Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung Brussels Office

Sep 19th, 2023

In Norway local elections herald a shift to the right

For the first time in a century, Norway’s Labour Party failed to top the country’s local and regional elections, pipped to the post by the centre-right conservatives. Ingrid Wergeland looks at the election, and the political trends behind the result.

Sep 9th, 2023

Job Listing: Office-Manager (full-time, temporary)

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Sep 6th, 2023

The EU’s Industrial Garden Path

The European Green Deal promises green prosperity, but actually delivers green austerity

Aug 17th, 2023

“Security and the Left” - Impact Workshop

On 8-9 June 2023 the Brussels Office of RLS hosted a workshop in Malmö to facilitate the exchange of experiences and strategies between several left-wing parties grappling with the issue of security policy, particularly in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The event was held face-to-face and invitation-only to guarantee an atmosphere of trust and confidentiality to participants.

Jul 24th, 2023

The Progressive bloc wins a pyrrhic victory in Spain

Yesterday's elections in Spain painted a picture of equally-matched blocs and, with one thing certain: the right-wing parties won’t be able to form a government. The Socialist Party will have to successfully negotiate agreement with six others if they want to stay in Moncloa Palace, the official residence of the Spanish prime minister. They would also have to convince the Catalan pro-independence right-wing Junts Pel Sí not to abstain. Otherwise, a repeat election will be on the cards.

Jul 13th, 2023

Finland’s Cabinet of Horrors

The Finnish parliamentary elections were held on April 2, but it has taken almost three months for a new government to be formed. After only two weeks in power, Finland’s new right-wing coalition faces neo-Nazi scandals and a mounting opposition to its austerian agenda that make it seem increasingly unlikely to last the full four-year election cycle. In the meantime, however, it is already doing plenty of damage.

Jul 12th, 2023

Roundtable on European Public Investments for a Socially Just Transition

On June 27, 2023, the Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung and Counter Balance organized a roundtable on "European Public Investments for a Socially Just Transition", bringing together labor unions, civil society organizations, and academics. The aim was to discuss the impact of EU public investments on energy, housing, public services, and industry and to facilitate dialogue on pressing issues in these areas.

Jun 30th, 2023

Strained Alliances in Norwegian Politics

The first two years of Norway’s Arbeiderpartiet (Labour Party)/ Senterpartiet (Centre Party) coalition government have seen the challenges mount up, with debates about solidarity dominating at the international level, while domestic economic inequality has increased.

Jun 27th, 2023

The Far Right Is Here to Stay

Figures like Hungary’s Viktor Orbán and Italy’s Giorgia Meloni have perfected a blend of right-wing culture wars and low-tax economics that now threatens to permanently dislodge the centre-left and establish a new normal in European politics.

Jun 26th, 2023

Inciting a Passion For Justice

Spain’s regional elections on May 28 saw the Left suffer heavy losses, losing to the right-wing Partido Popular (PP) along with its far-right competitor, Vox. Sánchez’s decision to call snap elections for 23 July now means that the parties of the radical Left, led by current Labour Minister Yolanda Díaz and her new electoral platform, Sumar, are tasked with both defending their electoral record while at the same time convincing voters that they represent a radical alternative to the status quo.

Jun 20th, 2023

Call for Proposals: Author for study on Impact of EU Policies on Housing and Urban development

The RLS Brussels office is looking for an author for a short study with the working title “Impact of European Union policies on Housing and Urban development”. The study’s aim is to give a clear and short overview of the influence of EU policies on housing as well as to identify and propose concrete recommendations and strategies.

Jun 20th, 2023

Sweden in NATO — And Then What?

In late March of this year, the Swedish Parliament voted by a large majority to join NATO and abandon the country’s traditional policy of military non-alignment. Only the Left and Green parties voted against the move. The Left is correct to oppose the military alliance, but must now stake out a position within it.

Jun 19th, 2023

Call for Offers: Website Relaunch for the RLS Brussels Office

We want our website to become more interactive, informative and easy to maintain. The website must deliver large amounts of constantly changing information to the organization’s key audiences.

Jun 16th, 2023

The Portuguese Left chooses Mariana Mortàgua as new leader

On 27 and 28 May, the Portuguese Bloco de Esquerda held its 13th National Convention in Lisbon. Its new leader Mariana Mortàgua reaffirmed the party's commitment to the popular struggle, the commitment to strengthen social movements and to the unity of the left. She also gave a name to the Left Bloc’s political project: socialism.

Jun 13th, 2023

Feminist Economics

To speak of feminist economics is not simply to give a surname to something as orthodox as classic economic studies. Feminist economics re-think traditional analyses and include in them all those invisible activities that are nevertheless indispensable for life to exist and for society to function.

May 31st, 2023

Defending the Right to Strike: the ‘Delhaize Case’ is not a European Exception

On May 22, tens of thousands of people demonstrated in Brussels to defend the right to strike and support the workers of Delhaize, one of Belgium's largest supermarket chains. Delhaize employees have been on strike for months against the implementation of a franchise model expected to lead to layoffs, precariousness, and lower wages. Meanwhile the Belgian Government is discussing legislative measures to curtail the right to strike - yet the ´Delhaize case’ is not a European exception.

May 29th, 2023

Spain’s Two-Party System Is Back

Although it will need the support of the far-right Vox to govern, the People’s Party (PP) declared itself the clear winner in yesterday’s elections in Spain. The president of the government is bringing forward the general elections, scheduled for December, to 23 July in an attempt to attract the left-wing vote and stay in government. The left now has two months to reorganise itself.

May 26th, 2023

Germany’s Finance Minister Is the Most Dangerous Man in Europe

The European Commission has proposed a slight loosening of debt limits — but Germany’s neoliberal finance minister Christian Lindner is blocking the change. His zombie economics will impoverish citizens and hasten the rise of the far right.

May 9th, 2023

The Paradox of French Labour

Due to dwindling membership and internal divisions, the decline of French trade unions long seemed inevitable. Against this backdrop, the unity demonstrated by the so-called intersydicale since the beginning of the massive protests against the pension reform, as well as internal renewal processes are historic in many respects. Is tradeunionism in France experiencing a renaissance?

Apr 13th, 2023

Denmark: Strange New Government, Same Old Politics

Denmark’s new centre-right “grand coalition” government is historic in its composition. In its brief existence it has already come down clearly on the side of the upper-class, while failing to address the real problems facing Danish society.

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