Argueing about whether Trotskists, Leninsists, Marxist-Leninists, Maoists, Stalinists, Castrists, Juche-ists, … betrayed or not Communism and so aggravating the divisions among Communists should be considered as “counter-revolutionary”.
Communists of all leanings, unite.
What do you think ?
I do not know if you are aware that there will be presidential election in a few weeks in France… If you don’t, now you do…
In France, there are French… You know, the bunch of guys that always disagree on everything especially among themselves. And this lead to endless political argument that we seem to really love.
Usually people say that there is a strong Left-wing tradition in France … But when I see the president we elected the last time (I did not vote for him), I wonder if it is still accurate …
In fact, the reality is that the French left-wing is very divided. The main “left” party is the Socialist Party that could be seen as a French model of the American Democrate Party, which means that they are social-liberal, but there are still considering themselves as social-democratic. I guess that there should be a slight difference…
But the most fun is in the far-left or the “left of the left” for less-revotutionnary-but-still-anticapitalist parties. Currently, the term “left of the left” is used because the “usual left” (that means for the medias the Socialist Party) is slighty more liberal than socialist ( a word that the head of the Socialist Party does not even use).
So, the “Left of the left” is represented by the Left Front (and its candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon) that gather several anticapitalist organisation that included the French Communist Party (reformist), the Left Party formed by former members of the Socialist Party that criticize the lack of socialism in the SocialistParty’s policies. In fact, the Left Front could be seen as an equivalent of the PSUV of Hugo Chavez. Indeed, they often make references to the left movement in South American (with Chavez, Evo Morales and the others). The Left Front has taken a radical-socialist stand, with nationalisations, (very) high taxes for the rich and even the will of a new constitution that would include real equality (gay marriages allowed), right of abortion, the right of all children born on the soil of France to be French (because there is a huge debate about immigration currently, and the far-right parties are really enjoying it), more democracy, … Its radical stance against the far-right party Front National (which is trying to hide its antisemitic and racist past but still assuming its nationalism, its will of “France for the French” and other conservative policies) is very discussed among the medias. For example, the Left Front candidate called the far-right candidate (a woman, that is part of their program of making the Front National more democratic but it is still anti-feminism) “half-crazy”. When asked if he regreted it, the left candidate replied that it leaves her an other part to talk with.
The far-left is represent by two candidates (there are 10 candidates in total). Nathalie arthaut is candidate for the Lutte Ouvrière Party(Worker Struggle would be a good translation). It is a trotskist communist party (a bit sectarian). They are not expecting to be elected but it is for them an opportunity to spread their ideas.
Phillipe Poutou represent the New Anticapitalist Party which had its glory a few years ago and is now exploding because its members that the party is more sectarian than useful in the debate.
Currently, the Left Front seems to be the revelation of those elections. Starting with 5% of support in the population, they are now around 14% despite a very limited budget. Its is the most spectacular variation ever seen in elections. The Left Front should not be elected but its political weight will force the Socialist candidate to adopt more radical policies in the future.
(Next time history of the French Communist Party)
L’effet dracula de la lumière du front de gauche fait se voler en poussière le front national. A voir et revoir sans concession…
A part répéter 15 fois la même chose, dire “je”, “je”, “moi”, elle accuse M. Mélenchon d’être la voiture balai de Hollande mais a-t-elle oublié qu’elle est la réserve de voix de Sarkosy ?
