Alternative left
| Alternative left | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Establishment date: | May 29, 2010 |
| Place of foundation: | Lausanne |
| Dissolution date: | 2018 |
| Presidium: | - |
| Secretary General: | Frédéric Charpié |
| Members: | 1'500 (as of 2011) |
| Share of voters: | 0.4% (as of: NR election 2015 ) |
| National Council: |
0/200 |
| Council of States: |
0/46 |
| Cantonal parliaments: |
10/2609 |
| Cantonal Governments: |
0/154 |
| Party structure: | 6 sections |
| Groupings: | Related groups: |
| Website: | www.alternative-linke.ch |
The Alternative Left ( French La Gauche , Italian La Sinistra ) is a political party in Switzerland that existed at the national level from 2010 to 2018.
The party, which was founded in Lausanne in May 2010 , is supposed to bring together left-wing alternative forces outside the Social Democratic Party and the Greens and is critical of the European Union . In 2011, it launched the national initiative to abolish flat-rate taxation . She also wants to work for more social justice in Switzerland in general. The party has members in its own sections as well as in related parties.
Content profile
When it was founded, the party adopted a program with nine priorities for action, which the party intends to follow:
- She wants a living income and old-age provision for everyone and was the first Swiss party to write the commitment to an unconditional basic income in its party program.
- She advocates absolute equality between men and women, which must not stop at the economy, as well as the right to vote and be elected for foreigners. In addition, as is already practiced in the United States , everyone born in Switzerland should be entitled to Swiss citizenship .
- She rejects any efforts by the state in the direction of the surveillance state and bases the right of every person to his or her individual freedom, everyone should be able to live as they want.
- In terms of ecology and environmental protection, she demands that everyone should have the opportunity to behave in an ecologically correct manner, and not just those who have the money to do so. She regards climate change and consumer society as a product of capitalism and calls for a fundamental change of course and mindset.
- The public budget is to be financed according to the principle of economic efficiency and it consistently rejects benefits such as flat taxes , flat taxes and degressive tax rates . Accordingly, a national initiative to abolish flat-rate taxation was launched in 2011. Furthermore, she rejects poll taxes , as is the case with the public health insurances, and is against the shift from progressive to indirect consumption taxes, as these would burden the lower income groups more. She advocates a national inheritance tax.
- The Alternative Left rejects any privatization and wants a strong public service .
- In foreign policy, AL is committed to international solidarity . She calls for debt relief in third world countries that have arisen towards Swiss companies, banks and corporations. It is against militarism , war and for a Switzerland without an army . The discussion at the conference in Zurich clearly revealed positions critical of the EU .
- She is against any discrimination against women and those who think differently and calls for stronger campaigns at the federal government against homophobia , especially among young people. She is also for free access to day nurseries for everyone.
- She demands the consistent separation of state and religion , which she sees as a prerequisite for an enlightened society.
history
preparation
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On November 21, 2009, the first congress of the still-to-be-founded party took place in Schaffhausen - at this a 25-member committee with representatives from twelve cantons was elected, which prepared the foundation to be carried out at the first ordinary general assembly in Lausanne in May 2010, after the foundation was called too hasty at this first congress. This committee was the forerunner of today's board of directors; it was formed according to the same rules as this one.
The main initiator of the party is Florian Keller from Schaffhausen , who was also involved in founding the cantonal alternative list . Also are Mitbeteiligt PdA - National Josef Zisyadis (which is now at Alternative Left Member) and former president of the SP of the Bernese Jura Frédéric Charpié . Many of the exponents also took part in the electoral alliance À Gauche toute! / Linke Alternative in 2007 .
The foundation
On May 29, 2010, the party was finally officially founded at the second congress in the Lausanne Volkshaus, together with the adoption of the program and the statutes.
In the following period, the main work in the building of the Party: While the left of the SP outside in the Romandie is widespread and the goal there, especially the combination of different partial fractious movements (especially in the Canton of Geneva ), should in the German-speaking Switzerland the basis of the left alternative movement should be enlarged, which is currently mainly present in the cantons of Schaffhausen and Zurich through the alternative list . In addition, an initiative or something similar should be developed in order to be able to carry out an initial joint action that strengthens cohesion.
Launch of the first initiative
At the second official congress on March 5, 2011, the assembly decided with more than a 3/4 majority to initiate a national initiative to abolish flat-rate taxation , the collection of which is to begin on May 1. An initiative for the same purpose was won by the alternative list in the canton of Zurich . Furthermore, the party took a clear position critical of the EU in a debate in the afternoon . Another initiative for the integration of the 2nd pillar in the old-age and survivors' insurance (AHV) is to be in the works - this is intended to strengthen the socially just pay-as-you-go system . On September 25, 2001, the flat-rate tax was also abolished in Schaffhausen by a vote initiated by the AL there.
For the National Council elections in 2011 , the Alternative Left and its allies stood in seven cantons with nine different lists. The previous National Council in the canton of Vaud, Josef Zisyadis, resigned after these elections. As a result, the AL lost its last seat at the national level in these elections, and in the other cantons in which there were opportunities (Geneva, Neuchâtel and Zurich) it missed entry into the National Council, even if only just barely. Overall, the party and its allies had a share of 1.2% of the vote.
In June 2012 the third congress took place in the Volkshaus in Biel , among other things in the afternoon with a panel discussion with the French author ( Outrage! ) And surviving resistance fighter from Buchenwald concentration camp, Stéphane Hessel . In addition to the main topic of the flat-rate tax initiative, closer cooperation with the French Front de gauche in Switzerland and a declaration of solidarity with the Greek left-wing alliance SYRIZA were approved. In addition, a possible accession to the European Left Party is to be clarified.
On October 19, 2012, the initiative to abolish the flat-rate tax was submitted in Bern, which was voted on on November 30, 2014. The initiative was rejected by the sovereign on November 30, 2014 with 59.2 percent no votes and 1 to 19 6/2 stands. The turnout was 49.2 percent.
Besides the Greens, the AL was the only national party to support the referendum against the new asylum law. In elections in November 2014, the Berne section won its first legislative mandate in the city of Berne , and Oliver Cottagnoud was elected to the executive branch of Vétroz by the Valais Romand section , and later he also became president of the municipality. Since January 2015, La Gauche has also been represented with a mandate in the municipal parliament of Tramelan . In Bern, the Bern City Party won a second mandate in the 2017 elections.
The national AL was dissolved in 2018, but the local parties that were organized under the umbrella of the AL still exist.
organization
membership
At the moment it is still unclear whether sections as such can become members of the AL. After the second congress in Lausanne, individual membership is undisputed. In addition, it is also possible to recognize individual sections - but they are de jure not members and therefore do not have automatic voting rights. There are many active people who participate in alternative left projects or who collect signatures for them, but are not officially members.
Organs of the party
congress
The alternative left is based on grassroots democracy . The most important organ is the annual congress , in which any member of the party can participate. The previous three congresses have taken place in Schaffhausen (unofficially), Lausanne and Zurich . The congress decides on the political program as well as the recognition of sections with a 2/3 majority. Initiatives and referenda can only be decided upon with its consent. The Congress elects the members of the Board of Directors and the Control Body.
Board
The board of directors manages the operational business of AL and meets at the request of the office, but at least four times a year. The board of directors is made up of a maximum of 2 representatives and 2 substitute representatives per canton and may be re-elected a maximum of five times. It decides on initiatives and referendums and elects the members of the office. There is no president or traditional board of directors (consisting of few members), the meetings are led by the office.
office
The office is responsible for the organization and coordination of the AL.
Control point
The control body consists of two members and is responsible for auditing the annual financial statements.
Sections
- Alternative Left Bern
- La Gauche Arc Jurassia
- La Gauche Geneva
- La Gauche Nyon
- La Gauche Valais Romand
- La Gauche Vaud
In French-speaking Switzerland, they draw their members primarily from circles of the POP , SolidaritéS , Les Communistes and previously independents. The Bern section is a newly founded group, the Valais Romand section was created as part of the national electoral alliance À Gauche toute! Founded in 2007. Other groups associated with the AL:
- Alternative list Limmattal
- Alternative list Schaffhausen
- Alternative list Winterthur
- Alternative list Zurich
- La Sinistra Ticino
These groups, especially the Alternative Lists, played a key role in founding the party and are involved in it.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Brochure: «In a nutshell lies the spice» ( Memento of April 7, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) (PDF), page 28
- ↑ Preliminary official voting result at the Federal Chancellery in Bern