| Left Bloc Bloco de Esquerda |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Leader | Francisco Louçã |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Headquarters | Av. Almirante Reis, nº 131, 2º Andar Lisbon |
| Ideology | Democratic socialism,[1] Anti-capitalism,[1] Trotskyism, Communism |
| International affiliation | None |
| European affiliation | Party of the European Left European Anticapitalist Left |
| European Parliament Group | European United Left–Nordic Green Left |
| Official colours | Red |
| Website | |
| http://www.esquerda.net/ | |
| Politics of Portugal Political parties Elections |
|
Left Bloc (Portuguese: Bloco de Esquerda, pronounced [ˈblɔku dɨ (ɨ)ʃˈkeɾdɐ]), sometimes translated as leftist bloc or left-wing bloc, is a Portuguese left-wing political party founded in 1999. It is sometimes abbreviated to B.E. (punctuated) but always spoken in its full name. Notable members include Fernando Rosas, Francisco Louçã and Miguel Portas (brother of right-wing leader Paulo Portas).
The Left Bloc (B.E.) is supported by independents and a number of left-wing political groups: the People's Democratic Union (União Democrática Popular, UDP), Revolutionary Socialist Party (Partido Socialista Revolucionário, PSR), and Politics XXI (Política XXI, PXXI). This party has from the beginning a full party status, yet the constituent groups have maintained their existence and some levels of autonomy, leading to a loose structure. This structure may also provide an umbrella for other interested socialist organizations.
In 1999 the B.E. polled 2 % in the Portuguese legislative election, in 2002 this rose to 3 %, and in the 2005 election this rose to 6.5 % which won them 8 MPs. They also have had 3 MEPs in the European Parliament since the European Elections of 2009 (10,73%, surpassing for the first time the CDU platform, formed by
As an increasingly popular left party, especially among youth, with imaginative campaigns and dynamic proposals, the majority of its support comes from colleges, cities and educated youth or adults from the countryside, gathering both urban educated communities and dynamic labor unions, together with defenders of human rights and women's rights, the rights of immigrants and minorities (they are especially involved in supporting a strongly multicultural society), and also many ecologists. At this point the Bloc is by some seen as an alternative and refreshing "new" left political party to the older and more established Portuguese Communist Party and the centre left Socialist Party. It is a diverse entity formed by people with multiple backgrounds, not as extreme as MRPP party is either.
The Bloc proposed Portugal’s first law on domestic violence, which was passed in parliament through the support of the Portuguese Communist Party and the Socialist Party, and other important laws on civil rights and guarantees, including the protection of citizens from racism, xenophobia and discrimination, gay marriage laws, laws for the protection of workers and anti-bullfighting laws.
Its candidate Francisco Louçã received 288,224 votes (5.31%) in the Portuguese 2006 presidential elections. At the national elections in 2009 this party had 9,67 % of votes and 16 MPs in the National Parliament.
Half of the Left Bloc's MPs are female.
See also
References
External links
- Official Website (in Portuguese)
- Portuguese Left Bloc has deep roots among workers, Socialist Worker, 12 March 2005
|
|||||||||||
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
