Germany: How “Socialist Alternative” blocks the building of an independent socialist movem

The SAV was thrust into the media spotlight last year when it supported the independent candidacy of the WASG against the Left Party-PDS in elections to the Berlin Senate (city legislature)—while simultaneously arguing for the merger of the two organisations at a federal level. SAV member Lucy Redler then stood as the WASG lead candidate in the Berlin election.

The decision to stand an independent candidate in the Berlin election met with fierce opposition from the WASG federal leadership, which was opposed to the Berlin regional organisation standing its own candidates. The arbitrary dismissal of the WASG Berlin region executive by the federal party leadership was only reversed following a court order, making it possible for the former group to participate in the Berlin election.

Behind the independent election campaign of the Berlin WASG was the fact that the Left Party-PDS had been a longstanding coalition partner in the Berlin Senate with the Social Democratic Party (SPD). Over the past five years, the policies carried out by the Senate had clearly revealed that, behind its left-sounding words, the Left Party-PDS pursued extremely right-wing policies. For the WASG to present itself as a left-wing alternative in Berlin while campaigning for the re-election of the Left Party-PDS would have rung completely hollow.

For the same reasons, the SAV regarded Left Party-PDS participation in the Berlin parliament as an impediment to the project of forming a united Left Party at the federal level. How could the voters be fooled into thinking that such a party represents their interests, when it does the exact opposite each day in Berlin? The purpose of the WASG’s independent candidacy in Berlin was to force the Left Party-PDS out of the existing coalition with the SPD in order to secure the planned merger at the federal level.

This plan, however, did not succeed. Despite a substantial loss in votes in the Senate election last autumn, the Left Party-PDS continues to form the Berlin city government together with the SPD and has stepped up its attacks on the working and living conditions of ordinary Berliners.

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http://wsws.org/articles/2007/jan2007/sav-j17.shtml