Elections

Rather than panic in the face of a Ukip surge, Britain’s political leaders need to stick to their principles and work to solve the root cause of voters’ unrest: the economic crisis.

Pier Bersani’s surprise at the Italian election results is the fruit of the growing disconnect of his Democratic Party from reality, and the centre-left leader is the creator of his own defeat.

A referendum should be held sooner rather than later – pro-Europeans must not be afraid to make the case for EU membership.

In the 2009 European Parliament elections, the Green Group of MEPs won 13 more seats to become the 4th largest group. However when the European Parliament faces elections again in 2014, the political environmental will be vastly different. How to the Greens repeat their success of 2009 in such a situation? The Green European Journal talks to European Green Party Co-Chair Reinhard Bütikofer about his plans.

The world view of GroenLinks is founded on three deeply-held convictions: Green, leftist and progressive. These ideals are still alive but each of them in turn points to the need for a sharper critique of capitalism and the neoliberal culture.

Voters dealt the Dutch GroenLinks party a painful blow. The solution is clear: the party must get its act together and pursue an unambiguously Green identity.

Today, democracy is too often based on short-term interests. Policies are therefore designed for that purpose – pre-election budgets for example – and the long term interests of the planet are given less priority.

The debate on what distinguishes the Green movement from the left has reignited in Sweden.

Romania’s transition from Communist-era dictatorship to western democracy has not been an easy one.

The Greens have to use alternative green economic concepts and share them far beyond the academic sphere, with all who are now starting to realise that our economy is completely unsustainable. And above all they have to assert their specific approach to social justice.