Italy’s populist party, the Five Star Movement, led by former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, is seeking to join The Left, the most left-wing formation in the European Parliament. The Left, which includes members like France Unbowed, Germany’s Die Linke, Spain’s Podemos, Greece’s Syriza, and Ireland’s Sinn Féin, embraces various degrees of Eurosceptism. In the June elections, the pan-European family secured 39 seats in the hemicycle, and the Five Star Movement wants to add its eight lawmakers to the tally. However, the decision on membership has not been made yet and will be deliberated on by The Left’s bureau on Thursday.
The conditions for joining The Left are laid out in a declaration of political affiliation that any delegation or single member must sign. This declaration contains the core values of The Left, such as respect for international law, asylum policy, climate justice, and feminism. The Five Star Movement will need to show its commitment to these values during the meeting on Thursday. The Left advocates for fair taxation, worker’s rights, income equality, environmental sustainability, and animal welfare. They are vehemently opposed to austerity policies, neoliberalism, the privatisation of public services, and repressive migration rules.
Despite its progressive outlook, The Left has taken a critical stance on the EU’s response to Russia’s war on Ukraine. They oppose the provision of lethal equipment to the Ukrainian army and argue that resources should instead be directed towards social services. The Five Star Movement shares this position and has openly criticized Western allies for continuing to supply weapons to the war-torn nation. Former Prime Minister Conte has emphasized the need to protect the social rights of citizens rather than engage in a military race with Russia. The Five Star Movement’s attempts to join the Greens were unsuccessful due to its ambiguous views on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which were deemed unacceptable by the environmentally-conscious party.
The decision on whether the Five Star Movement will be accepted into The Left is expected to be made on Thursday following a meeting with representatives from the party. The Left’s values align closely with the progressive ideals of the Five Star Movement, including fair taxation, worker’s rights, and environmental sustainability. Both parties also share a critical stance on the EU’s response to the conflict in Ukraine, advocating for a redirection of resources towards social services instead of military reinforcement. The Five Star Movement’s commitment to these values will be crucial in determining their acceptance into The Left.
Overall, the Five Star Movement’s potential membership in The Left signifies a significant development in European politics, as Italy’s populist party seeks to align itself with like-minded progressive forces on the European stage. The conditions for joining The Left, which include respecting international law, asylum policy, climate justice, and feminism, reflect the core values of the party. By attempting to join The Left, the Five Star Movement aims to solidify its position within the political landscape of the European Parliament and contribute to the advancement of progressive policies on a continental level. Ultimately, the decision on the Five Star Movement’s membership in The Left will have far-reaching implications for the future of European politics and the alignment of populist and progressive forces within the EU.
