEPs from member parties of the PEL sit in the European United Left–Nordic Green Left group in the European parliament.
Several member and observer parties participate also in the more radical European Anti-Capitalist Left. Before the PEL was founded, most of its members already held annual meetings together as part of the New European Left Forum.
The current president is the German politician and economist Heinz Bierbaum The four Vice-Presidents are :es:Maite Mola|Maite Mola, Margarita Mileva, Paolo Ferrero and former PEL President Pierre Laurent. Swiss Brigitte Berthouzoz serves as the new EL treasurer.
As of December 2016, the Party of the European Left gathers 27 member parties, 8 observers and 3 partners from 25 European countries.

Membership

Member parties

Observer parties

Partners

As well as those of member and observer parties, individuals may also hold membership of the party.

Former members

CountryParty
BelgiumCommunist Party stopped working as a Party in 2009, since December 2013 not listed as a Member
BelgiumCommunist Party resignation decided at the party congress on 30 July 2018.
Czech RepublicThe LeftMerged into in 2020
FranceUnited Left merged with the French Communist Party in Fall 2015
FranceLeft Party left the EL on 1 July 2018
GermanyGerman Communist Partyended on 27 February 2016 the observer status.
GreeceRenewing Communist Ecological Leftmerged to Syriza in 2003
HungaryHungarian Workers' Partyquit 1 May 2009
ItalyParty of Italian Communistsrenamed in Partito Comunista d'Italia in December 2014
ItalyThe Other Europedissolved in 2019, which meant that the "observer status" was lost
PolandYoung Socialists dissolved in 2015, which meant that the "observer status" was lost

Party congresses

The party's first congress took place on 8 October 2005 in Athens, and produced the Athens Declaration of the European Left. The second congress was held 23–25 November 2007 in Prague. The third congress was held on 2–5 December 2010 in Paris. Its fourth congress was held on 13–15 December 2013 in Madrid. Its fifth congress took place on 16–18 December 2016 in Berlin, and elected German lawyer and politician Gregor Gysi as the new PEL President.

Leadership